JULY 14 • 2022 | 9
a teacher, acquire for yourself
a colleague in study, and be
in the habit of judging people
favorably” (Avot 1:6). As indi-
viduals and as families, we are
called upon in this moment
to strengthen our Judaism by
devoting time to learning from
our synagogue clergy.
Each of us must also ensure
the security of Jews and the
success of America by engaging
with and listening genuinely to
our neighbors, especially those
with whom we disagree, and
by assuming the best in each of
those around us.
Moreover, for Jews and for
Judaism to thrive, our syna-
gogues and communal institu-
tions need to better educate and
inspire children and adults alike
for this new period in America.
More Jewish knowledge, broad-
er Jewish skillsets and greater
Jewish joy are required. We
must further elucidate the deep
profundity of Judaism’s moral
teachings and demonstrate
the meaningfulness of robust
Jewish living.
Jews of all backgrounds must
intentionally partner together
for an America in which moral-
ity, compassion and kindness
prevail; in which truth, justice
and freedom are celebrated; in
which Jews and Judaism can
thrive.
The American future and the
Jewish future, including that of
our Jewish third-graders today
and tomorrow, depend on what
we do right now.
Rabbi Aaron Starr, a spiritual leader of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek, is study-
ing in Jerusalem at the Shalom Hartman
Institute.
Where’s the moral out-
rage? To answer this question,
it’s important to understand
what the AAUP
, AAU, ACE and
250 university presidents failed
to grasp about academic BDS,
even as they forcefully con-
demned it eight years ago, and
to consider the deeply disturb-
ing turn that academia has
taken since then.
Within the last eight years,
the number of faculty who
have publicly expressed support
for an academic boycott of Israel
has more than doubled.
It is important to point out
that since MESA began issu-
ing full-membership resolutions
in 1993, Israel is not just the
only country in the Middle
East that has been targeted
by a MESA resolution for an
academic boycott, but it’s the
only country in the region to be
targeted by that group for any
punitive action.
This, in a region that includes
such flagrant human rights
violators as Syria, Saudi Arabia,
Libya, Sudan, Afghanistan and
Iran — yet instead of punishing
these countries with boycotts,
as it has done to Israel, MESA
defends them from boycotts.
If higher education lead-
ers refuse to break their
silence, state and Federal leg-
islators should withhold funds
from schools that permit facul-
ty and departments to engage in
such behavior. The public, too,
must demand that colleges and
universities establish safeguards
against the politicization of edu-
cational spaces and never allow
their tax, tuition or donor dol-
lars to be used for hateful polit-
ical propaganda and activism
that dangerously undermine the
public good.
Silence and inaction are not
options.
— Ed Kohl, West Bloomfield
Hebrew Free Loan Detroit
6735 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 300 • BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN 48301
@HFLDetroit
STORY
Our
STORY
Our
Milton M. Ratner made his living in commercial
real estate, in particular with apartment complexes
along Jefferson Avenue and properties along the
Detroit River. In addition, he was a philanthropist who
held a firm belief in higher education, so when he put
part of his wealth in trust to create a Foundation, the
first of its directives was to give money to educational
ventures. Mr. Ratner died in 1968, and his namesake
foundation, established shortly thereafter, supports
opportunities for post-high school education, along
with health and human services for children, families
and the elderly.
The Milton M. Ratner Foundation created a fund at
Hebrew Free Loan to assist with college and
continued educational opportunities. As one of a
group of educational funds at HFL, the Milton M.
Ratner fund can help current students who are looking
for money to finish school, and those who want to
return to school for advanced degrees. It can also
assist those who want to take classes or specialized
training required for their jobs.
The foundation’s namesake was a very quiet and
private philanthropist, but his forethought allows
Hebrew Free Loan to help support Michigan’s Jewish
students at all levels.
Learn more about Hebrew Free Loan’s education
loans at www.jewishcollegeloansmi.org.
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www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184
Community donations help Hebrew Free Loan give
interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal,
health, educational and small business needs.