In the Mail - 9/11/1998

INDEX OF THIS ISSUE

FEATURES
     Journey toward understanding
     Life's work brings still another reward
VALLEY
     'One-stop shopping,' fitness facilities top JCC priorities
     Women's group sponsors breast cancer program
     Red Cross opens center
NATION
     ACLU, city wage battle over seal
WORLD
     Five years after Oslo, peace still waits
     Nova Scotia Jews help relatives cope
     Polish extremists seize control of ongoing debate over crosses
     Russian Jews weigh emigration amid deepening economic crisis
ISRAEL
     Mideast feeling disillusionment on 5th anniversary of Oslo pact
OPINION
     Editorial - Bubba and baseball
     In the Mail - Letters to the Editor
     Marty Latz - Film character's story parallels our history
     Commentary - Judaism can learn from what McGwire has done for baseball
ARTS
     Living on the fringe
BUSINESS
     Israel fast becoming a high-tech powerhouse
GETTING ALONG
     Nancy Brody - Deal with problems when they surface
JEWISH FAMILY & LIFE
     Yosef Abramowitz - Like Judaism, baseball is best when shared by generations
TORAH STUDY
     That's the circle of life

Letters to the Editor

9/11/1998

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All trips to Israel bring benefits for participants

Editor:
In response to the lead article of the Aug. 21 Jewish News, headlined "Congregational trips focus on study, prayer," I wanted to clarify a key point. It's possible that one could derive from this article that I am opposed to United Jewish Appeal/Federation trips to Israel. I want to make clear that I avidly support UJA trips to Israel.

When I lead congregational trips to Israel I always consult the federation and eagerly seek their counsel in planning my trips. I support all trips that get Jewish people to Israel. It's been 2000 years since we've had a Jewish country and I'm much more concerned that people get there, than I am about how they get there.

I explained that the trip I led this summer was a study trip. I tried to describe the power of such trips. I also described in my interview that one of the special features of this trip was that we learned with secular and religious Jews, and with Reform, Conservative and Orthodox scholars. My understanding is that UJA trips are including many study components in their itinerary, and I think this is a great development.

I want to emphasize that I support all efforts to get people to Israel.

Rabbi William C. Berk
Temple Chai

Clinton scandal holds message for children

Editor:
I am reviled at those "non-partisan" letter writers who, when discussing President Clinton's problems, say "Let's put this behind us and let the healing begin." These are the same "non-partisans" who bombarded me with petitions to impeach former Gov. Fife Symington.

These are the same people who don't want their children and grandchildren exposed to reading about these matters. And here, I am in total disagreement.

Children should be told about this ugly event because it can become a useful educational tool. There are some very clear lessons here and they should learn from them.

And what are these lessons?

If we tell the truth at the beginning, we won't have to apologize when we get caught. If we remain faithful in our marriage, a painful healing process will not be necessary. And finally, if we do nothing for which we are ashamed, we will have nothing to cover up.

Hy Rosenfeld
Phoenix

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