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November 8, 2002/Kislev 3 5763, Vol. 55, No. 11
Letters to the EditorNovember 8, 2002
Halloween feature spooks some readersEditor:Thank you for including Rabbi Charles Herring's comment in your Halloween article. ("Ghosts, goblins, witches and black cats," Jewish News, Oct. 25) Compared with most of the other quotes printed, his was certainly a breath of fresh air. Obviously a person with confidence in the strength of his Jewish identity, he is not threatened by encouraging his family to join in celebrating a secular community holiday. I have never heard a non-Jew refer to Halloween as a religious observance. Bah humbug! Don't participate because of its "pagan origins"? I shouldn't have to point out that many Jewish holidays have such roots as well (including Purim). I haven't heard many of our Protestant neighbors, some of whom object strongly to the worship of saints in Catholicism, avoid trick-or-treating because it used to commemorate the eve of All Saints Day. Having spent many an hour handing out treats at our front door (my wife got to go out with the kids), I thought this was a "giving holiday"! We have too many important issues "to stand up for," to define our identity by which of our community's celebrations we won't take part in. Richard M. Spiegel Phoenix Editor: The origin of Halloween had its inception in what could be called the dark ages, a time when superstition abounded unrestrained and everyone attributed every catastrophe to the evil spirits. But that was many years ago and should have no connection or significance to our modern world. I still recall my father carving faces on pumpkins: some funny, others frightening, but all in fun. There's no reason to tell our young ones about something that is long gone and prevent them from enjoying what is meant only for fun and trick-or-treat. As a parent, I, too, carved pumpkins, and my children enjoyed watching me make different faces for each. And, you know what, they didn't feel it had anything to do with demons or any connection with All Saints Day. They joined the fun of the occasion. Why isolate ourselves behind religious beliefs that have no real connection to this one occasion? Rabbi Herring of Temple Kol Ami said it as it is. He lives in today and not in the past. So come join the party and put aside religious barriers that stand in the way of an innocent pastime. Murray Shaw Phoenix Editor: I was given a complimentary issue of your newspaper at the Ben Yehuda Mall event at Ina Levine Jewish Community Center last Sunday. After I read "Goblins, ghosts, witches and black cats" (Jewish News, Oct. 25), I felt I had to comment about Rabbi Levertov's remark that Halloween had Christian and pagan roots. I have several Christian friends, serious about their religious commitment, who absolutely hate Halloween and refuse to participate in the celebrations in any way. They think it is an evil "holiday" and believe much along the lines of the letter from Bonnie Morris regarding the origins of the day. Bubbe Golden Phoenix Editor: I don't really like "Ghosts, goblins, witches and black cats." (Jewish News, Oct. 25) We have our own holidays, but so does everyone else. I do ask for candy, but we also give candy. Also, we only ask people who are willing to give. I think Halloween is an American holiday. Nathan Bolinger, fifth grader Scottsdale Editor: I think Halloween is just an ancient holiday. Most people that celebrate Halloween don't see it as a Christian holiday. Most people just see it as an easy time to dress up. Daniel Slosky, fifth grader Phoenix Lobbying for Israel makes senseEditor:I am writing to respond to Matt Berger's fallacious article "Pro-Israel legislators uneasy." (Jewish News, Oct. 25) Without a single on-the-record source, Berger, of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, claims that congressmen would not support Israel if it weren't for the power of the pro-Israel lobby. When will Israel's detractors come to terms with the fact that the "true reason" why Americans and their elected representatives are so supportive of Israel is because it makes good sense? Israel, the lone democracy in the Middle East, shares America's cultural values and helps defend America's national security interests. Despite the fact that public opinion polls show consistently that the majority of Americans support Israel and that the Bush White House has demonstrated support for Israel, Berger chose to parrot the thesis of the now marginalized minority of individuals that still support Palestinian President Yasser Arafat as a partner for peace. More to the point, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is an effective political lobby because a strong U.S.-Israel relationship is in America's best interest. AIPAC's success comes from the merits of the argument it supports. Gene Schupak Scottsdale Rodeos decried as un-Jewish, cruelEditor:I was distressed to see an article promoting a rodeo in Jewish News. ("Extreme rodeo returns to Phoenix," Sept. 27) As Jews, we are commanded by the Torah to practice compassion, not cruelty, toward animals. Rodeos do just the opposite. At the very least, they exploit animals for the purpose of entertaining humans. At the worst (and this applies to most rodeos), they use fear and pain - electric cattle prods, tight bucking straps, etc. - to make the animals perform. Why do you think the horse in the picture that ran with the article is trying to buck the rider off? Do horses that are treated gently and compassionately routinely throw their riders? Of course not. The "excitement" that rodeo offers comes from rodeo employees who torment the animals to make them seem "wild." Jews should not be involved in rodeos, and a Jewish newspaper should not write an article about one without bringing in the opinion of an animal activist to present a balanced viewpoint. Pauline Dubkin Yearwood Evanston, Ill. Yearwood is a former senior staff writer of Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Switch to hybrid vehiclesEditor:Rabbi Robert Kravitz in his commentary ("Trading in SUV reduces guilt," Jewish News, Oct. 25) has set a good example for environmentalists and for those who would rather not support the Mideast oil countries by dumping his SUV and replacing it with a hybrid engine car. We have also gone "hybrid." At 40 to 50 miles to the gallon, if everyone went hybrid, we could cut oil imports by well over half. Just remember, when filling your gas tank you are supporting Saudi Arabia and the other anti-Israel, anti-American countries including Iraq. In addition to Rabbi Kravitz's leadership, that demonstrates how to reduce profits to the oil barons, a further step is not buying gas refined from Mideast oil. However, only Conoco and Sinclair stations, as far as can be determined from latest Department of Energy statistics, supply gas uncontaminated by Arab oil. But there is only one Conoco station in Phoenix at 3636 N. 16th Street in Phoenix and no Sinclair stations have been located. We go a little out of our way to the one Conoco. Carolyn and Herb Nathan Phoenix What about Beth Emeth?Editor:I was upset to read Sheryl Bronkesh's letter in your issue that identified the West Valley as an area that lacks a Conservative Jewish presence. ("Conservative presence overlooked," Jewish News, Oct. 11) Page 45 of the same issue lists Beth Emeth Congregation. Beth Emeth is a thriving 30-year-old Conservative congregation located in Sun City West, the heart of the West Valley. Our congregation serves the Conservative Jewish population of the Sun Cities, Surprise, Peoria, Goodyear and Avondale. With our new rabbi, Leo Abrami, we expect that our congregation will serve an even greater area as we reach out to all of the unaffiliated Jews in the West Valley. Arnold Becker Surprise
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