PURELY COMMENTARY 6 | SEPTEMBER 19 • 2024 J N 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. Postmaster: send changes to: 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. 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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 Watkins Circulation: Danielle Smith Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner | Production By Farago & Associates Manager: Scott Drzewiecki Designers: Kaitlyn Iezzi, Kelly Kosek, Michelle Sheridan essay What Rachel Didn’t Say I watched the eulogy twice. And while, like everyone else, I was brought to tears by the heartbreaking words Rachel Polin- Goldberg said about her sweet Hersh, OBM, upon reflection, I was more impressed by what she didn’t say. Rachel didn’t speak against any politician. The spirit of unity that was so dominant on Oct. 8 has been strained. The tragic saga of the hostages has led to different approaches in how to respond to an impossible dilemma. Naturally, there is negative focus on leaders and military experts, with pent- up anger, frustration and finger- pointing. While I’m sure Rachel and John have opinions on this explosive topic, she chose not to use the funeral of beloved Hersh to fuel toxic flames of division. Rachel didn’t mention the terrorists. Remarkably, Rachel made no reference whatsoever to the terror organization and terrorists who cold-bloodedly murdered her son just days earlier. Evil and terror thrive not only on horrible actions but on the presence it continues to have in the lives of victims and of those who are good. It is extraordinary that Rachel chose not to make any mention of Hamas in her eulogy for Hersh. This is itself a form of victory over evil. Yes, you may have taken our brightest and finest, and the pain is indescribable, but we will not give you the additional success of living on in our world. We will do our very best to eliminate your presence, as the Hebrew words teach, “Let their names and memories be erased.” We will forever remember Hersh, but we will work to forget the evil cowards who snuffed out his pure soul. Rachel didn’t question G-d. It would have been perfectly understandable for Rachel to have cried out “Why G-d, why?” or questioned, challenged or simply express disappointment with G-d. And yet, amazingly, Rachel began by thanking G-d — “I want to do Hakarat Hatov and thank G-d in front of all of you here” — for the gift of having Hersh for 23 years. Having faith is one thing, struggling with faith is natural, but to thank G-d in moments of unfair pain is, in my mind, the greatest level of faith one can achieve. On that morning, Rachel had a microphone to the world. What she said touched our lives forever. What she didn’t say was equally telling. May Hashem grant strength, comfort and resilience to Rachel, John, Libi and Orli. May Hersh’s memory continue to inspire and brighten the world. May we see redemption from the unbearable pain. Rabbi Shneur Silberberg is assistant rabbi at the Sara Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center of West Bloomfield. Rabbi Shneur Silberberg Hersh and Rachel