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February 2, 2001/Shevet 8, 5761, Vol. 53, No.18
Letters to the EditorFebruary 2, 2001
Preaching to choirEditor:I was interested to read an analysis of my letter to the Editor on intermarriage by Murray Freedman from Leeds, United Kingdom (Jewish News, Jan. 5.) Somehow, Mr. Freedman concluded that I approve of intermarriage and thus believe that it is a "mitzvah to marry out." Nowhere in my letter did I say or imply approval of intermarriage. What I did say is that love often trumps religion and our Jewish community must accept that fact and turn what many believe to be negative into a positive. Mr. Freedman has concluded that intermarriage is a "total disaster" because "only a minority of the children of mixed marriages are being brought up Jewish." To the contrary, the trend toward intermarriage is instead an opportunity to expand our religious membership and a challenge to our rabbinate and lay leaders to make it happen. A starting point would be rabbinic officiation at interfaith marriages. Since Orthodox, Conservative and 50 percent of Reform rabbis disagree with my officiating thesis, I can only speculate that our rabbinate is not up to the most important challenge of our time. Rabbis preaching to the choir is always more comfortable. David R. Frazer Phoenix Seeking memoriesEditor:I'm a person of American Indian descent researching diverse topics related to World War II history. I am eager to make contact with Jewish American senior citizens who have memories of the 1940s to share. I'm interested in how Americans of different backgrounds viewed the indigenous population of America. I would like Jewish American perspectives on encounters with American Indians, Metis, native Pacific Islanders, Eskimo and Alaskan Indians during the war. For my research, I'm considering Jewish persons who in lived in pre-1948 British Mandate Palestine as indigenous. Does anyone know of such persons? Please send responses to: Robert J. Clark, 629 Burroughs Ave., Collinsville, IL 62234. Robert J. Clark Collinsville, Ill. The whole scoopEditor:I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the staff of the Jewish News, especially Leisah Namm, for the thoughtful and informative article on the Kollel. (Jewish News, Dec. 15) The piece was informative interesting and positively refreshing. Leisah really made an effort to get the "whole scoop." As the primary source for the community news the paper serves us unfailingly as an advertising tool, through the good offices of Bobbi Eller and as an information resource letting us know what the Jewish happenings are in this great valley. If there is ever any way I could be of service to you don't hesitate to call. Rabbi Zvi Holland Phoenix Civility, pleaseEditor:Please be considerate and respectful of President George W. Bush. Do not tout your cynicism. Please support the concepts and values of our founding fathers. Do not allow Israel to be "internationalized" or mischaracterized. Larry Ferguson Plano, Tex. (Via the Internet) Lack of balanceEditor:I found your front-page article on the Jewish Defense League (Jewish News, Jan. 12) disturbingly unbalanced. Most mainstream Jewish organizations and leaders consider the JDL to be an extremist, marginal organization. Why weren't any of those leaders contacted for the article? Two points about the JDL: Here in Chicago, the KKK recently held a rally. Jewish leaders and other clergy begged people to ignore it and instead attend a Peace and Harmony Rally the next day. JDL members publicly vowed to stop the KKK; at the rally, they helped to turn what would have been a non-event into a violent free-for-all that led the news on every local station and gave the KKK the publicity they craved. Secondly, at a time when so many in the Jewish community are working for gun control, when handgun violence is killing children by the thousands, is "firearms training" really what the community needs? Pauline Yearwood Evanston, IL Defend ZraketEditor:I would like to express my views on the attempted recall of Councilman George Zraket. He should be praised for saving the city of Scottsdale from complete destruction. When he began on the council, we had an administration that was completely disregarding the wishes of the citizens. Councilman Zraket's persistent questioning and analyzing of the issues was the catalyst that awoke the citizens to the need for a major change in city government. I believe Councilman Zraket cares deeply about the future of Scottsdale, and I hope he continues to question and probe the issues coming before council. Our newly elected council members should stand behind him 100 percent. Bernat Berk Scottsdale Editor: We voted for Scottsdale City Councilman George Zraket. We are Jewish, and we are very glad we did. We resent the smear campaign going on in Scottsdale by a handful of resentful businessmen. These self-serving people have cost the citizens enough in the past. Someone needs to put a stop to them. We encourage a "no" to a recall election and the approximately $100,000 it will cost us. Anabel and John Konwiser Scottsdale |
