Letters To The Editor
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I read with pleasure Naomi Klass Mauer’s interview of Itzhak Perlman (“Through the Ages In Jewish Song,” Aug. 24).
In 1986, as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University, I was asked to suggest names for an upcoming honorary doctorate. I nominated Itzhak Perlman and was present when he received it.
I have twice heard Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot perform live (at the last two Siyumei HaShas). Each time it was a moving experience.
To have a collaboration of these two extraordinary talents is an occasion to celebrate. I hope the forthcoming “Eternal Echoes” CD is only a beginning.
Dr. Elie Feuerwerker
Highland Park, NJ
An Outspoken Tour Guide
It may come as a surprise to many of your readers that tour guides in Israel like me, who observe the holy Sabbath and who speak some uncomfortable truths to tourists, are increasingly off limits to Jewish groups.
Once I had a wonderful position with an important tour company but it chose to discontinue my services when I would not guide optional tours on Shabbat. And I was fired by a national Jewish organization because I dared point out that the “Green Line” cuts through Jewish neighborhoods in the very heart of Jerusalem.
“Land for peace” no longer means giving away some lone dusty hill out of sight and out of mind. Relinquishing land liberated in the Six-Day War now constitutes a threat to the 250,000 Jews living beyond the “Green Line” in the capital city. The organization preferred that I not upset its support for the “peace process” by presenting unwanted facts to its visiting members on “fact finding” missions.
Yet another company recently dismissed me when a non-Jewish American tourist objected to my educating the group about the facts surrounding the plight of Jonathan Pollard.
Despite the challenges over the years, I am pleased with my choices. I suppose I am not everyone’s type of tour guide, but if I could turn the clock back thirty-two years I would not change a thing. It’s been a wonderful ride.
May we merit seeing the rebuilding of our Holy Temple in its place.
Shalom Pollack
shalompollacktours.co.il
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