In the Mail - Letters to the Editor

Editor:
I applaud the editorial "Whose job is it?" (Jewish News, Feb. 18) for its stinging attack on Connie Robinson and the advertisement published by her and the YWCA of Maricopa County. How duplicitous to publish an advertisement condemning an anti-Israeli resolution by the World YWCA but taking no action at the local or national level when they had the opportunity. We owe a great deal to people such as Barbara Lewkowitz and Abbie Beller, whose resignations from the YWCA show the conviction of their views and helped to bring this story to light.

Connie Robinson should be ashamed of herself; but more than that it is clear that the national YWCA and CEO Peggy Sanchez Mills share equal blame. It is amazing to me that an organization such as the YWCA has become so politicized. Is that what its role should be?

The YWCA has crossed the line, and has entered territory that has consequences. Where possible we should lobby the United Way and other community organizations to divest from the YWCA.

Warren Breisblatt
Scottsdale

Playground a group effort

Editor:
In your brief on this year's annual Chabad fund-raising dinner ("Chabad gala celebrates generations," Jewish News, Feb. 18) it was stated that we had donated a playground to Chabad. While we are honored to be recognized by Chabad for coordinating the playground project, we would like to thank all those who contributed to help make our goal of a safe, secure (and fun) area for the children a reality.

Halya and Moshe Engel
Phoenix

National YWCA needs to take responsibility

Editor:
The YWCA of Tucson is deeply disturbed that, by failing to adopt the resolution from the YWCA Pacific Region, our national board has demonstrated that they are unwilling to denounce the 2004 Palestine Witness Visit Report, which equates Israel to Hitler.

The defeat of the resolution and unwillingness of the national CEO and president to meet with the leaders of the Jewish community when they were in Phoenix Feb. 11-13 should be cause for great concern for YWCA supporters throughout the United States. In my view, the YWCA national board's decision to refer the Pacific Region's resolution to their World Relations Committee is another sign that the national board is unwilling to deal with their responsibility to act in a way that is consistent with the mission of the YWCA of the USA.

The World Relations Committee has already had two opportunities to make a clear statement with regard to the views expressed by World YWCA Council member Doris Pagelkopf (author of Palestine Witness Visit Report and member of World Relations Committee) - so why send this issue to them a third time?

Janet Marcotte
Executive Director
YWCA of Tucson

Letters to the editor must be 200 words or less; include the writer's first and last names; city of residence; and a phone number or e-mail address. All letters may be edited by Jewish News for content, style and space allowance.

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