6 | JANUARY 12 • 2023
1942 - 2023
Covering and Connecting
Jewish Detroit Every Week
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people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.
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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,
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thejewishnews.com
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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
Executive Director:
Marni Raitt
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
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Finkelman, Stacy Gittleman, Esther
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guest column
There is No Vaccine for Antisemitism
T
he polio vaccine was
developed in 1955 after
25 years of research and
experimentation, and the vac-
cine for COVID was developed
in record time.
In the early days
in searching for
a cure for any
virus, there are
two critical ques-
tions: 1) How is it
transmitted? and
2) How can it be
prevented?
Unlike viruses created by
nature, for antisemitism, creat-
ed by humankind, there is no
testing to inform us who has it,
and there is no one- or two-shot
combo to knock it out.
Like polio and COVID, how-
ever, the danger is you don’t
know who is a carrier until it’s
too late.
We all have our stories.
My father, Ron Davidoff,
was an executive recruiter. He
once had an employer client ask
what we all know is the ques-
tion before the real question,
“Where is your family from?”
The answer, of course, led to
the conclusion from my dad’s
soon-to-be former client, “So
you’re Jewish!” And then, here it
comes: “You know only 3 million
Jews died in the Holocaust, not 6
million.
”
Our former neighbor, who is
a goodhearted, kind man, once
referred to the corner of Maple
and Orchard Lake Roads as “The
Gaza Strip.
” He obviously was not
going to win any final Jeopardy
question on geopolitics, but I
knew what he meant; “That’s the
Jewish downtown.
”
More recently, I was picking
up a carryout order from a very
popular restaurant on “The
Strip” when, in a casual and
uneventful conversation with the
proprietor, he found a way to tell
me that only Jews could afford
certain luxuries. I informed my
soon-to-be former regular eat-
ery owner that I was a member
of the Jewish community and
that I was offended by his com-
ment. Then it came; “You took it
wrong. I didn’t mean it like that.
”
Interpretation = it’s not me; it’s
you.
A recent article in one of
Detroit’s daily newspapers had
antisemitic overtones. The JCRC
contacted a senior leader of that
publication, who called me. I
called a senior leader of our
Federation, opening a channel
for open dialogue and collabora-
tion and an acceptable resolution
for all parties, and a learning
moment for the publication.
Antisemitism is like an ice-
berg, there is danger under the
surface. It’s always there, with
just momentary punches above
the surface given the waves and
currents of the day. Unlike ice-
bergs, which can last more than
3,000 years until warmer water
melts them away, we can’t expect
nature to do our work.
Like Jewish communities all
over the world, our community,
acting as one with purpose and
resolve, is the only answer to
combating antisemitism when it
comes to the surface.
Zero tolerance. Call it out.
Confront it. Leverage communi-
ty resources as allies, including
your Detroit Jewish News. Stand
tough, together.
Yes, I’ll miss my normal order
at the restaurant noted above.
But, like my father taught me, my
business and my respect need to
be earned. I can’t unhear what
was said. I can’t just pretend that
the iceberg is gone just because I
don’t see it every day.
Mark Davidoff is senior adviser to
the board of the Detroit Jewish News
Foundation.
Mark
Davidoff
PURELY COMMENTARY