J Street in the Gardens
At our booth closest to the main stage at Israel in the Gardens, J Street activists could not but reverberate with the wonderful music as we spoke with people who agree with us, some who were curious and a bit skeptical of our approach, and some who vehemently disagree with J Street.
We were there to honor Israel and express solidarity with those who are committed to her security and to her capacity to thrive in the future.
We look forward to many more occasions where diverse viewpoints about what is in Israel’s best interests are expressed with the understanding that we do so out of deep feelings for what we hold so dear. Thank you to the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation, the JCRC and to the Consul General for a great day of communal solidarity that did not deny the differences among us.
Molly Freeman | Berkeley
Outrage over Helen Thomas
I have wondered where the heart and soul and heads of the entire Jewish community in the United States — of course in the Bay Area, too — have been over Helen Thomas’ insidious remark about Jews in Israel and following the flotilla fiasco: That our people should “return to France, Poland, and to Germany.”
We should have heard the reverberations of outrage. There is no excuse for silence with remarks like Thomas’; and more so, in lieu of the horrendous outrage of the world about Israel’s need to defend herself.
I have asked the following question down through the years, and it is appropriate at this juncture in time: What does it take to shake our people out of their complacency? “If not now, then when?”
Susan H. Somerville | Oakland
Good riddance
Helen Thomas, the longest-serving and perhaps oldest member of the United States press corps, never made a secret of her ant-Israel views. Her latest suggestion that “the Jews get the hell out of Palestine, return to Poland and Germany” is an opinion she has the perfect right to express under our democratic system.
I, therefore, retain the same right under our democracy to suggest “she go to hell.”
Eva Hirschel | Rohnert Park
Feeling the pride
The article “Transgender rabbi brings ‘joy and energy’ to Beth El” (June 4) is why I am so proud to be a Jew! — to reach out and bring in good Jews as leaders and friends.
I realize not all Jews feel this way, but in time, a good role model is just that. Thanks, Beth El, for having the chutzpah to make it happen, and best wishes to Rabbi Reuben Zellman.
Jerry Pritikin | Chicago
Oil spill sends a message
In the Bible God declares that “the Earth is Mine and the fullness thereof.” The hellacious oil spill occurring now under the Gulf of Mexico is an affront to God.
We are fouling His planet because we are too selfish and self-indulgent to step away from the oil that gives us humans an easy life but unavoidably destroys other innocent life through pollution and global climate change.
Contact your senators and tell them that that now is the time to repent, change direction and pursue not profit but peace and restoration by changing our energy direction.
Ed Taub | Mountain View