1942 - 2023

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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The Detroit Jewish 
News Foundation

| Board of Directors:
 Chair: Gary Torgow
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 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory

 

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6 | OCTOBER 12 • 2023 
J
N

T

he 1973 Yom Kippur 
War began as a sur-
prise attack on the 
holiest day of the Jewish 
calendar. On Oct. 7, 2023, 
history repeated 
itself.
On Saturday, 
Hamas, an Iran-
backed terror 
group, launched 
a surprise attack 
by land, sea and 
air — including 
thousands of rocket strikes 
in the first 20 minutes. On 
the ground, Hamas terrorists 
punched through the bor-
der fence and drove through 
two checkpoints that Israel 
keeps open for humanitar-
ian supplies. They attacked 
armored vehicles, and waged 
gun battles with police and 

Israeli reservists for hours. 
Neighborhoods became bat-
tlefields. Dozens of civilians 
and soldiers have been taken 
hostage. Updated reports say 
more than 800 Israeli civilians 

were murdered, at least 2,300 
wounded and an unconfirmed 
number taken hostage. It 
was the largest Hamas com-
bined-arms campaign in his-
tory.

Within hours of the inva-
sion, Israel’s Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu, in a 
solemn televised address, con-
cluded: “We are at war, and we 
will win.”
Saturday was Simchat 
Torah, a holy day of celebra-
tion, which translates as “joy 
of the Torah.” On this day, 
observant Jews do not work, 
drive, write or use electron-
ic devices. A perfect day to 
attack a quietly celebrating 
democratic nation.
Already, social media is pol-
luted by those trying to justify 
the unprovoked barbarity of 
the surprise attack. Some said 
that Israel should give land 
for peace. This ignores that 
Hamas planned these attacks 
from the Gaza Strip, which 
Israel handed over in 2006 to 
make peace. Others talked of 
the “humiliation” of Gazans 
having to show their identifi-
cation at the border fence just 

PURELY COMMENTARY

opinion
‘We Are all Israelis’

Ahmed 
Charai

The funeral of IDF Col. Jonathan Steinberg at Mount Herzl military 
cemetery in Jerusalem on Oct. 8, 2023.

Hamas is now a threat to America’s national security, 
and the United States must act accordingly.

PHOTO BY OREN BEN HAKOON/FLASH90.

continued on page 11

