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December 5, 2003/Kislev 10 5764, Vol. 56, No.11
Letters to the EditorDecember 5, 2003
Be thankful for senior centerEditor:For nearly 35 years, the Jewish Community Center Senior Center has been a vital resource to our elderly population in the greater Phoenix community. ("Senior services at risk," Jewish News, Nov. 28) This wonderful program serves more than 25,000 meals annually to individuals that come daily to the senior center. For those who are homebound, the meals are delivered to their doorsteps. As a former president of both the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Community Center, I had the opportunity to see firsthand the wonderful service that this program provides and met several individuals and family members of those who benefited. I saw that this program does more than deliver meals. This program provides a human connection for the 83-year-old woman who feels isolated and alone. For the 88-year-old widower, it provides a place to belong and to share memories. For all the seniors, it provides the ability to remain independent. As we enter this season of Thanksgiving and Hanukkah, I encourage each and every member of our Jewish community to recognize all that you have to be thankful for and remember others less fortunate than yourself. I encourage you to personally pay a visit to the senior center, and lastly I ask you to support the senior center and the annual campaign, which provides funding for critically needed services in our community. Lanny Lahr Scottsdale JCC is more than fitnessEditor:The two articles on the Jewish Community Center Senior Center ("Senior services at risk," "Special delivery," Jewish News, Nov. 28), which appeared last week once again demonstrate that the JCC is more than a workout facility. Current and potential members continually compare the rate structure of being a member to the fees of other fitness centers in the Valley. Our rate structure is more because we serve the community, and part of the membership fees go to fund the senior center and programming for all age groups from preschoolers through seniors. And last but not least - we provide a facility for Jewish identity, camaraderie and education. So when somebody joins the JCC, they are not only taking care of their mind and body, but they are also helping to serve the needs of the Jewish community. Thank you for informing the community about what we really do. Irwin Kanefsky Chairman, Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center In defense of late-term abortionEditor:The letters by Cecilia Montrazeli and Harris Weisman offended me so I had to respond. ("Late term abortion is wrong," Jewish News, Nov. 28) The majority of women who have abortions do not use them as family planning or for convenience. I do not believe that contraceptives are against the will of God. And when I choose to have sex with my husband, we are not saying it is a convenient time to have a baby. The majority of middle- and upper-class women have the money to pay for abortions. It is the poor women who cannot pay for the procedure. If we do not use our tax money to assist them, then their children are doomed to stay in poverty. Montrazeli also does not understand the adoption procedure. Many of these unwanted children enter the foster care program and stay there. It would behoove Harris Weisman to learn the facts. Partial-birth abortion has never been used on a healthy child. This procedure has been used sparingly and only to save the mother's life. He quotes the legislation as stating "this subsection does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of the mother." There is no such section. If it were there, Kate Michelman and I would not be so concerned about the legislation. Arlene Millman Scottsdale
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