Letters

Not Hall Of Famers Yet

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:56:14 +0000

Letters

Rabbi Paul Kushner

As one who grew up in the shadow of Ebbets Field, I must correct a statement that Gary Rosenblatt made in his excellent column, “Closer To Home: Of Baseball, Family And Faith,” May 18.

He included Carl Erskine and Gil Hodges [as Brooklyn Dodger players later named to] the Hall of Fame. Although Erskine is in the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame and Hodges is in the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame, neither has yet been elected to Cooperstown. I can only hope that Rosenblatt’s gift for prophecy equals his talent for nostalgia.

Bellmore, L.I.

Defends Yeshivat Noam

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:55:16 +0000

Letters

Yosef Rubinstein

As a parent with children at Yeshivat Noam, I found Hella Winston’s coverage of the arrest of a Yeshivat Noam teacher very upsetting (“After Arrest Of Teacher, Questions About Vetting,” May 11).

Culture As Sewage

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:54:24 +0000

Letters

Rena Wilen

I am writing regarding Rabbi Avi Shafran’s Opinion piece, “Measured Insularity Does Not A Monk Make” (May 11), which refuted the Opinion piece of Rabbi Eugene Korn on an element of haredi Judaism (“In The Name Of Judaism, Haredim Have Turned Inward,” April 13).

Rabbi Shafran explained that haredi Judaism tries to avoid “the effluence of a coarse popular culture...”

Comparing American culture to sewage?

Palestinian Intentions

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:53:29 +0000

Letters

Morton A. Klein

Your Editorial, “The Real Catastrophe Of The Nakba” (May 18), is right to state that “the catastrophe of the Palestinian people is that their leaders are grounded in victimhood.” As you argue, they would certainly have a state today had reason and compromise featured in their deliberations.

Narrative On Palestinians

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:52:32 +0000

Letters

Irwin Wall

It is not true that “the Palestinians” do not accept the right of Israel to exist (“The Real Catastrophe Of The Nakba,” Editorial, May 18). Undoubtedly some do not, but some do, in particular those in the Palestinian Authority who have declared that to be so for a long time.

Crimes Against Children

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:51:41 +0000

Letters

Gerald Jacobs

All Jews, and especially the Orthodox, should appreciate The Jewish Week’s continuing investigation and reporting on the abuse of children in our schools and communities. Sadly, that will not be the case. There will be the usual cries of Orthodox-bashing by the usual suspects.

Fulfilling Our Mission

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:50:48 +0000

Letters

Richard A. Lopchinsky

Jayson Littman (“Confessions Of A Gay Zionist,” Back of the Book, April 20) states he has been able to rid his “heart of turmoil, self-hate, and questioning” while simultaneously asking God, while standing at the Kotel, “What do you expect of me?”

His seemingly simple story made me very sad.

Most boys in yeshiva consider their rabbi to be as good at guidance as a formally trained therapist, and this is usually not the case. And sadly in this case Littman did not get the help he could have used and could not feel God’s love.

Food And Identity

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:49:50 +0000

Letters

Jay J. Rand

Your recent article, “The Gentrification Of The Gefilte” (April 13), would have been more appropriately titled “The Gentilification.” For Jews, “you are what you eat,” is at the core of their identity.

Pick up a Ukrainian cookbook, and you will find many of our own Jewish holiday staples such as pirogi, holobtzi, etc. A rabbi once asked why we have kosher Mexican, Italian and Chinese restaurants, yet don’t find those people looking to experience kosher cuisine? Well, why would they want to eat what they're accustomed to?

Judicious Use Of The Law

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:00:28 +0000

Letters

Susan B. Tuchman, Esq.

In response to Joseph C. Kaplan’s letter on the use of Title VI (May 11), some of his claims must be corrected. The Zionist Organization of America has never used Title VI to try to censor or suppress free speech, nor would we. We have filed two cases under Title VI. In both, Jewish students were threatened with violence. In one of the cases, Jewish students were actually physically assaulted.

Exercising Our Rights

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:59:25 +0000

Letters

P. Peterson

The widespread Israel bashing on campuses, even at our own Columbia University, must certainly be factored as a major reason for our youths’ waning attachment to Israel. Thus, it was shocking to read that some unnamed Jewish organizations in the Jewish Council for Public Affairs are so concerned with the free speech of the Israel bashers that they oppose using the recently won Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to fight the abusers (“Taking On Title VI,” Editorial, May 11).

Background Checks

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:58:44 +0000

Letters

Rabbi Andrew Davids

One hopes the case [of the day school teacher arrested for possession of child pornography] is an anomaly (“After Arrest Of Teacher, Questions About Vetting,” May 11). However, when taking responsibility for other people’s children, this is the type of extra due diligence every Jewish organization that works with children should be taking on as standard protocol.

Credit Yeshivat Noam

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:57:47 +0000

Letters

Elie Berman

With regard to Laura Berkowitz’s letter (“Protecting Kids,” May 11) about Yeshivat Noam’s response to the arrest of a teacher, two things appear clear.

First, Berkowitz was unaware of how Yeshivat Noam acted. Second, if she had been aware, she would be commending the school.

Protect The Children

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:56:49 +0000

Letters

Yossi Prager

Hella Winston’s article about the arrest of a New Jersey day school teacher (“After Arrest Of Teacher, Questions About Vetting,” May 11) argued that schools should conduct criminal background checks on all prospective employees. I agree.

On Attacking Iran

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:55:51 +0000

Letters

Dr. Ronen Bergman

I would like to clarify some of the quotations attributed to me in “Reversing Course, Journalist Says Israel Attack Unlikely This Year,” (May 11) as they do not fully represent my opinion and have the potential to create a very wrong impression of the reality.

My view has not changed from that which was expressed in the article I wrote for the New York Times Magazine. What has changed is the situation and thus the likelihood of a strike has somewhat diminished.

Seder Theater

Dani Shetrit — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:31:54 +0000

Letters

Randi Michaels Block

I wanted to thank Rabbi Brad Hirschfield for writing such a lovely article explaining the spirit of the seder (“Guess Who’s Coming To Seder?” March 30).

He perfectly described the heart of my new show, “Guess Who’s Coming To Seder? A Delicious New Musical” which was recently featured at The York Theater in New York City and is running at The Tulsa Project Theatre through May 13.