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November 10, 2000/12 Heshvan 5761, Vol. 53, No.7
Letters to the EditorNovember 10, 2000
Bloodshed may make senseEditor:The caption over Gordon Weiner's letter (Jewish News, Oct. 20), "Bloodshed is senseless," is simply inaccurate. The bloodshed in fact makes a lot of sense from various points of view. Firstly: The Arabs, seeing in Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon an indication that the Jews have lost their fighting spirit, are now testing that conclusion. That event and the breathtaking offers make by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak have made them dizzy with success. Now they want to see how much more they will get by violence. This is irrational only if one assumes that there is a concern on that side with individual human life, a fact not yet in evidence. Take a look at the Oct. 14 "New York Times" op-ed column by Reuel Marc Gerecht and to the article in June 15 "The New York Review of Books" by Sadik J. Al Azm, in which, among other things, he mentions a Syrian perception that Israel has lost its fighting spirit. Secondly: Before Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat made the statement that the claims of the Jews in Jerusalem are based on fairy tales. This statement was correctly understood even by many of the political left in Israel as a denial of Israel's legitimacy in the land. This statement was followed by demands for the 1967 borders and for a return of Arab refugees even from 1948; the latter event would surely spell the end of Israel. The Arabs are now showing that they are willing to use violence to accomplish their aims. This is perfectly rational unless Israel uses overwhelming force in return. Thirdly: The man reported to be in effective control of the armed Arab bands, named Barghouti, is demonstrating that he and not Arafat is control. Whether he wants more from Israel or wants Arafat to give him a bigger share of the PLO graft is not apparent. He has every reason to believe that sooner or later someone will come to him and ask what it is that he wants. Who is to say that he is acting senselessly? Fourth: Israel lacks strategic depth and is inferior in numbers. Accordingly, Israel must have a forward strategy. It ultimately must attack and destroy those continuing to fire on the Gilo neighborhood. It must demonstrate that notwithstanding the withdrawal from Lebanon, or even because of it, it will not hesitate in the use of overwhelming force. The Arabs' rather shrewd strategy is to seek to bring pressure on Israel from the fuzzy minded West to limit its armed response, to apply "proportionality" as though the Israeli Defense Forces were a police force seeking merely to contain misguided citizens of its own country. It is, of course, unfair that the risks of this fight, so critical to the entire Jewish people, must be borne by Israelis alone and not shared by the rest of us, not even those who presume to lecture them from the safety of Tempe and who write of jail for the man who destroyed the military power of the PLO, who saved Israel at Suez and who fought in every one of Israel's wars. Stephen T. Meadow Phoenix Keeping scoreEditor:I was searching on the Internet in an attempt to enhance my list of Jewish major leaguers, when I stumbled on your site (www.jewishaz.com, Oct. 16, 1998). I noticed that a letter to the editor named Buddy Myer as the only Jew to win a batting crown. Either the writer forgot about Rodney Cline Carew and his seven titles, or he didn't deem him qualified (I'm unsure as to the timing of his conversion to Judaism). Also, George Stone of the St. Louis Browns was the American League Batting Champ in 1907. William Cohon Seattle Via the Internet Input welcome on surveyEditor:We appreciated the letter from Irv Fellner (Jewish News, Oct. 27). In fact, no decision has been made as to whether to conduct a population study. We welcome comments, suggestions and expressions of concern from the Jewish community regarding such a survey. Firstly, the survey likely would use the sampling method called "random digit dialing," with names and phone numbers coming not from the federation list but rather from the Phoenix metropolitan area telephone directory. In this way we would reach out to both the affiliated and unaffiliated Jewish residents. Secondly, the assumption of the cost of a study is just that, an assumption. We are gathering proposals that may provide a more accurate picture then we now have of costs. Howard Ross Cabot Chairman Population Study Committee Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Directory kudosEditor:Congratulations on the very beautiful Community Directory 2001, recently published by Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. The four-color job, magnificent cover, graphics, excellent stock and wonderful captions covering so many topics of importance to the Jewish community, all make for an impressive publication. You have created not only an attractive and easily readable magazine, an important addition to the roster of Arizona magazines, but one for which I am certain our entire community must be proud and grateful. Eleanor Spector Scottsdale Interfaith resource Editor: The 2001 Community Directory is a great resource for members of the Jewish community. However, I was disappointed that I was not included in the listings. I am a cantor and have been performing religious and interfaith ceremonies throughout the Valley for a number of years. I will co-officiate with other clergy because I feel that interfaith couples who wish to marry should have the benefit of both of their traditions. I will be happy to meet with couples to discuss their needs and can be reached at 480-706-0501. Cantor David Niles Scottsdale |
