November 6, 1998/ 17 Cheshvan 5759, Vol. 51, No. 7
Letters to the Editor11/6/1998
Peace in Mideast far from sure thingEditor:I find it difficult to understand the euphoria over the "Mideast peace" headlines when, deep down in their hearts, none of the participants believe that it will last. The real unsolved question is what is going to happen on May 5, 1999. To promote the spin, King Hussain of Jordan was brought from a sick bed in order to add credence to the talks. In 1948, the Jordanians conquered the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem. They controlled those areas until 1967. In nearly two decades, they never established a Palestinian state nor did they make Jerusalem its capital and, during that period of time, they didn't allow Jews to pray in their holy places. On the other hand, under Israeli control, all faiths can worship in Jerusalem. The eventual creation of a Palestinian state can never happen on the West Bank because it will put Israel in mortal peril, and any chance for peaceful coexistence could never take place. Including the West Bank, Israel, in square miles, is roughly the size of Massachusetts. Israel is surrounded by more than a dozen, mostly hostile, Arab regimes with combined areas which would total the size of 500 states of Massachusetts. Establishing a Palestinian state would make Israel only 10 miles wide in certain areas, with the Palestinians controlling strategic hills from which they would look down on Israel's largest population centers. Hy Rosenfeld Phoenix One good deed inspires anotherEditor:Just a note to let you know that Jewish News' July 3 article about Hannah Weinsheink, who asked participants at her birthday party to bring presents for the Pappas School for homeless children, inspired our daughter, Hannah, and her best friend, Daniel Cohen, to donate toys to the Crisis Nursery instead of receiving gifts for their fifth birthday. Since their birthdays are a week apart, they had a party together on Nov. 1. Hannah and Daniel attend Temple Solel Preschool and discuss tzedakah (charity) in their class regularly. They agreed to have the children bring toys to give to "kids who don't have enough money for toys." Thanks for the great idea! Many of our friends are talking about doing the same with their next child's birthday party. Who knows - you and Hannah Weinsheink may have started a new trend! Kent and Angie Berk Scottsdale (Via the Internet) |
