Moving Tributes
I would like to thank Naomi Klass Mauer for her remembrance of Arnold Fine “Arnie Fine, Master Storyteller, Dear Friend,” op-ed, Sept. 19).
I well remember reading “I Remember When” as a child growing up in New York, and can even recall some of my favorite columns a few decades later. Arnold Fine provided steady reading pleasure every week over the course of many years – for me, for my family, and no doubt for the extended Jewish community.
Ms. Mauer’s article provided a much-appreciated behind-the-scenes glimpse of the human side of this wonderful, talented individual.
I was also captivated by the two beautiful In Memoriam tributes to Seth Schwartz, who passed away earlier this month in Miami. Although I never was privileged to meet and be inspired by Mr. Schwartz, I found myself uplifted by his indomitable spirit and simchas hachaim in the face of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
I am certain he has an exalted place in Gan Eden and can now see, walk, and dance among the Malachei Hashares. May he be a mailitz yosher for all of Klal Yisrael.
Naomi Gross
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
The ISIS Threat
The idea that ISIS will train terrorists for attacks on the United States, targeting Jews in particular, is frightening (ISIS-Inspired Lone Wolves Seen As ‘Significant Threat’ to U.S. Jews,” front-page news story, Sept. 19).
This is the nightmare President Bush was trying to avoid when he invaded Afghanistan to eliminate the Taliban. And ISIS seems much more of a threat than the Taliban ever was. The group’s financial resources seem unending and their expertise in military matters far surpasses that of any other jihadist group we’ve seen before.
For those of us with a specific concern for Israel, I think this threat is further proof positive that Israel cannot relinquish control of any territory that will result in terrorists being free to plan and train for attacks against Israel under the radar and at their leisure.
Shimon Stern
(Via E-Mail)
Importance Of Missile Defense
That Hizbullah may try to seize Israeli territory is certainly plausible (“In Next War, Hizbullah Will Try to Seize Israeli Territory,” news story, Sept. 19.) But I am certain that above all else Israel must maintain its ability to destroy enemy rockets in the air.
Without doubt, Israel was able to accomplish what it did in Operation Protective Edge only because of the success of the Iron Dome and the primitive nature of Hamas’s rockets delivery system. Maintaining its air defenses will require Israel to forge ahead with non-stop development of ever more sophisticated weapons systems. Israel can’t assume the enemy will go to sleep and neither should Israeli decision makers.
Yerachmiel Dawidow
Jerusalem
IDF Refuseniks
Re “IDF, Fellow Reservists Rip ‘Refusal’ Letter,” news brief, Sept.19:
I would be the last person to deny the right of people to entertain views differing from mine. However, I was horrified to read that there are IDF intelligence corps reservists who signed a letter vowing to stop collecting information on Palestinians.
Given their training and positions, these individuals have a special obligation to submerge their own feelings for the public good. These few malcontents, however sincere, represent a threat to the very cohesion and security of Israel.
Leah Goldberger
(Via E-Mail)
Inter-Arab Strife
It was refreshing to read your editorial (“What Peace in the Middle East Doesn’t Depend on, Sept. 19) pointing out the real reasons for the continuing strife in the Middle East, the point being that Israel is not central to the overall regional conflict.
Instead we have major divisions within the Muslim religion that contribute to the ongoing wars in the region. Hopefully Arab and Muslim countries will keep the conflicts within their borders and spend their energies on inter-Arab strife rather than on Israel.