1942 - 2024

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

To make a donation to the 
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.thejewishnews.com

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) 

is published every Thursday at 

32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, 

Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical 

postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and 

additional mailing offices. 

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Detroit Jewish News, 

32255 Northwestern Highway, #205, 

Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334

MISSION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will be of service to the Jewish community. The Detroit Jewish 
News will inform and educate the Jewish and general community to preserve, protect and sustain the Jewish 
people of greater Detroit and beyond, and the State of Israel.

VISION STATEMENT The Detroit Jewish News will operate to appeal to the broadest segments of the greater 
Detroit Jewish community, reflecting the diverse views and interests of the Jewish community while advancing the 
morale and spirit of the community and advocating Jewish unity, identity and continuity.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32255 Northwestern Hwy. Suite 205,
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
248-354-6060
thejewishnews.com

 
 
Publisher
The Detroit Jewish News 
Foundation

| Board of Directors:
 Chair: Gary Torgow
 Vice President: David Kramer 
 Secretary: Robin Axelrod
 Treasurer: Max Berlin
 Board members: Mark Davidoff, 
 Michael J. Eizelman, Larry Jackier, 
 Jeffrey Schlussel, Mark Zausmer
 
 Executive Director:
 Marni Raitt 
 Alene and Graham Landau Archivist Chair: 
 Mike Smith
 Founding President & Publisher Emeritus: 
 Arthur Horwitz
 Founding Publisher 
 Philip Slomovitz, of blessed memory
 
 The Detroit Jewish News 
 Foundation Giving Society

 The Rebecca and Andrew Hayman Giving Fund
 Nancy and James Grosfeld
 The Honorable Bernard Friedman

 Editorial 
 Director of Editorial: 
 Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@thejewishnews.com
Contributing Editors: 
David Sachs, Keri Guten Cohen
Senior Staff Reporter: 
Danny Schwartz 
dschwartz@thejewishnews.com
Editorial Assistant: 
Sy Manello
smanello@thejewishnews.com 
Digital Manager:
Elizabeth King 
eking@thejewishnews.com 

Contributing Writers:
Nate Bloom, Rochel Burstyn, 
Suzanne Chessler, Shari S. Cohen, 
Louis Finkelman, Samantha Foon, 
Yevgeniya Gazman, Stacy Gittleman, 
Gary Graff, Esther Allweiss Ingber, 
Barbara Lewis, Jennifer Lovy, Rabbi 
Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz, Karen 
Schwartz, Robin Schwartz, Steve Stein, 
Nathaniel Warshay, Julie Smith Yolles, 
Ashley Zlatopolsky 

 Advertising Sales 
Director of Advertising: Keith Farber
kfarber@thejewishnews.com
Senior Account Executive: 
Kathy Harvey-Mitton
kmitton@thejewishnews.com 

| Business Office
 Director of Operations: Amy Gill
 agill@thejewishnews.com
 Operations Manager: Ashlee Szabo 
 Circulation: Danielle Smith
 Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By 
 Farago & Associates
 Manager: Scott Drzewiecki 
 Designers: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek, 
 Michelle Sheridan 

6 | JULY 4 • 2024 
J
N

PURELY COMMENTARY

T

he Oct. 7 massacre, a 
tragedy permanently 
etched into our collec-
tive memory, thrust people into 
a new reality that is marked by 
grief, fear and 
profound loss. In 
the aftermath of 
this devastating 
nightmare, it has 
left us grappling 
with the weight 
of sorrow. Yet a 
resilient spirit 
emerged to seek solace, healing 
and empowerment.
People actively sought ref-
uge in small moments: from 
community vigils at our local 
synagogues, to rallies, social 
events catered to young Jewish 
professionals and more. Many 
have also turned to the enter-
tainment industry and the 
world of comedy to laugh, cry 
and seek inspiration. 
These fleeting distractions 

became crucial lifelines for our 
people, nurturing our mental 
well-being and allowing us to 
navigate the turbulent waters 
of grief. In this crucible of 
pain, the Jewish community 
found strength in unity, resil-
ience in vulnerability, soli-
darity and hope in the face of 
unimaginable loss. Comedy 
has universally been a healthy 
prescription for a temporary 
distraction, but the material 
projected always comes from 
the intention and professional 
portfolio of the talent. 
Fans of stand-up comedy, 
the arts and pop culture have 
cautiously paid closer attention 
to the source material and the 
individual talent. Jewish people 
across the globe have learned 
to properly digest whether a 
comedian is genuinely looking 
to numb our pain through 
healthy jokes, even if they are 
projected at our own expense, 

or use the stage as an excuse to 
virtue signal, preach polarizing 
politics and vilify communities. 
As Jerry Seinfeld once said, “I 
think the main power of humor 
is that it reveals the absurdity 
of everyday life. It shows how 
crazy the whole thing is, and 
the laughter makes you feel a 
little better about it.” 

HYPOCRISY IN THE ARTS
Over the last eight months, 
Jews have also observed an 
alarming trend of hypocrisy 
growing within the world of 
music, arts and comedy. Several 
of Matisyahu’s performances 
in various states were canceled 
by pro-Hamas sympathizers 
who orchestrated a campaign 
to silence him because of his 
outspoken support for Israel 
and messages of global peace. 
The venues instead cited “secu-
rity concerns.” Meanwhile, 
the singer Kehlani released 

a music video for her song 
“Next 2 U’’ which begins with 
the words “LONG LIVE THE 
INTIFADA
” in big bold text, a 
call for the resurgence of the 
Palestinian-led string of violent 
terror attacks against Israelis 
and other nationals from 1987-
2005. Apparently, Kehlani is 
still allowed to perform in 
Vegas despite promoting an 
open call for violence. The 
venue is silent on the “security 
concerns” relating to her open 
call for violence. 
In March, the London 
Eurovision Song Contest 
Screening Party was canceled 
due to “Israel’s participation,” 
open discrimination against 
20-year-old singer Eden Golan, 
who faced violent threats for no 
other reason than being Jewish. 
In April, Mark Ridley’s 
Comedy Castle in Royal Oak 
canceled a series of upcoming 
shows headlined by Michael 

Adar Rubin

opinion

There is Nothing Funny About Jew-Hatred

