The absolute audacity of Jewish activists who plan to participate in the event, “carrying no goods of any kind” and only representing “civil society”!
By JERUSALEM POST READERSAudacity indeedSir, – Regarding “US-flagged ship to participate in next Gaza-bound flotilla” (June 21), the vessel is named The Audacity of Hope.The absolute audacity of Jewish activists who plan to participate in the event, “carrying no goods of any kind” and only representing “civil society”! Not a word from these people of conscience about Gilad Schalit, the only real humanitarian crisis in Gaza.Audacity indeed.SHIRA NUBAK JerusalemSir, - Your article quotes Leslie Cagan, the ship’s coordinator, as saying: “Following the example of years of nonviolent Palestinian protests, everyone participating in this project is deeply committed to nonviolence.”I got to wondering: Were the acts of firing hundreds of rockets and mortars at Sderot and thereabouts really acts of nonviolence? Something doesn’t quite add up.JULIAN ISRAEL HaifaYishai and IDsSir, – I would like to say something to Interior Minister Eli Yishai (“Yishai wants ‘religion’ on ID cards,” June 21): My emotional feelings tell me that as a Jew born before World War II, I would not like to see in any official document the indication that I am a Jew. My Jewish pride by far surpasses an identity card.We, the survivors, have been traumatized by the big J in our identity papers. There is no such thing as a second- or third-class Jew. Why do you have to indicate our former personal history? Please use your emotional intelligence.GERSHON POLAK JerusalemSir, – When I received my identity card in September 1975 I was relieved. My rabbi at the time had to write a letter to the Ministry of the Interior to verify that I was, indeed, a Jew.My name at the time was Randall Smith. I was a Reform Jew.My rabbi, Ernst M. Lorge, was a Reform rabbi. My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were all Jewish, for sure. In fact, my patrilineal lineage deems that I am a kohen. Nevertheless, I was so grateful to be deemed worthy of an identity card.Now I read that Minister Eli Yishai wants to demarcate those who are Jewish on the identity card to ensure that those receiving such a privilege are indeed Jews. Since the majority of Jews in the world are either Reform or Conservative, should they be considered less Jewish if they are converted via the Reform or Conservative movements? Soon, we Jews commemorate Tisha Be’av, the great tragedies in Jewish history. Remember: The Second Temple fell because of sinat hinam, baseless hatred between Jewish kith and kin. We Jews the world over, and especially those living in Israel, do not need our strength as a community diminished due to infighting and mistrust. At this perilous time in Jewish history, we must renew our faith in our community – that is where our strength has always made it possible for us to survive as a people.Am Yisrael Chai! A Jew is a Jew is a Jew! Our Jewish soul is what makes us a unique people.YOEL NITZARIM Skokie, IllinoisSir, – The government should provide each Jew with as wide a Jewish identification as possible. I propose that ID cards offer the following options: haredi Jew, Orthodox Jew, Conservative Jew, Reform Jew, Reconstructionist Jew and Yishai Jew, in that order of observance.YAACOV PETERSEIL JerusalemDrop the descriptiveSir, – I must strenuously object to your describing a suspected child molester as haredi (“Child molester nabbed in Jerusalem”). At no time anywhere else in the newspaper is a parallel descriptive attached to a secular individual.MARCHAL KAPLAN JerusalemDisaffiliationSir, – I read with great interest “US/Canada Conservative synagogue body restructures” (June 16).I serve as an executive member of the newly-formed Canadian Council of Conservative Synagogues.This organization comprises congregations that disaffiliated themselves with United Synagogue.There were three main reasons for the disaffiliations: United Synagogue’s lack of recognition of Canada as a separate country from the US, exorbitant dues, and lack of services, with almost no value for the dues sent to New York.In Toronto, United Synagogue is no longer a body but a skeleton of just a few congregations that are also reevaluating their affiliation. The five percent reduction of dues shows how out of touch United Synagogue remains.A. ELIEZER KIRSHBLUM TorontoNot with our bucks!Sir, – Regarding “A very balanced itinerary?” (Comment & Features, June 16), the readers of the Post may incorrectly conclude that Orange County, California, lacks a substantial, lively and organized opposition to the Olive Tree Initiative. To the contrary, many of us believe that there is no reason Jewish money should be used to expose students to the delegitimization and BDS campaigns by the enemies of Israel.Unmentioned was the fact that several years ago, OTI participants met with a Hamas representative.This information was kept from the Orange County Jewish community and the general public by both the Jewish Federation and the University of California, Irvine. It was only when a local community activist sent a Freedom of Information request to the university that it became known to a wider audience.As Jews who understand that our future as a people depends upon the viability of Israel, we cannot and will not condone the use of Jewish funds to support, directly or indirectly, the delegitimization of Israel.JESSE H. ROSENBLUM Huntington Beach, CaliforniaSeeing doubleSir, – An obvious editorial oversight caused the same two columns that appeared on Page 15 of Tuesday’s Post to be reprinted on Wednesday on the same page. A little more confusing was the fact that the date at the top was also from Tuesday, January 21. Now I know how Bill Murray’s character felt in the movie “Groundhog’s Day.”GERSHON HARRIS Hatzor HaglilitSir, – Like many of your readers, I admire the op-eds of Caroline Glick. I can understand, therefore, why you reprinted her most recent article on the following day. But I do not appreciate, at my age, the fact that the page had the previous day’s date. It took me some time to realize that I was, in fact, reading the correct issue, and not showing evidence of senility.MONTY M. ZION Tel MondSir, – You should be embarrassed...But I phoned the paper and was sent a copy of the correct Page 9 and Page 15 by email.At least the service is good.ARTHUR LAMPERT Ra’ananaThe editor writes: We apologize to readers for the technical errors that saw the publication of incorrect pages 9 and 15 in yesterday’s Jerusalem Post.CLARIFICATION In the article “New WJC head sees coming challenges” on Page 9 of the June 21 Jerusalem Post, Dan Diker was not quoted accurately in two instances. He made clear that he was adamantly opposed to the “Palestinian unilateral gambit of statehood,” and not as stated.And he said that “the WJC as a matter of policy supports whichever government” is in power in Israel. We apologize for the inaccuracies.
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