Self-hating as form of denial
Dan Pine’s column about the “self-hating Jew” (“Is there such a thing as a ‘self-hating Jew’? Let’s visit my old cult,” Oct. 7) was rich with diverse, real-life examples, with his good-spirited questioning if the people truly deserved the title.
“Self-hating” and other name-calling is popularly and casually used to box, exclude and diminish others with a conflicting view of life.
I’ve seen plenty of this hostility in my 19 years of Jewish-Palestinian living room dialogue. It is not distinctive to Jews, Arabs, anyone, including people in Nigeria where my wife, Libby, and I recently traveled to help 200 young Muslims and Christians engage successfully.
In medical terms, “self-hating” is the opposite of what people have been saying.
One of the great psychological illnesses among individuals and thus collective humankind is one’s refusal or inability to seek, discover and accept our own shadow — those qualities in ourselves that we deny and instead project onto the “other,” attribute to the “traitor” or “enemy” whom we diminish while elevating ourselves.
In the medical community, true “self-hating” is the refusal to self-reflect, thus denying or “hating” one’s own shadow. Dan Pine was especially appropriate to write in the spirit of Yom Kippur, all about self-assessment, loving oneself and our larger human family, fulfilling our high Jewish destiny.
Len Traubman | San Mateo
JVP ‘a despicable lot’
First, Jewish Voice for Peace is a misnomer: It is simply not a “voice for peace.” (“National ‘Jewish Heroes’ contest axes Bay Area nominee for JVP connection,” Oct. 14). But, it is one of the 10 most anti-Israel organizations on the ADL list, and if you have ever had any contact with JVP members, you would know what a despicable lot they are.
Not only have they advocated BDS, but they have joined forces at rallies in San Francisco with Answer, probably the most virulently anti-Semitic/Judeophobic organization around here. How could the Jewish Federations of North America have missed this when they initially let Cecilie Surasky be nominated into their Jewish Community Heroes contest? The only credit due the J-Fed is that they had the chutzpah to oust her from it.
Truly, the release of 1,000-plus terrorists from prison in exchange for bringing Gilad home is far more important. Such a painful price to pay! It’s difficult to calculate this one, and it is beyond our knowledge to realize how the Israelis will be handling the risks. At any rate, thank you to Yossi Klein Halevi for his heartrending and hope-infused op-ed article (“Joy over the deal for Gilad Shalit, every Israeli’s son,” Oct. 14).
Susan Heller-Somerville | Oakland
Underbelly of exchange
It seems that Palestinians and Israelis are for the most part celebrating the exchange of prisoners. But many commentators have pointed out that the terms of this deal were pretty much available a few years ago. So, why now?
It seems to me that it is because both Hamas and the Netanyahu government share one thing: They have no desire to reach a two-state solution. Yet the fortunes of both have been in decline as a result of the Arab spring (the weakening of their respective allies, Syria and Egypt), as well as the P.A.’s statehood initiative.
This prisoner exchange deflates the status of the P.A., shifts the focus away from peace negotiations, and increases their popularity. Clearly, Gilad Shalit and the Palestinian prisoners exchanged have been — and will probably continue to be — made use of by their political leaders. At least their families are happy that they are free.
Ron Feldman | Berkeley
Rejoicing for Gilad
Thankfully, Gilad Shalit is finally home safe and sound with his family. Israel can rejoice in his release.
While watching the miserable scenes of Hamas victory celebrations, we should remember who was exchanged for whom. A 19-year-old conscript soldier, held incommunicado for five years, against all norms of decency, was swapped for hundreds of despicable murderers, some sentenced to dozens of life sentences for some of the most heinous acts of terror imaginable.
Organizers of the Sbarro pizza parlor, Moment Cafe and Netanya seder-night bombings and dozens of other murderers were freed. Let’s hope the IDF and Israel’s security services can take care of those that opt to return to their terrorist pasts.
It’s easy to “Monday morning quarterback” this decision, but we don’t have the dreadful responsibility that Benjamin Netanyahu faced in making this swap. I would not want to be in his shoes, for sure. At the end of the day, the future may hold other dreadful choices for Israel’s leaders. But I am proud of Israel for keeping its eye on the ball and relentlessly pursuing the just goal of bringing Gilad home. The future will have to take care of itself, and I will support Israel.
Steve Lipman | Foster City
Music can save us
With love and respect to Jew Tunes (“Idan Raichel & India.Arie get down in O-town,” Oct. 17), it is important for j. readers to hear much more about India.Arie and Idan Raichel’s remarkable Open Door concert at the Paramount Theatre as part of the S.F. Jazz Festival.
Wonderful each in their own right, they are creating a real gift for the planet, channeling unending light and love, at a time when the world, including those who care deeply about the P-I conflict, need to open to the mystery of what is and, from there, let go of expectations and work from a place of acceptance.
India’s magnificent drash is about the power of what it truly means to listen to HaShem and lovingly accept ourselves and each other, followed by four songs from the Open Door concert. If you don’t really care for music, and four songs is too many, please try at least to watch this version of “Gift of Acceptance” (http://bit.ly/pdvo5u) they performed at the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize concert.
This is music that can save the world, beginning at the individual level, and from there, each of us helping to increase the healing vibration on the planet.
Mark Rubin | Emeryville
Ominous overtones
Yes, indeed, the Occupy Wall Street movement has taken on a “Jewish ethos” (“Occupy Wall Street movement brings Jewish ethos to demonstrations,” Oct. 14). However, it isn’t a positive one. Every Occupy Wall Street protest has a growing share of anti-Semitic signs and anti-Jewish comments, growing more hostile and hate-filled every day.
Take the Los Angeles Unified public school teacher who stated, “I think that the Zionist Jews who are running these big banks and our Federal Reserve, which is not run by the federal government, they need to be run out of this country.” Or the signs in New York proclaiming the Jews control Wall Street, and the American Nazi Party declaring its full support for the movement. J. jumped on a rosy Jewish slant to these protests. Look again. When Hitler’s Germany was struggling economically, who became the scapegoat?
Linda Diamond | Berkeley
Food values for all
Bravo to Mazon for their cogent op-ed (“Putting Jewish values on poor Americans’ dinner tables,” Oct. 7). American Jews need to reform the U.S. Farm Bill not only for 46 million hungry Americans, but for millions of people in the developing world, too. Under U.S. law, almost all of our country’s food donations must be purchased, processed and transported by American companies — a misguided practice that creates unacceptable delays for aid to reach hungry people and undermines local farmers who are the key to long-term food security.
After the earthquake in Haiti, Haitian rice farmers found themselves in a losing competition with free U.S. rice distributed as food aid. Now these same rice farmers are struggling to regain their livelihoods and feed their families.
In our united effort to reform the U.S. Farm Bill, we must urge our legislators to invest U.S. aid in local food procurement so that people worldwide can feast from their own harvests and put food on their own tables for this year and for years to come. n
Ruth Messinger | New York
President of American Jewish World Service