April 22, 2005/Nisan 13 5765, Volume 57, No. 34
Letters to the EditorApril 22, 2005
Filibuster argument lacks consistencyEditor:Your editorial title "Democracy demands action" (Jewish News, April 15) does not make a lot of sense to me. First, you condemn the Jewish Council for Public Affairs for not allowing action on a motion about the nuclear option and the debate about President Bush's choice of judges. But the Democratic filibuster would keep the U.S. Senate from allowing action on the president's judicial nominees. To me your position lacks consistency. Second, if you want people to support the things you believe are important, you should not throw your opposition to what they think is important in their faces. President Bush and the veto he can exercise in the U.N. are the only things stopping a Security Council condemnation of Israel and the sanctions that would follow, and Sen. Jon Kyl, a faithful proponent of Israel in the Senate, is one of the Republican leaders of the "nuclear option." We should consider the thoughts and feelings of our friends when we take actions we label as Jewish. Finally, there are Jews, myself included, who believe that a president has a right to an up or down vote on his judicial nominees. I don't think it is right for the Democrats to use a filibuster to prevent this any more than it would have been right for Southern senators in the 1940s to use the filibuster to prevent a vote on a judicial candidate who opposed segregation. Sandor Schuch Phoenix Prepare meals near the tableEditor:I was glad to read the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center Senior Center finally found a home at Beth El Congregation and our seniors have a comfortable place to meet. When I read Harry Sternberg's letter to the editor ("Great senior center, shame about the food," Jewish News, April 1) describing the terrible lunches, I decided to find out myself. It appears the problem lies with the food being prepared in the JCC in Scottsdale and transported approximately 20 miles to Beth El. I was told the food arrives cold, undercooked, in smaller portions, and occasionally, short a meal. When I asked why it wasn't prepared in Beth El's kitchen, no one appeared to know the answer. It seems to me that when food is prepared in the proximity of the dining area, the cooks have more control. They can be sure the meals are served hot from the ovens. They can prepare the proper numbers of meals, and they can see that the portions are adequate. This would also be more cost-efficient, in time and transportation. How many of us have sent our meal back to the kitchen in a restaurant to have it reheated, and this in the same building? Larry Schwartz Phoenix Peace is reached through understandingEditor:My family and I went to the April "debate," "Can Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?" (It was correctly reported by your periodical - "Rabbi, evangelist debate Jewish view of Messiah," Jewish News, April 15). We were disappointed. Faith to many, is in a large part comprised of emotion rather than rational reasoning. Therefore, we don't believe that debating one's faith will encourage a change in mindset. Education is what sows the seeds of understanding. Thoughtful lectures are the key to a better dialogue with our Christian neighbors. Winning or losing, the end result of a debate, is not as imperative. We found the majority of Christians attending the "debate" desirous of learning exactly what Jewish people believe and don't believe. This was not emphasized. We propose that our Arizona Jewish leaders come together and formulate a Committee of Understanding Jewish People. Its sole purpose would be to offer dialogue for non-Jewish people. Lectures would be sponsored and advertised by Jewish people. The best way to reach peace is through understanding. Michael and Livia Steingart Phoenix
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