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Sacred love

I agree with Rachel Sarah's suggestion (April 28 column) that Jewish tradition considers sex a mitzvah.

In fact, sexual intimacy is recognized by Judaism as the most powerful and spiritually uplifting of human interactions. However, Jewish law by no means treats sex casually, nor is it considered as ubiquitous as eating or drinking.

On the contrary, the positive outlook Torah Judaism has regarding physical intimacy specifies that its loftiness and beauty is the sacred expression of love between husband and wife. Within that consecrated union, sexuality is indeed a mitzvah — a commandment. In fact, during sexual intimacy, it is suggested there are three participants — two spouses in partnership with HaShem. In that regard, the Torah actually views sex as a godly experience.

If Sarah would like a more accurate perspective than that offered by a local sex-shop spokesperson, I might recommend many excellent books on the topic, such as Rivkah Slonim's "Total Immersion" or Aryeh Kaplan's "Waters of Eden."

Dr. Leslie Gendler Wilkof | Oakland




A model leader

J. got it right: There should be no doubt about the critical importance of Nate Levine's leadership in creating a JCC that is a magnet for and generator of Jewish life in San Francisco (May 5 j.).

Nate's "turning point" decisions are surely plentiful, but j. got it wrong on one of them and failed to note another.

The JCC almost went bankrupt when its parent UJCC board closed the fitness center. When the JCC became independent, Zev Hymowitz, the first executive director, made two "turning point" decisions that underlie the strength of the center today. First, he leased out the fitness space. Not one other JCC across the continent had ever done this. It was very controversial in the JCC movement. Also, he hired Sandee Blechman to take hold of the financial and operational mess and get the center back on track. Thanks, Zev.

When Nate was hired, he recognized Sandee's value and negotiated responsibilities in order to build a wonderfully successful leadership team with her. Another "turning point" in JCCSF lore.

Nate is a model of great leadership and a terrific guy.

Toby E. Rubin | San Francisco
past president, JCCSF

Puzzling secrecy

Thank you for your May 5 cover story "Suddenly sisters" on the girls who discovered they were biologically related. As a middle-aged adoptee, I always like to hear about happy meetings among genetic relatives, and that the girls' mothers shared their happiness.

We adoptees have often had a difficult time finding out anything about the people whose genes we share because of the social attitudes, fears on all sides, and laws that enforce these attitudes by forever sealing adoptee birth certificates.

These laws exist in 45 out of 50 states, including California. I wrote a book about the origins of these laws called "Growing in the Dark: Adoption Secrecy and its Consequences" because I found the secrecy so puzzling, personally painful and ultimately unnecessary.

We adoptees, like people conceived by alternative methods, will not leave our parents upon finding new relatives. Rather, these additional connections enhance our lives and, for those as lucky as Zoe and Alana, can expand our family and support networks.

Many thanks for sharing this upbeat story.

Janine Baer | El Cerrito




Breaking the lease?

Though I realize that the United States has a serious problem of illegal immigration, I can't help but imagine that Native Americas, past and present, are rolling in laughter at the irony involved. The Native Americans at one time were also faced with the problems that illegal immigrants brought to their borders.

Today, U.S. citizens may worry the same may happen especially if "what goes around, comes around" is true. The matter is serious enough that everyone should reflect carefully as to not exasperate the problem with racial slurs, unjust accusations and judgments.

Everyone needs to remember that this nation was started by immigrants who did not go through any legal process of immigration. Unless descendants of the European illegal immigrants are willing to accept that their forefathers were criminals, they should not be so eager today to make criminals of those crossing our borders illegally (April 28 j. views).

If we are a nation of faith, we need to resolve this dilemma by agreeing that we are God's children renting on God's property before we are citizens of any nation or members of any race.

Or, have we decided to break the lease agreement known as the Ten Commandments?

Bob Montanez | Odessa, Texas

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