Editorial & Opinion

‘My name is Jacob Wiener. I am from Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, N.Y. I am almost 15 years old. I have PDD-NOS and bipolar syndrome.

For years, the European Union avoided talking about designating Hezbollah as a terrorist group, in part because Hezbollah was not blowing up things on the continent.

The challenge to New York City’s informed consent rule for Metziza B’Pe (MBP) should never have been brought. The rule it challenges, requiring informed consent by the parents before a mohel orally suctions blood directly from the circumcision incision, imposes, at most, the lightest of burdens on religious liberty. It does not forbid MBP or even bar mohelim from announcing their disagreement with the Department of Health’s risk assessment.

The immense, costly damage caused by Hurricane Sandy last year continues to affect communities along the East Coast. Yet, as is common with severe disasters, after the initial shock and subsequent media coverage dissipate, so too does philanthropic support. Jewish families are not immune to this problem. With this understanding, the Jim Joseph Foundation board of directors awarded grants to help families return to a sense of normalcy by accessing the Jewish education experiences that are integral to their lives.

For all the handwringing about Israel’s standing in the American Jewish community, the community is missing a major opportunity to celebrate Israel and reframe the conversation.

Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, who served as chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary from 1940 to 1972, spoke with pride about the contributions that Jews and Judaism have made to humanity in the areas of ethics, social justice and religion. Judaism has something important to say to the world, he believed, and should say it loudly and clearly.

Most Jews, both in Israel and overseas love the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). We donate to its support services, we say special prayers regularly for the well-being of the soldiers, we feel grief when soldiers are injured and, tragically, killed, and we rejoice when they return safely from their missions.

What an intriguing column by Heather Robinson (“Can We Talk? But That’s All!” Singles, March 22).

As the column, “Can We Still Talk To Each Other? Do We Really Want To? (Between The Lines, March 22), inadvertently shows, there is not a problem with interdenominational cooperation; there is a problem with the lack of cooperation between Orthodox and non-Orthodox.

In response to Gary Rosenblatt’s column (“Can We Still Speak To Each Other? Do We Really Want To?” March 22), we six rabbis of congregations on Manhattan’s East Side wanted to share the news that we have forged a coalition to promote Jewish learning and Jewish unity.