6 | APRIL 28 • 2022 opinion Social Media in Times of War I t is pretty impossible not to be aware of what’s going on in the world these days. Even if you live under a rock, As long as your device is con- nected to wifi, you will be aware of everything that’s going on. You will be aware, but will you know what’s happening? You can share any post, but are you able to check its sources? There is a vast dif- ference between knowing and being aware. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok. Scrolling through our feeds, we see endless videos, opinions and things that people are putting out there, hashtag #proX or #proY, people writing about something controversial that they heard, and the world will immediately jump to conclu- sions. Sometimes, those con- clusions can even be dangerous. Yet, we don’t stop to think about what’s even out there anymore. Opinions? Facts? These days, does it even matter? Social media is not just a black hole of fake news and flammable opinions. Some people use it for good, taking advantage of the power of the crowd to promote facts, donate money, show support and rec- ognition, and above it all, share real stories and experiences from an honest, intimate point of view: Live videos from the loaded trains in Ukraine, people taking videos of themselves trying to escape from the battles or even TikToks from refugee camps. Moments that the world would probably not be able to see without the help of this unique platform. The problem is that most of the content that critically matters is gone in the face of the infinity of fake news and non-accurate information, becoming another post we just scrolled up. There are so many ways to share information today. And with the right filter and the right font, letters, wording and colors, everything is possible to believe. But, unfortunately, with Ron Harel Rockets fall in Israel in May 2021. PURELY COMMENTARY continued on page 10 1942 - 2022 Covering and Connecting Jewish Detroit Every Week To make a donation to the DETROIT JEWISH NEWS FOUNDATION go to the website www.djnfoundation.org The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is published every Thursday at 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334 MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel. VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity. DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 248-354-6060 thejewishnews.com Publisher The Detroit Jewish News Foundation | Board of Directors: Chair: Gary Torgow Vice President: David Kramer Secretary: Robin Axelrod Treasurer: Max Berlin Board members: Larry Jackier, Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer Senior Advisor to the Board: Mark Davidoff Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: Mike Smith Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: Arthur Horwitz Founding Publisher Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory | Editorial DIrector of Editorial: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: Rachel Sweet rsweet@thejewishnews.com Associate Editor: David Sachs dsachs@thejewishnews.com Social Media and Digital Producer: Nathan Vicar nvicar@thejewishnews.com Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Keri Guten Cohen, Shari S. Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Louis Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther Allweiss Ingber, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Robin Schwartz, Mike Smith, Steve Stein, Julie Smith Yolles, Ashley Zlatopolsky | Advertising Sales Director of Advertising: Keith Farber kfarber@thejewishnews.com Senior Account Executive: Kathy Harvey-Mitton kmitton@thejewishnews.com | Business Office Director of Operations: Amy Gill agill@thejewishnews.com Operations Manager: Andrea Gusho agusho@thejewishnews.com Operations Assistant: Ashlee Szabo Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kelly Kosek, Kaitlyn Schoen, Deborah Schultz, Michelle Sheridan