Rabbis decry vandalism at Lerner-Kohn home
The East Bay Council of Rabbis unanimously condemns the repeated acts of vandalism perpetrated against the home of Rabbis Michael Lerner and Debora Kohn.
The council is composed of rabbis affiliated with different denominations within our Jewish community. We often hold varied perspectives on issues of religion and politics. However, we are all in agreement that violence and vandalism have no place within the discourse of our community.
Our Jewish tradition is enriched by discourse, dialogue, dissent and disagreement when conducted in a spirit of respect. Even as we seek unity, we recognize that division, or machloket, has been and continues to be a component of the life of a vibrant and diverse community.
However, our expressions of disagreement must be conducted openly and with accountability, not anonymously. Moreover, we cannot countenance any form of vandalism or violence as a response to expressions of opinion.
Nineteen centuries ago, the followers of Rabbi Hillel demonstrated that appropriate expression of disagreement requires us to hear and acknowledge one another’s positions and then to respond respectfully (Eruvin 13b). Violence and vandalism can play no positive role in dialogue within our community.
Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin
Temple Sinai | Oakland
On behalf of the East Bay Council of Rabbis
‘Couples therapy’ needed for Israel dialogue
Thanks for publishing Erika Dreifus’ op-ed on the juste milieu (“Is finding a happy medium on Israel largely impossible?” Jan. 27). I share her frustration with finding a happy medium in discussions on Israel — or even any room for genuine dialogue.
When I was a young psychotherapist learning to work with couples in conflict, a supervisor gave me this guideline: See if you can change the conversation, the language in which the couple talks to each other. In other words, see if you can move them from talking at and over each other, from vitriol and righteous indignation, to the juste milieu. I often think of this approach in regard to discussions on Israel, where it’s hard to find any room for truth under the piles of heated emotion, snap judgments and blame.
I used to think of myself as liberal and left-leaning — no longer. I can’t sign on to the intolerance: You’re either for us or against us. I feel sick at heart about the willingness of the left to cross the line from criticism of Israel to scapegoating her — and the unwillingness to make that distinction. What happened to shades of grey? What happened to the middle ground? Couples therapy, anyone?
Malka Weitman | Berkeley
The wrong boxer?
Your short piece on my great-uncle Joe Choynski (“Then and Now,” Feb. 3) was appreciated, but, unfortunately, you used a photo from Wikipedia that seems to be wrongly attributed there. “Chrysanthemum Joe” had a shock of blonde hair that was distinctive; clearly, this photo is of someone else.
Joe was, indeed, a remarkable heavyweight boxer who fought every champion of his era, knocking out Jack Johnson (before he became champion) and fighting to a draw against James Jeffries, who outweighed him by about 50 pounds. Joe has been called “Arguably the greatest fighter who never won a world title.”
Joe’s father, I. N. Choynski, was a famous and irascible San Francisco Jewish journalist, but he did not attend Yale, although that “fact” has been repeated in articles about him for decades. How he became a newspaper publisher and the highly educated friend of Henry George, Ambrose Bierce and other writers of his time is a bit of a mystery.
Also of interest to j. readers may be the fact that another San Francisco Jew, Joe’s brother-in-law, Sam Berger, was a champion, the first amateur world heavyweight boxing champion, winner of the gold medal at the 1904 Olympics.
David Fleishhacker | San Francisco
Editor’s note: The photo in question came from the Harvard Art Museum/Fogg Museum, Historical Photographs and Special Visual Collections Department, Fine Arts Library, and was identified as a photo of Joe Choynski taken by H.D. Genelli in 1893 or thereabouts. The shock of blond hair that appears in frontal shots of Choynski is not visible in this profile view.
East Bay community shows its mettle after JCC closure
Many thanks to j. for featuring the East Bay Jewish community’s response to the recent closure of the Contra Costa JCC. (“Quick help for people marooned by Contra Costa JCC,” Jan. 27).
I’m glad to add that other institutions have also been part of this communal effort. We at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay are providing free care consultation services to the families of former Millman Respite Center clients, and we have teamed up with our colleagues at Jewish Vocational Service to offer job counseling services to former JCC employees.
We deeply appreciate all the CCJCC staff, board members and supporters who enriched our community during the center’s proud history. The JCC’s closure was a stunning and sad loss for all of us in the East Bay, but it has been heartening to see communal institutions come forward with generosity, flexibility and commitment.
Avi Rose | Berkeley
Executive Director, JFCS East Bay
Smart take on grandparenting
I enjoyed reading Janet Silver Ghent’s interesting column (“Tinkering with Judaism, interfaith dilemmas and being ‘different’,” Feb. 3). And I want to compliment her for not pushing her beliefs on her children and grandchildren.
It makes for a much better relationship when both sides show mutual respect. I’m a grandma, too. I attended two different series of Grandparent Circles and heard lots of grandparents say they felt sad and alienated because their grandchildren were not being raised as Jews.
Congratulations to Janet for sharing her traditions with pride and a light touch.
Donne Davis | Menlo Park