Pick a Wife Already – God Requires It
It’s nice to have shadchanim and singles events, but, in my opinion, rebbe’im should be taking a leadership role and educating our young men and women of their halachic obligation to get married and have children.
There are far too many singles out there. And they are being too selective. What someone thinks is a perfect “100-percent” potential mate will turn out to be only “80 percent,” and an imperfect “50-percent” potential mate may also turn out to be “80 percent.”
Every year I have an obligation to buy a lulav and esrog. I select what I consider to be a beautiful set. It may not be the nicest in the world, but I love my lulav and esrog. That is the attitude one needs to take toward marriage as well.
Israel Berger, M.D.
Skokie, Illinois
Why Are These Rabbis Silent On Israel?
As an avid reader of The Jewish Press, I must respectfully but forcefully protest the loud silent treatment by some of your longtime rabbinical columnists on Yom HaAtzmaut, Yom Yerushalyim, or, for that matter, any positive or exciting topic related to Eretz Yisrael.
They also do not deem it necessary to write about President Trump’s historic recognition of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Israel or Ari Fuld, Hy”d.
It’s disturbing that some rabbanim still refuse to recognize the astounding miracles in Eretz Yisrael or the growth, baruch Hashem, of the Holy Land while every other country in the world is declining. It’s time to discard the biases of years gone by and give thanks to the Almighty for this thrilling time in the historical process toward Redemption.
S. Klein
Queens, NY
Nikki Haley Will Be Sorely Missed
For all those interested in the security of the State of Israel, the resignation of Nikki Haley is a substantial blow. She was not only a vigorous defender of the Jewish state but a consummate antagonist of Iran. She was willing to take unpopular stands at the UN against its corruption and one-sided actions.
Although her successor may share her agenda, he or she will not have her fire. Hopefully her resignation was her decision and not that of Donald Trump. She will be sorely missed.
We can only hope that, whatever her future position, she will continue to be a voice in support of Israel.
Nelson Marans
New York, NY
Wind Machines Should Do the Trick
The solution Yekutiel Ben Yakov Guzofsky presented in his op-ed two weeks ago – expelling the Arabs from Israel – is not viable.
I have a much simpler solution to the kite and balloon terror afflicting Israel: Just set up wind machines at the border to blow the kites and balloons back into Gaza.
George Epstein,
Los Angeles, CA
Trump Is a Blessing
Reading Rabbi Fuchs’ column (“Thank Hashem For Trump And Haley“) was an utter joy. The rabbi’s words flew in the face of the current liberal Jewish cabal that denigrates and dismisses everything the president says and does.
Donald Trump has cut through 70 years of broken phony campaign promises; he actually delivers! Jerusalem, thank G-d, was recognized as Israel’s capital and our embassy was moved – just like that! The response from ultra-liberal Jewish community? A collective yawn and “concern” over how some Muslim countries might react.
Do these people actually believe the rulers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere truly care what Israel’s capital is? Their fear of Iran’s hegemony and evil intentions overrides everything else.
Israel has never had a better friend than Donald Trump, and for the liberals – both Jewish and non-Jewish – to portray him as something else, even going so far as to accuse him of being anti-Semitic, is not only beyond the pale, but disgraceful and despicable.
How sad when people cannot, or will not, distinguish friend from foe, especially during dangerous times.
Myron Hecker
The Democrats’ Behavior Was Despicable
Will our latest national nightmare ever end? Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings exposed some very ugly sores on the American body politic.
Kavanaugh’s judicial record was stellar, so his opponents embarked on a character assassination campaign with last-minute allegations that required breaking the confidence of a woman who did not want to go public.
Kavanaugh vehemently denied the charges leveled against him, and the people who supposedly witnessed Professor Ford being assaulted said they didn’t recall any such incident. No matter. Kavanaugh was presumed guilty by his opponents. Out went centuries-old principles of fairness, presumption of innocence, and due process.
Mobs rushed to the streets, into Senate offices, and onto social media. And now the Democrats want to regain control of Congress and impeach the president, delay political appointee confirmations, “pack” the Supreme Court, and abolish the Electoral College.
The question long ago posed by Joseph Welch to Sen. Joseph McCarthy now needs to be addressed to Judiciary Committee Democrats: “At long last…have you no shame?”
Richard D. Wilkins,
Syracuse, NY
Need a Liver?
A rabbi who already donated a kidney has been cleared to donate part of his liver at the Cleveland Clinic. A transplant date was set, but the person to whom he was going to donate cannot have a liver transplant at this time.
If anyone out there needs a liver transplant, please contact me. This wonderful rabbi will be so happy.
Chaya Lipschutz
[email protected]
America’s Brown Shirts
As a child of survivors, I fear this country is becoming dangerous for Jews. The Democratic Party is dividing our great Republic.
Antifa is dangerous and violent. Hillary Clinton has stated that “civility can [only] start again” when Democrats regain the House and Senate. Eric Holder has stated that when Republicans “go low,” Democrats should “kick them. Others have called for harassing Republican Senators or Trump administration in restaurants and outside their homes.
Democrats are becoming like the Brown Shirts of the past. They are promoting violence, chaos, and the eventual overthrow of our government. Such a climate is very dangerous for Jews because the Jews are always the scapegoat.
The times we are living in are reminiscent of the Nazis’ rise Germany. I plead, therefore, with my fellow Jews not to vote for any Democrat in November – no matter how you feel about the president. An ascendant Democrat party at this point would endanger the safety of Jews in the United States and Israel.
Chaya Leah Starkman
Atlanta, GA
What? I Never Said That
Martin D. Stern’s response to my letter indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of it. Both Mr. Prager and I predicated our viewpoints on the hypothetical premise that Judge Kavanaugh is guilty of sexual assault. For Mr. Stern to therefore say I believe accused parties are “guilty until proven innocent” is patently false and nonsensical.
Charles Samuel Litwick
Yet Another Stamp Price Hike
The United States Post Office proposal to raise the price of first-class stamps from 50 cents to 55 cents on January 27, 2019 is no surprise.
Part of the problem is that Congress in 2006 required the Post Office to fully fund 75 years’ worth of retirement benefits for employees. That contributed billions to the Post Office’s long term debt. Congress must allow the Post Office to fund its retirement plan more reasonably.
Here are some other ideas that could help the United States Post Office avoid frequent postage stamp increases:
1) Sell advertising space on the sides of mailboxes, inside and outside post offices, and on heavy-duty long-haul trucks.
2) Sell off some of you valuable real estate and move to less expensive locations.
3) Close big post offices and sublet space at WalMart and other big stores. At the same time, sublet excess space at underutilized post offices.
4) Allow corporations to sponsor stamps for a fee.
5) Have members of Congress, state legislatures, and other elected officials pay the full costs for their annoying frequent bulk-rate mailings to constituents. They are nothing more than free re-election campaign brochures subsidized by taxpayers.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, NY
The Uman Pilgrimage Is Just Wrong
Two weeks ago, I argued that worshipping at a rabbi’s grave is idol worship. Last week, Bentzion Chanowitz wrote that the Lubavitcher Rebbe told his father that “if you cannot visit or don’t know where a relative is buried, go to the kever of a tzaddik and pray, and the tefillah will get to where it needs to go.”
Fine, but to go en masse to a grave in a far off place like Uman by the tens of thousands is a bit excessive.
Bert Zackim
We Cannot Stand Idly By
The Boro Park Jew who was beaten up this week should remind us all that we cannot stand idly by when a Yid is attacked. G-d helps those who help themselves. Teach your children bravery, learn self-defense, and hire armed guards for your synagogues and schools.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
