12 | SEPTEMBER 2 • 2021 

PURELY COMMENTARY

continued from page 10

its consequences, bitter experi-
ence indicates all too well, will 
exact a far greater cost than 
maintaining that deployment 
would have.

DANGER TO U.S.?
Biden’s two immediate pre-
decessors complained that, 
notwithstanding the U.S. 
commitment to championing 
freedom and democracy, it was 
not America’s job to solve all 
the problems of this part of the 
world (Barack Obama) and 
fight the Mideast region’s stu-
pid wars (Donald Trump).
But that the debacle is 
playing out around the 20th 
anniversary of 9-11, when 
3,000 people lost their lives 
in al-Qaeda’s horrific terrorist 
assault on America, and serves 
to grimly underline the direct 
consequences for the United 
States itself of failing to reckon 
with the ruthless, amoral and 
sophisticated forces plotting to 
harm it.
Those regressive forces, 
most of them strategizing in 
our part of the world, are mur-
derously hostile to everything 
that is best about America 
— its defense of freedoms, its 
commitment to democracy, 
its striving for opportunity 
and equality, its fundamental 
humanity.
Today, they are more con-
fident and stronger than they 
were just a few days ago. 
And the bastion of the free 
world’s defense against them, 
the United States of America, 
looks tired and irresolute.
This, at the risk of cata-
strophic understatement, is not 
in the U.S. national security 
interest. 

David Horovitz is the founding editor 

of the Times of Israel. 

essay
Here for Good: A Message 
from the Jewish Federation
A 

year ago, we celebrat-
ed Rosh Hashanah 
in the midst of the 
global pandemic. For the first 
time, our seders were limited 
to immediate family members 
and we wor-
shiped at ser-
vices streamed 
on the internet. 
 Today, as we 
once again pre-
pare for the High 
Holidays, we can 
be grateful that 
many aspects of 
our normal lives 
have returned. 
The COVID vac-
cine has made 
a tremendous, 
life-saving dif-
ference, though 
clearly the dev-
astating impact 
of the virus is 
not yet over. 
For many, life 
remains difficult 
and uncertain. 
The pandemic is 
still an ongoing public health 
threat, affecting our communi-
ty in a variety of ways.
A dramatic shortage of 
workers has made it more dif-
ficult and expensive to deliver 
services to the thousands of 
individuals who depend on 
the support of our Jewish 
agencies. Significant mental 
health issues continue to be 
a challenge for youth in our 
community, requiring a variety 
of interventions to counter 
depression, anxiety and sui-
cide. And our Jewish commu-
nities in Israel and elsewhere 
around the world have been 

impacted by the pandemic in 
similar ways to our local com-
munity.
Beyond this, antisemitism 
has risen over the past year, 
prompting a coordinated 
response to counter hateful 
and threatening rhetoric and 
to keep the community safe.
Despite these challenges, 
there is reason to be hopeful. 
If we have learned anything 
from the experience of the 
pandemic, it is that together, as 
a unified community, we can 
weather any crisis.
Throughout the pandemic, 
our communal leaders and 
institutions worked to make 
sure that our most vulnerable 
individuals were protected, 
providing millions of kosher 
meals to seniors and others in 
need, emergency aid to strug-
gling families and protective 
gear for frontline workers. 
This was the most collabo-
rative effort in recent times, 
uniting individuals from every 
corner of our community, 
every organization and stream 
of Judaism. 
The Jewish Federation 
played a central role in this 
response, mobilizing $7.6 mil-
lion dollars in critical funding 
to protect individuals and fam-
ilies as well as the Jewish orga-
nizations that are the heart 
and soul of Jewish life. Just as 
importantly, we continued to 
coordinate the response effort, 
working shoulder to shoulder 
with agencies, schools and 
congregations throughout 
Jewish Detroit on a daily basis. 
This work is far from over and 
will continue for as long as the 
needs exist.

Several years ago, we intro-
duced a new theme for the 
Jewish Federation, a “tag line” 
to express the essence of our 
mission. Here for Good pro-
claims that Federation is an 
enduring entity whose pur-
pose is to support, strengthen 
and advance our local and 
global Jewish community. We 
are here to take care of our 
most vulnerable individuals 
and to build a vibrant Jewish 
future for all. 
Today, this theme has never 
been more relevant. Here for 
Good reflects not just the 
essence of the Federation, but 
also of our Jewish community 
itself. Thanks to the commit-
ment of many individuals —
including nearly 11,000 donors 
to our Annual Campaign 
— Jewish Detroit remains as 
vibrant and cohesive today as 
it ever has. 
Even as we recognize the 
ongoing impact of the virus 
and other complex challenges, 
we will never lose our vitality, 
spirit and gratitude for the 
richness and depth of our 
Jewish heritage and culture 
as well as the strength of our 
community. 
With that in mind, we want 
to offer a warm Shanah Tovah 
to our entire Jewish communi-
ty. May this be a time of peace 
and prosperity for the Jewish 
people, and a year of meaning, 
growth and joy for all. 

Matthew B. Lester is president, Jewish 

Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. 

Dennis S. Bernard is president, United 

Jewish Foundation. Steven Ingber is 

CEO, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan 

Detroit.

Matthew B. 
Lester

Dennis S. 
Bernard

Steven 
Ingber

