A ‘brilliant’ social justice event
The peaceful attitude and overall sense of community illustrated by the article entitled “ ‘Dayenu’ not enough at marriage equality seder in S.F.” (April 17), was truly inspiring to read as a representation of the more tolerant religious factions. The Marriage Equality Freedom Seder was a wonderful demonstration of a society’s “multicultural event” that presents a different side to the LGBTQ religious aspect.
As director of JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Council) Abby Porth stated, “After Proposition 8 passed … many blamed faith communities. We wanted to demonstrate that there are people of faith who support marriage equality.”
I feel that this momentous occasion, attended by members of all faiths, including many Lutheran and Episcopal church leaders, is really a clear showing of a problem that does not generally receive much religious support. As a young member of a GSA community at a local high school, I find this open-minded seder to be an encouragement to all the communities, LGBTQ or otherwise, that wish to join together in an organized way and really celebrate people of all forms. I just wanted to express my appreciation for this historic moment and truly brilliant social justice event.
Samantha Abernathey | Novato
Tzedakah spirit
“San Mateo woman takes stride to clothe homeless children” (April 17) was an excellent article on Caron Tabb and My New Red Shoes. The JCC Maccabi Games is proud to partner with My New Red Shoes for this year’s Tzedakah Project, which strives to make a difference in the lives of homeless children and plant the seeds of compassion, charity and community involvement. The article mentioned one part of our Tzedakah project. Actually, there are three ways the athletes are being asked to help:
Writing a personal note to be included in a special gift bag given to each homeless child,
Providing a low-cost solar-powered calculator so that each homeless child has the chance to receive a brand new school supply, and
Collecting spare change as small change can mean big change for homeless children.
The 1,500 youth participating in this year’s JCC Maccabi Games will have a significant impact on putting smiles on the faces of homeless Bay Area children for their first day of school.
If any readers would like to volunteer to make the JCC Maccabi Games a success for the athletes, San Francisco, and the Jewish community, please sign up at www.jccmacreg.org.
Janice Diamond | Hillsborough
Tzedakah chair, JCC Maccabi Games
Durban no-brainer
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed shock and disgust that Western nations are boycotting Durban II and that several walked out of the conference during a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. To her I say, “No duh!”
Inviting a Holocaust denier and racist to address a conference against racism might offend people? That’s like inviting Robert Mugabe to a conference on democracy in Africa and being shocked that people are upset! The U.N. should be ashamed of itself, and Ms. Pillay has some deep thinking to do about the next conference.
Eliot Storch | Foster City
Obama seder skeptic
Hilary Leila Krieger is correct in her article “Obama makes history with White House seder” (April 10). One must ask, however, what type of history has he made?
As a Jew I was thrilled that a seder was held in the White House for the first time in our nation’s history. However, as I thought about the motivation behind holding the seder, my excitement turned to skepticism.
Obama is clearly a practical man. He realizes that the tension in the Middle East will bring him difficulty during his administration. Also, with Netanyahu as the next Israeli prime minister, the concept of a two-state solution will be tough to negotiate. Obama and Netanyahu are clearly on different sides of this issue. There is a long tradition of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations in the White House, but why suddenly a seder? How will the holidays of other religions be met?
Obama’s seder seems like an attempt to placate American Jews who supported Obama’s nomination. The seder celebration in the White House was indeed a wonderful message of inclusion for all Jews in America. Yet, I remain unconvinced that the motivation behind this seder was only to celebrate the beauty of freedom.
Lani Wenger | Los Altos Hills
Misrepresentation of Judaism
I would like to comment on a question raised in the article “Pass over this haggadah: Messianic seder kit sparks concern among Jews” (April 3). In an interview, Barry Rubin, author of the haggadah and rabbi of Emmanuel Messianic Jewish Congregation, declared that he “considers himself [Jewish].”
Jews for Jesus should not refer to themselves as Jews, for they fail to recognize one of the fundamental aspects of Judaism: that the Messiah has yet to arrive. The Messianic Jews veering from fundamental Jewish beliefs represents a greater problem I see throughout the Jewish community.
As a 17-year-old, I have gotten to know many people who identify themselves as Jewish yet fail to embrace the vital aspects of Judaism. Their spirituality consists of merely celebrating the holidays. Many worship multiple Gods and disregard Jewish law. I have been to bar mitzvah parties that served pepperoni pizza in the synagogue and have met individuals who identify themselves as Jewish but practice Buddhism.
When does reformed Judaism become too reformed to be considered Jewish? Judaism means more than celebrating Hanukah instead of Christmas. Allowing Messianic Jews and “Jubus” to identify themselves as Jewish misrepresents our faith.
Jessica Saldinger | Pleasanton
Lost and confused
A new haggadah, “Passover Family Pack,” has recently been placed in circulation (“Pass over this haggadah,” April 3). Messianic Jews have created a new haggadah with outlandish beliefs and ideals.
I believe these “Jews” are in a state of confusion. Are they Jewish or Christian? They follow the beliefs and traditions of Judaism but sprinkle their “savior” Jesus throughout their teachings. It is as if Christianity married Judaism and they had a child with both religions giving different genes and traits, but this creates problems. This world can be very black and white at times; sometimes there is no gray middle. When classifying Messianic Jews, they may need their own section because most Jews would be insulted to find this haggadah in the Jewish section.
Most practicing Jews would be offended to have their matzah described as representing Jesus’ body, and I know I have learned that the three matzahs represent the three patriarchs. In the end, I do not know how to identify the messianic Jews, but as lost and confused and in need of some help in finding out where they truly belong and what they believe.
Nina Bokhoor | Fremont
Read to a child
I was delighted to see Steven Friedman’s review (March 6) of several great children’s books, such as “When It’s Purim” by Edie Stoltz Zolkower and “Goodnight Sh’ma” by Jacqueline Jules. I have these books at home and my daughter loves them.
Reading Jewish books to her reinforces what she learns in preschool and gives us a chance to talk about Jewish holidays, songs and our values. I’ve found that there is a whole world out there of amazing Jewish children’s books for younger children that open up great conversations.
These books and many more are available through the S.F.-based Jewish Community Federation’s PJ Library: Jewish Bedtime Stories & Songs For Families. The program is free, thanks to the Jim Joseph Foundation, and easy to sign up for at www.pjlibrary.org.
The PJ Library sends free, high quality Jewish children’s books or CDs each month directly to your home that you can keep. It’s an incredible opportunity available to families with kids under the age of 5 who live in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley and the East Bay.
Thank you to j. for highlighting Jewish children’s books. Reading to your child is a gift that will nourish a Jewish life from the start.
Vivien Braly | San Rafael
Program Coordinator, PJ Library
Taking up the cause
Dr. Dan Kliman, Alav HaShalom, didn’t pull any punches. He was a straight shooter and we always knew his views, even to the point of his being so opinionated as to embarrass some of us. We, in turn, were admittedly out of sync with him, yet that did not deter our working together as pro-Israel activists.
It was thoroughly clear that Dan was 100 percent opposed to the Women in Black and for all that they stood. In fact, it was rare for him to miss a Shabbat when he was more often dedicated to countering their demonstrations in Oakland than to attending synagogue services. (He felt strongly about his observance in Modern Orthodoxy, too.)
As for me, I thoroughly dislike the mincing of words in the contents of Rachel Eryn Kalish’s letter (March 13). She certainly did not have a handle on who the real Dan Kliman was.
Susan H. Somerville | Oakland
How the Danes saved a synagogue
Cantor Sidney Kamil described how he located the Great Synagogue in Copenhagen (“Retired cantor in East Bay tells tales of temples from Costa Rica to Denmark,” April 10). On a visit to the synagogue in 1963 I learned how the Danes saved it from destruction by the Nazis.
The night before the Nazis were planning to come to destroy the synagogue, the Danes drove ambulances into the courtyard of the synagogue and removed all the Torah scrolls, prayer books and all other sacred objects, which were then hidden in the basements of churches. Then a Danish printer brought his printing equipment and machinery into the synagogue and set up his shop there. When the Nazis came, he protested, “This is my print shop. Don’t interfere with my work.” They left him, and this is how the synagogue was saved. After the war the synagogue was renovated, and in 1956 it was rededicated in a ceremony attended by the king of Denmark.
Karl D. Lyon | San Francisco
Make up your mind
It seems bizarre that recently Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president and head of the Fatah organization, demanded that Israel reiterate its support for a two-state solution.
About a month ago, both Abbas and his security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, publicly stated that Fatah had not recognized Israel’s right to exist. Fatah and Hamas are the two main Palestinian political groups.
Correct me if I’m wrong but if Hamas wants to throw the Jews in the sea, and if Fatah doesn’t recognize Israel’s right to exist, why in the world should Israel support a Palestinian state for two groups that don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist?
I think the whole notion of a Palestinian state needs to be put on the back burner until the Palestinians can figure out whether an entity whose existence they don’t recognize can validly create a legitimate country for them. Hamas and Fatah can fool each other but they can’t fool me.
Desmond Tuck | Menlo Park
‘More of the same’ from Daily Planet
I completely agree with Jim Sinkinson’s problems with the anti-Semitic rants and Israeli bashing that comes from the Berkeley Daily Planet (“Anti-Israel letters to Berkeley newspaper draw ire,” March 27).
As a result of one of the anti-Semitic articles they chose to run in 2006, my company, Realty Advocates, elected never to run ads in their paper again. I should also note that virtually the entire Jewish community, including 10 rabbis, as well as Don Perata, Loni Hancock, the Mayor of Oakland at the time, Jerry Brown, and other community leaders all wrote letters to the publisher asking for an apology for this outrageous article, which never came.
Unfortunately we now see more of the same drivel coming from the Planet.
Hal Feiger | Oakland