28 | MAY 5 • 2022 

harassment incidents in 
Michigan, cases where one or 
more Jews reported feeling 
harassed by antisemitic language 
or actions, and eight vandalism 
incidents, cases where property 
was damaged in a manner that 
harmed or intimidated Jews. 
Twelve of Michigan’s incidents 
were classified as extremist relat-
ed; Folksfront, a neo-Nazi group, 
was very active with propaganda 
across the state.
Eighteen incidents involved 
Jewish schools or institutions 
and 11 incidents occurred in 
non-Jewish schools or univer-
sities.

ANN ARBOR FACTOR
Witness for Peace (WFP), an 
antisemitic and anti- 
Israel group, continued 
its weekly protests outside 
Ann Arbor’s Beth Israel 
Congregation throughout 2021 

(the protests began in 2003). 
 Prior to 2021, ADL tabulat-
ed these harassment incidents 
once a month. In 2021, the 
methodology was updated to 
more accurately reflect the dis-
ruptive and traumatic impact 
that these weekly violations are 
having on many Jews in Ann 
Arbor.
“WFP’s weekly agitation of 
the congregants at the syna-
gogue for nearly two decades is 
outrageous,” Normandin said. 
“
Although the degree of the 
spike in Michigan was impact-
ed by the change in counting 
methodology for the WFP 
incidents, even excluding those 
numbers, Michigan still saw a 
56% increase.”
On a national scale, the 
ADL audit found that antise-
mitic incidents reached a high 
watermark across virtually 
every category. Attacks against 

Jewish institutions, including 
Jewish community centers 
and synagogues, were up by 
61%. Incidents at K-12 schools 
increased 106% and incidents 
on college campuses rose 21%. 
Incidents were reported in all 
50 states as well as the District 
of Columbia. 
Assaults, considered the 
most serious incident type 
because it involves per-
son-on-person physical vio-
lence triggered by antisemitic 
animus, increased 167%, 
jumping to a total of 88 reports 
in 2021 from 33 in 2020. 
Incidents of harassment were 
up 43%, and acts of antisemitic 
vandalism rose 14%.
A substantial surge was 
reported during the May 2021 
conflict between Israel and 
Hamas. There was a 148% 
increase in reports of antise-
mitic incidents that month 

when compared to May 2020. 
A total of 387 incidents were 
reported that month with 297 
of the incidents occurring 
after May 10, the date mark-
ing the official start of mili-
tary action.
With continuing alarming 
trends state-wide and nation-
ally, Normandin urges people 
to combat the hate by using 
their voice and urging others 
to do the same.
“My No. 1 guidance is that 
we must stand up to antisem-
itism and all forms of hatred,” 
Normandin said.
“We cannot let this become 
normalized behavior. Let’s 
make sure everyone holds 
public officials and civic lead-
ers accountable. They must 
speak out against antisemi-
tism. That’s got to be a stan-
dard practice.” 

OUR COMMUNITY

A

ward-winning artist 
Alice Frank 
 has a large solo show 
opening May 6 at the Lawrence 
Street Gallery, a cooperative, 
member-run gallery in 
Ferndale. 
Alice and her husband, 
Sidney, are longtime members 
of Temple Kol Ami and have 
been Metro Detroit residents 
for more than 52 years.
Her work was recently 
honored by the Michigan 
Watercolor Society and went 
on tour with Mercedes Benz. 
An original enamel sculpture 
of hers was acquired by the The 
Zekelman Holocaust Center. 
Frank has shown work in 

competitively juried art 
shows across the state 
(from East Jordan to Petoskey 
to Ann Arbor) and in galleries 
across the country. Now it’s 
available — and affordable — 
for local art lovers.
Frank said she’s always 
gathering new sources of 
inspiration, from studying 
the textures of the bark 
on trees during a walk in 
Cranbrook later to be echoed 
in her mixed media pieces to 
charming neighborhood dogs 
and translating their whimsy 
into her playful metal sculptures 
and prints. 
Her show will feature enamel, 
mixed media, watercolor, 

handmade paper, fiber arts, 
silver jewelry and much more. 
In another artist’s hands 
such a diversity of work could 
feel too wide ranging but with 
over 35 years of study and 
experimentation, her artwork 
comes together as thematic, 
expressive and incredibly 
captivating. 
Prices of works range 
from $35-$2,000 so there is 
something memorable for every 
budget.
The show runs through the 
month of May (closing the 
Saturday before Memorial 
Day). 

Award-winning Artist Alice Frank has a 
show at Lawrence Street Gallery.
Eclectic Artist

JN STAFF

Alice Frank.
RIGHT: “Golden 
Lady,” 25x25 fired 
metal by Alice 
Frank. 

Small 
Copper Pin 
by Alice Frank

ANTISEMITISM RISES IN STATE continued from page 26

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