BDS ‘marginal’? That’s a no-brainer
A July 22 opinion piece by David Bernstein discussed the BDS issue (“Don’t believe the hype — BDS is a marginal phenomenon”). The very reason that there is progress in combating boycott, divestment and sanctions is an accelerated and ongoing effort by all parts of the Jewish community, including Federations, JCRCs, Hillels, etc.
Whoever believes “BDS is a marginal phenomenon” might try getting harassed and discriminated against on a Bay Area campus by one of the 130 BDS organizations that are constantly active. BDS is anything but “marginal.” If that does not work, I know a number of transplant surgeons who could offer a free brain transplant.
Ron Kaufman | San Francisco
Stepping up to serve the general community
Abby Porth’s op-ed on the need for members of the Jewish community to serve in the general community is most welcome and very important (“Inequity, terrorism, xenophobia — what’s a person to do?” July 29).
San Francisco has been a model for such service in the Jewish community since the Gold Rush days. Jews have served on the Board of Supervisors, every board and commission of the city, to say nothing of the Chamber of Commerce, the symphony, the ballet and the opera.
As Abby points out, it is particularly important that this service continues in light of the troubled world in which we live. I am a proud member of the Human Services Commission, as is Scott Kahn, and retired Judge Quentin Kopp is about to be appointed to the Ethics Commission.
There is much to be done. What can you do?
Rita R. Semel | San Francisco
Executive director emeritus, JCRC
AIPAC isn’t partisan — and neither is Israel
The July 29 issue contained a correction about an op-ed by Ken Kaissar (“Having sympathy for Palestinians is not ‘anti-Israel,’” July 15), but unfortunately the correction failed to repudiate the bulk of Mr. Kaissar’s false narrative about AIPAC.
Mr. Kaissar suggests he would be ineligible for AIPAC support should he run for office because he is sympathetic to Palestinian suffering and believes a two-state solution is of the utmost urgency.
As a lifelong member of AIPAC, a Democratic political activist and someone who’s advocated for two states for decades, I not only refute that assertion but know from experience and countless conversations he would be among great company at any AIPAC gathering.
For the past several decades, AIPAC has advocated for a two-state solution and peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
This effort recently manifested itself when 394 members of the House of Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama reiterating support for a two-state solution and calling on America to continue its role as a trusted mediator adhering to a set of key principles.
In this era of partisanship, few letters or legislative initiatives garner support from 90 percent of Congress. Yet this AIPAC-backed initiative was able to achieve an overwhelming bipartisan majority because it pursues support from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Furthermore, contrary to Mr. Kaissar’s assertion, AIPAC does not rate, endorse or contribute to any candidate for office. This ensures AIPAC is reliably bipartisan and able to build constructive relationships with every elected official. As a pro-Israel activist, I’m empowered to build my own personal relationship with congressional members and I have met with senators and representatives from across the entire political spectrum.
There is great danger in making support for Israel a partisan political issue. Our community must rise above the normal political trends and false narratives if we want to continue to ensure the U.S.-Israel relationship continues to grow stronger, and ultimately if we are going to attain the peaceful future we all desire.
Sam Lauter | San Francisco
‘An enemy is one whose story we have not heard’
Dan Pine’s review of “Wrestling Jerusalem” helpfully describes the 17 different Jews and Palestinians here and in the Middle East into whose skin Jewish actor-writer Aaron Davidman placed himself to give voice and dignity to their many, sometimes seriously conflicting life experiences and world views (“Actor wrestles with Palestinian-Israeli conflict in provocative film,” July 29).
What further distinguishes Davidman’s notability is his own courage and dedication to launch his life of dialogue to seek out, engage and listen to learn from the lips of the real, diverse women and men he then portrayed.
Davidman’s life is a living example of Abby Porth’s op-ed “What’s a person to do?” in your same issue. “We must get out, work externally, engage and connect,” Porth prescribes. “External relationship building is the antidote, providing opportunities to unite with others about our shared vision of an improved society.”
To us, Davidman’s is the life of the Sh’ma — hearing and listening, dignifying and not humiliating one another, experiencing that “an enemy is one whose story we have not heard.”
Thank you Aaron, Dan, Abby and J. to help us live life as one — echad, wahad, uno, odin — neighbors forever.
Libby and Len Traubman | San Mateo
Altruistic heroes of the Holocaust
As a follow-up to Rabbi Lee Bycel’s July 29 op-ed “Holocaust education needs to shift its focus from villains to heroes,” readers may be interested to know of the Altruistic Personality Project and Prosocial Behavior Institute founded by Sam Oliner and based at Humboldt State University. Dr. Oliner is a Holocaust survivor, now a professor of sociology at Humboldt State, who has done extensive research on altruism, with a focus on the Righteous Gentiles who risked all to save Jewish lives during the Holocaust. He is the author of “The Altruistic Personality: Rescuers of Jews in Nazi Europe.” For more information, visit www2.humboldt.edu/altruism/institute.
Malka Weitman | Berkeley
A proudly Reform ‘committed Jew’
I take great offense and exception to Abbu Shuki’s online comment regarding replacing the Orthodox Hebrew Academy in San Francisco (July 29). He suggests that only Orthodox Jews raising more than two children are “committed Jews” and all other Jews are “destined to have their Jewish identity become lost to posterity”!!!! This is an outrageous assertion.
I am a proud and staunch Reform Jew of many generations. One of my daughters is a graduate of Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. I have Jewish grandchildren and I am confident my daughters will also have Jewish grandchildren. My daughter is an educator at A Jewish Day School and my granddaughter is a student at A Jewish Day School. Because we/they are not Orthodox hardly makes us not “committed Jews.”
Harriet Fernandez | San Jose