Yes, there is a Jewish future, but only here. That’s why we exist.
By LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters(photo credit: REUTERS)Receding shore One would do well to juxtapose Gil Troy’s Pollyannaish “What can your country do for you?” (Center Field, April 5), his thoughts on “how Israelis can bridge the gap with the Diaspora,” and Hal Ostrow’s cri de couer “Union for Reform Judaism practices intolerance in pursuit of social justice” (Comment & Opinion, April 5).As Ostrow makes abundantly clear, liberal Judaism is willfully detaching itself both practically and emotionally from Israel’s needs and reality in order to maintain Democratic/progressive/ liberal bona fides that might keep an evaporating congregation from falling off the roster entirely. To the extent that this works at all, it does not work as a factor in fostering or maintaining a Diaspora commitment to Israel.If anything, the opposite is true: The near-term survival of Reform Judaism and its dying ability to attract or maintain members requires it to move ever deeper into an anti-Zionist posture.Troy’s outdated stereotype of the “aliya guilt trip,” whereby heavily-accented, pot-bellied Israeli war veterans insult Diaspora Jews, reveals the extent to which he is detached from reality.The fact is no one, not even the start-up nation, can build a bridge when the other shore keeps receding.Liberal Jews have made it abundantly clear where their values and priorities lie – and these are not under the wedding canopy, in the synagogue pew or in the maternity ward, and certainly not in anything to do with Israel, Zionism or Jewish continuity.Thank God there is an Israel and that over half the world’s Jews live in this Jewish state. The Diaspora is self-liquidating and there isn’t a damned thing Israel can do about it.Yes, there is a Jewish future, but only here. That’s why we exist.J.J. GROSS
JerusalemGil Troy claims that right-wingers should not have supported the idiotic banana republic law barring boycott activists because it makes Israel look undemocratic.The implication is that the right-wingers are also idiotic.Here is my take on his statement.I think that Israeli citizens who support or are active in the BDS movement should be charged with treason. In addition, Jewish non-Israelis should themselves be boycotted, divested and sanctioned.I guess that makes me an undemocratic idiot in Prof. Troy’s eyes.YIGAL HOROWITZBeershebaWhich to believe?Can someone explain the discrepancies between the April 4 article “Dead Sea gets new life,” which includes both glowing descriptions of the sea for tourists as well as the statement that the area was raised two meters to avert flooding, and several recent articles describing the dangers of sinkholes and the terrible amount of erosion around the shore?VIVIEN KLEINMANJerusalemMissing the pointCaroline B. Glick’s “Leaving the big tent” (Column One, April 4) is very interesting.However, it seems she misses the point on the confusion among American Jews in their understanding of the Israeli side: It doesn’t matter what we do – it matters what we say! In the past, we had governments that talked in a peace-seeking manner.Now we have a government that speaks arrogantly and in fiery language.This is not helpful in capturing American Jewish sympathy.As long as Benjamin Netanyahu is prime minister, this will continue. We cannot expect the support of these Jews.Remember the incitement that prevailed prior to prime minister Yitzhak Rabin’s murder?R. NACHTHaifaBruni not worth itWith regard to “Manhood in the age of Trump,” reprinted from The New York Times (Comment & Features, April 4), really! Is there so little of importance in current events that you must stoop to the low level of Frank Bruni’s obscene and inane remarks? Coupled with the large photo of nearly nude body builders, you have put together a tremendous insult to your readers. For shame!ELLEN JAFFEJerusalem
