8 | SEPTEMBER 14 • 2023
exercise.) And this summer,
ABC News reported an Oregon
radio station became the first
in the country to artificially
generate a human host’s voice,
with her consent, for an entire
air shift.
Remember the scarecrow
from the Wizard of Oz? He
didn’t need the “brain” (AI)
given to him by the Almighty
Wizard, after all. In the end,
he finally realized he had the
ability to think all along.
My hope for the New Year is
that the ease and speed afforded
us by evolving technology
doesn’t further tempt us to
take shortcuts in original and
creative thinking — the kind
you always get from your rabbis
and the kind I strive to share
with you in the JN.
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu.
Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/
acting talent, speaker, and emcee.
Visit his website at laughwithbigal.com,
“Like” Al on Facebook and reach him
at amuskovitz@thejewishnews.com.
R
osh Hashanah offers a precious
opportunity to reflect on the year
we’ve lived, a chance to recognize and
give sincere thanks for the blessings we’ve
received.
The new year is also a
moment to look honestly at our
failures and to ask ourselves how
we might do better in the future.
It’s a time to ask: Who among
us is struggling? Who has been
forgotten or left out? How can
we better fulfill our sacred
responsibility to care for one
another?
When needs arise, whether
they are in our local community
or in a war-torn nation on the
other side of the world, will
we be prepared to meet the
moment with generosity and
commitment?
As Jewish Detroiters, we can
proudly say that we have always
done so.
In fact, in recent years we
have weathered some of the
most profound challenges
in generations. The global
pandemic threatened the health
and welfare of the community. Economic
uncertainty, inflation, and a rise in poverty
and food insecurity have affected thousands
of families. The war in Ukraine uprooted
countless Jewish lives, including many elderly
individuals and Holocaust survivors. We’ve
witnessed an alarming rise in antisemitism
and hate crimes against the Jewish people.
We continue to feel the impact of each of
these challenges. But today, thanks to the
resilience and spirit of its members, our
community remains strong.
Jewish Detroit is a place where families
and individuals can live healthy, meaningful
lives — strengthened by their heritage and
deeply connected to one another. It is a place
where Jewish organizations remain dedicated
to helping those in need. A community whose
heart beats together with the people of Israel
and with Jews everywhere across the world.
The Jewish Federation is proud of the
role it has played in this story. With each
challenge we have faced, Federation’s response
demonstrated our unique capacity to mobilize
resources and direct them with greatest
efficacy and impact. We remain committed to
maintaining the strength of our community,
a place where everyone can live vibrant,
meaningful Jewish lives.
GROWTH AND RENEWAL
As we look to the year ahead, we are excited
about opportunities for growth and renew-
al. We hope to see many new and returning
faces at our events and programs, and that our
community members are able to deepen their
Jewish experience in a life filled with joy and
connection.
This will also be a time of transition. In
October, a new slate of leaders will step forward
to guide our organization, including the Jewish
Federation’s incoming president, Gary Torgow,
and the United Jewish Foundation’s incoming
president, Michael Berger. Both Gary and
Michael are seasoned and deeply committed
community leaders, and we know the
organization will be in very capable hands.
We conclude this letter as we began, with
gratitude.
We are grateful for this extraordinary
Jewish community, a place of Jewish
traditions and values in which every
individual is welcomed and cherished. We
also recognize that our work is only made
possible by our donors and volunteers. Your
passion and commitment fuel our efforts, and
there is no more generous community to be
found anywhere.
Shanah Tovah to our entire Jewish
community. May this be a time of peace and
prosperity for the Jewish people, and a year of
meaning, growth and joy for all.
Matthew B. Lester is president of the Jewish Federation
of Detroit; Dennis S. Bernard is president of the United
Jewish Foundation; and Steven Ingber is CEO of the Jewish
Federation of Detroit.
Matthew
Lester
Dennis
Bernard
Steven
Ingber
High Holiday Greetings
Meeting Our Jewish
Community’s Challenges
PURELY COMMENTARY
MY NON-ARTIFICIAL WISH
FOR THE NEW YEAR from
page 4
Corrections
In “Jewish
Developers
Join Detroit
Rebirth,” Aug.
31, page 10.
The incorrect
photo was used
for Andrew Leber. Here is
the correct photo.
In In
“Protecting
Young Athletes
from Potential
Abuse,” Aug.
31, page 68,
the incorrected
photo was used for Julie
Cohen. Here is the correct
photo.