Take Israel news out of Middle East
I noticed that the March 4 Middle East section contained articles solely covering Israel and Palestine. Typically, the San Francisco Chronicle also publishes Israel/Palestine news under the rubric “Middle East.” This perpetuates the false myth that the Israel/Palestine conflict is the central story of the Middle East.
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza together account for less than 1 percent of the actual geography of the Middle East. Less than 1 percent of Middle East casualties from wars have occurred in Israel/Palestine, whether that metric is limited to the past year, the last five years or, indeed, since the 1967 Six-Day War. I suggest that J. name a section devoted only to Israel and Palestine to reflect that actual content.
John Gertz | Berkeley
Roseanne has it wrong on Jewish allegiance
I was disturbed by Rosanne Barr’s assertion that people such as myself lack allegiance to the Jewish people because of my association with J Street (“Roseanne Barr debuts a tamer pro-Israel self in Oakland,” March 4). How untrue this is.
Should I begin with my undergraduate degree in Jewish studies, or my years of Zionist student activism? Does running a Jewish summer camp count? How about my stint as Habonim’s executive director? Or making aliyah? Does the commitment of having my son attend 13 years of Jewish day school as well as Jewish summer camp say anything about my allegiance? Perhaps our many trips to Israel ensuring his Hebrew fluency and connections to many Israeli friends? What of my current involvement in the local Jewish community?
I was glad Barr stated that “people can think whatever they want”; I couldn’t agree with her more that people “can’t have their own facts.” Those of us on the Zionist center and left are very much concerned about the troubling facts coming from Israel today, including attacks on religious pluralism, appropriation of land from Arab citizens of Israel, legalistic moves undermining democracy — all this without even mentioning the occupation. Organizations like J Street are vital in fighting the growing alienation among many Jews, especially on college campuses, providing a way to maintain our allegiance despite our concerns with current Israeli government policies.
Naomi Jatovsky | San Francisco
Not anti-gun, but pro-gun safety
Thank you so much for the article and editorial about Rabbis Against Gun Violence (“U.S. rabbis’ anti-gun violence group starts in Berkeley,” Feb. 26). With nearly 33,000 Americans killed by guns each year — an unimaginable 89 lives a day, including seven children and teens — many Jewish leaders and activists from all denominational streams feel a fierce moral imperative to speak out and take action.
I want to offer one important correction about myself. I am not an “anti-gun activist” as stated in the editorial. Both RAGV and I are for gun-violence prevention and for gun safety. We can uphold the Second Amendment allowing for legal gun ownership and, at the same time, implement commonsense reforms that will save lives and make our communities safer.
As Justice Antonin Scalia ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller, “Like most rights, the right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited.” By balancing rights and responsibilities, we have the opportunity to honor the Jewish value of pikuach nefesh and help reduce the deadly epidemic of gun violence plaguing our country.
Eileen Soffer | Mountain View
National coordinator, Rabbis Against Gun Violence
The research is in: Women make peace
The feature about Avishay Braverman’s lecture at U.C. Berkeley describes Braverman’s take on the wide economic disparity within Israel and migration out of the state (“Israeli scholar says country needs a miracle — and hope,” March 4). However, in the call for a “Jewish Mandela and an Arab Ben-Gurion,” Braverman falls into a common trap, envisioning leaders solely in the male gender.
A recent report by the Institute for Inclusive Security by Marie O’Reilly documents the value added when women are included in peacemaking — that women prevent violence and provide security; moderate extremism; strengthen peacemaking; build bridges and mobilize coalitions; raise issues that are vital for peace; prioritize gender equality; rebuild more peaceful societies; break the conflict trap; broaden societal participation; and promote dialogue and build trust.
The research is clear: Women’s participation is a predictor of peace and their inclusion in conflict resolution greatly increases opportunities for getting to sustainable peace agreements. Women Wage Peace, Forward Global Women and over 90 other civil society organizations in Israel and Palestine are building the future for peace.
Would that the elite academic, political and pundit classes take notice and learn from women and civil society leaders doing the work.
Molly Freeman | Berkeley
Bernie, stop truncating your Jewish self
The problem with Bernie Sanders’s Jewishness, or lack thereof, is not that he does not practice the religion but, rather, that he does not even seem to identify with the Jewish people. Most secular Jews credit their commitment to social justice to their Jewish values — when have we heard Bernie do that? Not to mention speaking out as loudly about rampant anti-Semitism on American college campuses, in Europe, or in Palestinian and Muslim media and education, as he does against bigotry directed at African Americans and Muslims.
Anyone who disconnects from their heritage, whatever the ethnicity, has truncated a part of themselves.
Malka Weitman | Berkeley
Sabbath in Saigon with Chabad
My husband and I recently visited Saigon and had the pleasure of attending a Chabad service. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of the members of this congregation.
The Sabbath service was as one would expect, with men and women sitting separately and running about 45 minutes. However, afterward there were approximately 70 people from all over the world enjoying a five-course meal. The rabbi made it his business to make each of us feel welcome and, frankly, proud to be Jewish regardless of our particular affiliation. Chabad has over 4,500 locations all over the world and, in many cases, as in Nepal, are first responders to local disasters.
There are many rituals and customs that this Orthodox group adheres to that do not work for many Reform, Conservative and Modern Orthodox Jews. However, it’s important that we respect Chabad.
Rosalie BenJoseph | Moraga