26 | JANUARY 20 • 2022 

faces&places

TOP: Marc Bernstein 

MIDDLE: Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Rev. Ken Flowers (Greater New Mt. 
Moriah), Luke Moon (Philos Project), Adar Rubin, Ashira Solomon 
(JCRC/AJC).

BOTTOM: Ashira Solomon, Rabbi Asher Lopatin and Adar Rubin.

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JCRC/AJC

Shine a Light on 
Antisemitism

The Detroit Metropolitan community gathered on Sunday, 
Dec. 5, to Shine a Light on Antisemitism. Members of the 
Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish 
Committee, Philos Project and Black Empowerment 
Council strategized together to create solidifying impact as 
a part of a national Jewish Federations of North America 
initiative focused on bringing varying cultural groups 
together to discuss the issue of antisemitism. 
The day of events began with an interfaith service at 
Greater New Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, under the direc-
tion of the Rev. Kenneth James Flowers. He spoke about 
the importance of preserving and cultivating interfaith 
relationships, the need for condemning antisemitism and 
hate, no matter the source of manifestation, and highlight-
ed the role both Israel and the Jewish community played 
in the African American community in Detroit during his 
upbringing. 
Following the service, congregants at Greater New Mt. 
Moriah Baptist Church were invited to attend an inter-
faith luncheon at the St. Regis Hotel with members of the 
Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity, the Philos Project, the 
Detroit Roundtable for Protestants, Catholics and Jews, and 
other Shine a Light partners.
“I am here today as a proud supporter of the great State 
of Israel and my Jewish brothers and sisters. Also, I am here 
to stand and to support my African American brothers and 
sisters, and to let everyone know that we will continue to 
fight against intolerance and injustice in the world, and that 
we will march on until victory is won,” said Flowers, who is 
also co-director of the Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity.
 Executive Coalition for Black and Jewish Unity member 
Jennifer Lewis stressed the importance of unity among the 
Black and Jewish communities. “It is so important that the 
Black and Jewish communities stand up for one another, 
that we fight racism and antisemitism together,” she said.
 A proclamation against antisemitism was presented at 
the luncheon, signed by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer 
and Lieutenant Gov. Garlin Gilchrist.
As nightfall approached, a public menorah lighting was 
hosted by Jewish Ferndale under the direction of Rabbi 
Hershel and Chana Finman. Shine A Light partners stood 
together as the last candle was lit on the menorah, illumi-
nating the dark sky and reminding us all to be a light to the 
world in dark times. 

