North Peninsula wants Lehrhaus
Congratulations to Lehrhaus Judaica on its 40th anniversary (“People’s school turns 40,” Feb. 21). Its classes are excellent, but it is sad to see how few classes are given in the North Peninsula. It is often difficult for the elderly who live in the North Peninsula to get to Marin, San Francisco, the East Bay and South Peninsula.
Edward Tamler | San Mateo
Good riddance
I feel some comfort that Mohammad G. Hammad is no longer enrolled at San Francisco State University (“Palestinian student in knife photo no longer at SFSU,” Feb. 21). Hopefully the campus will be a little more peaceful, and less on edge, with him out of the picture. The school is my alma mater from back in the mid-1960s. Thank you for the update.
Laurence Cosden | Los Gatos
Special-interest caucuses out of hand
The report in your Feb. 7 edition of 12 California legislators forming the California Legislative Jewish Caucus (“Capitol clout: Jewish legislators form strategic caucus in Sacramento”) reminded me of history. On my election in 1986 to the California Senate, I discovered there existed a “Jewish caucus.” I attended a couple of uneventful meetings.
The chairman was Assemblyman Tom Bane, a non-Jew, married to a Jewish woman, Marlene Bane, a conspicuous Democratic Party fundraiser in Southern California. There were about seven other members, including Assemblyman Bill Filante, a Republican ophthalmologist from Marin County. In 1988, Dr. Filante ran for the House of Representatives. Unknown to other members of the “Jewish caucus,” Mr. Bane lent his name to a primary campaign flyer advertising his status as “chairman of the Jewish caucus” on behalf of Dr. Filante.
Upon discovery by other caucus members, outrage ensued. Sen. Leroy Greene, Sacramento Democrat, demanded a meeting, at which Bane was excoriated for his unauthorized conduct. The “Jewish caucus” then, thankfully, dissolved, Sen. Greene observing that it represented separatism, not the unified American culture the California Legislature should signify.
It’s regrettable that history repeats itself, whatever the professed motivation, in a Legislature that already contains a Black Caucus, a Women’s Caucus, a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus, an Outdoor Sporting Caucus, a Republican Women’s Caucus, a Latino Caucus, an Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, and a San Gabriel Valley Caucus, plus a mental health caucus with only two members. Once upon a time, the Legislature had just a Democratic Caucus and a Republican Caucus — period. Now, taxpayers must support staff for proliferation of separate special-interest caucuses.
Quentin L. Kopp | San Francisco
With new mindset, peace in a jiffy
Regarding “Kerry’s Mideast efforts — helpful or misguided?” (Feb. 14), Secretary of State John Kerry may not be naive, but star-struck op-ed writer Rabbi Sharon Brous (“It’s time to bet on peace”) most certainly is. With her head in the clouds, Brous drizzles platitudes and non sequiturs that are far removed from what is real. Contrary to her assertion, polls repeatedly show that she does not speak for the majority of American Jews. Jonathan S. Tobin has it right when he places the fault for the absence of peace squarely on the shoulders of the people who have never missed an opportunity to turn their backs on peace, rejecting offer after offer for a two-state solution.
Rabbi Brous chides Israel for its intransigence, as if the absence of peace has anything to do with Israel or the Jewish people. There is no peace and there is no two-state solution for one reason, and only one reason — the failure of the Palestinians to accept Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign Jewish state. And there is nothing Israel can do in the way of additional concessions or generous offers to foster peace until the Palestinian people change this mindset. If that ever happens, there would be peace between Jews and Palestinians in no time at all.
Dr. Barry Gustin | Berkeley
Tamar, an inspiration
Approaching the shloshim on Feb. 26, I am taking the opportunity to further comment on the article Dan Pine wrote about my late friend, Tamar Bat Oded (Bittelman), A”H (“Tamar Bittleman, 51, teacher, founder of Torah study center,” Feb. 7).
Tamar, who passed away while spending Shabbat in Rosh Pina, was eulogized in powerful words that penetrated the hearts of those who were at her levayah. In Tsfat, it was pouring rain outside while tears rained down inside the large room, as well. What has been so unique is learning how Tamar touched so many people with her wisdom, warmth and comforting manner.
Tamar didn’t just cook and keep a “low profile” at the Beit Midrash in Berkeley. However, she was naturally humble and thus understood that it was not beneficial to other people for her to upstage anyone or to compete for acknowledgement in any way.
It’s true that Tamar was a “master teacher” at the Oakland Hebrew Day School. Tamar’s teaching was better than being “detailed.” She and her co-teacher, Sandy Gilford, spent hours every night speaking about the children and their needs, evaluating how each day went and how they could improve the classroom atmosphere for the following day.
Memories abound, and they focus on Tamar as an inspiration to many people.
Susan Heller-Somerville | Jerusalem
Devil is in the details
J. is not an academic journal; its goal is to serve the Jewish community. But still, some embarrassing mistakes could be avoided by more careful editing.
For example, in the Jan. 31 op-ed “When world asks for our trust, think of Auschwitz,” the author describes gazing around Auschwitz and seeing crematoria where millions were murdered. But as we now know, in the Auschwitz complex (Birkenau, to be exact), 1 million were murdered, not millions. In the same issue, the cartoon in the jokes section implies that Sholem Aleichem wrote a novel called “Fiddler on the Roof.” In fact, he wrote a novel called “Tevye the Milkman.”
Rudy Budesky | Anchorage, AK
Boycotting Arizona
I am very concerned about Arizona lawmakers passing the controversial anti-gay bill last week. This is the path Nazi Germany took, one step at a time. What is next? Any business can choose not to sell to Jews, blacks or Hispanics?
I hope that this is not the beginning of total discrimination by radicals of any group who wish to impose their hatred on others who do not follow their beliefs. I for one do not intend to visit Arizona anymore. Sorry, Giants, but spring training, which we have gone to in the past, is now off my travel plans.
Larry Moskovitz | Foster City
Noncircumcision is a reality
Andrew Gross and Dr. Edgar Schoen (Letters, Feb. 21) express familiar ideas about Jewish circumcision: that it’s a commandment to be obeyed, and that it’s medically beneficial. Still, like it or not, many Jewish parents are opting out of circumcision.
The point of my editorial, “Choosing not to circumcise — last frontier of Jewish inclusion?” (Feb. 14), isn’t to rehash old arguments, but to report the news that Jewish families choosing to forgo circumcision are welcome at many synagogues. Sadly, because these nonconformists may not realize they’re welcome, an affiliation opportunity is lost.
I invite congregations that use their websites to reach out to Jewish minorities, such as LGBTQ and multiethnic Jews, to extend an explicit welcome to noncircumcising families. If the word “noncircumcising” seems inappropriate or clunky, perhaps we could adopt the term “brit shalom families,” meaning those choosing brit shalom (a welcoming ritual that’s an alternative to brit milah).
By the way, besides brit shalom families, there are uncircumcised Jewish toddlers, boys and men already integrated into Jewish preschools, bar mitzvah classes, summer camps and congregations. They’re our nephews, cousins, grandsons and friends. Must this reality remain an open secret — otherwise known as “don’t ask, don’t tell”?
Lisa Braver Moss | Piedmont
Books aplenty in East Bay
Mazel tov to the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for giving away it’s 5 millionth book, as mentioned in Suzan Berns’ “Faces” column last week (Feb. 21). PJ Library books are available throughout the entire Bay Area. The Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation of the East Bay are also proud sponsors of this program.
In the East Bay, we have nearly 2,500 families enrolled and offer monthly storytelling, arts and crafts and musical events to engage families with school-age children in Jewish life. To attend one of our events, or to become a PJ Library subscriber in the East Bay, please contact [email protected], or visit our website: www.jfed.org.
Dana Sheanin | Oakland
Senior director, Community Impact
Jewish Federation of the East Bay