MOSHE JOSEPH Kiryat MotzkinA man of vision Sir, – In “The passing of Steve Jobs,” (Comment & Features, October 11) Susan Hattis Rolef writes that Steve Jobs was no “demigod” and that his products are “not indispensable” and in fact “have become a social nuisance.”She doesn’t get it.Steve Jobs revolutionized computing, communication, music distribution, retail and animation.He created extremely useful products that made our lives, yes, a little more “beautiful” and fun.Mostly he embodied the single-minded pursuit of excellence. He created the world’s most valuable company and employed tens of thousands of people.To complain that his products are addictive is to complain that cars are “bad” because some people drive under the influence and cause accidents, or McDonalds makes people fat.If only there were more people of vision and competence like Steve Jobs.DANIEL CHERTOFF JerusalemStop a bleeding heart Sir, – Gershon Baskin in his oped (Confessions of a 'yefeh nefesh,’” October 11) makes it very clear where his sympathies lie as a true “bleeding heart liberal.”Baskin is “appalled,” “aghast,” “dismayed” and “full of rage” at the behavior of Jewish settlers towards their Palestinian neighbors.And yet, Baskin does not share the same sentiment when it comes to the continuing murder of innocent Israelis.He dismisses Palestinian terror as having caused the Palestinian movement “horrific damage” with no accompanying outrage.Is it any wonder, as Baskin mentions, that the Israeli peace camp is in tatters and on the defensive? Could it be that the majority of the Israeli public is fed up with Baskin’s hypocrisy and double standard?MATTIAS ROTENBERG Petah TikvaSir, – Gershon Baskin’s latest effort is nothing if not hilarious.Baskin’s narcissism is of course the trademark of lefties and pacifists the world over.Here in Italy, they hang peace flags from their windows, whose symbolic message is “My neighbor, the one without the peace flag, is a warmonger.”Should anyone really take a commentator seriously who actually writes “I am completely aware that resolving the conflict is not solely dependent on Israel; it does take two sides to have an agreement. I wish, however; to focus only on our side.”In my honest opinion, Baskin is not a traitor or a self-hater – those positions necessitate a brain.TUVIA FOGEL Milan, ItalyDouble standards Sir, – Isn’t it intolerant of Gershon Baskin in “Confessions of a ‘yefeh nefesh,’” and David Newman’s “Israel must stamp out Jewish extremism,” (both October 11), to decry building on a small disused plot, which is what has been done in the vast Jerusalem necropolis for millennia? The Romans built a huge stillvisible water cachement pool there. Nearby are churches, a monastery, hotels, a consulate, stately homes, businesses, centers of learning, community centers, schools, offices, synagogues, roads, bus stops and more atop ancient Jewish, Christian, Muslim, pagan and Byzantine graves.Numerous material remains are in museums close to the homes of Baskin and Newman. They attest to eons of occupation by countless cultures in the settlement strata below us.What could be greater respect for all in the Holy Land than now to further a message of peace and goodwill?ESTER ZEITLIN Jerusalem
Long ago encounter Sir, – This is the second time I saw a reference by Efraim Karsh (“The revisionist history of Sari Nusseibeh,” Comment & Features, October 11) to a supposed meeting I attended in the spring of 1988, in which he (apparently as a moderate Israeli) was present.The first mention of it was in a critical review of my book Once Upon a Country.I must confess I cannot remember the occasion, or the gentleman.But I do know that it was with a scholar at the Jaffee Center, Mark Heller, that I joined hands during that period and afterwards in the writing of what was perhaps the first joint Israeli- Palestinian book on a two-state solution – whose proofs, I may add, I went over while (and in spite of being in) jail afterwards.Concerning my overall political commentary on the tragic unfolding of our common history, I will leave the matter of judging them to your discerning readers.SARI NUSSEIBEH
Jerusalem Iraqi Jewish memories Sir, – “Security of Iraq’s Jews shaken by WikiLeaks” (October 10) brought back powerful memories of my time as an American diplomat in Baghdad shortly after the end of the Second Gulf War.Much as the few Jews serving in the Coalition Provisional Authority (we rarely numbered more than 12-15 men and women at our Friday night services) wished to develop ties with the local Jewish community, we were constrained by the community’s concern for their own safety.They feared that a visit to their synagogue by Americans could raise their profile and lead to attacks against them.We borrowed a Sefer Torah from the Iraqis so that we could read from the Torah on Shavuot.The transfer was made in a clandestine operation reminiscent of a James Bond movie.Our car (driver in the front, me in the back waiting to receive the Torah) pulled over to the side of the road at a prearranged meeting place. We kept the engine running in case we had to make a quick getaway. Another car pulled up behind us.As I looked around anxiously, I heard a tap on the window and saw a man holding a Torah. I jumped out of the car to receive the holy scroll. As the man handed it to me, we embraced, and he whispered, “We shall meet at better times.” I jumped back into my seat, cradling our loaned treasure, and we sped off in opposite directions.Sadly, the “better times” of which my friend spoke will not take place in Baghdad.
EFRAIM A. COHEN Zichron Ya'acovTired of the ‘Times’