Letters to the Editor, April 28, 2006

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Learning difficulty Sir - We should remember the Holocaust and pay homage to the victims. But should we not also learn from it? Too often we hear of what the world must learn from the Holocaust. But do well-meaning Gentiles need an education in its history, and is it really possible to reorient a savage? Judging by daily events, we Jews have learned nothing. How many more times shall we "give peace a chance"? Why is "transfer" a dirty word when applied to Arabs yet acceptable for Jews? To solve the "Jewish problem" Israel needs a Jewish Churchill. Appeasement, denial, confusion, inability to express our claims, guilt and the danger of indifference do not suggest lessons learned from the greatest Jewish tragedy in contemporary times ("Never again," Editorial, April 25). ALEX ROSE Beit Shemesh UN on anti-Semitism Sir, - Your April 25 edition carried a picture of Adolf Hitler and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations podium. The Nazi swastika and the UN logo are clearly depicted. Lest your readers draw any conclusions about this juxtaposition, coming as it did on Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day, I would point out the following: As Chair of the UN's first seminar on anti-Semitism, I can assert that this body has taken a firm stand against anti-Semitism as a unique evil. Indeed, the UN has initiated a campaign to mobilize civil society for Holocaust remembrance and education. At the inauguration of the Holocaust History Museum at Yad Vashem, Secretary-General Kofi Annan pointed out that "the United Nations has a sacred responsibility to combat hatred and intolerance." He went on, "a United Nations that fails to be at the forefront of the fight against anti-Semitism and other forms of racism denies its history and undermines its future. That obligation links us to the Jewish people, and to the State of Israel, which rose, like the United Nations itself, from the ashes of the Holocaust." The secretary-general has also taken a firm stand against Iranian threats to destroy Israel. He has made clear that all UN members "have an obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state." SHASHI THAROOR Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information United Nations New York Vile cause Sir, - Re "Baby killing suspect set to be released on bail" (April 25): I survived vicious child abuse and left home at age 14. I know something about the mind-set of abusive parents. The idea that the haredi community tirelessly sought this father's release after he admitted repeatedly beating his child, and the Israeli courts decided that he was not a danger, is vile. Anyone who beats a child is a danger. Thank God I'm an atheist. ALAN ABRAHAMSON Stevensville, Montana Children of Chernobyl Sir, - Congratulations on "What became of the Children of Chernobyl?"(April 21). My wife and I have been privileged to be involved with this very worthy Chabad program since its inception. In true Jewish tradition, Jewish hostages - over 2,000 Jewish children - have been saved. Merely removing the children from this radiation area has helped prevent their acquiring leukemia, bone cancer, thyroid cancer and other abnormalities. Enormous sums of money have been raised by Yossi Raichik and his associates from all over the world, via the efforts of Chabad alone. These children have an opportunity to grow up to be productive citizens in our country. Anyone interested in participating in this project can contact Yossi Raichik, Kfar Chabad, Israel. IRWIN REICHMAN Jerusalem Three, four & two Sir, - If three gospels say Pessah Eve was on 14 Nisan and the fourth said the day before, that may be the reason why the Diaspora has two Seders ("Christians and Jews," UpFront Letters, April 21). JUDY GOLDIN Kiryat Ono