More than one way to love Israel
Thank you to j. weekly editor Sue Fishkoff for a textured description of Peter Beinart’s Zionism (“Peter Beinart waves the Zionist flag in JCCSF talk,” April 20). There is more than one way to love Israel, and Beinart has staked an important distinction between his liberal Zionism and the anti-Israel efforts we all too often confront in the Bay Area.
Thanks to his precision and passion, and thanks to high-quality reporting from Fishkoff, our conversation has grown in richness, and we have gained an important model for what just might be the most important conversation happening today for the sake of the Jewish People.
Rabbi Menachem Creditor | Berkeley
Congregation Netivot Shalom
Murray alive and well
I was delighted to read j.’s mention of my dad, Murray Berg, in your article on Jewish softball in the East Bay (“Jewish softball league in East Bay ready to ‘play ball,’ ” April 6). As league commissioner Sandy Zimmerman observes, he was the “oldest known player.” Just to fill in, he hung up his glove not at age 70, but at age 89!
And I am pleased to report that Murray is indeed alive and well at the age of 93. He is living in Haifa with my brother Jonathan, and his family, and within visiting distance of his daughter Janet in Jerusalem. He recalls his days with the Walnut Creekers fondly, though nowadays, scaling the hills of Haifa has taken the place of softball in his athletic routine.
Gerry Berg | Charlottesville, Va.
Bring differences to table
“What a pity” was my thought as I read Trudi Gardner’s column (“Guess who’s not coming to seder?” April 6). Ms. Gardner seems like she would be such a kick to spend seder with!
While I must admit to preferring a seder that is not too long, I do share Ms. Gardner’s penchant for more complete seder experiences, as well as a fear of Dick Cheney.
My personal experience has been that the Pesach seder is as resonant to a person of another faith as it is to a Jew. Whether the host’s chief concern may be the difference at the table between Republican and Democrat, Christian and Jew, the Passover seder is ripe ground for meaningful, and shared, points of view.
Passover is the perfect time to invite people of all beliefs and affiliations. Who cannot agree that freedom is better than slavery? Who cannot connect over a good story and a good meal?
Perhaps Ms. Gardner could consider embracing her sister’s partner in her seder next year. She may find that her table would provide a way to connect rather than divide her
family, despite their political differences.
Leira Satlof | Santa Rosa
Disingenuous claim
Penny Rosenwasser (Letters, April 6) takes it on faith that peace in the Middle East might occur if Israel is pressured to make the first move, i.e. by evacuating all Jewish families from their homes in the West Bank. She is entitled to her opinion, of course. However, it is false and slanderous for her to say that those of us who disagree with her don’t care about Palestinian rights.
Most of us in the mainstream are just as eager for peace as Ms. Rosenwasser. We feel the evidence is overwhelming that pressuring Israel to make a move without reciprocity is dangerous and possibly lethal for the Jewish state. Once peace is achieved, obviously, rights will follow automatically.
It is disingenuous for Ms. Rosenwasser to claim her group, Jewish Voice for Peace, is victimized by an intimidation campaign to silence their voices. Ridiculous! Opinions like hers are found everywhere, pervading college campuses, and they get exposure in multiple articles throughout every issue of the j. and most other publications. Mainstream donors to the Jewish federation should absolutely have the right not to have their dollars spent further promoting ideas counter to their own values.
Speak all you want, but don’t expect others to sponsor you.
Sheryl Rattner | Los Altos
A call for free trade
Kudos to j. for its excellent article on Israeli expatriates living in the South Bay (“Little Herzliya,” April 20). The article clearly demonstrates the benefits of free trade: the free movement of goods, services, money and people from one place to another.
Prospering economies need free trade. In recent years, protectionist forces have become too powerful in the United States, producing inflation and economic stagnation.
America itself is an example of the benefits of free trade. For example, there is free trade between Colorado and Tennessee. (There are some exceptions regarding alcoholic beverages, tobacco and firearms.)
One of the best things that can happen to both the United States and Israel is free trade between the two countries. Any Israeli who wants to work or live — permit-free — in America should be able to do so and vice-versa. Both countries will benefit, and each nation will have a higher standard of living.
Curiously, it is David Ricardo, an English Jew, who demonstrated in his 1817 book “On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation” the benefits of free trade.
Richard Colman | Orinda
A vote for diplomacy
The prospect of war with Iran is frightening. So is the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran. That’s why I was so encouraged that the United States was among the world powers taking part in diplomatic talks with Iran on April 13 and 14. Diplomacy is the single most effective way to avert those two bad outcomes.
With continued talks scheduled in May, I encourage our members of Congress to support diplomacy with Iran, not pass new legislation that could sabotage it. I hope my representative, Jerry McNerney, will co-sponsor H.R. 4173, which calls for robust, sustained and comprehensive diplomacy with Iran. And I hope my senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, will oppose S.R. 380, which pressures the administration to abandon diplomacy and push toward war.
Austin Chehrazi | Danville
Editor’s note: J. received versions of this letter from several readers.