Letters

Anti-Jewish epidemic

America in the summer of 2006 is becoming reminiscent of Germany in the 1930s.

An epidemic of anti-Jewish behavior began with Mel Gibson's overtly anti-Semitic outburst after being arrested for drunk driving in Southern California.

Then, two reverends, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, each with a clear history of anti-Semitism, appeared right behind Ned Lamont as he made his victory speech after winning the Connecticut Democratic primary for U.S. senator.

A few days later, former Atlanta mayor, Andrew Young, made nasty comments about Jews.

Now, Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) has told a Baptist newspaper, published on Aug. 24, that "if you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin."

One has to wonder if American Jews are on the verge of a Kristallnacht, the infamous Nazi attack on Jews and their synagogues in Germany on Nov. 9-10, 1938.

Richard S. Colman | Orinda




A 'soft target'?

Simply put, the Daily Planet (Aug. 25 j.) chose to publish an anti-Semitic screed because, in Berkeley and the Bay Area, Jews are a soft target.

I would suggest that this so-called "editor" prove the Daily Planet's desire to "get it out in the open" by next publishing, say, a piece rather uncomplimentary to Islam. But don't hold your breath.

Fred Kotkin | Seattle




Hating evil is OK

Marnina Cherkin and Amy Stein eschew the expression of hate against Muslims in the Aug. 18 j. They recommend being vigilant against "all hate of all people."

Judaism, however, commands us to hate; not causeless hatred but to hate evil and to act to punish the evil and evildoers. There are many references in the Tanach in which God instructs us to hate evil.

Our society has been profoundly influenced by the doctrine that we have to love and that we should not hate. But if you can't hate properly, you cannot love properly, because they are, in fact, opposites.

The Talmud warns us that "those who are merciful when they should be cruel, will be cruel when they should be merciful."

So Judaism is saying where there is no hatred of evil, there is a corresponding lack of love for goodness, which makes it harder to repair the world. In Judaism we are commanded to hate where it is appropriate — i.e., Nazis, Islamofascists, Hezbollah.

At the same time, Judaism is deeply opposed to the wrong hatred — hatred without good cause, because there is something higher than hatred, and that is justice.

Edward Tamler, M.D. | San Mateo




Newsworthy?

The Aug. 25 j. had two news reports featuring protests by the same anti-Zionist Jews that were the subject of the excellent j. editorial a few weeks ago. It can now be expected that every local pro-Israel event will feature a few members of these same fringe groups protesting the very existence of the Jewish state. If that is the case, perhaps j. should not consider such protests as newsworthy and stop giving these extremists the publicity within the Jewish community that they obviously crave so deeply.

In addition, the quote from Wendy Kaufman in j. was incomplete; as it appeared on the anti-Israel Web site http://www.indybay.org, it continued, "As a Christian, Jesus taught me to have love and compassion for all people and I do not understand how his followers can support such violence."

I guess it's not surprising that someone who doesn't recognize the fundamental contradiction of calling herself both a Jew and a Christian is involved with the so-called Jewish Voice for Peace, which refuses to even recognize the right of the Jewish people to have their own country in their own homeland.

Michael Harris | San Rafael




Absent Jews

On Aug. 12 a pro-Lebanon/Palestinian gathering was allowed by San Francisco officials despite their terrorist and fascist nature to demonstrate in front of City Hall and to march onto city streets. 

Unfortunately, the Jewish counter-demonstration group was not as big as it should and could be. I had to ask myself, where are the other Jews?

Where were the numerous Israelis who live in the Bay Area and draw huge crowds on the Israel Independence Day celebrations?

Where were the Jews who fill movie theatres during the Jewish film festivals?

Where were the Jews that fill to capacity synagogues on high Jewish holidays?

Yes, it was Sabbath, but many of the same Jews comfortably drive to synagogues on Sabbath and on Yom Kippur. Where have they all been?

If Jews don't notice that Israel is in danger, that Israel is being attacked and at war, who will?

Many of you Jews and Israelis have relatives and friends fighting for Israel now or being pushed into underground shelters in north Israel. They need our solidarity and support and they need it now.

Stand up for Israel and be the real Jews. 

Solomon Babchin | Foster City




Alzheimer's aid

Something that you didn't mention in your Aug. 25 crossword cover story is that doing puzzles is said to help prevent Alzheimer's — and I'm all for that.

For your information, the Washington Post has a very decent Sunday crossword puzzle in their Arts and Entertainment section, which is available at no cost online and can be printed out. It takes a bit of doing to get to, and is not quite as superlative as the N.Y. Times Sunday x-word, but it uses many of the same puzzlers and its editor, Fred Piscop, has had puzzles in the Times.

Barbara Berman | Oakland




Tough puzzles

It was terrific to read about crossword puzzles. My own father, who died at 81 in 1999, used to do every Sunday's N.Y. Times crossword puzzle in ink. Me, I can do them until about Wednesday (they get harder every day).

Victoria Reed | Folsom




Anti-$emites

I hope this fundraising strategy is not shared by j. and other Jewish leaders: Irwin Borowsky, Philadelphia, founder/chairman, American Interfaith Institute, in his Aug. 18 letter titled "$1 million for Israel" suggested that Mel Gibson prove he's not anti-Semitic by a $1 million donation.

I do not want anti-Semites to display their love by shopping around or saying, "Here is a contribution to you, His chosen people, of $xx. How much is needed now?"

Mikhail Drabkin | San Mateo




Jewish ox?

Regarding the anti-Semitic art exhibit in Iran: Danish Christian cartoonists insult Iranian Muslims, and guess whose ox gets gored?

Richard Riffer | Berkeley