Looking Back

From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History 

accessible at www.djnfoundation.org

62 | MARCH 9 • 2023 

Judy Goldwasser was kind enough to 
write to me and tell me that she sent my 
Looking Back about the Three Stooges 
to her friend and former Detroiter Judith 
Groudine Finkel. The Horwitz members 
of the Three Stooges were Finkel’s 
cousins. She even wrote a memoir 
about her family ties: The Stooge Gene: 
Recollections of My Zany Jewish Family.
Finkel pointed out an error in my work: 
“Shemp was with Moe and Larry first. 
When he left to go out on his own, Curly 
took his place. Then, when Curly had 
his stroke, Shemp came back to replace 
him.” 
Thanks for bringing this important fact 
of Three Stooges lore to my attention, 
Judy and Judith! 

Lending Aid to Turkey
T

urkey and Northern Syria recently experienced the worst earthquake 
in their modern history. When writing this column, the death toll had 
surpassed 47,000. Beyond the massive human tragedy, infrastructure 
damage was catastrophic — homes, roads, apartment and office buildings, 
etc., wiped out. It is a moment of serious devastation, 
and it’s not over yet. Millions are suffering in the 
aftermath. 
It is often said that one sees true character when the 
going gets tough. With deep sorrow for the earthquake 
victims, however, we can take some pride in 
the global response. Both the United States 
and Israel rose to the occasion. 
The United States is providing funds and 
physical support. It has sent $200 million in 
aid, thus far, and American military forces 
have assisted in moving crucial supplies to 
the area. American NGOs have also provided 
substantial support, and individual Americans 
have contributed to the relief efforts. 
Israel, so often criticized on the global stage and being on 
the receiving end of antisemitism, was one of the first nations 
to send help. Despite an often-rocky relationship with Turkey 
and serious issues with Syria, the day following the earthquake, 
Israeli search-and-rescue teams were on the ground. Global Jewish 
organizations such as the JDC and JAFI, as well as the IDF, provided 
support for relief efforts and are still doing so.
This is not the first time in recent history, by the way, that both 
Israelis and Americans have supported victims of earthquakes 
around the world (to say nothing of other natural disasters around the 
globe, including Haiti, Japan, Turkey, et al., over the past 25 years). 
For one such example, a search in the William Davidson Digital Archive 
of Jewish Detroit History raised several stories about the terrible Aug. 17, 
1999, earthquake in Turkey. See “Rescue Efforts in Turkey” and the editorial 
“Rescue Without Politics” in the Aug. 27, 1999, JN. Both pieces discuss 
relief efforts by American Jewish organizations. They also cite substantial 
contributions made from our local Metro Detroit Jewish community.
“Call of Duty” is a heartwarming story about a member of Israel’s National 
Search and Rescue Team. Ofer Pomeranz had just arrived in Switzerland for 
a vacation when the earthquake hit. A 44-year-old reservist, Pomeranz knew 
his vacation was over. He was soon helping people in Turkey (Sept. 3, 1999, 
JN). If you’d like to read a story about Israeli global relief, this is a great one.
In short, America and Israel have a great record of assistance for those in 
need around the globe. The Davidson Archive has the proof of this. I wish 
more people would read the stories. 

Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives, available for free at www.
djnfoundation.org.

Mike Smith
Alene and 
Graham Landau 
Archivist Chair

