Letters To The Editor
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Other Nations’ Promises
Western nations, led by the U.S., constantly demand that Israel take greater and greater geopolitical risks for possible peace, namely in making territorial concessions that are to be compensated by proffered Western military aid and support.
Yet for the past 15 months, while the Syrian regime has engaged in the horrific mass murder of thousands of its opponents, NATO and the U.S. have repeatedly refused to intervene militarily to stop the slaughter.
Consequently we see that Israel, as has been the case since 1948, can depend only on Almighty God and a mighty IDF.
Henry J. Moscovic
Flushing, NY
Coke’s Hubris
Maybe I’m naïve, but I cannot understand how Coca-Cola refuses to honor the claims of the Bigio family (“The Egyptian Jew Who’s Battling Coca-Cola,” front page essay, June 8). What hubris!
From the article it seems clear that Coke is relying on an interpretation of law that recognizes the legitimacy of a sovereign nation seizing the property of its own citizens, or property located within its borders, as long as the country’s laws authorize it. It also seems obvious that Coke does not dispute the fact that until the seizure of their property by Nasser, the Bigios were the rightful owners. And Nasser took the Bigios’ property only because they were Jewish.
I think it is disgraceful that Coca-Cola profits from a seizure most Americans would consider wrong. Perhaps the company should have thought twice before buying the tainted property from Nasser’s government in the first place.
Arthur Rappaport
(Via E-Mail)
Obama’s Hubris (I)
After reading “Mr. Obama’s Monumental Hubris” (editorial, June 8) and its recitation of national security leaks that serve to cast the president in a positive light, as well as your earlier editorials concerning the administration’s adding Obama’s alleged accomplishments to biographical sketches of past presidents on the White House website, I no longer doubt that Obama thinks everything and anything can and should be used to get him reelected.
I find it very sad that someone who seemed to have so much promise is acting like a Third World dictator.
Devorah Katz
Los Angeles, CA
Obama’s Hubris (II)
Reader Michael Brenner missed the point (Letters, June 8) when he took The Jewish Press to task for having challenged President Obama’s amending biographies of past presidents contained on the official White House website by adding favorable references to himself. Contrary to Mr. Brenner’s What, Me Worry? reaction to this unprecedented action, it really is a big deal and we should all be concerned about it.
Does it not trouble him that anyone consulting the White House public biographies will automatically be exposed to the president’s campaign rhetoric? To be sure, a sitting president inevitably enjoys certain perks that come with the office, but this seems way out of line and alarming.
Howard Wachtel
(Via E-Mail)
Obama’s Hubris (III)
It is unfortunate that Michael Brenner in his letter to the editor perpetuates the canard that those of us in the frum community who are critical of President Obama are either unfair, racist, or both. This president really is different from any of his predecessors – not because of the color of his skin but because of the way he seeks to change our country. There is nothing “unfair” about pointing this out.
Yossi Trachtenberg
(Via E-Mail)
Internet Asifa (I)
I wonder what reader Joey Aron was referring to when he wrote about the “myriad of solutions” “inspired” by the asifa (Letters, June 8). Can anyone point me to something we didn’t know about before? Are we really any different now that the asifa has come and gone?
Allan Bloom
(Via E-Mail)
Internet Asifa (II)
Joey Aron in his letter captured the sentiment of most of us who were initially skeptical about the prospects for success of the asifa but were pleasantly surprised. At the risk of hyperbole, I can’t think of a greater danger than misuse of the Internet.
Pinchas Eisen
Jerusalem
Remember Pollard
I wholeheartedly agree with reader Hazel Levin (Letters, June 8) that we should never miss an opportunity to draw attention to the plight of Jonathan Pollard. His remaining in jail all this time is a continuing statement of rebuke to the Jewish state and an indulgence of the late Caspar Weinberger’s contempt for it.
Mark Norman
(Via E-Mail)
Drawing A Line
Can one imagine a Celebrate Israel Parade that includes a marching group called Adulterers for Israel? Or Sabbath Violators for Israel? And what about Jews for Jesus? Certainly those of us who love Torah and love Israel would be appalled. I would be hesitant to attend a parade that implicitly endorses sinful activity. Yet that is precisely what transpired at this year’s parade, when, for the first time, a gay group, Jewish Queer Youth, marched under its own banner.
My family has attended and/or marched in the parade many times. I fervently believe the parade broadcasts the vital message that Israel has countless supporters: Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and secular, black and white. All these groups and more are represented among the marchers, and they should be. Yet we must draw the line when it comes to organizations that actively promote sin; they simply cannot be permitted to march under a banner that trumpets a deviant lifestyle. And if they do participate, then we should not.
The Torah (Leviticus 18:22-28) lists homosexual conduct among the abominations that caused the Land of Israel to spit out the Canaanites in favor of the Israelites. The Torah warns that we must avoid such behavior, lest, God forbid, the land spit us out as well. How, then, can we justify the inclusion of Jewish Queer Youth and similar groups in an event whose purpose is to help Israel?
The Celebrate Israel Parade is administered by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. I spoke at length with a JCRC employee, but he was unwilling even to acknowledge my point, let alone agree with me. To paraphrase the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, deviancy has been defined down to the point where those who protest moral erosion are seen as antiquated.
My belief is that all the yeshivas and other Orthodox participants in the parade should take a unified stand. They should tell the JCRC in no uncertain terms that they will not participate in next year’s parade unless openly gay/lesbian groups are excluded.
Avi Goldstein
Far Rockaway, NY
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He really doesn't give up, does he?