Kfar SabaSir, – “A world without Israel?” makes me shudder in horror.However, very sadly, Stewart Weiss’s projection is not so unrealistic as one would hope.Are we not already denied many of our rights in our own land by our government? Are we not already condemned by gentiles merely for trying to retaliate in self-defense? Are we not already in a situation whereby we must ask permission from US President Obama to build homes for Jews in the Land of Israel? We have to believe that another Holocaust is possible and even probable given the hostility of the world, especially those calling themselves “friends,” and because of leadership that lacks faith and courage in our just cause to keep this land for the Jewish people.EDITH OGNALL NetanyaSir, – On the eve of the day we Jews remember that we lost our precious Temple because of disunity and hatred of fellow Jews, Stewart Weiss felt it appropriate to make an ugly comment about the “Israeli Left.”Is he so blinded by hatred of the Left? Is his antipathy of these fellow Jews so virulent that even just before Tisha Be’av, he is incapable of controlling himself? GARY SMITH Jerusalem Primitive concept Sir, – Having just observed Tisha Be’av, the time has come to discard the widely accepted mantra that because of sinat hinam (Jewish hostility to fellow Jews), the Temples were destroyed and the Jews were sent into exile.It is true that in Roman times the Jews were divided into warring sects, which made it easier for the Romans to destroy Judea.But the fact remains that at the time, Rome was the most powerful nation in the world, whose armies conquered every other nation, regardless of its size and strength.Even if all the Judeans had been united in their defense of their homeland, Rome, which was irritated by a small, troublesome country that rejected its gods, culture and way of life, would have destroyed the Jewish homeland and scattered its people, many of them as slaves, throughout the known world.It’s time for us to stop beating our breasts and discard the primitive concept that we were responsible for our own destruction! We should be mature enough today to lay this absurdity to rest.ELIEZER WHARTMAN JerusalemShocking, I saySir, – If the Electric Company raises our rates by 12 percent (“Treasury cuts electricity hike to 12%,” Business in Brief, August 8), do its workers – supposedly the highest paid of utility employees – still receive free electricity? Where is the social justice in that? Perhaps they should start paying for their electricity usage.AVRAHAM SCHWARTZ JerusalemLook who’s talkingSir, – Silvan Shalom’s “An opportunity for real change” (Comment & Features, August 7) is, to say the least, a bit of chutzpah.Having spent the last decade and more in high governmental positions, he bears with his colleagues the responsibility of the current protests.Whatever measures are taken, the only true, real and effective change would be to reform the present electoral system – oft promised but never undertaken – from 100 percent proportional to just 50%, the balance being based on regional representation, which might reduce the presence of smaller parties and could also make for better MKs.Failing to do so will produce the same results in future elections.HENRY WEIL JerusalemPaying the priceSir, – Perhaps Monty Zion and Diana Barshaw-Rich (“Here’s to health!,” Letters, August 5) can tell me what I am doing wrong.Having made aliya five years ago and regrettably having been forced to avail ourselves of the country’s healthcare facilities, my wife and I can honestly say that they do not compare so favorably with those in England.Furthermore, despite being pensioners, we have to make National Insurance Institute payments every month, pay most of the cost of prescription medications, a fee (Form 17) for every referral to anyone other than our family doctor, plus a monthly subscription to a health plan.As pensioners in England, all of these items were completely free, including exemption from National Insurance payments.Please don’t think I am knocking the health system, but I feel it is a gross misrepresentation to say that it is “as good as or better than that in any other country” or “the best and most equitable in the world.” I accept its shortcomings as a price one has to pay to live in one’s own country.DAVID FREEDMAN AfulaNo rubber stampSir, – I was very disturbed when I read “Claims Conference: A failure of leadership” (Candidly Speaking, August 4).Actually, though, I was not surprised, as two years ago, at its annual meeting, I saw the Claims Conference board in action – or, better expressed, inaction. I was at the time a board member. I later exchanged letters with the chairman and other leaders.I became aware of those who led as if the Claims Conference is a private club and not an organization providing assistance to the last survivors of the Holocaust who live in dire poverty. It should be managed in the best way possible, and not behave as if all is well.I decided to resign from the board and wrote: “I am too experienced and old to be a rubber stamp for the automatic majority the Chairman of the Claims Conference Board and its management have and use in their decisions.”
August 10: Quite the stain
Who was it who said: We all know politicians are wedded to the truth, but like other married couples they sometimes live apart?
Kfar SabaSir, – “A world without Israel?” makes me shudder in horror.However, very sadly, Stewart Weiss’s projection is not so unrealistic as one would hope.Are we not already denied many of our rights in our own land by our government? Are we not already condemned by gentiles merely for trying to retaliate in self-defense? Are we not already in a situation whereby we must ask permission from US President Obama to build homes for Jews in the Land of Israel? We have to believe that another Holocaust is possible and even probable given the hostility of the world, especially those calling themselves “friends,” and because of leadership that lacks faith and courage in our just cause to keep this land for the Jewish people.EDITH OGNALL NetanyaSir, – On the eve of the day we Jews remember that we lost our precious Temple because of disunity and hatred of fellow Jews, Stewart Weiss felt it appropriate to make an ugly comment about the “Israeli Left.”Is he so blinded by hatred of the Left? Is his antipathy of these fellow Jews so virulent that even just before Tisha Be’av, he is incapable of controlling himself? GARY SMITH Jerusalem Primitive concept Sir, – Having just observed Tisha Be’av, the time has come to discard the widely accepted mantra that because of sinat hinam (Jewish hostility to fellow Jews), the Temples were destroyed and the Jews were sent into exile.It is true that in Roman times the Jews were divided into warring sects, which made it easier for the Romans to destroy Judea.But the fact remains that at the time, Rome was the most powerful nation in the world, whose armies conquered every other nation, regardless of its size and strength.Even if all the Judeans had been united in their defense of their homeland, Rome, which was irritated by a small, troublesome country that rejected its gods, culture and way of life, would have destroyed the Jewish homeland and scattered its people, many of them as slaves, throughout the known world.It’s time for us to stop beating our breasts and discard the primitive concept that we were responsible for our own destruction! We should be mature enough today to lay this absurdity to rest.ELIEZER WHARTMAN JerusalemShocking, I saySir, – If the Electric Company raises our rates by 12 percent (“Treasury cuts electricity hike to 12%,” Business in Brief, August 8), do its workers – supposedly the highest paid of utility employees – still receive free electricity? Where is the social justice in that? Perhaps they should start paying for their electricity usage.AVRAHAM SCHWARTZ JerusalemLook who’s talkingSir, – Silvan Shalom’s “An opportunity for real change” (Comment & Features, August 7) is, to say the least, a bit of chutzpah.Having spent the last decade and more in high governmental positions, he bears with his colleagues the responsibility of the current protests.Whatever measures are taken, the only true, real and effective change would be to reform the present electoral system – oft promised but never undertaken – from 100 percent proportional to just 50%, the balance being based on regional representation, which might reduce the presence of smaller parties and could also make for better MKs.Failing to do so will produce the same results in future elections.HENRY WEIL JerusalemPaying the priceSir, – Perhaps Monty Zion and Diana Barshaw-Rich (“Here’s to health!,” Letters, August 5) can tell me what I am doing wrong.Having made aliya five years ago and regrettably having been forced to avail ourselves of the country’s healthcare facilities, my wife and I can honestly say that they do not compare so favorably with those in England.Furthermore, despite being pensioners, we have to make National Insurance Institute payments every month, pay most of the cost of prescription medications, a fee (Form 17) for every referral to anyone other than our family doctor, plus a monthly subscription to a health plan.As pensioners in England, all of these items were completely free, including exemption from National Insurance payments.Please don’t think I am knocking the health system, but I feel it is a gross misrepresentation to say that it is “as good as or better than that in any other country” or “the best and most equitable in the world.” I accept its shortcomings as a price one has to pay to live in one’s own country.DAVID FREEDMAN AfulaNo rubber stampSir, – I was very disturbed when I read “Claims Conference: A failure of leadership” (Candidly Speaking, August 4).Actually, though, I was not surprised, as two years ago, at its annual meeting, I saw the Claims Conference board in action – or, better expressed, inaction. I was at the time a board member. I later exchanged letters with the chairman and other leaders.I became aware of those who led as if the Claims Conference is a private club and not an organization providing assistance to the last survivors of the Holocaust who live in dire poverty. It should be managed in the best way possible, and not behave as if all is well.I decided to resign from the board and wrote: “I am too experienced and old to be a rubber stamp for the automatic majority the Chairman of the Claims Conference Board and its management have and use in their decisions.”