LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – While Michigan may not have the substantial enclaves of Jewish citizens like New York City and Chicago, they still make up .9% of the state’s total population. As atrocities continue to unfold in Israel at the hands of Arab terrorists, the news resonates throughout Michigan’s Jewish communities.

“We all share a common fate with Israel as this is our homeland and our safe haven when the need arises,” said Rabbi Leonard Zukrow for Temple Beth Sholom in Marquette. “What happens in Israel impacts the Jewish community across the globe.”

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Part of that impact is felt deeply in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where the communities of Marquette and Hancock-Houghton boast around 50 active Jewish residents. The first Jewish arrivers in the U.P. can be traced back to the mid-1700s.

Further south, Metro Detroit is home to roughly 71,000 Jewish citizens, according to a 2018 Detroit Jewish Population Study funded by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. The state itself is home to more than 2,500 Israelis.

To put the terrorist attacks in perspective, Michigan’s overall population sits at roughly 9.987 million people. That’s comparable to the total population of Israel’s 9.152 million people.

Michigan is also home to a sizeable Arab population in cities like Dearborn and Hamtramck. Dearborn is more than 50% Arab, boasts deep Palestinian sympathies, and is represented by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) in Congress. Tlaib has maintained a strong anti-semitic stance while in office, and is facing a censure resolution for those comments from colleague Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-01).

Arab sympathizers in Dearborn hosted a rally on Tuesday night in support of middle eastern Arabs occupying a portion of Israeli homeland that they call “Palestine.” 

“We are not ashamed to stand for a free Palestine,” said Amer Zahr, President of New Generation for Palestine.

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Elected lawmakers who attended the rally included state Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn),  Rep. Erin Byrnes (D-Dearborn), and state Rep. Karen Whitsett (D-Detroit).

Rabbi Zukrow acknowledged the deep rift between the two communities, saying Jews are pursuing peace.

He said, “This dialogue is essential in the Middle East as it is in the Upper Peninsula. We know that there are some who may disagree with our support of Israel unequivocally. We welcome conversation about how to bring peace to a very troubled place with the hope that such conversation will guide us toward this holy goal,” Rabbi Zukrow said.