Faith in new ambassador
Your May 8 salute to Israel’s new, gifted ambassador to Washington, Michael Oren (“Israel’s new ambassador to U.S. has strong S.F. ties”), was a warm profile detailing his strong links to family and friends in San Francisco. Since I am fortunate in having been an eyewitness to the full range of his varied and impressive accomplishments, I believe it is crucial to also underscore what a wellspring of incomparable knowledge he brings to this sensitive post.
Dr. Oren has the clear advantage of understanding Israel’s determined enemies as they see themselves. The seductive power of militant Islam is not for him an academic abstraction. The cult of Arab martyrdom and its fanatic grip on its faithful has struck deep in his own family. Since he knows how Arabs, Muslims and Europeans talk among themselves, he will stride securely through the Byzantine passageways of Embassy Row, the White House and Congress. He also will make clear that in this challenging time for Israel’s destiny, he must be the full-dimension exemplar of moral courage, not moral compromise.
Ernest Weiner | Berkeley
Executive director emeritus, American Jewish Committee, Northern California Region
A prayer for good health
In response to Rachel Freedenberg’s column (“Talking to God while working out? Just let me get my sneakers on,” May 8), I am a disciplined, though not very accomplished, runner, and always say a “thank you” that I have the good fortune to enjoy the health and fitness that lets me enjoy my run.
I have (as have most of us) known so many whom chance has not favored and who would envy the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other with speed and strength.
Mike Levine | Moraga
Hope for peace someday
When I read the article about Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (“Horrors of war hit home for Gaza doctor,” May 1) and the tragedies that befell him during the recent conflict in Gaza, it broke my heart. We can all learn much from the courage and tolerance that he showed in the face of all that he’s been through.
As I hear more and more stories of the events that have taken place in Gaza, my hopelessness grows. There is some fundamental contradiction to the Jewish state raising an army that will inevitably kill innocent civilians. I believe in Israel’s right to defend herself, but hate the fact that she must do so. We must follow the example of the doctor and learn how to forgive those who we are fighting, because the casualties of the Arab-Israeli conflict continue to pile up and there seems to be no end in sight.
Thank you for giving me hope that we will one day see peace in the land holy to both Judaism and Islam.
Sarah Hershon | Danville
Netanyahu’s fair request
In his May 8 op-ed (“Netanyahu’s demand for recognition just one of the obstacles to progress,”) Ghassan Khatib is trying to complicate the simplicity.
Palestinian Arabs and other non-friendly toward Israel Muslim countries and terrorist groups openly declare their goal as destruction of Israel and creation of a Palestinian state in place of Israel. So Netanyahu’s demand first to recognize the Jewish state is a logical way to start negotiations, and it has nothing to do with “undermining and further marginalizing the position of the non-Jewish minorities.”
Can anybody imagine that Palestinian state, or any other Muslim country, would call itself a non-Muslim state? I can’t.
Eugene Vosko | San Francisco
Israel needs U.S. support
Recently Israeli President Shimon Peres appeared on a TV show. Peres eloquently presented the position of Israel, and the vision of the new administration led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has a great desire (seen in recent overtures by Bibi to resume peace talks) for tranquility, and a cessation of violence and a harmonious relationship with its neighbors.
But Israel’s negotiating “partners” are not craving a political solution among adversaries. They are committed religious zealots promulgated by mandates from a venerated book — the Quran.
Their greatest ally is patience — patience to move whenever political, diplomatic, conflict, intimidation and opportunities arise. They use terrorism, deception and disingenuous tactics to achieve gains. It is impossible to negotiate with someone who doesn’t recognize you, and has promised (and never redacted) to push the Jews from “the Jordan to the sea.”
Israel has never been more threatened. Iran is feverishly developing nukes (ignoring U.N. resolutions to cease) that they say they will use to fulfill their biblical desire to erase Israel. Pakistan’s stability is gravely in doubt — and if their nukes fall into jihadist’s hands, catastrophe will result.
If a perilous crisis erupts, can Israel count on the full support of the U.S.?
David Sauberman | Martinez
Protect U.S.-Israel bond
This past week the Obama administration started showing its anti-Israel attitude. National Security Adviser James Jones said that the U.S. is planning to build an anti-Israel coalition with the Arabs and Europe to compel Israel to surrender Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem to the Palestinians.
The Obama administration considers that Israel is the obstacle to peace. Obama’s policy ignores that Abbas’ Palestinian Authority has never fulfilled a single commitment that they made in previous pacts, and their to-date not-amended constitution still calls for the destruction of Israel.
Even if the P.A. changed its policy, it has no control over Hamas which is forthright about their objective to destroy Israel and would convert the Judean/Samarian territories into a missile launching area. This will bring war with many Israeli and Arab casualties, not the peace that the administration should be hoping for.
As in 1938, when the British and French sacrificed Czechoslovakia trying to appease Hitler but got war anyway, the Obama administration will still get war, but this time the sacrifice would be 6 million Israeli Jews. American Jews should vigorously protest against this policy and work with our senators and representatives to change it.
Arthur Cohn | Portola Valley
A wonderful boy
It was my pleasure to read the article called, “Boy wonder: He’s only 8, but he chants from the Torah like a pro” (April 24).
I’m talking about Mishael Hibshoosh, who is 8 years old boy and who knows how to chant the Torah and the Torah tropes perfectly. I would like to congratulate his parents who raised him as a good Jew. That is very good of him doing that.
It is a very easy to learn the Hebrew and the Torah. I know so, because I had my bar mitzvah last year. So, I believe Mishael will have his bar mitzvah in five years. He is doing a mitzvah already. That is a very important in being a good Jew, promoting kindness and Mitzvoth, and being pro-Israel as well. May God bless that family.
Paul Shkuratov | San Francisco
Nothing to brag about
Dan Pine’s “It’s on the house” column (May 1) is offensive. At a time when the word “greed” is frowned upon, for him to brag about all his “freebies” is both in poor taste and arrogant. Too bad that he already grew up in an atmosphere where “freebies” were not only acceptable but if you didn’t like them, you exchanged them for something you wanted.
What I am surprised at is that a family-read, weekly publication like “j.” would even print this column.
Margot Lobree | Redwood City