Letters to the Editor

Posted

Obama same as Bush

To the Editor:
[Re: David’s Harp, Memo for Shabbos] What is worse: to postpone the moving of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for national security reasons or to postpone the moving of the embassy and lie about your administration’s commitment to moving it?
The fact is that George W. Bush added that sentence about his administration being committed to moving the embassy, a sentence Clinton never included. The reasons are clear: Bush wished to pander to the evangelical Christian community, and perhaps, to the right-wing of our community. During the eight years of the Bush administration the embassy stayed in Tel Aviv, the strongest evidence that his administration could not have cared less about the issue.
This is an example of what is wrong with politics in the Orthodox community today. There is no substantive difference between the Obama and Bush administrations.
Both strongly favored a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines with swaps. Both administrations continued the long-standing policy of not recognizing Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Both administrations were dwarfed in pro-Israel sentiment by Congress, as every administration has been for many years.
The difference is that the Bush administration pandered to Christian evangelical voters with stronger pro-Israel rhetoric and the Obama administration tells it like it is.
So what is worse: To be told the truth or to be lied to? David Nesenoff, and much of the right-wing of our community, seems to prefer the latter.
Michael Brenner
Woodmere/Brooklyn

US treason, not Pollard

To the Editor:
People forget that it was treason by the United States to Israel that started the whole Pollard Affair. The U.S. had an intelligence sharing agreement with Israel but was withholding intelligence it had promised to share, that was important to the safety of Israeli citizens.
Gamliel
from thejewishstar.com

Israel day parade

To the Editor:
I marched with HANC too and it was truly a wonderful day. The turnout was great and the weather was awesome. It was so heartwarming to see so many different types of Jews represented “under one tent” as all of us, marchers and watchers, showed our love for Eretz Yisrael. If you missed it, there is always next year. If your school doesn’t march you should let them know how you feel!
shampooking
from thejewishstar.com

Impure question

To the Editor:
[Re: Rabbi Billet’s Parshas Naso] Shulchan Arukh adds that if he became tameh to a person who is not one of his seven close relatives: mother, father, wife, sister, brother, son, daughter, he may not bless the people. If we’re all considered “t’mei meis” (impure at the level of one who became tamei because of a dead Jewish body), why are Kohanim not considered “t’mei meis”? Thanks.
MPoppers
from thejewishstar.com

For the birds

To the Editor:
I’ve been reading with interest the latest developments concerning the Agudah’s use of the internet, most recently their tentative but still questionable use of a blog for information and updates. At issue seems to be the concern regarding the “kashrus” of the internet altogether. Perhaps, then, the Agudah could use pigeons; I understand that they’re kosher.
Ariel Weisz
Far Rockaway

Solution to settle

To the Editor:
I wish someone would tell me how absent a comprehensible, sustainable solution of the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, Israel can avoid a major intifada or devastating war, the UN general Assembly declaring a Palestinian State, and Israel increasingly faced with numerous problems.
Yes, I know the many difficulties involved in reaching a settlement, but everything possible should be done in pursuit of it.
Richard Schwartz
Staten Island