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Striking a nerve

The sentiments in Janet Silver Ghent's June 9 column struck a nerve. I've been to the Golan Heights, and I've been approached by the Jews for Jesus group.

I cringe when I remember.

I wasted little time in discarding their literature, including books, in the garbage.

I have no desire to be converted. I am quite happy and content being a Jew.

Shirley Davidner | San Francisco




'Undervalued'

I am concerned about the decision to include early childhood programs (and Jewish day school and after-school programs, for that matter) in your annual "Reader's Choice" poll.

I know that the 12 Jewish preschools of the East Bay strive each day to provide enriching, high quality, and developmentally appropriate Jewish environments that foster the social-emotional, cognitive and physical development of young children.

The important profession of early childhood education is continually undervalued and under-funded by our society.

The East Bay Council of Jewish Preschool Directors work in solidarity together, providing networking and support to one another as our schools do this critical work each day.

To subject preschools into a competitive/best-of popularity contest does a tremendous disservice to our collective goal, vision, and camaraderie. I would suggest that families looking for a Jewish preschool for their child(ren) visit individual schools and determine which is the best match for their family's needs.

Melanie Sandberg | Alameda
director, Temple Sinai preschool, Oakland

Suicide support

Does anybody with any intelligence really care that terrorists killed themselves at Guantanamo? The people who are upset are the same people who have been bad-mouthing President Bush since 9/11.

Why all the concern? It's better that they do it in the privacy of their jail cells than go out with a big bang on a crowded street.

If they have a chance, they will kill again.

By the way, would the Rabbis for Human Rights (June 16 j. letters) know the P.O. Box number of the Guantanamo jail, where, in sympathy for the detainees cause, I could send some rope?

Yerachmiel Schneider | Brooklyn




Campus partner

In the June 2 op-ed headlined "Learn what you can do to fight campus anti-Semitism," we failed to mention one important partner on campus. ADL could not do the work we do without the support and partnership of Hillel.

Hillel is on the campus 24/7 promoting Jewish identity and securing Jewish life for students. Through cultural and religious programming, Hillel helps students to develop a sense of a Jewish self during their time in college.

This positive and important work of developing a positive Jewish identity is a crucial piece of fighting anti-Semitism.

ADL continues this important work by training students and staff to speak out against hatred and bigotry. Together, ADL works with Hillel and other Jewish organizations to organize campus and student responses to anti-Semitism.

I know how important it is for all Jewish organizations to work collaboratively on the issues that challenge our community. It is only through our partnerships that our efforts will benefit Bay Area Jewish college students.

Jonathan Bernstein | San Francisco
regional director, ADL

'Wise words'

Editor and publisher Marc Klein's June 9 op-ed "Jews don't know enough about their religion" contains some critical points for the current Jewish Heritage Initiative in Poland co-sponsored by Taube Philanthropies and other local foundations.

Klein quotes Rabbi David Hartman that "we need to take Jews off the victim psychology." We could not agree more. This applies in particular to programs such as the March of the Living, which too often has capitalized on Jewish victimization.

We visited with David's son, Donniel, when the younger Hartman came to San Francisco in 2005. He co-directs the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem with his renowned father, and the Taube Foundation for Jewish Life & Culture is supporting their efforts. We especially applaud those "in search of Jewish content."

As we think about this in regard to our interest in Poland, such a search is one of reconciliation, of Jews with the Poles, and of Polish Jews with American Jews (approximately two-thirds of whom have Polish or Central European ancestry).

Thanks to Marc Klein for bringing to the community's attention Hartman's wise words.

Stephen M. Dobbs | San Rafael
executive director, Taube Philanthropies

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