JANUARY 5 • 2023 | 9

And in one memorable 
episode, he climbed 
atop a train destined 
for Auschwitz, passed 
documents through the 
windows to recipients 
inside and then demanded 
their immediate release. 
All while Hungarian fascist 
guards threatened him 
with their rifles and even 
fired warning shots, though 
there’s some evidence 
that the guards were so 
impressed by Wallenberg’s 
calm courage they 
deliberately aimed high.
But like so many 
Holocaust stories, 
Wallenberg’s does not 
have a satisfying ending. 
After the Red Army had 
encircled Budapest, he 
was summoned in January 
1945 to a meeting with 
the Russian general — 
then disappeared into the 
Stalinist night.
Here’s wishing that in 
the coming days all you 
Wolverine supporters get 
to sing many choruses of 
“Hail to the Victors.” When 
you cheer the exploits on 
the field, and the “victors 
valiant” phrase is chanted, 
I hope some of you take a 
moment to remember this 
adopted son of Michigan, 
someone who also attended 
games on Saturday 
afternoons, someone whose 
valor will be remembered 
long after the latest contest 
ends and the final whistle 
blows. 

Robert Franciosi is a professor in 

the Department of English Language 

and Literature at Grand Valley State 

University. 

Good People 
Everywhere
In time when the talk 
centers on the increase in 
antisemitism and racial 
hatred in general, one 
shouldn’t forget that not all 
is bad; there is also good that 
perhaps doesn’t get the same 
publicity.
In a recent visit to 
Michigan, my son, who lives 
in Virginia, happened to 
be at Great Lakes Crossing 
when he came across a 
vendor with merchandise 
from the Holy Land. My son 
stopped by and realized that 
the vendor is an Arab from 
Bethlehem. Having a master’s 
degree in Mideast studies, 
he knows Arabic and saw 
an opportunity to practice 
it. When he mentioned the 
fact that it was his mother’s 
birthday, the man gave 
him a beautiful wooden 
Star of David necklace as a 
gift for me and refused to 
take money. To somehow 
compensate him for his 
generosity, my son picked up 
a little Christmas ornament 
for a Christian neighbor. 
When I received the gift, I 
was highly emotional and 
asked my son to make sure 
and tell him how I love it and 
will treasure it, which I do.
Indeed, not all is bad, there 
are good people, whether 
they are Christian, Muslim 
or of any other faith or 
ethnic group.

— Rachel Kapen

West Bloomfield

Support for Israel
Regarding the “
An Army 
Ulpan” article in the Dec. 
22 Detroit Jewish News: We 
admire the courage and 

Zionism of the IDF Lone 
Soldiers and their families.
For those unable to be 
a Lone Soldier, Volunteers 
for Israel is a U.S. nonprofit 
organization whose mission 
is to connect Americans 
to Israel through volunteer 
service that creates 
opportunities for civilian 
volunteers to serve on IDF 
military bases, alongside 
Israeli soldiers and other 
volunteers from around the 
world.
For additional information, 
contact Carol Kent or Ed 
Kohl at (248) 420-3729, 
michigan@vfi-usa.org or visit 
www.vfi-usa.org.

— Ed Kohl

West Bloomfield

A Troubling Form 
of Antisemitism
Thanks to Rabbi Starr 
for explaining history’s 
suggested responses to 
antisemitism (“Ancient 
Lessons to Battle Modern 
Antisemitism,” Dec. 15, 
page 6). When he spoke of 
asking for “support from 
our non-Jewish friends … as 
well as gentile faith leaders, 
business colleagues and 
government leaders,” he was 
correctly pointing out an 
important step we should 
take. I think, however, we 
need to consider that some 
formerly stalwart allies no 
longer return our calls. 
There is one particularly 
troubling form of 
antisemitism, that of 
hostility to Israel, increasing 
now among Democrats 
in Congress, in some 
corners of the national 
Democratic Party and more 
widely among leftists and 

Progressives. This rising tide 
is consistent with — more 
accurately, part and parcel 
of — the far left’s deliberate 
and aggressive campaign to 
delegitimize Israel. Among 
other ways, it manifests 
itself in the BDS (“Boycott, 
Divestment, Sanctions”) 
movement; the isolation 
of Israeli scholars; and 
the harassment of Jews on 
college campuses across the 
country. 
Some do not see this as 
antisemitism; they seek 
to distinguish criticism 
of Israel’s government 
(especially given the left’s 
disdain for Benjamin 
Netanyahu) from domestic 
antisemitism. That’s why it’s 
important we keep in mind 
these days claiming “I’m just 
criticizing Israeli policies (or 
politics)” usually is merely 
a façade for antisemitism, a 
shield for antisemites. 
The far left’s criticism 
of Israel fails Natan 
Sharansky’s three-part 
(“3D”) test of “demonization, 
delegitimization and double 
standards” to determine 
whether statements critical of 
Israel are legitimate criticism 
or a cover for antisemites. 
Regrettably, too many times 
the comments of many can’t 
pass Sharansky’s test. 
Understanding this 
trend is necessary to 
understanding why these 
former allies not only 
are not interested in calls 
to stand with the Jewish 
people, they condone, at 
least, antisemitism as they 
withdraw their support for 
Israel. 

— Roger Leemis

Southfield

letters

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