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February 13, 2004/Shevat 21 5764, Vol. 56, No. 21
Letters to the EditorFebruary 13, 2004
Gibson stokes readers passionsEditor:My reaction to Rabbi Rubinger's commentary was, "baloney." ("Reacting to 'The Passion,' " Jewish News, Feb. 6) How anyone can be reasonable after seeing this unquestionably anti-Semitic film is beyond any reason. Rubinger says "In fairness to Gibson," and I say "baloney." Under what circumstances should anyone be fair to him? Look at his family: His father insists the Holocaust never took place - all lies, he says. His mother says it takes so much fuel to burn a body, and there wasn't that much fuel or that many Jews in the whole of Europe. Is this the kind of family that breeds tolerance? Is this what Rubinger means when he says, "increase dialogue between Jews and Christians regarding our various differences in theology and historical perspectives"? I guess he's forgotten the phrase that all Jews must remember: "Never Again." Finally, Rubinger says, "Rather, I would suggest that Jews view it (the film)." And I say, I'll never spend a cent, part of which goes into Gibson's pocket, to see a blatantly anti-Semitic film. Sheldon Pierson Scottsdale Editor: I was amazed to read in this week's Jewish News that Valley clergy, including folks from Temple Beth Israel, are planning special screenings of Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ." (" 'Passion' screenings scheduled," Jewish News, Feb. 6) I think that Gibson has pulled off the greatest PR coup of this century, selling a picture that most likely, without all the free publicity he has gotten, would not have been a major success. Elaine Cherney Scottsdale Any Democrat above groundEditor:Thanks for adding a liberal dose of humor to my day. Reading the article, "Where will Lieberman's supporters go?" (Jewish News, Feb. 6) gave me the best laugh I've had in a while. Where would Jewish voters, who backed Al Gore with a 77 percentage point margin over George Bush, be likely to go? The answer is, of course, to any Democrat above ground. Although Bill Clinton entertained terrorist Yasser Arafat more often than any other foreign leader, Jews adore him. Hillary Clinton warmly embraced Suha Arafat without consequence. Conversely, Bush has steadfastly refused to meet with Arafat. Does that earn him any accolades from the Jewish community? Not a chance. Let's stop being coy on this subject and admit that Jewish votes and campaign donations go to the Democrat, regardless of whom that person might be. All a candidate has to do is put a yarmulke on his head and waltz into a B'nai B'rith meeting and the fix is in. Kerry can always drag out that long forgotten grandpa, Fritz Kohn, for added panache. Lee Klein Scottsdale Dean's neutrality is dangerousEditor:I am delighted to see Howard Dean's meteoric fall from the top of the pack. With the luster removed from his candidacy, Dean's real character will now be better known. Although he has insisted that he is supportive of Israel, he said that the United States should not "take sides" in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. Not "taking sides" means being neutral. President George Bush has said that the main obstacles to peace are the Palestinian leaders. If Dean's words are his true feelings, he objects to Bush for "taking sides." Since the State of Israel is virtually alone in the world, Dean's neutrality would be hazardous. Hy Rosenfeld Phoenix No Jews are second classEditor:In your Feb. 6 edition, two letters were published which raised important issues concerning the Sephardic community. ("Sepharadic decision raises questions," Jewish News, Feb. 6) In the first one, Weinstein incorrectly stated that Jews who are not shomer Shabbat (Shabbat-observant) will not be allowed to read the Torah - and therefore are no longer welcome and treated as second-class Jews. There are no second-class Jews. As an Orthodox congregation, the Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue, believes that the koreh (the representative Hebrew reader of the Torah) should be shomer Shabbat, however, the oleh (the person called to the Torah) does not have a similar requirement. In a second letter, Rousel raises questions about the approval of an Orthodox rabbi and having a kosher kitchen. The Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue has the great honor of having Rabbi David Rebibo as a supervising rabbi and Yehyuda Elimelech as a mashgiah (kosher slaughterer). We extend an open invitation to Rousel and any Jew, Sephardic or Ashkenazic, young or old, male or female, to attend Shabbat services and witness the unity and love of Torah that is present for all Jews in our synagogue. We especially extend an invitation to Weinstein to attend any Shabbat so that he might have the honor of being an oleh. Avi Dahan Vice president, Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue Nisim Dadon Chief operating officer, Scottsdale Sepharadic Synagogue
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