November 12, 1999/3 Kislev 5760, Vol. 52, No.11
Letters to the EditorNovember 12, 1999
Even hateful voices should be heard
Editor: I just finished reading the article about the Jewish National Fund radio show (Jewish News, Nov. 5) and am absolutely disgusted. Radio is a business, plain and simple. Nowhere have I read that KFNX, or its sister stations or parent company, have an anti-Semitic agenda. From what I’ve read, the station will sell airtime to anyone willing to buy it. Do I like William Pierce? Not at all. But I do respect Pierce for voicing views different than my own, and I applaud KFNX for the willingness to expose me to those views, no matter how backward I believe them to be. At this point, I think that it is representatives of the Jewish community, not KFNX, who are being small-minded and intolerant. Marc Lieberman of the Anti-Defamation League comments in the article, "The ADL is working on a campaign against KFNX and intends to make it very difficult for them to do business as long as they support people like Pierce on their airwaves." So, does this mean that we support everyone’s beliefs, as long as they reflect our own? Between JNF backing out of the radio contract and the Lieberman comment, it appears that the Jews are doing far more to encourage anti-Semitism than Pierce does in his show. Instead of attacking KFNX, we should embrace the station for being politically blind and not having an agenda. We should support KFNX, as they provide us the opportunity to better understand our neighbors and our community. And by all means, we should use KFNX as a resource for making our own voices heard. Arana Wolin Phoenix Jews not endangered
Editor: Why is Rabbi Tovia Singer so upset ("Messianic congregations accused of dishonesty," Jewish News, Nov. 5)? Is it not anybody’s free choice to join any congregation desired? And if later an individual decides that he or she was "tricked" into it, he or she can always leave the congregation. Alexander B. White Scottsdale Editor: Rabbi Tovia Singer makes several inaccurate statements implying that Messianic Jews and Evangelical Christians are preying upon Jewish souls. His statement that "these people are obsessed with converting Jews because they believe that the second coming of Christ is only possible after the Jewish Nation has come to the cross" is blatantly false and not supported by Scripture. Stephen Yulish, Ph.D. Flagstaff JCRC clarifies stance
Editor: From your story "Lawmakers, Jews less than enthusiastic about workplace bill" (Jewish News, Oct. 29), readers might have concluded from my comments that I, or the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), are not supportive of the Federal Workplace Religious Freedom Act. This is not the case. I have not studied the specific legislative language personally, and the JCRC, which has been a strong supporter of religious freedom issues in general, has not yet had the opportunity to take a position on the issue. Rather than expressing my position or the position of the JCRC, I was simply commenting on various aspects of the issue. Rick Naimark, chairman Jewish Community Relations Council Kind, helpful soul is gone
Editor: Joan Frazer, who died on Oct. 24, was a very special person. When I was new to Phoenix, she treated me with kindness and helped me start a catering business. She blessed many couples through her Jewish matchmaking service, Contacts and Connections. Joan had a good neshama (soul) and ruach gadol (great spirit). I am truly thankful for having had the opportunity to know her. Schmuel Berman (Via the Internet) |
