For hungry, food never ‘boring’
Rabbi James Greene made a bad choice, shopping for food at Safeway (“A lesson in hunger,” cover story, Nov. 30).
Food stamps are given to families to supplement their diet, and Rabbi Greene would do better going to Smart and Final, FoodMaxx or 99-cent stores. There he could buy a chicken (instead of chips), cook good soup or bake or steam the chicken. These stores also carry fresh fruits and veggies at affordable prices.
Each person is given $31.50 per week. A family of three or more people gets more money and can better budget their shopping.
Rabbi Greene was bored with his choices of food. There is no such thing as boring food when you are hungry.
I know firsthand what real hunger is all about.
Instead of going on this Food Stamp Challenge farce, Rabbi Greene should get his friends and march to any food bank or soup kitchen and try to find out if anybody there is really, truly hungry. Americans are very kind people; that is why too many of our citizens and newcomers take advantage of their kindness and milk our system to death.
Mira Kruglikov | Fremont
Good stuff
I was pleased to read both Sue Fishkoff’s column and Howard Freedman’s “Off the Shelf” in the Dec. 7 issue of j.
It’s important to know what’s happening when major events we can’t attend come to town, e.g., Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’ lectures (“Judaism’s message of radical hope”).
Also, Freedman’s column offers his choice of recent good books Although it’s a ride to the Jewish Community Library, it’s worthwhile. Freedman is very helpful and he knows what kinds of books we want to read.
Elaine Starkman | Walnut Creek
A musical gift
Sherith Israel Religious School is proud to be the incubator for Lior Ben-Hur (“Traditional Jewish texts get new spin on world-music CD,” Dec. 7), and our students are the beneficiaries of learning through unique creative experiences.
Most Tuesdays and Sundays will find Lior inspiring children to open their minds and hearts through singing and the words of our people.
Thank you, Lior.
Nancy Sheftel-Gomes
San Francisco
Education Director, Congregation Sherith Israel
South Bay Yiddish club alive and well
Thank you for a wonderful cover story on Yiddish (“The joy of oy!”) in the Nov. 16 issue and for a follow-up letter to the editor on Dec. 7, lamenting the absence of a Yiddish club on the Peninsula. Your worries are over!
A Yiddish club has been meeting at the Palo Alto JCC for 30 years. We are still going strong at the new JCC and always welcome new people, new faces, young and old. We are very informal and just love to hear the sound of this mamaloshen whether it’s spoken by a beginner or an old-timer. We meet the first and third Friday at 2 p.m. to shmooze and even to sing. Come join us!
Sadie Espar | Palo Alto
Unappetizing opinion
With all due respect to Rabbi Ladon, I found his statements in the opinion piece “Slaughtering own turkey connects daily life with divinity” (Dec. 14) to be questionable.
As a vegetarian, I see nothing commendable about killing any of God’s creatures (especially when humans can thrive without eating other species). Slitting that turkey’s neck was cruel and the furthest thing from the divine.
Celia Menczel | Walnut Creek