By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: PIXABAY)Quality time with Jane BiranHaving read Jane Biran’s recent articles in The Jerusalem Report, I’d like to do what I’ve wanted to for quite some time and tell you how greatly I enjoy them.The diversity of interesting, stimulating subjects always combines widening the horizons through serious, well analyzed, thought-provoking articles, as well as the sheer pleasure of reading articles, full of humor, about lighter issues.For instance, “Checks and Balances,” “Oh, no! Not another one” and “The Wagner Syndrome,” on the one hand, and “My love-hate relationship with Christmas,” on the other. When I do my round of shopping, once I’m done with the “business/necessary” part of buying food, etc... I proceed to the “pleasure” part and buy a copy of The Jerusalem Report, mainly looking forward to my “quality time” consisting of a cup of coffee accompanying a Jane Biran article.Ruty AvrahamoffJerusalemOperation EmbraceKudos to writer Linda Gradstein, who took the time on a Saturday night to attend the Operation Embrace/Mivtza Hibuk event to honor families from southern Israel who have been injured in recent rocket attacks. The Jerusalem Report article titled “Operation Embrace: NGOs help Israelis living near Gaza” (February 10, 2020) was a beautifully written reflection of what families and communities that reside on the Gaza border deal with on a daily and hourly basis. At the Operation Embrace event, I observed Linda’s keen ability to listen to these survivors of terror attacks and write what they are genuinely experiencing.Thank you, Linda, and The Jerusalem Report for your heartfelt sensitivity and insightful reporting.With gratitude,Aviva TesslerExecutive DirectorOperation EmbraceAvi-hai on DershowitzAvraham Avi-hai quotes Alan Dershowitz defining American jurisprudence (January 27, 2020). A criminal defendant is entitled in the US to the kind of defense he describes. That’s a fact, not an opinion. Nathan Lewin’s statement is an opinion, but it carries no weight. Avraham Avi-hai, why should it make you angry?The way I see it you should be angry at the Israeli political system for allowing minority parties to blackmail larger parties into doing their bidding. You should be angry at a system that allows a party with 3.25% of the popular vote to gain seats in the Knesset.You should be angry at a national election system for not having Knesset representation based on geographic districts.Those are the factors that have created the deadlock, not the opinions of American lawyers. In terms of corruption, you’re showing your lack of understanding of the American system. It’s a system that has performed exceedingly well from 1787 to the present while having to deal with a civil war, two world wars, a cold war with the Soviet Union, and it has even done fairly well against the new terrorist-based environment.You seem to be arguing against free speech in your remarks against lobbying. I lobbied for criminal justice reform using information, not favors. That’s the case for the vast majority of people who seek to influence legislation at the state and federal levels. The exceptions are typically found out and removed.Writing a column out of anger is not a good idea. It makes you look foolish. I know you can do better.Peter G. Pollakhttp://petergpollak.comA mixed reviewI just wanted to tell you that I have just received the November 25 issue and would like to make the following comments: The cover is great; in fact, I have noticed the covers generally are much better these days. Loved the Opening shot! The articles look very interesting and I am looking forward to reading them. I have noticed fewer errors these days. The article “A simple guide to the Mideast” is wonderful; the map is useful and it fits in really well.As regards the article about Beth Protea, home for the elderly, what a disappointment! My aunt went there in the past and, my goodness,l it tells me nothing about this superb home for the elderly, which is more like a happy little community with superb amenities. In fact, it has everything an elderly person could wish for and people enjoy a full timetable of activities. (There is another part for people with dementia).Furthermore, the three photographs add absolutely nothing. They don’t show the beautiful shul, for example, or the theater or the large pool or the shops, or the fabulous dining hall or the pottery room with residents’ work proudly on display.Beverley SaundersCosta Del Sol, SpainSpanish surpriseRegarding the article entitled, “Spanish surprise” (June 10, 2019): My wife and I have both visited Barcelona, so I eagerly read your article. Unfortunately, there are several important issues to bring to your attention: 1) Anyone Jewish going to Barcelona would want to know the present Jewish population of Barcelona, which is missing in this article. 2) There are two synagogues in Barcelona, but the writer only mentions one. There is a historic synagogue in which we attended services and also a Reform synagogue. 3) Writer Robert Hersowitz failed to mention the famous church architect, Gaudi. Gaudi churches are the main reasons tourists travel to Barcelona.Alfred FriedmanOttawa, Ontario
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