Unfounded fears of elimination?
In your article (“New ads at local transit sites decry U.S. aid to Israel,” Aug. 26), Michael Harris is quoted as saying, “their website explicitly calls for the elimination of the state of the Jewish people.” I went to the ad’s website, www.buildpeace.org, and the website it immediately links to, and could not find such a statement.
What does it say about Israel and some of its supporters when a call for peace based on justice and equality gives way to fears of the elimination of Israel as a Jewish state?
Esther Riley | Fairfax
Why JVP supports ads
I am writing to clarify that the “Build Peace” ads at transit stations were co-sponsored by the Bay Area chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace .
The national Jewish Voice for Peace position is to urge the U.S. government to suspend all military aid to Israel until it ends its occupation of the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem. U.S. military aid has allowed Israel to continue its financing of the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands in the West Bank, Golan Heights and East Jerusalem and the ongoing siege of Gaza. The local chapter felt strongly that the message of Israelis and Palestinians working together for peace and justice was important to share with the general public because that image is rarely if ever seen in the media.
There is no doubt that peace and justice for all in Israel/Palestine is dependent upon Israelis and Palestinians working together. Jewish Voice for Peace’s slogan “Two Peoples, One Future” has never been more true.
Cindy Shamban, Bay Area chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace | Berkeley
Atheists develop values, too
Your article on secular Humanistic Jews (“God doubters look for a place in Jewish life,” Aug. 19) concluded with my colleague stating “Atheism doesn’t give you your values.” I do not believe that this is a complete representation of the secular and Humanistic Jewish position. Atheism requires you to develop values, unlike religion, which requires you to accept authority.
Secular-cultural Jews have been at the forefront of every movement for social justice — civil rights, human rights in South Africa, workers’ rights — in America and in the world. Members of Tri-Valley Cultural Jews, a secular Jewish community, live in committed relationships, volunteer in their communities, raise honorable children and exhibit fine and upstanding values every day, values we learn from our history and our understanding that only human beings have the ability and the responsibility to create a just and peaceful world.
Rabbi Judith Seid | Pleasanton
Belief is not so simple
It seems that Jewish doubters doubt only the existence of a God defined in simplistic terms: an anthropomorphized God who intervenes in human affairs. That’s a version of God that is accessible to many but is irrelevant to many others who consider themselves to be spiritual. It all depends how you define God. The God that is described in perennial wisdom, in the mystical traditions and in Renewal Judaism is more akin to the spiritual force that unites us with nature and binds us to humanity.
So rather than talk about doubters and believers, perhaps it makes more sense to define what is being doubted or believed. Not only is there room for everyone under the tent — the tent is much wider than your article implies.
Malka Weitman | Berkeley
God doubters, unite
I read the interesting article on Jewish God doubters. Maybe we need an organization of God doubters, if it wouldn’t cause too much hostility from various sources.
Bryna Stevens | San Francisco
Lens on Kol Hadash
As a member of Kol Hadash I read with interest your article on atheisim. Included were comments by various representatives of Jewish institutes, congregations and outreach groups around the country concerning the dissonance experienced by many modern Jews regarding the traditional assumption of centrality of belief in God.
I was pleased to see a few lines about Kol Hadash and the Jewish Humanist movement but was disappointed in their brevity. I would like to have seen more column inches describing Jewish Humanistic congregations, what they offer as distinct from traditional or Reform congregations, and more focus on Kol Hadash, Northern California’s oldest Jewish Humanist congregation. Kol Hadash welcomes members from around the Bay, from all branches of Judaism, and does not exclude believers. You don’t have to check your belief, or skepticism, at the door.
Dave Harris | Richmond
Best diet of all
I deeply appreciate the two letter writers in recent issues of j. that instructed your readers about the proper diet. I have done extensive research into this issue and here is what I found: The all-vegetarian diet can be quite helpful, but many people that stay on this diet for extended periods of time become lethargic and often turn a very pale green color. The caveman diet is really good for you, but I came to find out that cavemen only lived to be about 20 years old, and they didn’t have enough language skills to argue with one another.
In my research, I found that actually the oldest people lived in White Russia, often getting to well over 100 years old. I have now begun this post-caveman, White Russian diet and I feel great! Every day I eat nothing but yogurt, borscht and vodka. When I need probiotics I eat a dill pickle.
My doctor doesn’t say much about my health. He just shakes his head and says he can’t believe how happy I seem.
Alan Helfen | Redwood City
Stop intellectual ‘pogroms’
J. published an article by Leonard Fein (“Protest movement offers hope for Israel’s future,” Aug. 12). In this article he writes: “The denigration of democracy [has been] enthusiastically supported by … the vast majority of Russians [Jews].”
Northern California Jews are known for their respect for all minorities. They would be up in arms if such bigotry was directed toward Arabs, Muslims, Hispanics, African-Americans or any other minority for that matter. So why do they look the other way when people like Leonard Fein start intellectual pogroms against Russian Jews?
Yakov Teplitsky | Cupertino