Letters to the editor

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Retiree society
I applaud Gil Troy’s attempt to entice American “grandparents” (as they will be termed here) to Israel for their retirement years (“Become ‘shkaydiot’ – Golden Age Zionists – and not Florida defeatists,” Center Field, February 24). However, I would recommend that he advise them that once on these shores, they will be regarded not by their accomplishments, but mostly by their age.
Jobs or opportunities to continue in their former vocations or interests will not be offered. Indeed, unless they miraculously become fluent in spoken Hebrew, they will not be able to understand even the news on TV.
If they are fortunate enough to have children or grandchildren in the land, they will soon find themselves in the reverse position of becoming the child trying to navigate daily life.
At best, their local trades people will speak kindly to them of their own “elderly grandparents,” who will turn out to be 10 years younger than the newcomer.
Of course, this might be balanced for some by getting a seat on the bus.
If, having apprised his audience of all these factors, they still have the idealism and chutzpah to give this new life a try, then kudos to them. May they soon join the rest of us luft people already here. Perhaps together, we can create the vibrant retiree society that Troy envisions.
MARION REISS Beit Shemesh
Sabbath movement
I personally prefer Shabbat to be a day of rest, where everything is quiet.
No buses, ideally no cars (just like Yom Kippur) and no commerce. Truth be told, I would be delighted if Sunday were the same.
Two days of bliss! However, I’m a realist and understand that others have their needs.
According to the “status quo,” Haifa has buses on Shabbat, but Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and most other cities do not. Anyone visiting a hospital on Shabbat has to drive or pay for a taxi. And what about non-Jews? Why can’t they have public transportation on Saturdays? In some cities in pre-war Europe, many Orthodox Jews would use public transportation on Shabbat.
This was because it was run by non-Jews and was free, so no money or tickets had to be carried or exchanged.
I believe the solution is to have a fleet of Shabbat buses with open doors like in London, driven by non- Jews and operated by the local authority for free.
Think how some elderly and not-so-elderly Jews would benefit by being able to go to shul instead of staying home.
Judaism has a fine record for halachic maneuvering – Shabbat elevators and the eruv (the token enclosure around communities that allows observant Jews to carry certain objects outside the home on Shabbat and Yom Kippur) come to mind.
Will the haredim accept it? Probably not. Will they violently object to it? I don’t think so, as long as it’s not in their areas. Many don’t accept Shabbat elevators or even the eruv, but they don’t demonstrate against them.
JONATHAN GREENSTEIN
Jerusalem ‘Post’ needs ‘help’
Your editorial “Sanders and Judaism” (February 12) dreams of the day an Israeli Arab can be prime minster of Israel. Maybe at the same time, a woman can be supreme ruler of Iran, a Jew can be president of Qatar, a nightingale will sing on my windowsill every morning and we can go to the moon for lunch (kosher, of course).
You are not dreaming.
You have a schizophrenia and need help.
In case you forgot, Israel is a Jewish state. If that embarrasses you, there are plenty of other Middle Eastern countries that have Arab rulers where you might feel more comfortable (but I doubt you will last too long).
DANIEL BAUM London
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