Congregants don’t want to hear rabbi’s politics
Op-ed contributor Rabbi Mike Rothbaum urges rabbis to be more vocal in expressing their political views (“Trump protest gives rabbis their political voice again,” April 1). Since many Reform rabbis and many Bay Area rabbis are not terribly shy about expressing left-wing views, one has to wonder to which rabbis this opinion piece was addressed. Maybe Rabbi Rothbaum meant his politically conservative colleagues, who, if there are any, would have more reason to keep their politics under wraps than if they shared his views.
Rabbis would do well to consider that people do not attend congregations so that rabbis can impose political views on them. A rabbi who wants to maintain credibility should serve his entire congregation, and not cater only to those on the far left.
Allan Yannow | El Cerrito
Values of tolerance, respect no longer guide nations
On April 5, Chabad of North Peninsula held a women-only event (my daughter attended) featuring 96-year-old Marthe Cohn, a World War II veteran. She not only shared her experience as an intelligence agent beyond the enemy lines who was awarded numerous medals for her contributions to Allied forces, but also provided remarkable insights into current world affairs.
As a native of France who is keenly aware of Jewish life there, Mrs. Cohn emphasized that most French people remained friendly toward Jews during and after the war. Now the situation has dramatically changed with the arrival of millions of Muslims to the country. In America, colleges have surrendered to the intolerance and bullying of the pro-Palestinian crowds, under the white flag of political correctness, instead of upholding the traditional values of tolerance, compromise and respectful discourse.
We can only thank Marthe Cohn for her heroic service during World War II and for reminding us how easily a civilized society may succumb to the never-dying scourge of anti-Semitism.
Vladimir Kaplan | San Mateo
Jews alone not entitled to self-determination?
All the pseudo-intellectual nonsense about why anti-Zionism doesn’t qualify as anti-Semitism is tiresome (“U.C. regents: ‘anti-Semitic forms of anti-Zionism’ not permitted,” March 25). Anti-Zionism stipulates that Jews alone among all the nations on the planet cannot enjoy the right of national self-determination. That’s inherent prejudice.
The Jewish demand for recognition is one that every other nation takes for granted for themselves. Europeans and Americans began to agree publicly in the 19th century that the restoration of the ancient Jewish homeland was a good idea. Tragically, it took major wars and a massive genocide to enable one.
Jews around the world next week will celebrate a festival of freedom, marking their exodus from Egyptian slavery about 3,000 years ago. Islam arose from the sands of Saudi Arabia about 1,700 years after that. Christian support for Zionism should be a given because their theology confirms the existence of a Jewish nation in Israel’s location. It’s irrelevant that many Muslims insist that their religion teaches them that Jews are not a nation. They’re entitled to their opinion but not to have their way.
Desmond Tuck | San Mateo
Date wrong in scroll story
Lyn Davidson’s article (“Intrigue aplenty in SFSU prof’s new book about infamous biblical ‘forgery,’” April 8) says that Moses Shapira was 25 when he moved to Jerusalem in 1855, that he offered the Deuteronomy scroll to the British Museum in 1883 and that he “reportedly ended his life in 1948 with a bullet to the head.”
Patricia Corrigan’s article (“On display: Yemenite scroll that solved the mystery?” April 8) says that Adolph Sutro purchased Yemenite Hebrew manuscripts “from Shapira’s estate” in 1884.
There’s obviously something seriously wrong with the chronology here. Should “1948” be “1884”? Even that doesn’t leave much time between a living Shapira’s prospective contribution drawing controversy and rejection, and Shapira’s heirs selling his legacy.
Eric Naftaly | Daly City
Editor’s note: Indeed, Shapira killed himself in 1884. We apologize for the incorrect date in our story, which is, as you point out, patently absurd.
Lessons on living life to the fullest
Regarding the Family Matters column in the Seniors section (“Dad needs healthy meals, and eating alone isn’t helping,” April 1), concerning the widower whose daughter worries about his nutrition: Sadly, I became a widower some time ago and was faced with the same situation.
One suggestion is for your father to enroll in cooking classes. The JCCSF offers them and they’re also available at various nonaffiliated cooking schools. This way your father will enjoy eating delicious, well-cooked food. Also, it is fun to get out, go to the grocery store, compare prices and shop for wholesome ingredients. I recommend the book “The Pleasures of Cooking for One” by Judith Jones.
I empathize with your father’s loneliness. I went on JDate and found a lovely, talented lady with whom I have developed a positive relationship.
Lastly, I suggest he enroll in the Fromm Institute, a superb facility for seniors at the University of San Francisco. The courses are taught by excellent professors. Fortunately, the Bay Area has many educational talks at such institutions as the Commonwealth Club, the Mechanics Institute, JCCs and the Jewish Community Library.
David Fisher | San Francisco
Defining ‘pro-Israel’ goes beyond left and right
The op-ed by Andrew Silow-Carroll claims incorrectly that there is no pro-Israel left (“The missing left: Where’s the support for liberal Zionists on campus?” April 8). There are many prominent liberals who are pro-Israel, like Alan Dershowitz or Charles Schumer. Based on a sample size of six, the author creates a false distinction between those pro-Israel people who are uncritical of Israel, and those who are anti-Israel because of the occupation.
In fact, the majority of Israelis are neither. Most Israelis, liberal or conservative, would love to end the occupation. Those who wish to end it immediately, without any useful agreements from the Palestinians, have lost credibility. The left in Israel has diminished in size and importance precisely because Israel cannot act alone, vacate the West Bank and watch thousands of rockets fired daily at the heartland of Israel. As long as this is the reality, the “end the occupation” left will be impotent and will continue to suffer a loss of credibility. Liberal Zionism cannot thrive when the other side destroys all arguments for ending the occupation.
Lawrence W. White M.D. | San Francisco