Vote for rabbi was a landslide
As a member of Temple Sinai in Oakland, I want to correct a misperception from the article about our choice of Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin as senior rabbi (“Temple Sinai has a new senior rabbi,” Jan. 30). She was not elected by a two-thirds vote, as your article suggests. In fact, the vote was 96 percent in her favor. This is a reflection of the admiration and love our congregation has for her. We are looking forward to her being with us for, hopefully, a very long time.
Mark A. Snyder | Oakland
900 votes; 96 percent ‘yea’
In reference to the article in your Jan. 30 edition, Temple Sinai in Oakland requires a two-thirds vote to approve its senior rabbi. Rabbi Mates-Muchin received positive support on 96 percent of the more than 900 total votes cast.
Herb Holman | Oakland
Editor’s response: The above two letters were among many received from Temple Sinai members, who were eager to convey their congregation’s overwhelming support of their new senior rabbi. The article has been corrected online.
Do the math: More blacks shot by police
As a retired community college sociology professor (Skyline College), I was affronted by Steve Astrachan’s Jan. 23 letter citing “facts” that there are more police shootings of whites than blacks and more arrests of whites than blacks as evidence against concerns about disproportionate police force against black males.
Did he never put this together with his previous citation that 13 percent of the population is black? Based strictly on his numbers, the black 13 percent of the population suffered from 32 percent of police shootings and 29 percent of the arrests in 2013.
It sure looks disproportionate to me. Facts do matter.
Kay Barchas | Los Altos Hills
Keeping hearts warm for 25 years
I was pleased to see the story about the work so many synagogues are doing to help the homeless (“Warm at heart,” Jan. 23). Here in San Francisco, Congregation Emanu-El and Sherith Israel have been involved for the past 25 years with the interfaith homeless shelter organized and sponsored by the San Francisco Interfaith Council.
I am glad that John Rosenbaum has participated with Congregation Emanu-El for the past five years, but the synagogue’s involvement goes back much further than that.
Rita R. Semel | San Francisco
Past chair, San Francisco Interfaith Council
Cremation: wrong
Regarding the Advice Mensch column in the Dec. 12 issue of J.: Cremation is wrong for reasons such as you lose your soul and your DNA if you do not have a burial.
Marion Schrager | Hillsborough
Jews score big in Super Bowl
Want to start an argument among Jewish sports fans? Ask the question: How many Jews have scored in a Super Bowl?
Before Super Bowl XLIX, the answer was clear: One. Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Randy “Rabbi” Grossman caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw in Super Bowl X.
In Super Bowl XLIX, however, the game-winning touch down was scored by New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman. As J.’s Jan. 30 “Celebrity Jews” column noted, Edelman has a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother. Although raised Christian, some reports say he identifies as Jewish, lights a menorah during Hanukkah and has expressed support for Israel on social media.
As for the Patriots’ quarterback, San Mateo native Tom Brady was profiled on Super Bowl Sunday in the New York Times Magazine, which mentioned that he has a “large glass menorah” displayed in his home. When correspondent Mark Leibovich asked him about it, Brady said: “We’re not Jewish. But I think we’re into everything. … I don’t know what I believe. I think there’s a belief system, I’m just not sure what it is.” Brady has a Jewish brother-in-law — former Boston Red Sox star Kevin Youkilis. (Fun suggestion for Jewish sports fans who want to kvell: Google Youkilis and Denis Leary.) And as the Times of Israel recently noted, Brady accompanied Patriots owner Robert Kraft on a trip to Israel in 2006.
The Patriots do have one unquestionably Jewish player: safety Nate Ebner. He became the first Jewish Ohio State grad to play in a Super Bowl since former 49ers tight end John Frank, who is now a medical doctor and co-founder of the Israeli bobsled team. The Patriots also had a Jewish player — punter Josh Miller — the previous time they won the Super Bowl.
Stephen A. Silver | San Francisco