Leaving hatred behind
Thanks for the Feb. 23 j. article on Combatants for Peace. I heard the men speak and was inspired by their willingness to put hatred behind them, end violence and find ways to build cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis.
Security for Israel in the Middle East requires that Palestinians and Israelis find a way to overcoming the fear of “the other.” This group shows that some Israelis and Palestinians are making that effort. I find this is very hopeful.
Thank you, Brit Tzedek, for bringing the Combatants for Peace to us.
Dolores Taller | Berkeley
Media-blinded
In the ongoing debate between Rabbi Michael Lerner and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, the debates on television and in the j. have shown both speakers to be media-blinded with rhetoric of persuasion bordering on the psychotic. Combatants for Peace (Feb. 23 j.) are the real discussants in the “peace” process.
One thing I liked and even admired about Lerner’s discussion (though I disagree with him) is that unlike Dershowitz, he does not try to slander or degrade Dershowitz’s character. Lerner is a true mensch in this regard. Dershowitz, who may have been taught to win arguments by slander and character assassination, is the average American hacker.
We have much to learn from both.
Sheldon Winnick, MD | Lafayette
A troubling fact
I agree with Marion Blanton (March 2 letters) that the Jewish community should consider multiple solutions to the Israeli-Arab conflict. Any proposal that offers lasting peace and security for the Israeli nation should be considered.
Unfortunately, Israel’s harshest critics seem to be less interested in offering honest criticism and more interested in unfairly blaming the Jewish state for all the problems in the Middle East. The Palestinian people bear responsibility for supporting leaders who seek to end the conflict through terrorism rather than diplomacy, indoctrination rather than cooperation.
Anyone — Jewish or non-Jewish — who ignores this troubling fact, or who rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, will receive neither respect nor support from the overwhelmingly pro-Zionist American Jewish community.
Andrew Gross | Union City
Missing the point
I have no doubt Jordan’s King Abdullah II is sincere in calling for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, but conjuring up the time-weary canard that “the principle problem in the region is the Palestinian issue” and “the U.S. should use its good offices to pressure Israel into a settlement” sadly misses the point.
If friends like Abdullah can get away with this, then what of Israel’s sworn enemies like Hamas and Hezbollah?
Sadly, the solution to the region’s problems lies not just in Israel’s hands, nor in some supposed pressure on Israel by the United States, but through the intentions of its neighbors as well.
When the Palestinians commit themselves to a peace process with Israel that recognizes both sides’ mutual rights to live in secure and recognized borders, free of the threat of terror, while abiding by previous agreements, as required by the Quartet, then I believe they will have something to talk about.
Until the Palestinians get their house in order, there is nothing for Israel to negotiate, particularly with an entity like Hamas that is sworn to Israel’s destruction. With respect to Abdullah, that is the principle problem facing the region today.
Steve Lipman | Foster City
Same mistakes
Paradoxically, it seems there is no limit to shortsightedness.
The United States wants to give $86 million to Abbas to train and equip his forces. That equipment obviously consists of guns. I remember when Israel gave guns to Fatah a few years ago, when Arafat was still around. Supposedly that was to reinforce the Oslo “peace” process. Those weapons were then turned on Israel, and Jews died.
As part of a possible resolution to the inter-Arab slaughter occurring in Gaza, the Egyptian foreign minister has recently urged Hamas and Fatah to merge.
If we give guns to Fatah, and Fatah merges with Hamas, doesn’t that mean we are giving guns to Hamas? When I last checked, Hamas hadn’t yet acknowledged Israel’s right to exist.
Is it immoral to hope that the continuing violence in Gaza prevents such a merger from occurring? History doesn’t repeat itself. We just keep making the same mistakes.
Desmond Tuck | San Mateo
Aiding Jews-by-choice
In “Turning over a new belief” (Feb. 16 j. cover story), Dan Pine cites Jew-by-choice Jodi Tharan’s sentiment that Jews-by-choice face many challenges, including “culture clash, finding a welcoming Jewish ‘home,’ and dealing with uncomprehending family and friends.”
At the Jewish Outreach Institute, we support those who choose Judaism, and call out to other Jewish institutions and organizations to do the same. While synagogues provide important educational information and guidance during the conversion process, many Jews-by-choice feel they are on their own after completing their conversion.
The Jewish Outreach Institute created and piloted a program called Empowering Ruth in New York in 2004 with the Jewish Women’s Foundation to support the population of female Jews-by-choice. The program, which originally occurred as an eight-month course, is a Jewish education and support experience designed to benefit women who are new to Judaism.
We are currently working to fully develop the curriculum and expand the course to other communities, and have launched a national listserv for women new to Judaism. The listserv is a place for women to share ideas, experiences and challenges with other women across the country who have also chosen Judaism. For more information about Empowering Ruth, contact LMarcovitz@JOI.org.
Liz Marcovitz | New York
program officer, Jewish Outreach Institute
Irked by letter
Richard Weiner’s holier than thou attitude regarding the suffering of Israelis and Palestinians in his recent letter annoys me — as does his problem with the person who calls himself a proud Jewish Zionist Republican.
Gershon Evan | San Francisco
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