26 | DECEMBER 29 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

T

his year, one story has 
dominated our pages 
more than any other 
and that is the war in Ukraine, 
which began with the Russian 
invasion of the country on 
Feb. 24, 2022.
Since then, the war has 
caused unimaginable destruc-
tion, death and human misery.
As of press time, there 
were an estimated 40,000 
dead and 15,000 missing in 
Ukraine; 100,000 soldiers have 
died on each side; 14 million 
Ukrainians were displaced — 
the majority women and chil-
dren; and 140,000 buildings 
destroyed.
As the cold weather began 
to set in, Russian missiles tar-
geted critical Ukrainian infra-
structure with the goal of leav-
ing Ukrainians without water, 
heat and electricity during the 
winter.
Throughout 2022, 15 JN 
issues, or nearly 30%, have 
featured content regarding 
Ukraine. 

Our first story came on 
March 3, an opinion piece by 
Ellen Ginsberg Simon, “The 
Hero We Didn’t Know We 
Needed,” about Ukrainian 
President Volodymyr 
Zelensky.
The following week, 
“Standing with Ukraine,” 
was on our cover. The story 
talked about the local Jewish 
response to the war and our 
community’s connections 
to Ukraine. There was also 
a story about the Ukrainian 
Emergency Fund, initiated by 
the Jewish Federation with 
national partners, JDC, JAFI 
and World ORT.
Throughout the year, 
we also featured stories on 
Ukrainian natives, such as 
Vladimir Gendelman, who 
was preoccupied with his 
employees trapped in Ukraine; 
Sam Rozenberg, co-found-
er of the SHARE Ukraine 
online platform; and Jenny 
Feterovich, a Soviet Jewish 
immigrant who organized a 
global network to send sup-

plies to the Ukrainian people. 
On March 31 and June 2, 
the JN featured two cover 
stories: “War Through the 
Rearview Mirror,” which 
showed life on the ground 
with Ukrainian refugees flee-
ing into Poland, and “Dispatch 
from Dnipro,” one woman’s 
story of escaping — and 
surviving — the bombing of 
Kharkiv, Ukraine, written by 
Iana Syrotnikova, and trans-
lated by Contributing Writer 
Ashley Zlatopolsky, her cous-
in. 
Throughout the year, the 
JN provided community 
updates, such as those from 
Federation’s Jennifer Levine 
and Steven Ingber, who shared 
their “boots on the ground” 
first-person perspectives, as 
did Yulia Gaydayenko, a JFS 
social worker who shared 
“Witness to War,” a cover story 
about her experience helping 
Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
This year, we featured sev-
eral stories about efforts from 
synagogues, nonprofits and 

community groups deter-
mined to help the Ukrainian 
people.
We also shared stories about 
local people wanting to make 
a difference, such as Oded 
“Ody” Norkin from Okemos, 
delivering ambulances to 
Ukraine; former U-M student 
Dustin Ross, who launched 
the nonprofit Sunflower 
Network to channel supplies 
to Ukraine; and businessman 
Ethan Gross, who organized 
an event to raise awareness 
and funds for this humanitari-
an disaster.
To all the people, organiza-
tions, volunteers and donors 
in Metro Detroit who continue 
their efforts to help the victims 
of an unjust war, we salute 
you as our Newsmakers of the 
Year. The JN will continue to 
highlight your efforts, and to 
pray, God willing, for an end 
to this conflict. 

DJN Foundation Archivist Mike Smith 

contributed to this story.

The War in Ukraine

JACKIE HEADAPOHL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

2022 Newsmaker of the Year:

$200 March 10-16, 2022 / 7-13 Adar II 5782
JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

thejewishnews.com

Ukraine
Ukraine

Standing with

Family ties to Ukraine run deep 
in Detroit’s Jewish community. 
Read about their struggles and 
survival in a country under 
attack. See page 12

$200 March 31- April 6, 2022 / 28 Adar II – 5 Nissan 5782
JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

thejewishnews.com

Through the 
Rearview Mirror
WAR

On the ground with
Ukrainian refugees
fleeing into Poland.

See page 12

$200 May 5-11, 2022 / 4-10 Iyar 5782
JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

thejewishnews.com

Witness 
Witness 
 to
 to War
War

JFS social worker 
aids Ukrainian 
refugees in Poland.

See page 14

JEWISH NEWS
JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

thejewishnews.com

Dispatch 
from 
Dnipro

One woman’s story 
of escaping — and surviving — 
the bombing of Kharkiv, Ukraine.

See page 12

$200 June 2-8, 2022 / 3-9 Sivan 5782

