A beacon of hope
Despite the common belief that religious groups are generally intolerant of the LGBT community, the article “Retreat a guiding light for LGBT and queer Jews” (April 23) proves this is not always the case. These Nehirim retreats not only represent the acceptance toward those that identify as LGBT by the Jewish community, but also the desire for all Jews to stay connected with their spirituality.
When one is persecuted by their religion just for being who they are, it is easy to understand why many LGBT Jews might stray from their faith. Chaya Rivka Mayerson, a Jewish woman who identifies herself as “queer,” had not been to a synagogue in almost two years before she went on the retreat.
It is because of events like this that people who had once felt shunned by their own religion can now embrace their faith and spirituality. And since Jews of all backgrounds are encouraged to go to these retreats, we can expect not only more tolerance, but also more acceptance of the LGBT community.
Emily Tsukanov | San Ramon
Help Maccabi succeed
When one thinks of San Francisco, sports (other than the Giants or Raiders) is definitely not one of the first things to pop up on the list.
This summer, that view is being challenged by the Maccabi Games — maybe. A city known for its open minds and arms, the Jewish population does not seem to be following (“Clock ticking on S.F. Maccabi Games’ quest for host families,” April 23).
I do not know if it is the idea of strange teenagers from strange places invading your home for a week or if the timing is bad with the economy, but I hope many more families volunteer their home or time for this valuable and, more or less, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In fact, I have a few friends who have partaken in the Maccabi Games and still talk about it today; I hope that experience can live on for future Jewish teenagers.
I wish Jackie Lewis the best of luck, because if there are not enough volunteers, San Francisco may be embarrassed — and the Maccabi Games may not come back.
Rachel Poppers | Sacramento
Stop anti-Semitism on Facebook
The article in which Karen Haber finds relatives split by the Holocaust through Facebook (“Facebook helps reunite family split by Holocaust,” April 17) is a heartwarming story. However, when it comes to Facebook and the Holocaust or Israel in general, not enough is said about the horrible anti-Semitism taking place on the Web site.
While I search through the site I find groups such as “F—k Israel and their Holocaust bulls—t”, “Israel is a terrorist country, we all hate Israel,” and more, all of which contain a substantial amount of members. Facebook is a site that attracts young impressionable people, and much harm is being done as it allows this horrible vulgarity and racism.
A young Jewish entrepreneur, Mark Zuckerberg, created the site. The Web site should take a firm stance on not allowing this vulgarity and try to delete as much of it as they can. A petition should be made to stop these groups and sent to the Facebook headquarters (located in Palo Alto).
Facebook is a pleasant social networking site, and the Jewish community should not stand idle as this horrible anti-Semitism and anti-Israel behavior is going on right in front of our eyes.
Elan Merry | Mountain View
Thanks to Jim Joseph
I am writing to acknowledge and appreciate the dedication of the Jim Joseph Foundation to supporting the education of our Jewish youth — in particular the Bay Area Jewish community’s precious preschool children (“Grant by S.F. foundation lets kids stay in Jewish schools, camps,” March 26).
As a director of a small local Jewish preschool, I have felt the pain of many families who make Judaism a priority in their lives, but cannot afford to send their child to a Jewish school. Their challenges are the challenges of the entire Jewish community. I would like to express my sincere appreciation — as a preschool director who now has the means to help some of these families, as a Jewish educator who knows the value of a Jewish education for young children, and as a mother who struggles to afford Jewish schools for my own children.
Yasher koach to the Jim Joseph Foundation and to our own local Jewish community for recognizing the importance of Jewish education for our young children. A very special thank you to all those involved with the Jewish Community Federation Preschool Scholarship Fund and the Early Childhood Education Initiative.
Gittel Rice | San Rafael
Director, Gan Israel Preschool
Broaden the view of Israel
I want to thank j. for running the series of letters about Dan Kliman (z”l) and the Bay Area Women in Black, and to clarify the intention of my original letter.
I do know that Dan’s deep dedication to Israel brought him out to the streets of Oakland instead of to shul to protest BAWIB. Yet I believe our community suffers (and ultimately so does Israel) if we cannot hold and articulate a wider, deeper, more inclusive view of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only way that I know to get to that view is through committed dialogue and deliberation that focuses on relationship and trust building, historical accuracy, commitment to a nuanced truth, and a willingness to set aside black-and-white views of a complex reality.
As the geo-political landscape continues to change, it seems more essential than ever to have respectful, honest conversations with the whole political spectrum at the table. I find the value of polarized street protests to have diminishing returns in time as complex as these … I truly believe something deeper is being asked of us.
Rachel Eryn | Woodacre
Let’s be honest
Today I got a call from a paid solicitor for the federation asking me to increase my gift by $18 in order to take care of Jews who have lost their jobs, need food and have been affected by the recession.
I always thought it was JFCS, not the federation, who took care of the poor of our community, so I was surprised to get the call. I checked the Web site and learned that the federation only allocated 7 percent of its annual campaign to “caring for the vulnerable.” The other 93 percent went to other good, important things, but not the poor.
Seven percent of my $18 isn’t very much. If I’m giving to the poor, I want my money to go where it will do the most good for the most people in these troubled times. By contrast, 100 percent of my gift to JFCS helps the needy — which the caller didn’t happen to mention.
I don’t mind supporting federation. I just wish their solicitations would be more honest. It feels like they’re using the recession opportunistically — when the real work of helping the poor is being done primarily by others.
Gus Franklin | San Francisco