March 4, 2005/Adar I 23 5765, Volume 57, No. 27
Letters to the EditorMarch 4, 2005
YWCA's actions cause for alarmEditor:I am deeply disturbed that, by failing to adopt the resolution from the YWCA Pacific Region (introduced on Feb. 13, 2004), the national board of the YWCA USA has demonstrated that they are unwilling to denounce the 2004 "Palestine Witness Visit Report" that equates Israel to Hitler. That report, authored by a World YWCA vice president, is offensive and blatantly anti-Israel ("Anti-Israel report stands," Jewish News, Feb. 18). The defeat of the resolution, and the unwillingness of the national YWCA CEO and president to meet with leaders of the Jewish community while in Phoenix, should be cause for great concern. Does this mean that the YWCA USA doesn't care about Israel, our greatest democratic ally in the Middle East? Or that they do not honor the views of women of all faiths? The YWCA of Maricopa County also would not discuss this issue. Their executive director, interim director, public relations firm and several board members have resigned over this matter. They have fired staff, put others on administrative leave, misled their honorees and donors and generally acted in a deplorable manner. Henry L. Zalut Chairman, Israel Action Committee Phoenix Credit where credit is dueEditor:The article on the relocation of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Senior Center ("Senior center moves to Beth El," Jewish News, Feb. 25) did not recognize the efforts of two very special people: Mark Shore and Andy Schwartz, president and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center. My involvement in keeping the senior center alive could not have been accomplished without their time, dedication and perseverance to the task of finding an acceptable alternative to closing the senior center. They spent many frustrating hours trying to create a Jewish environment with a kosher meals program. After many months, we were able to bring the community together in a joint effort to continue to provide a viable program for our cherished seniors. Thank you, Mark and Andy. Irwin Kanefsky VOSJCC Chairman of the Board But what does the resolution say?Editor:I was profoundly disappointed by your article on Page 1 of the Feb. 25 Jewish News ("Federation adopts resolution on immigration"). The article gives the reader virtually no information regarding the text of the resolution or what position the federation takes on this important issue. The only statement that even remotely says anything about the resolution says that "the document points out that the American-Jewish experience is one of migration and that 'our American-Jewish values necessitate confronting difficult immigration challenges facing our community with compassion and understanding.'" So? What conclusion does this take us to? Where does the federation come out on this? Please run another article to tell the Jewish community what position the federation took, or at least print the text of the resolution so we can try to figure it out for ourselves. Jere M. Friedman Phoenix
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