Kids read j., too
I am 10 years old and a devoted reader of the j. I particularly enjoy the advice, jokes and lifecycles columns, but I think there should be more stories for kids. This could include stories about kids, shortened parashah stories, or maybe even a kids’ page! If this is possible, the j. could be the connection between Judaism and the kids of the Bay Area.
Max Bamberger, age 10 Berkeley
Cheering for Freiman
Back in 1945, when I was 8 years old, on my return from Camp Henry Horner (named after Illinois’ first Jewish governor), my dad gave me a crash course in Baseball 101, Cubs history and a special chapter on Hank Greenberg.
Hank became my first baseball hero. I realized you didn’t have to be Jewish to root for Hank, any more than you had to be Italian to cheer for Joe DiMaggio, or Polish to acclaim Stan Musial, or black to clap for Jackie Robinson.
However, it’s always nice to have something in common with athletes, entertainers or politicians. Over the years, I have always taken time to look at box scores of other ballplayers who happen to be Jewish, too.
Thanks for a great article (“Freiman makes it a special Jewish heritage game for A’s,” July 19).
Jerry Pritikin | Chicago
A’s drop kosher ball
Thank you for the wonderful article about Nate Freiman of the Oakland A’s. He is an “inspiration” to all diehard A’s fans who are looking forward to the July 30 third annual Jewish heritage game.
For three years, my small committee has worked closely with the A’s to ensure that the special food served that evening in honor of the occasion be kosher. Once again we have failed, as the management has declined to make those provisions.
While Hebrew National hot dogs are indeed kosher, preparing them on the non-kosher grills render them non-acceptable. While both the Warriors and the Giants have provided the kosher option at their heritage games, the A’s refusal to do so is quite embarrassing. I implore the fans to make their voices heard.
Rabbi Simcha A. Green | Berkeley
Millenials served well
In his op-ed, Alon Shalev asserted that Birthright may be our “last chance to reach millenials” (“Millennials need our support as they define their Jewishness,” July 12).
As the director of the Marilyn and Sigi Ziering Brandeis Collegiate Institute, a program for 18- to 26-year-olds that has existed in Southern California for over 70 years, I want to assure Mr. Shalev that there are many high-quality programs in North America that successfully address the issue of identity formation in young, Jewish, emerging adults by providing creative, authentic, impactful Jewish programming.
Programs such as Adamah, Avodah, Moishe House, Urban Adamah, Jewlicious, TribeFest, the Hazon Food Conference and Brandeis Collegiate Institute — to name only a few — seek to connect the very Hillel students with whom Mr. Shalev works to an authentic Jewish sense of self and identity.
Mr. Shalev correctly asserts that millenials are seeking defining (Jewish) experiences. We’re truly fortunate that Birthright provides so many young Jews who had never been to Israel with a meaningful Israel experience.
I would suggest to Mr. Shalev that he encourage all of his students, as well as his Birthright returnees, to seek out one of these incredible North American programs as they continue on their evolving Jewish journey.
Navah Kelman Becker | Los Angeles
Director, Marilyn and Sigi Ziering Brandeis Collegiate Institute
Tolerance doesn’t help you get elected
While many j. readers have expressed bewilderment about the anti-Jewish sentiment on U.C. campuses, 26 U.C. regents, in their infinite wisdom, selected Sadia Saifuddin, a Muslim student who epitomizes this sentiment, to the Board of Regents for the year 2014-2015 (“U.C. Regents name BDS proponent to student spot,” July 19). The vote was unanimous, with only one abstention.
Ms. Saifuddin’s signature achievement has been pushing through ASUC bill SB-160, which urged the U.C. administration to divest from Israel. SB-160 was passed by a vote of 11-9. Not exactly an overwhelming majority.
Apparently, as long as the most intolerant and uncompromising individuals and associations sugarcoat their positions in slogans of human rights and apartheid acquisition, they can count on U.C. regents’ support and understanding. To gain the regents’ favor, the pro-Israeli group should, probably, abandon their customary tolerance and inclination to compromise.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
Amazing growth
Fifty years ago, in 1963, I left New York to attend U.C. Berkeley. Jewish life as I knew it was extraordinarily meager. One Passover I just threw up my hands in frustration and flew back East. I eventually left California in 1970.
I have just returned, for good this time, and feel compelled to remark on the amazing growth of the community.
I heartily applaud all those who took it upon themselves to build an extraordinary complement of services: Jewish day schools, a prominent and respected Jewish museum, an upgraded JCC, Jewish Community Library, j. news weekly chock full of activities. But the event that impressed me the most was the Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a cooperative Torah study opportunity by two Reform synagogues, one Conservative and the JCC. Believe me, years ago no one would have even known about Shavuot, much less the traditions associated with it!
San Francisco’s Jewish community has evolved beyond anything I might have imagined, and I look forward to making a contribution to it by becoming an active, participating member.
Roni Silverberg | San Francisco