As a subscriber to the Jewish Week and a member of the Steering Committee for the AAJLJ Durban II Counter Conference, I wish to voice my surprise at the negative start of your coverage of our conference in regard to Ambassador Richard Schifter, a person of great stature, intellect and repute for all the work he has done as a human rights expert.
Unflattering, negative descriptions of participants during a conference that took great effort and planning and that necessitated early morning travel by Ambassador Schifter and others, were not in the least germane to the topics we provided, which were the true human rights issues that should have been dealt with during the same time frame in Geneva.
Though you went on to praise the content of Amb. Schifters remarks, your comments were greatly marred by your opening.
Sincerely,
Gloria Landy
]]>In addition, I would hope that it would be read aloud in every Synagogue around the world……and, in addition reprinted broadly.
It sends a message to each and every one of us…….it brings to mind the concept “that all of Israel is responsible one for another.”
May his memory be blessed…….may the youngster who was badly injured have a speedy and complete recovery.
May we also speak of the Israeli MIAs at every seder and in every synagogue.
Chag Kosher V’Sameach to you and your family.
Judy Shapiro
]]>Dear Jewish Week Editor,
Please write an editorial explaining your contradictory positions in your next edition.
I do not understand your logic. How can you say that it is OK for a US citizen to pledge allegiance to the US, while it is not OK for an Israel to do the same to Israel? Similarly, is a pledge of loyalty to US all right, but not a pledge of loyalty to Israel? Why the US should not give land back to Mexico, if Israel has to give up land to its Arab neighbors? How can you justify the expulsion of Jews from Arab lands such as Gaza or Egypt, yet not justify the expulsion of Arabs from Israel?
Regards
Anton Loew
1601 Third Ave.,
NY NY 10128
646- 284-8705
I’m writing this response from Herzliya. I”m in Israel with twenty Hornstein Leadership students from Brandeis and, as well, with nearly 5,000 Taglit-Birthright Israel participants. I share your sense of the conflict and agree that those who have had a chance to spend time in Israel have a different perspective. But your headline re: the “widening gap” isn’t supported by your commentary. To be sure, there is a danger that Diaspora Jews will be less likely to visit and study in Israel — and many of the programs that promote engagement between Diaspora and Israeli Jewry are facing difficult times — but let’s not assume that their decline is inevitable. Instead, perhaps we can become even more creative about how to support efforts such as Taglit.
B’shalom.
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