Wake up, MAGA Jews
In the Feb. 7 print cover story “Local Jewish groups scramble to help refugees in fearful time,” the word “cruel” is mentioned.
I have been waiting for weeks for people in the Jewish community who voted for Donald Trump to call out his lies and unmitigated cruelty in many of his first actions in office. Instead, I hear nothing. At what humanitarian cost do we allow this to continue? What has happened to Jewish values and tikkun olam? Wake up, MAGA Jews, and call for a halt to this cruelty.
David Moss
Palo Alto
Cal still has work to do
As a lecturer at UC Berkeley, I deeply appreciate Professor Ron Hassner’s efforts to advance the rights and welfare of Jewish students, staff and faculty and their access to equality, freedom and fair treatment that respects our civil rights and access to justice. (“Trump’s antisemitism probe doesn’t reflect UC Berkeley’s progress,” Feb. 7)
Harassment, abuse, intimidation and discrimination have impacted our campus Jewish community in lasting ways that continue to be felt, causing ongoing hurt and harm. Many Jewish members of our campus community are marginalized, are unable to express their Jewish identities and beliefs because of prevalent prejudice and hostility, and face both explicit and implicit forms of exclusion on account of their Jewish identities, practices and affiliations.
As Hassner writes, “much is left to be accomplished” to address antisemitic hate and discrimination at UC Berkeley. He notes that campus leadership reacted “slowly” to the violation of our rights and welfare and did not take vigorous action to adequately respond to these violations. Indeed, UC Berkeley still needs to do a better job of respecting civil rights law and equality for all members of the Cal community, without discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, shared ancestry or nationality and without excluding Jews from respect for these legal obligations and the university’s Principles of Community.
While there have indeed been some improvements in the climate on campus and in campus policies impacting Jewish individuals and our community under the new chancellor’s leadership, these need to be made more durable. Support for the welfare and both equity and equality of Jewish members of our community needs to be better resourced in a substantive, sustainable way that reflects a genuine long-term commitment to our wellbeing, dignity and full inclusion in the university community.
Noam Schimmel
UC Berkeley lecturer
Anita Friedman is a ‘community treasure’
Turning the pages of J.’s last few issues I was struck repeatedly by the positive impact of the San Francisco-based Jewish Family and Children’s Services under the brilliant leadership of its longtime executive director, Anita Friedman.
JFCS embodies the values that unite us as Jews across all boundaries and categories. Friedman is a truly remarkable and inspiring leader. She and her team have attracted, trained and retained a diverse group of highly skilled, able, hard-working and compassionate social workers, therapists and other professionals who have helped many of our families, often during our most difficult life experiences.
In the process, Friedman has built a once-tiny agency into what is now a crown jewel of American Jewry, a reflection of who and what we can be in our best moments. There is no way to begin to describe all the good JFCS has done. If you want to do something to alleviate the terrible suffering we see all around us but don’t know what to do or where to start, may I suggest you send a check to JFCS today and or perhaps look over its volunteer opportunities, including help with fundraising.
There are so many of us who will never be able to thank Anita Friedman enough for making the health and wellbeing of our community her life’s work. She is a community treasure.
Hal Plotkin
Palo Alto
Israel feels like home
Reading Janet Silver Ghent’s column, which mentioned her first trip to Israel, made me sad. My first trip to Israel still gives me chills. I literally kissed the ground upon arrival. It felt like home within a few hours. (“My return to Judaism was a matter of joy and pride, not crises,” Feb. 12)
Praying at the Western Wall is a memory I will savor for the rest of my life. There is so much to see and absorb in Israel. The archaeological digs are fascinating. Spending time with local people and learning of life in Israel today is an honor.
I gained so much on my first 10-day visit. I returned for three months as a volunteer in 2000. I encourage people of any age to experience Israel.
Jill Maleson
Fremont
Support for unions
The antisemitic statements and actions of certain union officials and members toward UC Berkeley postdoc Karin Yaniv and other Jewish union members were deeply disturbing to me. (“Israeli postdoc at UC Berkeley files lawsuit against her union, alleging bias,” Jan. 27)
However, the lawsuit was filed by the Fairness Center, which focuses on suing public-sector unions. This is disturbing and represents how difficult it is for a Jewish liberal like me who supports both standing up to antisemitism and the role of unions.
I think it would have been helpful if you had included information about the Fairness Center. I wish she did not have such problematic, to me, legal representation.
Carol Evans
Walnut Creek
Invincible women of Beth Ami
Many thanks to Leslie Katz for the feature on the invincible women of Santa Rosa Congregation Beth Ami, Susanne Batzdorff, Evelyn Gurevitch and Edith Newman. (“Three women over 100 find joy in Santa Rosa synagogue — and each other,” Jan. 31)
My sister Evelyn and I resided in Santa Rosa for many years; our parents were Beth Ami members. When our father became ill, Evelyn and Edith were always there for us. During difficult times, they were role models, reflecting the values of Judaism: strength, joy and kindness. After many years, my sister and I still thank them for making us feel part of the community. It was a privilege to know them.
Deborah Margolin
Amherst, Massachusetts