Not just a tree
I read Ms. Dinkenlspiel’s column (“Jewish celebrating Christmas? It’s a California thing,” Dec. 19) with an open mind. It explained her family’s Jewish saga beautifully. But her use of history to make excuses for placing a Christmas tree in her home … not so beautiful.
I do not believe it is a “California thing.” Some Jews in California have a Christmas tree. Some Jews in each of the U.S. states have a Christmas tree. Christmas trees are a Christian symbol.
I’ve lived in California for almost 30 years. I do not know one Jew who has a Christmas tree in their home.
In this case, a tree is more than just a tree.
Jill Maleson | Fremont
Cheers for Christmas
The article by Frances Dinkelspiel made me smile and feel like cheering. A second generation San Franciscan and a third generation Californian, I experienced the very same things she did. In our windows in Sea Cliff, you could see the lighted tree and the Chanukah menorah. I also remember the Christmas decorations and lights in Presidio Terrace just behind Temple Emanu-El.
My dad, a physician who taught at UCSF Medical School for 20 years, rarely went to synagogue, but he would put on his blackboard, “Dr. Bine will not hold class tomorrow as it is the Jewish New Year (or the Jewish Day of Atonement).” He would, however, see his patients in their homes. He and my mother also insisted we attend Sunday school and be confirmed. (There were no bar mitzvahs at that time.)
I look forward to reading Ms. Dinklespiel’s book.
Barbara Bine Emerich | Los Altos
Don’t talk for all of us
Frances Dinkelspiel’s article makes me wonder where I can find statistical evidence of this offensive allegation. If it is based on her experience “growing up in San Francisco, almost every Jewish family I knew celebrated Christmas,” and she states, “It’s a California thing.” Should we assume that almost every Jewish family in California has a full-blown Christmas celebration?
Ms. Dinkelspiel has the right to celebrate whatever she desires. She can bring up her children the way she thinks is right. But, please, don’t talk in the name of all the Jews in our state.
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth and strictly a Christian holiday. Let’s remember that a rose called by any other name is still a rose.
We have lived in San Francisco for 44 years and had a delicatessen store where we met many Jews. Not one mentioned having a Christmas tree when the season came around.
Our son and his family have lived in the San Jose area for 30 years, belong to a large chavurah and are members of Congregation Beth David in Saratoga. Knowing many congregants, none ever mentioned having a Christmas tree.
Gershon Evan | San Francisco
Israel protects citizens
The predictable chorus of naysayers is already attempting to cast doubt on Israel’s legitimate and long-overdue actions to deal with the Hamas terror infrastructure in Gaza. At the end of the day, their lame protestations will amount to nothing, and Israel will do what it needs to do to protect the lives and well being of its citizens.
Now is the time for members of our community to rally behind Israel and hope that the military actions it is undertaking will result in a new set of facts on the ground along with a new military reality, namely that Hamas and its allies will no longer be able to attack the cities and towns of southern Israel with impunity.
It is sad that Palestinian non-combatants will pay part of the price, but no more sad than the civilians of Sderot, Netivot and Ashkelon who have been indiscriminate targets of cynical Palestinian violence for years since Israel withdrew unilaterally from Gaza.
Lasting peace will only come when a credible Palestinian partner emerges to negotiate in good faith with Israel. Hamas and its allies are not that partner.
Steve Lipman | Foster City
War won’t help
Military means will not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This should be abundantly clear on all sides after decades of the cycle of violence.
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, joined by Americans for Peace Now, Israel Policy Forum and J Street, calls for U.S. and international efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Bloodshed within Israel and Gaza destroys lives, families, communities and the will required to build the conditions for a just peace.
American Jews need to advocate to members of Congress and the
administration that the Unied States be a bold peace-broker. It is diplomacy that will create a secure Israel today and for generations to come. More than 900 rabbis and cantors, including seminary leaders and 73 from our local Bay Area, agree this is the time to choose peace.
Molly Freeman | Berkeley
We need activists
Parashat Vayishlach provides an ideal blueprint for the Jewish community in times of strife. As Jacob prepares to meet Esau, he brings gifts to appease his estranged brother. He prays. He prepares for battle.
The tragic death of my friend and colleague Dr. Dan Kliman is a reminder of why this tripartite strategy is so important, especially in the Bay Area.
It’s not hard to find Jews willing to pray, or to write checks. But we also need our warriors. We must become a community of activists. We need people prepared to battle, in the media, in the schools, and in the streets.
Educate yourself so that you can educate others. Confront hate, injustice and anti-Semitism whenever you see it. This was Dan’s mission, and remains the mission of San Francisco Voice for Israel.
We ensure there is balance. We ensure there is truth. We have stood against thousands, documenting hate, documenting anti-Semitism. We didn’t stop after Dan’s death.
For Zion’s sake we will not be silent. Please join us.
Faith Meltzer | El Cerrito
Vigils, not vigilantes
The tragic and horrifying death of Dan Kliman should be a time for all of us to mourn together, not an opportunity to engage in political hyperbole and cheap attacks. Unfortunately, j.’s editorial (“We will miss a tireless voice for Israel,” Dec. 12) has chosen the latter course in its editorial eulogizing Dan by claiming that Women in Black, a mainly Jewish, feminist anti-war organization “spew[s] … hatred of Israel.” The editorial lumps together Women and Black and ANSWER, two organizations that have very different politics and tactics.
Why is it that editorial board of the j. sees Jewish women holding silent vigils protesting war and occupation with signs such as “Mothers are grieving in Israel and Palestine” as spewing “hatred”? Your editorial reflects a political myopia and ignorance not worthy of those who call themselves leaders of the politically diverse Bay Area Jewish community.
We should remember that the Jewish intellectual tradition is one of debate and discussion: “two Jews, three opinions.” Many have pointed out that there is much more dissent in Israel with Israeli government policies than there is here in the United States. It is not necessary to equate dissent with “hatred of Israel.”
Mara Rivera | San Francisco
An East Bay rebirth
Thanks to the j. for the article “A second chance: East Bay JCC battling back from financial crisis” (Dec. 19). Indeed, the organization is successfully rebuilding. There are more positives than appeared in the article, including the addition of Michele Levine, who’s doing a phenomenal job as the children’s services director. Under her guidance, the afterschool programs are thriving and there are great mini-camps available to all during school breaks.
Moreover, it’s hard to capture in print the cohesiveness and warmth of the community I’ve seen as a parent at the preschool Chanukah party and the CenterStage after-school program’s dynamic end-of-session performances.
All in all it’s clear that the JCC of the East Bay is finally getting into a good position to realize its full potential, and is well deserving of financial support from the community and other generous donors.
Jon Meyers | Albany
Defending the pirates
Adam Kirsch’s negative review of “Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean” concludes that “there is something strange about the way American Jews … keep returning to tales of Jewish violence and thuggery to affirm their potency. Jewish pirates … were basically killers and thieves, and often slave traders to boot.”
So pillaging the Spanish Empire, which expelled its Jews and unleashed Inquisition on the forcibly converted remainder, was actually a crime that we should be ashamed of? Is he serious? I suppose as far as Kirsch is concerned, Jewish WWII partisan fighters were a gang of bloodthirsty assassins.
So who would Adam Kirsch look up to as a role model? Queen Victoria’s lapdog, Benjamin Disraeli, who presided over the British Empire’s violent dispossession of indigenous peoples in Africa and Asia? Kirsch must really be admiring his legacy, since he wrote one of Disraeli’s many biographies.
Edward Kritzler brings to light a largely overlooked aspect of Jewish history, of those brave yet anonymous Jewish pioneers who overcame the enemies of their people to gain the rights Jews in the West enjoy today.
Vladimir Epelboym | East Bentleigh, Australia
Jewish justice for Madoff
After reading the horror story about Bernard Madoff, a beit din should be formed for the purpose of excommunication. No one, especially a Jew, should be allowed to do what he did and still be called a Jew.
The law will take a long time to settle this case, but it will not repair the lives he has destroyed. A court of rabbis must be started at once.
Frank S. Gold | Millbrae