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. 

SHIR TOREM/FLASH90
YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT

