Widen your Jewish spectrum
As program chair for Kol Hadash, the Northern California Community for Humanistic Judaism, I wish to respond to Stephen Olson’s letter that attacked our non-theistic, Jewish congregation ( “Upsetting email ad,” March 15).
In rejecting our Jewish identity, he bases his opinion on a very narrow interpretation of Jewish experience, one that denies dimensions of Jewish culture beyond religious expression, a position long since given the lie by history.
As a corrective, I would suggest that Mr. Olson view the Teaching Company’s lecture series, “Between Cross and Crescent: Jewish Civilization from Mohammed to Spinoza,” or its equally excellent series on “Jewish Intellectual History,” both taught by professor David Ruderman of the University of Pennsylvania. If he would promise to watch the lectures, I would gladly purchase and have them sent to him.
Marilyn J. Boxer | Kensington
Moroccan Jews alive and well
It was great to have a review of Jewish cookbooks from various communities in your March 1 issue. But why does the reviewer describe the creation of a book of Moroccan Jewish recipes as an act of “rescuing the cuisine of an extinct community from oblivion”?
Although most Moroccan Jews have immigrated to Israel, France, Canada and other counties, their cuisine and culture are no more “extinct” or doomed to “oblivion” than that of Ashkenazic Jewry despite its dislocations. In fact, Moroccan Jews are a major presence in Israel, where their culture is enjoying a renaissance.
Even here in Chico, we celebrated a Sephardic festival last year featuring Moroccan cuisine made by my Marrakesh-born husband. Moroccan culture lives on in a new generation around the world and “Grandma Elmaleh’s Moroccan Cookbook” will contribute to its appreciation among English speaking-cooks.
Rabbi Julie Hilton Danan | Chico
Islam vs. the world?
The article “Jewish groups decry ‘message of intolerance’ on S.F. buses” (March 15) shows an ignorance of Judaism, Islam and the Second Amendment. “Freedom of speech” protects speech with which you do not agree. A society in which everybody agrees is a society without freedom of thought. The Quran demands complete adherence without question. Judaism encourages questions.
Judaism does not demand that a person be a Jew; one must only live an ethical life and follow basic moral laws. Islam, however, sees itself as the only true religion; all other religions must be destroyed. Islam divides the world into two: Dar al-Islam (the area Islam controls) and Dar al-Harb (the area Islam has yet to control).
The Muslim Brotherhood now ruling Egypt provided the philosophic basis for al-Qaida and Hamas. After the “Arab Spring,” Brotherhood members murdered Egyptian Coptic Christians. On March 9, Pakistani Muslims set Christian homes afire in Lahore. Why? Because they are non-believers, infidels!
Mahmoud Abbas asserts that he will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state. Gaza is ruled by Hamas, whose charter calls for the murder of every Jew on Earth.
Yet when Gaza/West Bank Muslims murder Jews, why is it never reported as a theologic issue?
Fred Korr | Oakland
Ads tell it like it is
How can ads that state the obvious be considered “hate speech” (“Jewish groups decry ‘message of intolerance’ on S.F. buses,” March 15)?
How many people did Osama Bin Laden kill in the name of Islam? Are those Jews and local politicians that denounce recent bus ads denying that Islamic terrorism exists and that it is a real threat to the world and to Jews in particular? I don’t get it.
Hate spews out of mosques, out of state-run television in Muslim countries — and the one accused of hate speech is the one who dares to expose this racism?! This political correctness may get us all killed.
Pamela Geller has the courage of her convictions. The San Francisco Jewish establishment is timid and afraid of confrontation. Calling Ms. Geller names avoids the issue.
Webster’s defines a phobia as having an irrational fear. Unfortunately, after Sept. 11, 2001, the London and Spanish train bombings and many other events, only a fool would say that fear of Islamic fundamentalism is irrational. I would say that the local establishment is suffering a
different type of phobia: fear of the truth.
Gilbert Stein | Aptos
Stop house demolitions
March 16 was the 10th anniversary of Rachel Corrie’s death. An Israeli Caterpillar bulldozer crushed her while she tried to protect a Palestinian family’s home from being destroyed. She was 23 years old.
According to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Israel has demolished more than 27,000 Palestinian structures in the occupied territories and inside Israel since 1967. There are more than 12,500 orders outstanding for future demolitions.
Today, I remember Rachel’s sacrifice, her courage, and her stand for justice. Zekher tzadik livrakha. May the memory of the righteous be a blessing.
Glen Hauer | Berkeley
Jewish law shuns deaf discrimination
Contrary to what Rabbi Darby Leigh says, the Talmud is not outdated; it is what keeps the Jewish people alive. (“Dynamic, deaf rabbi bringing message of inclusivity,” Feb. 22).
For example, it is stated in the Torah that it is forbidden to curse the deaf. This is a basic idea in Judaism. Regarding the deaf, there are provisions for solutions to communication problems such as using sign language, writing, etc. The Talmud does reject lip-reading as a valid act because it is not always exact. In other words, the deaf can live satisfied lives thanks to Jewish law. This was not always so in America, where there were no provisions for the deaf until recently.
Discrimination against deaf and otherwise disabled persons is now illegal in the United States.
But the mandate forbidding discrimination was known to the Jews from ancient times, as seen in the Torah.
Georges Lehrer | Antwerp, Belgium
Take steps toward two states — now!
Recently a group of rabbis met with President Obama to talk about his message to the Palestinians: that unless the Abbas faction and Hamas come together to negotiate a peace agreement with Israel, there will be no negotiations.
Israel is sitting on a powder keg — Palestinians who are moderate are losing ground to the extremists. The message should be for Obama to encourage a settlement with Abbas and leave Hamas out of it if they don’t want to participate.
A two-state solution is absolutely necessary, so if Israel can come to terms with the Abbas faction alone then it should do so. At least the border issues in the West Bank can be resolved.
The Palestinians need to receive some encouragement or Israel is in danger of another intifada. As the retired Shin Bet leaders made clear in the Israeli documentary “The Gatekeepers,” we need a strategy, not just tactics. Tactics are not working.
Thanks for promoting a real change instead of the status quo, which is what the rabbis are urging Obama to support by waiting until Hamas and Abbas reach agreement.
Dorothea Dorenz | Berkeley
Lack of freedom for Palestinian people
In her op-ed “Israel ‘apartheid’? Absurd BDS claim debunked at Cal” (March 15), Gina Bublil Waldman writes: “Israeli Arabs, who are a minority, have full voting rights and are granted permanent residence and citizenship regardless of religion or sexual orientation.” True.
I wish that she also reflected on how Israel treats the Palestinian people who live behind the security wall.
They have to stand for hours on end at checkpoints. They are the ones who wake up terrified at night due to search of their homes by the IDF. They see their land being taken acre by acre by the settlers with no legal protection. They have their loved ones in Israeli jails for months with no charges filed against them. They are excluded from certain roads designated for settlers only. And now, they also sit on separate buses. Would she say that they, too, have basic human rights?
As we are about to sit at the seder, telling and celebrating our story of freedom, let us also reflect on our role and responsibility in the painful lack of freedom for the Palestinian people.
And by the way, I know Jewish students who studied at Birzeit University near Ramallah and felt loved, respected and accepted for their Jewish identity.
Meshulam Plaves | Berkeley