2023:
Year in Review
Stories the Detroit Jewish News covered this year.
P
erhaps Charles Dickens’ prose
from The Tale of Two Cities best
describes the year of 2023: “It was
the best of times, it was the worst of times
… It was the season of light,
it was the season of darkness,
it was the spring of hope, it
was the winter of despair.”
The spring of 2023 was,
indeed, a time of joy. On
May 14, Israel celebrated its
75th birthday, an anniversa-
ry that was not assured when
the state was established in
1948 and was immediately attacked by
Arab armies surrounding the tiny nation.
Over this past year, Israel’s 75th birthday
was celebrated at many events around
Detroit and Michigan.
A heinous, despicable attack on inno-
cent Israeli men, women and children,
along with visitors from other lands, on
Oct. 7 by Hamas changed 2023. More Jews
died on that day than any other day since
the Holocaust. It fostered a season of dark-
ness, especially for the parents, friends,
wives, husbands, mothers and fathers of
those killed and those taken hostage by
Hamas and its partners.
However, Oct. 7 sparked a sense of unity
among Israelis as well as among Jews in
the diaspora. Despite severe political dif-
ferences in Israel, after the attack Israelis
came together to combat Hamas, maintain
the economy, rally for hostages and mourn
for those lost.
In Detroit and Michigan, rallies were
held, funds raised, and supplies gathered
and delivered to Israel. Volunteers trav-
eled to Israel, and in small and large ways,
help was — and is still — being provided
for the Jewish homeland. On Nov. 14, an
estimated 250,000-300,000 supporters
attended the “March for Israel” on the
National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The stories in the JN over the course
of 2023 demonstrate the resilience, com-
radery and mutual support that Detroit’s
Jews have for each other. In short, we
published a lot of stories about Detroit’s
Jewish community practicing tikkun
olam. We wish you a healthy and happy
New Year and pray for the best for Israel
in 2024.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
JOHN HARDWICK
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER
The Detroit Jewish News
Foundation welcomes its first
Executive Director, Marni Raitt.
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