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