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Friend of Jews?

In Joseph Aaron's April 8 opinion, he stated that "when it comes to being a friend of the Jews, (Pope John Paul II) was so-so, not bad." Would a pope have to convert to Judaism to qualify for the position of being a real friend to the Jews? Is this Aaron's opinion?

Gershon Evan | San Francisco




Jews and the pope

I enjoyed reading the articles on the pope. I know many of the facts. However, there are two statements I heard on radio and TV I would like verified:

• The pope requested an Israeli singer to perform at his funeral.

• A rabbi was requested to say something at the service.

Please let me know if these are true — I'm certain other readers would be interested.

William Kessler | Castro Valley

EDITOR'S NOTE: While Israeli singer Noa took part in an Italian presentation honoring Pope John Paul II, and she had previously sung "Ave Maria" before him, there is no verification that he asked that she perform at his funeral. Also, while the pope mentioned former Chief Rabbi of Rome Elio Toaff in his will, there is no indication he requested Jewish officials to be present at the funeral.




No cesspools

I find it sad that some people need to find "cesspools of anti-Semitic, anti-Israel" behavior where it doesn't exist (April 1 j.).

After graduating from Petaluma High with honors, my daughter attended U.C. Santa Cruz for her B.A. As a strongly identified Jew, she participated in services at Hillel, and in her freshman year began "Jews for Justice" on campus.

She and her many Jewish friends found no evidence of anti-Semitism on campus, and these kids were obvious in their Jewish identity.

Presently, she attends the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, for her master's work. Again, no sign of anti-Semitism on a campus that sports a beautiful Hillel house and Chabad.

She has friends at prestigious campuses around the country, without anyone complaining of any cesspools in sight.

We must be careful about crying wolf where there is none, or risk being labeled hysterical and paranoid.

Susan J. Hirshfield | Forestville




'I feel very lucky'

Thanks to Joanne Hartman for sharing her experiences. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it to the West Coast for the Kindertransport conference (Feb. 25 j.).

My father and I were in "Into the Arms of Strangers." My father, Alex Gordon, and I appear at the plaque in Parliament at the end of the film.

What I've learned from my father in the last 36 years is never to take for granted the time you have. I feel very lucky for my freedom, my health, the opportunities afforded me by growing up in the United States, but most of all, my friends and family.

Ora Gordon | Jersey City, N.J.




A possible deal?

Ariel Sharon has recently shown resilience, thanks in part to Mahmoud Abbas' moderation.

A strong anti-communist record helped Richard Nixon's conciliatory approach to communist China. Similarly, ultra-militant Sharon and sometimes pro-terrorist Abbas may be ideally suited to cobble a deal tolerable to Arab and Jewish ideologues.

Admittedly, it would constitute only one step toward peace, and put both men in peril of assassination.

In June 1948, I arrived at Tel Aviv in time to see the Ben Hecht smoldering offshore. Financed by the screenwriter and other U.S. supporters of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, a terrorist group, the ship had arrived with a cargo of munitions and "Anglo-Saxon" volunteers.

When the Irgun refused to let the Haganah, Israel's army, take possession of the cargo, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered the ship to be fired upon. The munitions were destroyed.

Most volunteers swam ashore. Some ended up in the 5th Troop (anti-tank), which I commanded under the nom de guerre Ben Zion Hagai.

If peace is to be achieved in the Mideast, Sharon must be ready to use force to remove Israeli settlers from their homes, just as Abbas must be ready to force Palestinian zealots to put down their arms.

Lester Gorn | Pacific Grove




Consent for retreat?

"Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed." This statement is from the second paragraph of the American Declaration of Independence of 1776, which is the fundamental document of democracy.

We Americans invented democracy. Israelis delude themselves by thinking that Israel is a democracy.

Has Ariel Sharon even thought of getting the consent of the Israeli people for his retreat from Gaza? Sharon has proved that Israel is definitely not a democracy, and that the prime minister has become a dictator.

Yehuda Sherman | Lafayette




'Climate of fear'

We were surprised by comments about ZOA's complaint of Israel-bashing and anti-Semitism at U.C. Irvine (March 25 j.).

The ADL official who said ZOA shouldn't have filed a complaint because "changes do not occur through lawsuits" is wrong: That's exactly how many changes occur, as proven by lawsuits protecting rights of minorities, women, the disabled and those subjected to religious discrimination and persecution.

The Orange County Hillel director said a number of incidents were unconfirmed or never reported, but the allegations came from students themselves.

The complaint also came after other efforts had failed. For years, Jewish students engaged in meetings with administrators — and at least one student reported harassment and intimidation to the ADL — but virtually nothing changed.

Regarding the claim that the atmosphere of intimidation at U.C. Irvine is overstated, one needs simply observe that the "veteran Jewish professor" who criticized the school's anti-Israel bias and insensitivity was afraid to give his/her name.

Also, when ZOA President Morton Klein was to speak there last November, students pleaded with him to speak off-campus, for fear of repercussions.

Do you need to know any more to see there's a climate of fear there?

Morton A. Klein | New York
national president, ZOA

Susan B. Tuchman
director, ZOA Center for Law and Justice

Evoking questions

The March 4 Steve Greenberg cartoon displays open contempt for authentic Jewish values. It shows Ariel Sharon dragging an angry settler on a path marked "smaller but more democratic; less occupation of hostile Palestinian land."

Several questions come to mind: Why should Israel, which is already tiny, be made even smaller? How will driving thousands of faithful Jews out of their homes by force and surrendering their land to hostile Arabs strengthen Israeli democracy? And when did democracy become the supreme goal of the Jewish nation anyway?

By referring to an "occupation" of "Palestinian land," Greenberg is saying that the Arabs, and not the Jews, are the true owners of the land, thereby rejecting the entire Torah and covenant. By touting the supreme value of democracy, he implies that Judaism itself has no values worth preserving.

Yes, Israel is getting smaller. And as long as views such as Greenberg's are prevalent among Jews, it will continue to shrink, not only in physical size, but in spiritual stature as well.

Democracy cannot save Israel. Redemption lies only in wholehearted acceptance of our eternal covenant with HaShem, as exemplified by Israel's true Jewish heroes, the religious settlers of Gush Katif.

Martin Wasserman | Sunnyvale




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