Post hate episodes online
The U.C. Berkeley Student Association and Graduate Assembly both have denounced HR 35, a state Assembly measure aimed at curbing anti-Semitism at the state’s institutions of higher education. Their rationale is that the measure inhibits free speech and infringes on legitimate criticism of Israel.
If free speech includes screaming down lecturers, preventing artists from performing and bullying fellow students, they have a point, but there’s no doubt in my mind that such behavior would not be tolerated if aimed at any group other than Jews. Although I am no longer in a position to participate, I urge students witnessing such episodes to post them on YouTube, with the title “Free Speech at the University of California.”
Richard Riffer | Berkeley
Former officer, Berkeley Hillel board of directors
What ‘shunning’?
Emma Silvers accuses Jewish families of “shunning” their interfaith family members (“Mixed marriages a sign of the times — but not of doom,” column, Nov. 2). Yet she describes a wedding where the bride’s family (Jewish) did everything in their power to be opening and welcoming to the groom (non-Jewish) and his family.
My experience with the weddings of friends’ children where the bride or groom is not Jewish is similar to the lovely wedding Ms. Silvers attended. So please, don’t say that we are “shunning” any of these young people. It seems to me what took place was a lot of warm Jewish education mixed into this new marriage. “L’chaim, indeed.”
Micki (Margaret) Miller | Mountain View
We are here, we are here, we are here!
Joanne Cornbleet’s letter in j.’s Oct. 19 issue hit the nail right on the head for us who live south of Colma. It is not only in her community but in ours as well, where we have vibrant, exciting things going on in our Jewish communities and day schools, here in Palo Alto, Los Altos and the surrounding areas, but for all that j. cares, we do not exist.
And even when you call in an upcoming event, you are told there is no one available to come and write anything about it. But letters come in to us, appealing for funding and asking us to continue to buy a paper which is all about the SFJCC. And all of the other news is available free, every day, online via the JTA.
So yes, here we are. The invisible Jews of the South Bay! And until such time as Ms. Fishkoff shows a little more interest in dealing with us, it’s not going to change.
Ilona Shechter | Sunnyvale