Opera ‘humanizes terrorism’
I haven’t seen “The Death of Klinghoffer” and don’t plan to. What makes the opera unacceptable, and what Stephanie Friedman misses in her op-ed op-ed (“Opera ‘Death of Klinghoffer’ does not romanticize murder,” Nov. 7), is not that it “romanticizes murder” (I am willing to accept that it doesn’t), but that it humanizes terrorism. It gives beautiful voices to terrorists. It aestheticizes them. It makes them human, with an inevitable if unconscious draw on an audience’s sympathy.
Under Friedman’s analysis, an opera about Hitler, sung by a beautiful tenor, would be fine so long as the opera didn’t “romanticize” the murder of 6 million Jews.
The Klinghoffer family, ADL and virtually all other Jewish organizations are right to find the opera hurtful, offensive, a mistake and something that should not be in the repertoire.
Adam M. Cole | San Francisco
Chair of the board, Central Pacific Region,
Anti-Defamation League
‘Indirect’ justification
While Israeli infants, toddlers and adults have been killed, sustained severe head injuries or were hospitalized with lighter injuries, due to Palestinian stone throwers — the New York Times chose to tell (in a front page article) a story about Palestinian stone throwers, called “In a West Bank Culture of Conflict, Boys Wield the Weapon at Hand” (Aug. 4, 2013).
Did the New York Times state that the murder of innocent people was justified? No. But it told the story of the stone throwers (murderers/attempted murderers), not the story of the victims.
Implicitly it kind of justified the stone throwing. Indirectly it kind of justified the murders.
Does “Death of Klinghoffer” state that “any of the Palestinians’ grievances justify the murder of an innocent man”? No. Does it imply it? Yes.
Was Stephanie Friedman serious? “The fact that one of the terrorists has a poetical bent and sings a touching aria about his life” makes him romantic, not repugnant? Makes him “human, like the Nazis who loved music and killed Jews”?
Maybe an opera about one of the “Nazis who loved music and killed Jews” is coming up soon.
Anastasia Glikshtern | San Francisco
Compassionate analysis
My deep appreciation goes to Stephanie Friedman for her opinion piece “Opera ‘Death of Klinghoffer’ does not romanticize murder.” I have been one of those protesting the Metropolitan Opera’s production of this opera, and Friedman’s piece allowed me to open up to another point of view in a way no challenge to “see the opera” could. It is precisely because her tone was not challenging but, rather, compassionate and understanding toward the sensibilities of others, and the points she made so genuine and clear, that I now feel willing to see the opera and judge for myself.
Would that we could all speak to each other so respectfully on controversial matters.
Malka Weitman | Berkeley
Koret’s Polish gift
Having just returned from the heart-rending yet animating grand opening of the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw on Oct. 28, I conclude that the late Joe Koret, whose foundation contributed several million dollars to the construction of this symbol of Jewish revival in post–Cold War Europe, would be pleased and proud of such application of his foundation’s money. His second wife’s characterization of the museum, through her paid spokesperson, as “illegally funded,” constitutes a wrongful insult to the Jewish people and those governments (Poland, Norway, Germany), nonprofit entities and individuals who accomplished an extraordinary result. Joe Koret’s financial legacy has been properly, legally spent for the benefit of not just Polish Jews and their descendents, but Jews in all lands.
Quentin L. Kopp | San Francisco
Museum ‘reclaims Jewish memory’
I had the honor to attend the opening of the Polin Museum of the History of Polish Jews last month in Warsaw. The new museum is a work of genius from every aspect — conceptually, architecturally, programmatically and intellectually.
The museum’s core exhibition is like none other I have seen in my years as a museum professional. The story that it tells — of over 1,000 years of Jewish life in the Polish lands — is presented with scholarly precision, vividness, and great imagination. The museum is a work of love, its organic interior suggesting a human body — specifically, a heart. A heart that was broken many times and is now mending.
The museum is a game changer in how the world understands history. It reclaims Jewish memory. It will inspire the next generations of Jews and non-Jews in understanding and gaining new insight into the inseparable relationship between Jews and Poland and Poland and Jews.
Even the name of the museum — Polin, which is Hebrew for “rest here” — reflects the hope and wish that Jewish life will continue to flower in present-day Poland.
Lori Starr | San Francisco
Executive director, Contemporary Jewish Museum
Culture-only revival?
Reading Sue Fishkoff’s story about the revival of Jewish culture in Poland (Nov. 14) reminded me of my trip to Poland 15 years ago. What I witnessed was a revival of Jewish culture, but not of Jews or Judaism itself.
At Warsaw Airport, we were surrounded by vendors selling wooden figurines of Hassidim and rabbis. In the city, a Yiddish theater had no Jews performing and no Jews in the audience.
At the synagogue on Shabbat, there were about 15 people including five teenagers. The rabbi said there was no future for Jews in Poland because of strong anti-Semitism. He said most of the teens were not really Jewish but wished to go to a summer camp.
The worst feeling I got was in an “Israeli” cafe in a Krakow suburb, listening to Polish klezmer musicians playing to non-Jews. The audience was clapping and singing and some danced. I couldn’t help picturing 3 million murdered Jews tearfully and painfully watching the celebration, perhaps unintentional, of their demise.
Germany has been welcoming Jews and supporting Judaism and is home to many from Eastern Europe. Germany has changed. Let us hope Poland will as well. Hopefully, this state-of-the-art museum will not be just another commercial or cultural edifice but a step in protecting the remnant of Polish Jews and a welcoming of Jews and Judaism.
Larry Wanetick | Walnut Creek
Observance is the answer
The solution to “The shrinking Jewish middle” (Nov. 14) is not investing more money on schemes that have been failing for several decades. Rather, the leadership of non-Orthodox organizations should come to the rational conclusion that the solution is to return to full observance of Torah and mitzvot and to actively move their constituents in that direction. Faced with rampant assimilation and intermarriage, the leaders of the Conservative Jewish community of Guadalajara, Mexico, made this bold decision more than a decade ago. Today, they have a growing and thriving Torah-observant community. Perhaps American Jews should learn from their example.
Moshe Meir | San Carlos
Thanks to Welfare Board
I heartily agree with your editorial (“Vets deserve our respect and support,” Nov. 14). I was especially grateful for your recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Welfare Board, which has done a masterful job in serving Jewish chaplains and in meeting the needs of Jewish service personnel. The JWB was always there for me, both when I was an Army chaplain stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, and when I served in South Korea during the war. What I considered most remarkable was the enormous amounts of matzahs, wine and other traditional foods I received for the three seders I conducted in Korea in 1953. JWB has long been a blessing to service personnel and is eminently deserving of the recognition and gratitude of the Jewish community.
Rabbi H. David Teitelbaum | Palo Alto
Orthodox welcomed me
Regarding “Some Orthodox converts feel shunned, uncomfortable” (Nov. 7), my experience is very different. I am of Asian descent and converted four years ago. My first time in a shul was at Chabad in San Mateo. I became part of this community for two years.
When I moved and “checked out” Chabad of Palo Alto, I again immediately felt welcomed. On my next visit, I brought a friend who said, “It seems like they have known you forever.” That was when I realized this shul is my home.
Thank G-d, I am now married. My in-laws immediately embraced me as part of the family.
Rochel You | West Orange, New Jersey