July 2: Friends Indeed

Instead of constantly lamenting the loss of all those Jews who have converted to liberalism, let’s celebrate the Orthodox.

By JERUSALEM POST READERS
letters 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
letters 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Friends indeed
Sir, – I see yet another editorial on healing (“Healing Jewish rifts in the ‘three weeks,’” June 30). Let’s put it another way: What does Israel have to do to make liberal US Jews love it? How about stop beating a dead horse? Orthodox US Jews have always supported Israel and will continue to do so. The support from the rest, even in the best of times before 1967, was a mile wide and an inch deep. Israel back then was a place to plant a tree and dance the hora; now, it’s that mean country that won’t feed those nice Gazans.
The inch of support has disappeared and will never return. So instead of constantly lamenting the loss of all those Jews who have converted to liberalism, let’s celebrate the Orthodox and acknowledge the rock-hard support of an even larger and more influential US group: the Christian Right.
ABE KRIEGER Highland Park, New Jersey
Population exchange
Sir, – Ray Hanania often manages to be a bridge between the Israeli and Palestinian points of view.
However, I differ most strongly from his claim that Barak’s offer to Arafat failed to “recognize and address fairly the rights of the Palestinian refugees” (“Is this what Israel has to offer?,” June 30).
In 1948, when thousands of Arabs were encouraged to leave this country by their leaders – who promised them a speedy return – roughly the same number of Jews living in Arab countries were brutally expelled and their possessions confiscated. When they arrived in the newlyproclaimed State of Israel – then a poor country – they experienced many years of hardship but eventually were absorbed into mainstream society and today are full-fledged citizens.
Compare this to their Arab counterparts, who have been deliberately kept as political pawns in abysmal refugee camps.
Sadly, our leaders have continuously failed to stress, in every possible political forum, that the obligation to resettle these refugees is entirely the responsibility of the future State of Palestine since there was a clear, de facto exchange of populations.
MITZI KLEIN
Jerusalem
Good intentions
Sir, – While I believe that James Adler’s intentions are good, he is grossly misguided and makes only onesided demands – much like the rest of the world (“Bold, concrete steps,” Letters, June 30). But his most egregious statement is his last one: “And they [Israel’s concessions] won’t mean a single iota of harm for its security.”
Really? By giving away large areas of land to the Arabs, Israel will give up nothing in the way of security? When we merely opened up Road 443, the US government told its employees to avoid it due to heightened security risks. And when Israel abandoned Gaza in another unilateral move, the reward was years of missiles raining down on surrounding areas.
Where are the demands on the Arab side? How about giving us back Gilad Schalit? How about not teaching hatred of Israel and Jews in Arab schools? Why not demand that the Arabs renounce terror? Adler wants moves that will mean not a single iota of harm for our security? Those moves would do wonders.
ZE’EV M. SHANDALOV
Ma’ale Adumim
Some cutting questions
Sir, – Your report on the brit mila that went awry requires many answers (“Rehovot newborn saved after botched circumcision,” June 25).
Was this mohel authorized and registered? If his name is not being released, will his future ceremonies be supervised by a senior mohel? Is this mohel performing circumcisions on a regularenough basis to ensure he’s aware he may be tackling an unusual case, such as a “sunken organ?” Your report states that parents should open the diaper after a circumcision to make sure the baby is not bleeding. I maintain that it is the mohel who must do this in the presence of at least one parent, and give instructions of what the parent should be aware of.
MICHAEL PLASKOW
Netanya
The writer is a former mohel.