During the May Educational Moment of Genesee County’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission, members heard from Mr. Steven Low, Director of the Flint Jewish Federation, whose remarks offered a meaningful reflection on Jewish heritage, service, history and the enduring contributions of the Jewish community in Flint and Genesee County.

Mr. Low and members of the Flint Jewish Federation also assisted in the co-curation of the Jewish Heritage Month Resolution recently passed by the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. The resolution and the collaborative process that helped shape it reflect the Board’s ongoing priority of promoting an inclusive and collaborative culture throughout the organization and the broader community.

Jewish Heritage Month provides an opportunity to recognize not only the rich history and cultural contributions of Jewish Americans, but also the local institutions and individuals who have helped strengthen Genesee County through service, advocacy, education and community partnership.

Below are Mr. Low’s remarks, shared in their entirety:

My name is Steven Low and I am the director of the Flint Jewish Federation, which is the hub of the Flint and Genesee County Jewish Community.

Worldwide, there are only 16 million Jews compared to 2 billion Muslims and 2.5 billion Christians. We Jews are only about 2.5 percent of the American population of 340 million. Most of us are concentrated in major or mid-sized cities, and that is why most people in this country may have never met someone Jewish. It may sound strange, but there are those who, upon meeting someone Jewish for the first time, have inquired why they don’t see any sign of our horns. This happened to my own mother. For the record, Jews do not have horns. We are people just like you. Though small in number, Jews live in virtually every country of the world, and we are of every race.

Despite our small numbers, Jews have won 26% of the Nobel Prizes for medicine and physiology and 24% of the Nobel Prizes awarded in physics. Two Jews, Salk and Sabin discovered the polio vaccine. Jews contributed to the development of the internet, created the cell phone and GPS. Additionally Jews have made virtually innumerable contributions to culture, literature, and law. A recent listing that I saw of notable Jewish jurists (think Ruth Bader Ginsburg) extended to over 25 single spaced pages.

Because, except in Israel, we are a minority and have suffered from prejudice and bigotry we have learned the importance of compassion. We recognize that people of different races, nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders and sexual orientation bring a variety of perspectives, insights, skills, talents, and experiences and wisdom that provide tools to strengthen all of us. We value collaboration and appreciate the importance of being active, involved citizens. This is beautifully captured in two of our teachings. First: “If I am not for myself who will be for me, If I am only for myself, what am I and if not now, when?” The second teaching is: “One is not expected to complete the work but neither is one free to desist from it.”

The Bible commands “Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue” and Robert Segar, Esquire, Jewish Flintstone argued the Virginia Poll Tax case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966 and won. This landmark case found the requirement of poll taxes to vote in state elections was unconstitutional. Based on timeless values expressed in the Torah of compassion for the poor and downtrodden, the widow, the orphan and the refugee the Flint Jewish Federation, is part of an international web of agencies that provide assistance locally, domestically and in over 70 countries worldwide. It is consistently ranked among the top charities in the world.

We are always among the first on the ground responding to earthquakes, wild fires, tsunamis, financial collapse, hurricanes and tornados in our own country and around the world. When Flint suffered the water crises, Jewish communities around the country and in Canada responded with truckloads of water and toiletries and donations of cash to assist with both short and long-term needs.

Henry Brown was the first Jewish permanent resident of Flint moving here in 1859. The Flint Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Services had its beginnings 88 years ago when it was initially known as Flint Jewish Charities.

Here in Flint we provide transportation services both in and out of county, congregate meals, mobile meals, and assessment and referral services without regard to race, creed, religion, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. We collaborate with local institutions and agencies to provide educational and cultural experiences. For 33 years our Don Riegle Community Services Awards event has publicly recognized and honored Genesee County community members for their selfless devotion to serving Flint and Genesee county. Our goal has been to inspire others to similar service.

Our Karen Schneider Flint Jewish Film Festival held in partnership with the Flint Institute of Art, just completed its 22nd year. It entertains, educates and informs with its presentation of dramas, documentaries, comedies and short films. It often showcases Jewish history and values, values that are shared, often to their surprise, with members of the greater general community. This past year one film told the story of Raoul Wallenberg a Holocaust rescuer, who was an alum of the University of Michigan. Another short told the story of Mark Schwartz, a Flintstone, who is a beloved luthier residing here, repairing the string instruments of our own community and symphony members and supporting music education here.

Until about a decade ago, acts of anti-Semitism had decreased sufficiently that many members of recent Jewish generations had no personal experience of such expressions of hate, stereotyping and bullying. In the last decade, anti-Jewish attacks have increased almost 1000 per cent.

Each year the Federation hosts a Holocaust Commemoration to which the public invited. After a brief service, there is a presentation by a survivor, or a movie, play or concert. We hope this keeps the memory of these terrible times alive even as the last Holocaust survivors are passing so that we may all learn from the past and dedicate ourselves to the prevention of such crimes against humanity ever occurring again. Sometimes words fail but we Jews believe that music can provide a bridge to facilitate communication among those of different religions, nationalities, races and cultures and genders. Our Daniel Pearl World Music Days Program held in memory of the Wall Street Journalist who was killed by terrorists solely because of his Jewish identity does just that. In our 16th year, we will again present a diversity of genres of music from a diversified group of musicians who will once again join together in the finale Salaam–a prayer for Peace.

Last August, in collaboration with the Flint Institute of Music, we presented a masterclass and concert by Netta Elkayam and Amitai Cohen artists from Israel of Moroccan descent. They performed with jazz musicians from New Orleans and members of the National Arab Orchestra performing music of Northern Africa, Morocco, and Andalusia, the only such collaboration between Jewish and Arab musicians to my knowledge in all of Michigan.

In short, Jewish institutions and individual members of the Jewish community have devoted themselves and been instrumental in the development and improvement of life throughout Flint and Genesee County. Thank you for recognizing the contributions of our Jewish heritage and our Jewish community members to Flint and Genesee County.

The Genesee County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission is grateful to Mr. Low and the Flint Jewish Federation for their partnership, leadership, and willingness to share this important history with the community. Their work is a reminder that inclusion is strengthened through listening, learning, and working together across cultures, faiths, and experiences.

As Genesee County recognizes Jewish Heritage Month, we also reaffirm our values as an organization, including our commitment to building a community that needs and values everyone.

Appearing in the above photo (L-R):
Back Row: Sandra Etherly-Johnson*; Nancy Edwards*; Elizabeth Jordan*; Susan Low, Steven Low’s wife; Steven Low, Flint Jewish Federation; Johnell Allen-Bey*; Charles Winfrey*; Myron Henderson, newly elected commissioner, term starts June 1.

Front Row: Anupa Shantaram*; Victoria Arteaga*; Marquita Adams*.

* Current Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commissioner.