Lessons from the past beat ‘wisdom’
Rabbi Sydney Mintz, quoted in the article “The Great Divide” (Dec. 4), casts an image of Orthodox Jews as mere automatons who act without forethought, leaving reason only for afterthought; whereas their good liberal brethren think and reason in order to arrive at, presumably, more decent and appropriate responses.
Certainly intellect is one of the hallmarks that distinguishes humanity from the rest of animal life. It’s a necessary precursor for the advent and progress of civilization. But Rabbi Mintz overestimates human intellect when she thinks that we can rethink every action anew in order to come to understanding before acting. The human mind is most adept at perceiving what it wants to perceive and rationalizing what it wants to achieve, usually acting to further its own self-interest, while, too often, pretending to act on behalf of others.
Civilization has been built on lessons from the past and nurtured by moral values tested by generations of our forbears. It’s not possible to re-learn everything in every generation. In Jewish life, Torah, Talmud and vetted contemporary thought and discussion ought not be so readily dismissed while presuming that each of us can act on our own “wisdom”, however limited or misguided that may be.
Jay Koppelman | Pleasant Hill
Utopian thinking breeds liberalism
To large extent, an answer to the Norman Podhoretz’s rhetorical question “Why are Jews liberal?” (“The Great Divide,” Dec. 4) may come from Jews who managed to escape from the Promised Land called Sojus Sovetskich Sozialistitcheskich Republik, better known as Soviet Union.
Those Jews, who found refuge here in the USA 20 to 30 years ago, have not been liberals by any stretch of imagination because they had first-hand experience how best intentions and proclamations of the Soviet era led to disastrous results.
Meanwhile their American brethren have still held on fast to the belief in “good” government that will deliver equality and happiness to everybody. This never-ending utopia has bred Jewish liberalism for decades.
As quoted in j., Mr. Jason Porth declares that “liberalism is understanding … the obligations we have to one another and the shared responsibilities we have to live as neighbors.” These obligations and responsibilities have been at the core of Jewish survival throughout centuries. Modern liberalism substitutes individual obligation and responsibilities by the rights of the Big Brother to decide what is best for everyone. The fate of the Soviet Union should be a “teaching moment” for believers in that myth.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
SFJFF selectors need some help
In his op-ed (“ ‘Rachel’ rousers are off-track with attack on S.F. federation,” Oct. 9), Rabbi Doug Kahn called for moderate voices to speak out on the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival scandal. In their thoughtful op-ed last week, Larry Goldberg and Michael Harris (“Proposal to quell the ‘Rachel’ fires: Expand the size of SFJFF board”) answered his call.
The federation, under a prior director, erred in its handling of the scandal, but their commitment to Israel and their value to our community should not be questioned. Our anger should instead be directed at the SFJFF, which is singularly the root of the problem. The management and board of the SFJFF have allowed their ideology to drive their decision-making when choosing films and programming of a political nature.
Defenders of the SFJFF claim they want to protect balance and diversity of views — ironic, considering the SFJFF is one place this is missing. Instead of balancing anti-Israel films with pro-Israel programming, they go out of their way to add anti-Israel programming.
In a world where our youth must deal with Israel bashing in the media and on campus, it is outrageous a pro-Israel perspective can’t be learned at the SFJFF, instead of more bashing.
Maybe new blood and better representation can save the SFJFF.
David Kiachko | San Francisco
Another shop
In your Nov. 27 edition, you offered a list titled “Where to buy Chanukah gifts” (“Menorahs and more: Gifts for 2009 include Judaica, games and other fun stuff”). You omitted the gift shop located at Congregation B’nai Emunah, 3595 Taraval St., San Francisco, (415) 664-7373, www.bnaiemunahsf.org.
The shul’s gift shop has been in operation continuously and just today sponsored a large Chanukah Bazaar, which was listed in your holiday calendar section. The gift shop offers tallits, jewelry, handmade Judaica, Shabbat candlesticks, books, gifts, mezuzahs, etc. and will soon be accessbile online.
Please let your readers know that there are options in addition to the ones you listed!
Sharon Bleviss | San Francisco
Congregation B’nai Emunah, president