Trump And The Embassy
As you’ve noted in a number of editorials, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act in 1995 by a huge majority. Now President Trump, like the three presidents before him and despite his repeated promises, has decided he likes the embassy in Tel Aviv just fine.
I fear the Arab world will be emboldened by Trump’s going back on one of his signature campaign vows. As long as U.S. presidents say one thing when they’re running for office and another once they’ve been elected, why should the Arabs change?
As for President Trump, talk is cheap; the real measure of a man is his actions.
George Epstein
Los Angeles, CA
Trump And Abbas
The recent meeting between Donald Trump and Mahmoud Abbas continues to baffle Israelis.
Trump claims to have mastered “the art of the deal” but not everything in life is subject to compromise, most certainly not ideology. This is particularly so in the case of Islam.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not just about land. It is, as many have noted, a religious war, something that should be clear from the long history of terrorism the Arabs have conducted against Jews in Israel – even before there was an Israel
Recently, Jibril Rajoub, deputy secretary general of the Fatah Central Committee and most likely Abbas’s successor, declared that all the PA demands vis-a-vis Israel remain unchanged. In other words, as correctly observed by former ambassador John Bolton, Trump has no chance of making an Ultimate Peace deal.
Alex Rose
Ashkelon, Israel
Distinct Identity
Re “Jewish or American: What Comes First?” (op-ed, June 2):
I believe a major cause of anti-Semitism is the obsession many Jews have with assimilating into the host nations of our exile.
We owe our hosts our gratitude, our loyalty, our creative efforts, our good behavior, etc. However, we should not identify with the host. For example, while there’s nothing objectionable about identifying as a French (or English or American ) Jew, it’s another mater entirely to identify as a Jewish Frenchman or a Jewish Englishman, etc.
We should keep our Jewish appearance and our Jewish communal (and religious) behavior in full view of our hosts (as did our father Abraham). We should avoid positions of policy and power. Rather, we should limit ourselves to the role of advisers (when such advice is sought).
The exception to this is the United States, which in reality is a coalition of nations or nationalities.
I know this idea doesn’t to appeal to most Jews. Nevertheless, it is a big mistake to attempt to maintain two identities. God commanded that we be a nation apart.
Jerrold Terdiman, MD
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Young Adults Estranged From Their Families
My husband and I took the mitzvah of kibbud av vaem very seriously. It was our passion to ensure that our parents were well and safe and happy.
Unfortunately, there are so many young adults now who are alienated and estranged from parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
Many of these young adults apparently are troubled by things that occurred during their childhood and/or adolescence and therefore have removed themselves from their families.
It is remarkable that invariably they have brothers and sisters who grew up with completely different dispositions and memories. The same parents, yet such disparate outcomes.
Do these young adults feel any regret, even just a twinge, that their decision to turn their backs on their families means no more Shabbosim, yamim tovim, and simchas together? And of course the affected parents are left to wonder whether perhaps an outside influence encouraged or is still encouraging their children to stray.
And what about the children of these young adults who have put up a seemingly impermeable wall to keep out even the closest of relatives? What effect can this have on such young, impressionable children who will have to come to terms with this as they get older?
I cringe to think what our parents would say if they saw the family situation now. We go to mekubalim and rebbeim in the hopes of somehow finding the right berachah and tefillah to repair the situation. And we continue to daven for their neshamas to heal.
In the meantime, when people inquire about the entire family, do we make up stories to save face? Do we keep their pictures on the wall? Or does that only cause more heartache and headache?
As mentioned, we treated our parents like royalty when they were on this earth. And we raised our children to be respectful. We don’t know how or where or why they got their present mindset or whether it is someone or something else that is poisoning them.
Time passes and the pages that are turned cannot be rewritten. Sadly, tragically, they are missing out on family memories that can never be replicated.
Those of you who are experiencing this, know that you are not alone. Be strong and savor every second with those family members who love you, respect you, and want to be included in your life.
Rifk Wechter
(Via E-Mail)