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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