NOVEMBER 2 • 2023 | 31
J
N

M

ichigan Sen. Gary 
Peters paid a visit 
Oct. 12 to the 
Woodward Avenue Shul 
— which was defaced with 
antisemitic graffiti last spring 
— to discuss the availability 
and importance of Nonprofit 
Security Grants and their 
role in securing houses of 
worship. 
 He discussed both the 
ongoing hostilities in Israel 
as well as the unparalleled 
level of hate crime incidences 
domestically in the United 
States.
Rabbi Mendel Polter of 
the Woodward Avenue Shul 
introduced Peters. Polter 
said, “Evil has wreaked 
havoc in the Land of 
Israel, the homeland of the 
Jewish people, and that has 
obviously instilled, or is 

attempting to instill, fear 
and chaos amongst the Jews. 
But we are strong. We have 
struggled with this before 
and guarantee we will not 
falter.
“But it is comforting and 
reassuring to know that the 
United States of America 
has always been there for us, 
has always had our backs, 
including and especially 
Sen. Gary Peters, who has 
always supported the Jewish 
community in town. 
“We are tremendously 
grateful and comforted 
by the fact that he stands 
together with us during this 
difficult time,” Polter said.
Peters unequivocally 
condemned Hamas terrorism 
in Israel. “It is important to 
pick up again on what has 
been happening in Israel. 

The victims of just horrible, 
heinous terrorist attacks that 
continue. We pray for all 
those individuals,” he said.
“I know the Jewish 
community here in the 
United States and in 
Michigan are concerned with 
what is happening in Israel 
— that it also puts people 
here, potentially, at risk. It is 
a very real concern.” 
Peters went on to say it was 
not only events in Israel but 
the increase in antisemitism 
— the highest levels that we 
have seen in decades here 
in the United States — that 
were causing concern.
“This has been a trend. 
It is a primary reason why 
it has been important for 
us and for me to work to 
provide Nonprofit Security 
Grants. To make sure that 

people, when they head to 
their sanctuary to worship 
and to pray, should feel 
secure.” 
Peters shared how 
congregations could apply for 
a Nonprofit Security Grant.

CALLING OUT HATE
Steven Ingber, CEO of 
the Jewish Federation of 
Metropolitan Detroit, was at 
the event as well. 
 “In America, we should 
be free to practice whatever 
religion we want, wherever 
we want, whenever we 
want,” he said. “Right now 
Jews are roughly 2.9% of 
the American population, 
and 57% of hate crimes 
committed in the United 
States last year were 
committed against the Jewish 
population.”
Ingber stressed the call 
to action for every single 
person. “We need to call out 
hate!” he said. “Security is 
paramount, and the dollars 
and fortifying buildings 
certainly help. But there is 
a root cause to all of this, 
and it is hate. Call out hate 
when you see it, whether it is 
directed at you or something 
you feel strongly about, call 
it out.”
Polter reminded those 
listening that no matter what 
is happening, we can always 
do good. 
“We encourage everyone 
here to just continue 
standing upright and doing 
the right thing bringing 
goodness and kindness into 
this world. 
“That is obviously going to 
create a ripple effect that will 
hopefully be able to squash 
evil once and for all,” Polter 
said. 

Importance of 
 Security Grants

Sen. Gary Peters visits Woodward Avenue Shul.

YEVGENIYA GAZMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LEFT: Rabbi Mendel Polter, 
Sen. Gary Peters and CEO of 
Federation Steven Ingber

YEVGENIYA GAZMAN

