In the Mail - Letters to the Editor

Editor:
In response to Leo Kramer's statement "Israelis and American Jews must stop blaming the Palestinians for the conflict" (Jewish News, "Palestinian economy affects Israel's future," March 11), are we hearing a Jewish apologist? I think Mr. Kramer needs to review a bit of history, viz. Israel returning land after the wars; accords between Israel and Arafat not being honored by the Palestinians; promises of terrorist cessation fulfilled with the murder of Israeli men, women and children; and the list goes on and on.

As of today, the official dogma of the Arab government is aggressively teaching virulent anti-Semitism - oops, excuse me, anti-Zionism. Is Mr. Kramer suggesting that Israel disarm completely and throw its borders open as a sign of goodwill?

Harold Katz
Sun City

All hail the Bronx

Editor:
I read your piece on the Bronx with immense pleasure ("Back to the Bronx," Jewish News, Feb. 25). To be sure, the ancestral homeland has had more than its share of tzuris, but its glories still stand: the world-class Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Van Cortlandt Park, Fordham University, Manhattan College, the College of Mount St. Vincent, Herbert H. Lehman College, and at least two community colleges.

The Romans were so impressed that they used to say, "All roads lead to the Bronx." In fact, when the Romans first started paving their streets and erecting three-story buildings, they were inspired by Caesar, who reminded them: "The Bronx wasn't built in a day."

Maurice Wolfthal
Tempe

What type of rabbi endorses intermarriage?

Editor:
As a Jew, I was greatly surprised to see that your advertising department accepts advertisements from local rabbis informing readers that they undertake interfaith marriages.

My concept of a rabbi is that she or he is the spiritual leader of our community. What kind of Jewish spiritual leader encourages a Jewish man or woman to marry out of the faith with the possibility of them forsaking Judaism entirely?

Instead of discouraging this kind of marriage of Jewish men and women, local rabbis are encouraging marriages of Jews with gentiles. There is great concern nationwide about Jews leaving the faith, which could follow mixed marriages. What kind of hypocrisy is this?

Finally, to find rabbis advertising at all is not only distasteful but most unprofessional - let alone looking for business in an area that is very sensitive to the Jewish way of life.

Mark Kaplan
Sun City

Jewish News a unifying asset

Editor:
Thank you for the great coverage of Jewish Unity Live ("Jewish Unity 2005," Jewish News, March 4) and The Bucharian Jewish community ("A celebration of freedom, unity," Jewish News, March 4) over the past few weeks.

The Jewish News has again and again proved to be one of the greatest unifying assets we have in the Valley of the Sun.

Zvi Holland
Director, Phoenix Community Kollel

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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