The true legacy of 9/11
“Eradicating torture should be the legacy of Sept. 12”? (Opinions, Sept. 9). Was Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster kidding?
The legacy of September 2001 is that we had better be prepared to protect our way of life and our civil society by taking the fight to the perpetrators of evil.
There is not one person in America who lived through 9/11 that would have then predicted that there would not be another successful al-Qaida attack on American soil within the next year, let alone 10 years.
It is the convenience of the success of this policy that makes it possible for Rabbi Kahn-Troster to put these fatuous claims at the center of her Sept. 2001 experience.
David Sudikoff | Berkeley
Strategy for Arab economies
Economic development will be critical to the success of the new Arab regimes. Yet Egypt has fallen prey to anti-foreign and anti-Israel rhetoric and policies that can only retard its own development (“Terror attacks underscore new challenges on Egypt border,” Aug. 26).
The Arab economies need expatriates to return with funding, global connections and expertise. They also need to link to a global economy and learn from Singaporeans, Indians and, yes, Israelis about how to transform backward economies into successful ones.
The Libyan transitional government has asked for help, even from Israel. Perhaps they could invite back Jews and Italians, who were part of their societies before Gadhafi’s reign. If Libya could unshackle from hatred and ignorance to receive help, then maybe the other Arab states could do so as well. No way to progress if hatred of the Jews, Israel and foreigners once again becomes the easy way to explain Arab societal failure.
Jeff Saperstein | Mill Valley
A plan for new startup nations
Israel, the first and only startup nation in the Middle East, with the assistance of the USA, should offer at no cost to the Middle East and North African Arabs a Marshall Plan of a glorious summer of help becoming new startup nations. This will demonstrate that Arabs love their children more than they hate the Jews.
Gerson Jacobs, MD | Greenbrae
Celebrate TJT’s accomplishments
The opinions reflected in Donny Inbar’s op-ed (“As curtain goes down on TJT, let’s raise a new one,” Aug. 19) reflect his personal views, not the views of the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, where he is the Israel Center’s associate director for arts and culture.
The federation has been working closely with the Jewish Theatre throughout the difficult process of its impending closure, and we continue to support it through its final year.
We encourage the community to come together to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy the final season of programming.
Lori Warren | San Francisco
Director of Marketing /Communications, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund