6 | DECEMBER 19 • 2024 J
N

1942 - 2024

Covering and Connecting 
Jewish Detroit Every Week

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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 
FOUNDATION
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www.thejewishnews.com

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) 

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Farmington Hills, Michigan. Periodical 

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additional mailing offices. 

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Detroit Jewish News, 

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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
 

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| Business Office
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 Michelle Sheridan 

Statement

Their Cries Continue to Call to Us

F

ourteen months have passed 
since our loved ones were 
kidnapped on Oct. 7, and 
their cries continue to call out 
to us, unabated. Recently, those 
cries were particularly painful. We 
witnessed via video the continued 
torturous captivity of Edan 
Alexander; learned that Omer 
Neutra — whose body continues to 
be held by Hamas — was murdered 
on Oct. 7; and noted the death of 
97-year-old Gladys Siegel while her 
son Keith remains in captivity.
These developments constitute 
not just a cry but a scream that 
should pierce the heart of every 
decent human being, testifying 
to the ongoing monstrous cru-

elty of the Hamas terrorists and 
of the unacceptable passivity of 
those who stand by while claiming 
to champion justice and human 
rights. We must never allow our-
selves or the world to forget for 
even a moment the ongoing hor-
rific plight of the hostages held by 
Hamas, of every nationality and 
faith, whether living or dead. 
Edan, Omer z’’l and Keith are 
all American citizens, fellow Jews 
and outstanding human beings. As 
leaders of American Jewish orga-
nizations, we express our love and 
admiration for them and for their 
families. The barbaric attacks of 
Oct. 7 showed the world the depths 
of depraved inhumanity to which 

some can descend. The Alexanders, 
Neutras and Siegels — along with 
all the hostage families — contin-
ue to demonstrate the heights of 
grace, love and commitment to 
which people can rise. Their dig-
nity and strength in the face of the 
unimaginable have uplifted us all.
We remain committed to the 
immediate and unconditional 
release of the hostages as soon 
as possible. Their plight is not a 
political issue. Every individual 
and institution dedicated to justice 
and humanity, every government 
or organization with potential 
influence, must join Israel and the 
United States in demanding this 
goal. 

The Conference of Presidents 
and its members will continue to 
call out for action and to make our 
voices heard in every forum avail-
able to us, and we will continue to 
pray for the hostages and for their 
families until every one of them 
returns home. Am Yisrael Chai! 

This statement was released by Harriet 

P. Schleifer, Chair, and William C. Daroff, 

CEO of the Conference of Presidents of 

Major American Jewish Organizations, 

a consensus-based recognized central 

coordinating body representing 50 diverse 

national Jewish organizations on issues 

of national and international concern. The 

opinions expressed do not necessarily 

reflect the views of every member 

organization.

PURELY COMMENTARY

CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS 

