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March 30, 2001/Nisan 6, 5761, Vol. 53, No.26
Letters to the EditorMarch 30, 2001
Finding faultEditor:I am a senior at Horizon High School and a classmate of Aaron Kravitz ("Prom will go on," Jewish News, March 9). I agree with Aaron's objection to holding the prom on Friday night, but unlike him, I will attend due to the fact that my family and I have agreed that I could go. Every Friday night I sit down at the dinner table, light the Shabbat candles and say the prayers with my family. There are many things I don't agree with about the dilemma of holding the prom on Shabbat. But if bringing public attention to this dilemma would mean moving the date, some people would say it was all the Jews' fault. I don't want that to happen. For example if prom were changed to Saturday night, it would probably be held in the gym, and people would say, "This prom is no good. It is all the Jews' fault." I strongly support Aaron's position. I believe what he is doing is important for all. But just don't let it harm the image of the Jews. Michael Ference Phoenix Via the Internet Hard choicesEditor:I couldn't help comparing Vicki Cabot's defense of Aaron Kravitz's protest about his high school prom being held on Friday night (Jewish News, March 9) to the article on Page 22 of the same issue headlined "Hoops star skips big game." Basketball player Tamir Goodman made the hard choice not to play in one and a half games because those games fell on the Sabbath. Baseball star Sandy Koufax made the decision in 1965 not to play in first game of the World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. There is no indication that they protested about the conflict between their values and their games; they chose their values with dignity. Sure, Aaron Kravitz would like to attend his senior prom and observe the Sabbath, and it would be nice if things had worked out that way. Had his school deliberately chosen the Friday prom out of disrespect and insensitivity toward Jews, there would be grounds for protest, but this is apparently not the case. For Aaron, the hard choice is not making a protest; the hard choice is standing up for what he believes in, namely, observing the Sabbath and sacrificing his own enjoyment, namely the prom. Sometimes, life requires us to make choices in favor of our values rather than protest against the necessity of making that choice in the hope that we can have it all. Carl Goldberg Tempe |
