Trump and Bannon: good for Jews, good for Israel
While many of my Jewish brethren seem to be having a hissy fit over the appointment of Steve Bannon (“Stephen Bannon appointment further divides anxious Jewish community,” Nov. 18), let’s ask where were their outraged voices when President Obama himself insinuated the Jewish libel. President Obama labeled those who opposed his Iran deal “beholden to donors and moneyed interests.” Guess who he was referring to.
And to keep the record straight: Steve Bannon has been a dedicated supporter of Jews and Israel. His reporting has exposed Palestinian lies about Israel, and has exposed the Iranian cheating attempts in that infamous “deal.” Donald Trump and Steve Bannon are good for Jews and good for Israel. I wish I could say the same about the Jewish voices that try to slander those men.
Scott Abramson | San Mateo
Bigotry not a deal breaker for Trump voters
To Jewish Trump voters who claim to not be bigots: It may very well be true that you are not a bigot. What is painfully true, unfortunately, is that bigotry combined with its assorted ills was not a deal breaker for you when it came time to cast your vote. Shame on you.
Kenny Altman | New York
Kushner a ‘scion’ of infamy
I am wondering why you don’t mention the fact that Charles Kushner, Jared Kushner’s father, is a felon, convicted of tax evasion, tampering with a witness, etc., and served two years in prison (“Trump’s son-in-law to work for no salary?” Nov. 18). Instead, you refer to him as a scion of one of New York’s best-known Jewish families. You must have meant to say one of the most “infamous” families — right?
Reggie Griner | San Francisco
Know your history:We’ve been here before
With regard to Steve Bannon, one need only look to an article in the Nov. 19 New York Times, “White nationalists celebrate ‘an awakening’ after Donald Trump’s victory,” to understand who this man is.
Let’s get real: If the KKK and the alt-right are heralding his inclusion in the Trump White House, how could any Jew think this is beneficial to us and not a threat? If you don’t know your history, especially that of Jews taking a “let’s wait and see” attitude when Hitler came into power, shame on you! We’ve been here before and must not take this lightly.
Susan Hirshfield | Santa Rosa
A tribute to Ruth Gruber, devoted to the Jewish people
“A woman of valor who can find. Her worth is greater than jewels.” — Proverbs 31:10
The death of Ruth Gruber at age 105 was not a surprise. Her passing does leave a tremendous void in the lives of those she touched in so many ways. Throughout her long and event-filled life, Ruth remained devoted to Israel and the Jewish people.
She earned her Ph.D. at age 20, became a foreign correspondent for the New York Herald Tribune and was one of the first to expose the scourge of Hitler and his Germany. Working for Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes during the Roosevelt administration, she became the “mother” of 1,000 Jewish children who were brought to Oswego, New York, during the tragic days of World War II.
Ruth returned to Europe as a correspondent after the war and documented the plight of the survivors of the Holocaust. It was Ruth who traveled with the Exodus and told the story of that ship with her words and her photographs, inspiring Leon Uris to write his novel “Exodus.” She traveled to Israel in 1950 with Eleanor Roosevelt.
Ruth never tired of telling the story of the struggle of Jews in the 20th century. Ruth was my friend and an inspiration, proving beyond any doubt that one person can make a difference in this troubled world.
John F. Rothmann | San Francisco
Trump, best friend ever
Many years ago, I saw venomous Jew-hatred and Israel bashing begin to surface in the Democratic Party. My friends laughed at me. With Rep. Keith Ellison about to move up to DNC chair, how any Jew can remain in that fold is beyond belief.
I proudly voted for Trump and look forward to seeing the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. BLM spreads vicious blood libels against us, screams for cops to be murdered and gets invited to the BHO White House.
Mike Levine | Moraga
Please, let me be wrong
A person who is fluent in Jewish history knows that if Trump is unable to satisfy his constituency, the Jews will be the main scapegoats, for a host of obvious reasons. Of course, if Trump is successful, then I will be wrong. And I hope I am.
Mordechai Pelta | San Francisco
Hand-biting boot-lickers
Even by J.’s uber-leftist standards, your last two issues were over the top. You devoted two straight front-page stories to the possible dangers that Trump represents to Jews. However, as you well know, Trump is pro-Jewish and pro-Israel, and his advisers, including the unfairly maligned Steve Bannon, are, too.
In fact, Bannon, like his Jewish buddy the late Andrew Breitbart, deplores American Jews who either attack — or are too cowardly to defend — Israel. In the meantime, you have ignored the fact that an authentic anti-Semite, Keith Ellison, is about to become the DNC’s new chairperson.
Lefty Jews — how they love to bite the hands that feed Jews just to lick the boots that kick Jews.
Tod Zuckerman | Daly City
Painting too rosy a picture of life under Muslim rule
As a descendant of a Sephardic family from a Muslim country, I find Danny Yanow’s letter (“The inconvenient truth,” Nov. 18) perplexing at best.
Mr. Yanow’s attempt to paint a rosy picture of Jewish life under Muslim rule is based on sporadic peaceful periods, which are the exception, not the rule. Also, a comparison of Ashkenazi Jews’ horrendous history under Christian-Europe to that of Sephardic Jews under Muslim rule is irrelevant. Such a comparison can hardly serve as an indicator for future coexistence between Israel and Muslim countries.
Further, Mr. Yanow doubting the Arabs’ quest for dominance is myopic. Yes, the Romans destroyed Herod’s Temple in 70 AD, slaughtered its defenders and exiled many more. Yet it was the Muslims who leveled its remains and erected the Golden Dome and Al-Aksa mosque to exhibit their dominance, and continue their attempt to erase Judaism’s connection to Har HaBayit.
Efraim Michael | Foster City