6 | OCTOBER 20 • 2022 PURELY COMMENTARY 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 Contributing Editors: David Sachs, Keri Guten Cohen Staff Reporter: Danny Schwartz dschwartz@thejewishnews.com Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@thejewishnews.com Digital Manager: Elizabeth King eking@thejewishnews.com Contributing Writers: Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel 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: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek, Deborah Schultz, Michelle Sheridan opinion Kanye West’s Hate Speech Reveals a Much Larger Problem K anye West is back at it again. Kanye recently spoke out in a troubling manner, as he warned Jews about toying with him and those opposing his agenda. He threatened Jewish people about a supposed conflict with him over a Jewish agenda. “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 on Jewish people.” He was upset that Instagram restricted his account over anti- Jewish remarks. “Who do you think created cancel culture?” he tweeted. He continued his social media rant criticizing Jared Kushner, the goal of the Abraham Accords and said the only purpose was for Jews to make money. His rants continued about the Clintons, Kardashians and Mark Zuckerberg. He addressed accusations of antisemitism saying that he could not be antisemitic because Black people are Jewish also, in a now-removed tweet. Yes, the narratives of Black people and Jewish people have been parallel and united for a long time, so maybe that is what he meant. And, the majority of Jewish people are not white-presenting. Well, earlier this month, Kanye wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt to Paris Fashion Week, a slogan associated with the white- supremacist movement. Sean Diddy Combs criticized this choice, to which Kanye responded that Diddy is controlled by Jewish people. These recent unhinged rants by Kanye provoked the conversation of censorship by Silicon Valley giants and how we handle hate speech. The United States protects hate speech as freedom of speech under the First Amendment. Whether his social media posts and the endless Jew- hatred being spewed on social media by Jew-haters remains protected as freedom of speech, this further shines a light on the antisemitic tropes, false narratives and dangerous myths about Jewish people that have been prevalent for too long. What do we do about it? When we encounter hate- speech, we must respond with more speech. If cancel culture is wrong, then counsel culture and consequence culture are right. Together we must all do something about this. Speak out, educate with the truth, and fight back against those who assault with hateful false narratives and old tropes assailing Jews. Yuval David is an Emmy-nominated actor, director and filmmaker who has won over 100 international film festival awards. He is an active leader in the LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities, working with several prestigious organizations to save people in life- threatening situations, including as the director of mobilization for the End Jew Hatred movement. Yuval David Please support The Zekelman Holocaust Center and honor Nancy & Arn Tellem Presenting Sponsor Tom & Holly Gores President Gary Karp Chairman of the Board Steven Grant Chairs Nancy & Jim Grosfeld Vice Chairs Carolyn & Jim Bellinson Hadas & Dennis Bernard Marlene & Jef Cohen Ashley & KC Crain Julie & Peter Cummings Margie Dunn & Mark Davidof Gretchen & Ethan Davidson Donna & Ric Devore Nicole & Stephen Eisenberg Jay Farner Jennifer & Ambassador David Fischer, Ret. Elyse & David Foltyn Cathy & Nathan Forbes Erica & Ralph Gerson Tracey & Greg Hammaren Wendy & Howard Handler Jennifer & Brian Hermelin Doreen Hermelin Danialle & Peter Karmanos Jill Alper & David Katz Sue & Alan Jay Kaufman Sherri & Jim Ketai Cathy & Wright Lassiter Nicole & Matt Lester Lisa & Hannan Lis Amy & Dan Loepp Florine Mark Rachel & Josh Opperer Marcie & Robert Orley Susie & Norman Pappas Sandy & Tom Pierce Terry & Ambassador John Rakolta, Jr., Ret. Peggy Daitch & Peter Remington Sandy & Bob Riney Matthew Rizik Holly & Matt Rossetti Karen & Todd Sachse Nancy & Robert Schostak Sandy & Alan Schwartz Jane & D. Larry Sherman Lisa & Gary Shifman Emily Smith & Eric Tellem Matt Tellem Emma & Michael Tellem Malke & Gary Torgow Elana & Abraham Varkovitzky Jacqueline & M. Roy Wilson Laura & Mark Zausmer Lori & Alan Zekelman Sunday, November 13, 2022 Huntington Place, Detroit Featuring keynote speaker Jon Meacham Presidential historian, sought-after commentator, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Stand up to hatred, antisemitism, and genocide. For tickets and more information, visit us at holocaustcenter.org/beneft or call us at (248) 536-9605 Rick Mahorn Isaiah Thomas Ben Wallace Troy Weaver Detroit Pistons Tribute Team Dave Bing George Blaha Earl Cureton Richard (Rip) Hamilton