Caroline B. Glick’s jarring article should be a wake-up call to the American Jewish philanthropists who continue to make mega-dollar grants to universities.
By LETTERS TO THE EDITORWake-up call Caroline B. Glick’s jarring article (“The American War Against the Jews,” Column One, December 2) should be a wake-up call to the American Jewish philanthropists who continue to make mega-dollar grants to universities.In many cases it turns out that they are aiding and abetting vicious expressions of anti-Semitism emanating from their chosen schools.Hopefully they will wake up to learn that their money will serve a better and redeeming purpose if they exclusively support Jewish enterprises.MORDECHAI SPIEGELMAN JerusalemCaroline Glick concludes her article concerning the rampant anti-Semitism on American university campuses with the observation that the Jewish community has failed to deal adequately with the situation.While it is not likely to stem the blind hatred for Israel and Jews on the campuses, the Jewish community can direct vigorous campaigns toward the wealthy supporters, many of whom are Jews, to withhold funds from universities whose leaderships tolerate such travesties within their institutions. University leaders may not give ethical or moral considerations much weight, but the loss of finances might move them to finally make American universities safe places for learning.FRED GOTTLIEB Jerusalem
Providing hope Regarding your story on the rehabilitation of soldiers (“Rehabilitation of sounded IDF soldiers is ‘plagued by failures,’” November 30), it is precisely because of these ‘failures’ that Tikvot was established.Tikvot is a non-profit, volunteer- based organization that rehabilitates Israel’s wounded soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks through sports participation – a proven technique that can play a major role in the rebuilding of self-esteem and self-confidence, helps the soldiers overcome pain and trauma and assists them to come to terms with disability.We read with interest of the “second annual Appreciation Day to raise awareness for veterans and victims of terrorism’” and respectfully recommend our services to all concerned parties .For further info: www.tikvot.org.il or 054-6456581EHUD EDELMAN, VIC ESSAKOW and MERVIN MURAVITZ Tikvot co-foundersClimate hijack Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas used the Paris climate change conference this week to continue his well-known hackneyed theme of blaming Israel for everything.“Our resources are being usurped, our trees uprooted our agriculture destroyed,” he said, according to reports.None of this had any relevance whatsoever to the purpose of the conference so why was Abbas allowed to come as the representative of a putative state and be given a platform just to pour out his litany of lies and distortions yet again at an international forum? Do not those responsible for the conference regret that its proper purposes were hijacked in this manner? And shouldn’t they apologize for it?PETER SIMPSON JerusalemA religious act I have the utmost sympathy for Sarit Azoulay, the daughter of a woman who had converted to Judaism 29 years ago (“What makes a good Jew?” In my own write, December 2). But I fear Judy Montagu is mistaken in her analysis.Despite the tone of the article, becoming Jewish is a religious act and the fact that many Jews by birth are non-observant does not mean that commitment to total acceptance of the mitzvot can be glossed over for applicants for conversion.However subsequent backsliding does not invalidate it so long as there is reasonable evidence of sincerity at the time. Deciding this is extremely difficult in some cases and, in my opinion, every effort should be made to be lenient. But clear evidence that there was none at the time must mean that no conversion ever took place.While Azoulay’s mother’s conversion may have been questionable, the blame lies solely on the court that authorized it and does not reflect on her personally.MARTIN D. STERN Salford, England