Unrealistic solution

Glenn Easton, the synagogue executive director in Washington, D.C., is correct that the primary source of strength and continuity in North America is the synagogue (“It’s time for a change to synagogue dues,” Feb. 27).

 However, based on my 13 years on a synagogue board, I can state that his proposed solution for the financial problem with synagogues would be disastrous.

 We cannot realistically eliminate “set, expected membership dues levels,” because when we budget we have “set levels” of compensation for our rabbis, executive directors, educators, teachers and other staff under contract.

 We cannot ask “mega-donors” to underwrite reduction in dues of others. These people will contribute extra funds to build sanctuaries and classrooms, but not for operating expenses.

 We can’t realistically finance our educational programs by putting the entire burden on the parents. These costs must be shared by every member of the congregation.

 Those who don’t attend have as much right to use our facilities as those who do. The synagogue is not an electric company; we can’t set up meters for services and activities and charge by some unit of measurement.

It would be interesting to know if Mr. Easton’s recommended dues policy has been adopted at his own synagogue.

Ted Bresler   |    Fremont

Federations look at the big picture

David George’s “modest proposal” (Letters, Feb. 27) recommending the shutting down of federations gave me one thought: smaller, lesser-known Jewish agencies that rely heavily on JCF support would lose critical funding and potentially have to shut their doors.

As a volunteer for the federation for nearly two decades, I find it reassuring that the federation takes a holistic view of the entire Jewish community. Sure, I could give directly to an agency, but maybe there are other agencies with critical programs that are in jeopardy that I don’t know about.

I take comfort that the federation applies my dollars where the need is most, rather than making my own allocation, which could just be icing on the cake for an agency, while neglecting a true need elsewhere. 

Bottom line: Federations aren’t overhead as David George suggests — they’re value add. I thank the federations for again showing that even in the Jewish community, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Roger Feigelson   |   Belmont

Pride in ‘Partisans’

I doubt very much if the article “It may be time to say ‘never again’ to Holocaust movies” (Feb. 27). would have been written about a movie such as “Schindler’s List,” or “The Pianist,” which depict Jews as victims of Nazis.

“Defiance” is in a class of movies showing Jews actually standing up to the Nazi threat and taking arms against them. I think the Jewish community has a problem with any reference to the period of World War II that does not point the finger at the world, crying, “Look what you have done to us, or stood by watching it being done to us, and you stood silent. For that you owe us”.

I came to Israel at 13. In high school, no teacher could explain to me, “why didn’t anybody stand up to the Germans’ atrocities?” And that bothered me a great deal. I am glad somebody had the temerity to highlight a story of someone who did. I am not trying to smear the memory of those who perished. But I refuse to accept indirect criticism of those who chose to fight, under whatever disguise it may be presented. We need to feel some pride in our heritage.

Marc Mansour   |   Walnut Creek

Unnecessary labels

In your coverage of the Fammy awards (“And the Fammy goes to ...” Feb. 27) given by Jewish Family & Children Services (Thanks!), it’s both accurate and inaccurate to describe my adoption law practice at Adams & Romer as “specializing in gay and lesbian families.” It says much about the politics of LGBT family issues that if we (and JFCS’ Adoption Connection) are open and proficient with helping gay and lesbians create families, we are “specialists.” Our practice is never more than 50 percent LGBT adoptive parents (and now happens to be significantly less), but remains known nationally to other adoption professionals whose expectant mothers want same-gender couples.  

 The lesson of JFCS and our work with LGBT parents is the simple understanding that the essential components of a successful adoption are the unconditional love and structured support every child deserves. Thus we welcome and regularly represent straight and gay couples and singles and all types of prospective parents who can provide that. The structure of those families is almost a detail, so long as it is sufficiently understood and honestly described by the adopting parents to the expectant placing parents. What is revealing about our society is that that simple fact is what makes JFCS and us “specialists.”

Charles Spiegel   |   San Francisco

Leave politics out of religion

Rabbi David Saperstein, of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, is urging the “progressive religious community” to get more involved in the judicial nominations process, stating that “it is time for the religious community to join progressive organizations fighting for a fair judiciary”.

Rabbi Saperstein’s choice of a progressive publication, the Huffington Post, and the nature of the recommended action, indicate a crossing of the line from religious social action into political action.

There are many secular organizations in which one may be politically active. Further, there are Jewish organizations that support Democrats and those that support Republicans.

However, for one of the major branches of Judaism to actively solicit support for a particular political stance, it is saying to those Jews who may disagree that they are not wanted in that branch of Judaism. Will Reform Judaism become synonymous with a “progressive” stance, as Rabbi Saperstein openly wants? Is there no place for conservative Jews within the Reform movement? Should ideology be married to religion? Do religious leaders possess such great wisdom as to “know” the proper course in these contentious issues?

Is this hubris where humility should prevail? Beware of unintended consequences.

Lawrence W. White   |   Greenbrae

Survivors should be helped

The World Jewish Congress reports that a former Israeli appellate judge, Dalia Dorner, recommends that claims conference funds be used solely for the needs of Holocaust survivors who are now in their 80s and 90s. Far too many are in dire need, lonely, without family.

Those monies received from unclaimed property, should go to survivors who need help.

Communities wanting commemorations should fund them from community funds. It all seems logical and appropriate, doesn’t it?

Arnoldine Berlin   |   Oakland