Letters to the Editor9/4/1998
U.K. lesson shows vouchers not a cure-allEditor:In the Aug. 28 Jewish News, there was a letter by Carol Nichols Turoff, Arizona chairwoman of Toward Tradition, in which she called for school vouchers for religious schools to stem the tide of assimilation and secularization. Vouchers might; but it is more likely that they might not. The case of the United Kingdom is instructive. State support of private Jewish schools in England dates from 1853, when monies were first given to finance the teaching of secular subjects in Jewish schools. Although the number of such schools accepting state money was small for decades, beginning in the 1960s their numbers swelled and today state-funded Jewish schools are a significant feature of the educational landscape. In 1988, the Thatcher government succeeded in instituting a National Curriculum throughout the U.K. Curricula in all state-supported schools was specified in detail. Some Jewish educators have complained that teaching the National Curriculum leaves little time for Jewish education. One observer in 1995 wrote of a Jewish school he had visited: "Most teaching misses valuable opportunities to contribute to pupils' spiritual development. Likewise, outside Jewish studies and modern Hebrew, there are few references to Jewish culture in the curriculum, with the result that Jewish matters are separated from secular matters. The school should consider whether this situation accords with its ethos." Jewish parents in the U.K. who wish a religious education for their children feel the tension between paying for a private education out of their own pockets versus sending their children to increasingly secularized state-supported Jewish schools. School vouchers redeemable at Jewish schools in the U.S. might very well create this same dilemma. State money is quickly followed by state regulation and control. An excellent article on Jewish education in the U.K. can be found in a free, online scholarly journal at this address: http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v4n5.html. The title of the article is "Opening up Jewish Education to Inspection: the Impact of the OFSTED Inspection System in England" by Judith Keiner of the University of Reading. Gene V. Glass Sandra R. Glass College of Education Arizona State University OU may still have say on 'Mrs. Santa'Editor:In the July 31 issue, Jewish News reported on an effort by Rabbi Elliot Gertel of Chicago to protest a Hallmark television special produced for the Christmas season titled "Mrs. Santa Claus." Rabbi Gertel criticizes Hallmark for what he considers condoning intermarriage in a manner that can only offend much of the Jewish community. To say that combating intermarriage, and its promotion, is an effort the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America is committed to is an understatement. The Union's efforts to educate and uplift Jews through a myriad of programs are designed to provide deeper understanding and appreciation of Judaism to all Jews, including those less affiliated who might intermarry. It is thus unfortunate that you report that the rabbi's "concerns were dismissed by officials" at our organization among others. When first contacted by Rabbi Gertel about the Hallmark program, we told him two things: that we needed to view a copy of the film and that it was too early in May to mount a protest against a Christmas season special. If "Mrs. Santa Claus" does promote intermarriage, the Orthodox Union will raise its voice in protest at the appropriate time. Nathan J. Daiment, director Orthodox Union New York Clinton scandal calls for more than 'healing'Editor:Not surprisingly, two of the three letters printed in the Aug. 28 issue of Jewish News on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal called for "healing" to begin as we put Clinton's "alleged crimes" behind us. One letter writer even compares Clinton to previous presidents and their misdeeds, as if one justifies another. The issue is not, as some would have us believe, simply sexual in nature. President Clinton, a former law school instructor, knows full well the deep implications of obstruction of justice, suborning perjury, and perjury. These are crimes, not differences in opinion. In his speech to the American people, this poll-driven man demonstrated defiance and arrogance rather than contrition and the taking of responsibility. His attitude indicated that being caught was the most vexing problem. "That woman, Miss Lewinsky," then a 21 year old intern, has been cast as the aggressor in his sordid escapades. It's yet another example of shifting blame. Let us remember that Kenneth Starr, a respected jurist, was appointed by a three-judge panel and approved by Attorney General Janet Reno. He did not rise up in a vapor to investigate Clinton. This administration has been fraught with scandal, including alleged campaign finance violations, improperly obtaining IRS records of prominent Republicans, Travelgate and the selling of the Lincoln bedroom to the highest DNC donors. The most recent deception involves Madeleine Albright calling for the United Nations inspectors to cease their surprise visits to Iraqi plants suspected of creating weapons of mass destruction. Were these undisguised partisans asking for "healing" and pleading to put transgressions "behind us" adopting the same policy with Nixon when his presidency was unraveling? I think not. Ed Halpern Scottsdale 
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