Seminar got great support from Taube Philanthropies
Thank you for your wonderful coverage of the Taube Study Seminar program “Jewish Life in Poland: An Enduring Legacy” at USF on March 6 (“After trip, Holocaust educators refocus on Jewish life in Poland,” March 11).
One clarification, though: While I am the facilitator for the seminar as a whole, it was Taube Philanthropies that organized every detail of our extraordinary study tour to Poland, providing us, in addition to grant support, the educational content, resources and scholars for our field study. They addressed our group’s interests in ways that greatly enriched our experience, and it was a pleasure to partner with them. We who benefited from their efforts are deeply grateful.
Adrian Schrek | San Francisco
Director, Teen Curriculum Initiative
Jewish LearningWorks
Democrats’ ‘vile’ actions worse than Trump’s words
Dan Pine is mockingly incredulous that anyone, especially a Jew, could vote for a “modern-day Haman” such as Donald Trump (“Trump may be a joke, but he’s no laughing matter,” March 11).
Perhaps Mr. Pine ought to save some of his “mocking” for the Democrats’ candidates, both of whom wholeheartedly supported the nuclear “deal” with Iran.
Trump may utter words of blustery irritation, but they are only words. The Iran deal is an action, an action of vile danger. Just two weeks ago, Iran reportedly test-fired two long-range missiles, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, with “Israel must be wiped out” reportedly written in Hebrew on them.
As our Democratic administration whines impotently about this violation, nothing will be done. Where are those “snapback sanctions” President Obama promised?
While Mr. Pine urges us to reject Trump partly because of his “most odious quality: his meanness,” he is silent about the odious consequences of Hillary’s and Bernie’s and Obama’s actions.
Scott Abramson | San Mateo
GOP is off its rocker
I loved the column by Dan Pine on Donald Trump.
I am totally dismayed about what has happened to the Republican Party. I tend to support conservative values and am supporting John Kasich.
When I see what is going on in the country with Trump, my brain screams, “Does not compute!” I can’t see how the electorate hasn’t rejected him out-of-hand for the statements he has made, his actions and his obvious lack of qualifications to be the leader of the free world.
Just as Mr. Pine stated that he usually doesn’t stray into politics in his column, I’m thinking how I usually try to avoid discussing politics with my Reform Jewish friends, because it never ends well. (It’s tough being a Republican in our community.)
Still, Trump scares me, as I can’t help but pick up the similarities in personality and actions with fascist leaders of the 20th century.
Dr. Arnold Levine | Oakland
High school taunts show old hatred still lives
It happened March 11 right before a boys basketball playoff final in a suburb of Boston. In response to a chant by Newton North High School students asking the all-boys Catholic Memorial High “Where are your girls?” many in the Catholic Memorial student cheering section chanted back, “You killed Jesus. You killed Jesus.” Newton North has a large population of students who are Jewish.
In 1965, the Catholic Church issued Nostra Aetate which rejected firmly and directly the myth that the Jews killed Jesus. The declaration stated in part, “What happened in [Christ’s] passion cannot be charged against all Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against Jews today.”
This tragic incident in Massachusetts should remind us all that words and traditional teachings have consequences and that despite the best efforts of Jews and Catholics, the history of that hatred still lives.
We should use this moment to reach out to our Catholic neighbors and remind them that we still have much work to do to heal the wounds inflicted on the Jews by the church for 2,000 years.
John Rothmann | San Francisco
Rav Kook column sparks memories of dad
Reading the wonderful piece by Rabbi Burt Jacobson (“Loving words from Rav Kook renewed rabbi’s spiritual journey,” March 11) brought back great memories of my father, Rabbi Ralph DeKoven, who studied under Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook when he was a student in Hebron.
My father was saved by a righteous Arab family in 1929 during the Palestine riots, which included the Hebron Massacre. He met my mother in Jerusalem and married her in 1931 and brought her back to Chicago, where I was born in 1935. He often spoke lovingly of Rabbi Kook.
In Rabbi Jacobson’s piece, I was particularly glad to read the quote “Let love fill your heart for everyone and everything.” Wouldn’t it be great if people followed those sentiments?
Elinor DeKoven | Oakland
U.S. Jews’ values also valuable in Israel
As noted in your March 11 editorial “Survey shows Israelis think differently,” American Jews rank themselves higher when it comes to tolerance, embracing diversity and their “affinity for democracy.”
But the history of Israel doesn’t land the country in an inferior camp.
To wit, Israeli Jews have practiced a surprisingly high degree of tolerance. After all, how long would the United States, or any country, have tolerated endless attacks on its citizens?
Israel also embraces diversity. How many countries have absorbed immigrants from all inhabited continents, in addition to 1.4 million Arabs?
And then there’s Israel’s demonstrated devotion to democracy. In a sea of hate and warmongering emanating from Arab dictatorships in the Middle East, Israel continues to strive as a beacon of freedom and respect for human rights.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo