No Berkeley liberals on road to Judaism
Thanks to Dan Pine for describing his wife’s road to conversion (“A new player on team J,” Jan. 22). Especially meaningful were Robyn’s words about creeping anti-Semitism, “Not just dissing Israel, but dissing Jews. It’s becoming more and more OK to do that in the media and in casual conversation among Berkeley liberals.”
The Berkeley liberals and their flagship J Street are cousins of the “blame America first” liberals rendered into the American political parlance by the late U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick in 1984. While the latter have tended to blame America for all ills of the world, the first have blamed Israel for all problems of the Middle East.
Forget about pre-1967 Palestinian terrorism; forget that the sole purpose of the Palestine Liberation Organization, created in 1964, was eradicating Israel; that the “occupied” territories came into being as a result of Israel’s victory over Arab aggression enthusiastically supported by Palestinians; that Israel’s withdrawals have only led to footholds for Hezbollah and Hamas. There is no peep from the Berkeley liberals against the barbarism of knifings on the streets of Israeli cities. Only the “innocent” Palestinians deserve their support.
There are no Berkeley liberals on Robyn’s road of honesty and justice to conversion. She deserves our heartfelt mazel tov and welcome.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
Shutting the door on ‘Open’ Hillel
The Jan. 15 article claiming that “top academics” want Hillel to “open up on Israel” misses a very key point. These “top academics” are sworn enemies of Israel. To say that Peter Beinart, who supported Hamas in every armed conflict with Israel, wants Hillel to “open” is the same as saying that [exiled Hamas leader] Khaled Mashaal wants Hillel to “open.”
My daughter is a leader at U.C. Davis Hillel. If it “opens,” she will not come inside it again, even to use a bathroom. My two younger kids and all of my friends’ kids feel the same. If Hillel wishes to wither and die, it can follow the advice of these “academics.”
Gregory Kosinovsky | Livermore
Tolerating intolerance will lead to our doom
The Jan. 15 article on Open Hillel is disingenuous at best. Let’s avoid the Orwellian doublespeak: The First Amendment and so-called “open discussion” apply to all types of speech, even hate speech, which Open Hillel seems to include in its panoply of concerns on this topic.
To allow any group to advance the topic of Israel not having a right to exist is well within the First Amendment, and equally not compatible with Jewish or human values — e.g., the U.N. Charter of Human Rights dear to so many progressives. The issue of Jews supporting positions against their own welfare and existence is well documented through time immemorial. Yes, that is exactly where this kind of discussion can lead: to our own doom.
Being intolerant of intolerance, such as discussions debating Israel’s right to exist, is the morally right thing to do. Moral courage has a price. Open Hillel is bad for Jews as a community and a people. We don’t need so-called “intellectuals” to dictate to us what is good for our own existence.
Mordechai Pelta | San Francisco
‘Palestinian narrative’ is not Jewish education
Betraying a deep misunderstanding of the purpose of Jewish education, Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman urges Jewish educators to teach the “Palestinian narrative” (“Why Jewish educators need to teach the Palestinian perspective,” Jan. 15). I beg to differ.
Jewish students hear that “narrative” daily and are harassed because of it. The media, too, deride the Jewish connection to Israel and fabricate blood libels against the Israel Defense Forces, the most moral army in history. Indeed, echoing Rabbi Zimmerman’s view of Israel as a “mythic land,” the New York Times claims no Temple ever stood on the Temple Mount.
What Jewish educators are paid to do — and should do — is instill in their students an unabashed pride in their religious and ethnic heritage, in the amazing accomplishments of Jews throughout history — including the re-establishment of Israel — and in our people’s gifts to humanity. Then Jewish kids will be prepared to face and answer the daily onslaught of anti-Jewish propaganda and outright hatred in the media and at college.
If Jewish educators cannot bring themselves to do this, they should seek other work.
Besides, if Jewish educators teach the Arab narrative as poorly as they teach Judaism and Jewish history, those Arabs who view Jews and Israel as enemies should be very afraid.
Seth Watkins | Menlo Park
‘Open Hillel’ further splits a divided community
No, there should not be a large umbrella for all Jewish students who want to be in Hillel, called for by 70 academics (Jan. 15). Hillel is, and should be, an advocate for Israel’s safety, security and right to exist as the homeland of the Jewish people.
The American Jewish community is not united; it is divided. Some American Jews are among the most vehement and venomous anti-Israel protesters, such as those who form the ranks of the Jewish Voice for Peace or who are leaders in the BDS movement. Even J Street and the New Israel Fund are on record supporting NGOs that are intensely anti-Israel.
No, Hillel should never, ever, under these circumstances, “open up.” Opening Hillel would be akin to opening the West Bank to Hamas. That would inevitably be a big win for BDS and an even larger loss for Israel.
Barry Gustin | Berkeley
A welcome departure from the usual ‘hacks’
Great story on Yitz Applbaum (“Getting to the core of Yitz Applbaum,” Jan. 15). It was wonderful to read about a sincere, unpretentious and unafraid Bay Area Jew entirely supportive of Israel, instead of the typical J. stories by/about local Jews, to wit: supposed “security experts” and “human rights advocates”; and Democrat Party hacks.
The former argue that Israel should return to the Auschwitz borders of ’48, even though it is clear that all three Palestinian factions are committed to destroying Israel. The latter argue that even after seven years of unprecedented hostility toward Israel, Obama (Jeremiah Wright’s ex-mentoree) is Israel’s friend, and Hillary will be even better to Israel.
Of course, anybody familiar with Hillary’s history — including the recently disclosed emails — knows better. So, again, thanks, J., and a huge thank you to Yitz.
Tod Zuckerman | Daly City