Letters to the Editor: Anti-Trump ‘bias’

IvoteIsrael shares its voter data with no one, as is expected of a non-partisan organization.

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters (photo credit: REUTERS)
Letters
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Anti-Trump ‘bias’
Your front-page report “IvoteIsrael refuses to share voter data with Republicans” (August 23) offers a wonderful example of a misleading headline.
A reader who does not read the article is led to believe that IvoteIsrael shares its voter data with everyone other than the Republicans. This is clearly not true, as pointed out in the article.
IvoteIsrael shares its voter data with no one, as is expected of a non-partisan organization.
Your headline thus raises the ugly accusation of bias regarding the upcoming US presidential election. Perhaps The Jerusalem Post wishes us to believe that even a non-partisan group like IvoteIsrael is looking for ways to derail the Republican campaign! It seems to me that the Republican candidate is doing a good enough job of sabotaging his own chances. I am sure he does not need help from the Post.
ELLIE MORRIS
Aseret
IvoteIsrael, according to your reporter, prefers to stay non-partisan.
Nu, so why this headline? Please try to help your readers out with accurate, non-agenda driven headlines.
ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ
Kfar Saba
I have been a subscriber to The Jerusalem Post for nine years, and it is becoming very difficult not to cancel my subscription. So much for neutrality in the US elections, as your August 5 editorial “No endorsements” insinuated.
Every day, there are three to five “news” articles against Donald Trump – and that doesn’t include the negative opinion pieces. Where are the articles about Hillary Clinton and all the scandals she has been involved in? How about something on the Clinton Foundation? We are being fed very biased information.
JILL SINIGAGLIA
Meitar
Daily road slaughter
I was intrigued reading “New app allows volunteers to target traffic violators” (August 23), which could be a long-overdue innovation to combat the daily lawlessness one encounters when driving in Israel.
When we returned to Israel in 2008 after over 30 years’ driving in the UK – where, by the way, you are supposed to drive on the left – my wife and I had to take a driving test in order to qualify for an Israeli license. Our driving instructor was a wonderful teacher, and we both passed on the first attempt. We assume that most driving instructors in Israel are of the same standard of professional competence.
From our experience of driving in Israel over the past eight years, though, it is obvious that many drivers flagrantly disregard what they have been taught.
Almost every time we drive, either in town or between cities, we encounter numerous examples of inconsiderate, aggressive and often downright dangerous driving.
I would like to list, in random order, examples of bad driving: Ignoring speed limits; tailgating and flashing headlights at the car in front, with no consideration for traffic conditions; failing to indicate when turning right or left, as though there is no indicator available; stopping suddenly in the road, often in order to talk to the driver of an oncoming car; weaving at high speed, particularly on four-lane sections of intercity roads and on Road 6; and driving while speaking on a mobile phone.
I could go on, but all of these things could cause accidents resulting in serious injury or death.
I am sure that the Traffic Division of the Israel Police is delighted that the Guardians of the Road will relieve them of their responsibility for pursuing traffic violators.
In my experience, we see traffic police in action only after there has been a serious accident.
I suggest that the best way to deter bad drivers is to substantially increase fines for traffic infractions, and that serious and repeat offenders should not only be fined, but also lose their licenses for an extended period and have their cars impounded for the entire period of the ban.
They should also have to take a remedial course in safe driving before their licenses are restored.
If our soldiers were being killed at the rate that people are dying as a result of dangerous driving, there would be protests outside the Knesset and the Prime Minister’s Office. Why have we begun to accept the daily slaughter on the roads as something unavoidable?
SHIMON HAR-EVEN
Safed
Kosher cuts
Regarding “IDF beard controversy stokes anger among national-religious leadership” (August 22), reporter Jeremy Sharon has written an excellent article. However, there is one halachic clarification regarding his statement that in Jewish law, “shaving with an electric shaver is permitted.”
It is understood that there are electric shavers that are permitted, while there are electric shavers that, unfortunately, cut like a razor, and these are prohibited.
The good thing is that some forbidden electric razors can readily be made kosher, such as “the lift and cut” Norelco/ Phillips, by simply removing the “lift” feature (see www.koshershaver.org). This sensitive matter is discussed by experts in Jewish Law such as Rabbi David Feinstein, and they are freely quoted.
I wonder what Theodor Herzl would have looked look like if he had to serve in the IDF as a clean-shaven soldier!
SHLOMO GRAFSTEIN
Jerusalem
Sure can use it
In response to “Can Israel teach American Jews about Jewish identity?” (Observations, August 19), as an American Jew, I disagree that we should say “no thanks” to the assistance offered by the government of Israel. If the much-discussed Pew Report is any indication, then American Jewry – and the Reform and Conservative movements in particular – can use the help.
But these funds might be better spent funding and providing scholarships to Jewish day schools. Jewishly educated young people will be more likely to feel connected to Israel and have a strong Jewish identity, and an uptick in Hebrew speakers will create a common language among Jews and increase familiarity with the prayer service.
Unfortunately, the prevailing thinking is that the US government cannot fund Jewish day schools due to the separation of church and state, but the government of Israel can.
BRYAN KAPLAN
New York
Blaming Bibi
In the first section of her August 21 Grapevine feature in recognition of legendary song writer Nahum Heiman’s death, Greer Fay Cashman accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of breaking his promise to provide him with support, writing that Heiman died in “abject poverty.” But according to Wikipedia, the prime minister did “employ him as a consultant for a project to preserve and document Hebrew songs” upon learning of his precarious financial situation from a TV broadcast.
Mr. Heiman won the Israel Prize in 2009. Since 2008, the prize has been NIS 75,000. While not grandiose, it could have supplemented his other income. He composed for over 120 films and at least 1,000 songs. Did he receive no residuals? Although each residual payment is small, when a composer is as prolific as Heiman, many small fees can become a significant sum.
Wikipedia notes that he went bankrupt by 1999, he had two divorces and a third broken marriage.
Could these have helped to destroy his finances, and not Netanyahu? ROCHELLE EISSENSTAT Jerusalem Davar’s rebirth In their August 4 Media Comment column (“‘The New York Times’ accuses again”), Yisrael Medad and Eli Pollak wrote that the Davar newspaper is “now defunct.”
This is not accurate. It was defunct. However, it has been resuscitated, its debut edition appearing online about three months ago as Davar Rishon (http://www.davar1.co.il), as noted in June by Post correspondent Greer Fay Cashman.
PATRICIA CARMEL
Binyamina