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September 27, 2002/Tishri 21 5763, Vol. 55, No. 5
Letters to the EditorSeptember 27, 2002
Sense of fair play?Editor:Carl Goldberg's answer to Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser's letter to the editor ("Where is the Muslim Majority?" Jewish News, Sept. 13), though quite polite and respectful, was somewhat disappointing. He appears to be trying to influence and select whom he would like to oppose. This is not exactly fair play. Although it is comforting to deal with an adversary you can easily defeat, it is not justified, in order to do that, to push aside a friend who stands beside you just because he does not totally agree with you on everything. If it is possible, I would very much like to know why the Muslim author of a self-owned, self-serving publication should be presumed to represent a larger percentage of Muslims than the Muslim author of a letter to the editor? There must be something I have missed there. M. K. Jasser Phoenix (M.K. Jasser is M. Zuhdi Jasser's father.) Which 'community' does Ahmad offend?Editor:When Marwan Ahmad states that including Israel in his Multicultural Yellow Pages "would offend a significant part of our community," he doesn't mean all Valley residents - he means Valley Muslims. Clearly, he thinks everyone outside "our community" is "insignificant" and that offending non-Muslims is acceptable. Ahmad expects "the community" to include Muslims, but excludes everyone else from "our community." In addition, you might want to contact the Black Chamber of Commerce of Phoenix at www.nationalbcc.org to inquire why they are affiliated with the directory. The India Association previously supported Ahmad but has announced an end to its support after the articles recently published in the Arizona Republic. Sandy Miller Phoenix Don't make same mistake againEditor:I fully support President Bush's plan to dismantle Iraq's leadership and military. Let's not make the same mistake again that we made with Adolf Hitler. If America continues to keep its head in the sand, we will be buried in that sand. Clifford Steele Tempe Karsh's is still kosherEditor:I believe in continuously examining halacha to keep its application relevant to our changing lives. I respect those who both choose to and can incorporate kashruth or Shabbat into their lives. I am offended not by new interpretations of halacha, but rather by "observant" Jews believing I am less of a Jew because I do not follow their rules. A kosher food, properly prepared, stored and cooked at Karsh's Bakery is not kosher if someone involved didn't observe Shabbat by this week's interpretation? I applaud Albertson's for its actions, but now wonder if store management should ask all potential bakery employees if they are Jewish, in violation of federal law. It would seem that no Jews should work in that bakery on Shabbat if observing the Sabbath is required for kashruth certification. Karsh's is still as kosher as before. Lynn Ruskin Glendale Two little adjectivesEditor:I could agree with the letter to the editor by Steven Kanner ("Kudos for kashrut supervision," Jewish News, Sept. 13), except for the use of the words "truly" and "better" with the word "understanding." The rejection of some aspects of kashrut may not be based on a lack of familiarity with the subject, but rather on a different viewpoint. Some philosophers define "belief" as "not knowing" because belief cannot be verified by statistical, scientific or pragmatic evidence. Therefore, interpretations may well be different, without being necessarily better or worse. However, contrary views should be respected and not summarily rejected as false. We, as Jews, have suffered enough from superiority fixation by others. Martin I. Selling Phoenix Restore stability in Israel nowEditor:This evening I met the third Israeli family this past year who has left Israel to emigrate to the United States. All three were very successful business people in Israel - builders, manufacturers and designers - people whom we would consider to be producers of jobs. They have left due to both high taxation and the threat of violence. Israel needs to listen to the voices of moderate professionals who are demanding stability in order to foster fiscal independence, rejecting the instability that impedes economic growth. Israeli business people are realizing that their talents will be well received elsewhere. Israel is now subject to the American "brain drain" which affected countries like Cold War Russia, Germany and Austria. The state of Israel will become a hollow husk if it does not restore sanity to its flawed political system soon and deal with its Arab problems one way or another. The system demanding the unholy unity of Ariel Sharon and Shimon Peres must not be allowed to persist. Reform is needed now. Jon Sigona Scottsdale
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