Schumer’s ‘No’ Vote
A hearty mazal tov to Senator Chuck Schumer for deciding to vote “no” on the Iran nuclear deal.
If my husband, Rabbi Chaim (Herbert) Bomzer, z”l, were here, he would give the senator a big kiss on the head and say, “job well done.”
During his years as spiritual leader of Young Israel of Ocean Parkway, Rabbi Bomzer was instrumental in giving Sen. Schumer a platform to speak whenever and wherever possible. The senator’s roots are in our community. May he go from strength to strength.
Rebbetzin Leona Bomzer
Atlantic Beach, NY
No Regime Change In Iran
In his efforts to stifle criticism of his Iran nuclear deal, President Obama has resorted to arm twisting, political blackmail, and, through his surrogates, accusations of treason against his opponents, including congressmen.
Obama apparently believes his legacy will be enhanced by the Iran deal and eventually that nation will become a friend of the Great Satan. Unfortunately, the evidence is to the contrary, as Iran continues to sponsor global terrorism. When the accord takes effect, Obama will have radically reduced the possibility of regime change as billions pour into the coffers of a previously economically strapped Iran.
Nelson Marans
Silver Spring, MD
Curious George And The Nazis
Saul Singer’s Aug. 14 front-page essay “How Curious George Escaped the Nazis” was exceptionally well written, deeply informative, and absolutely delightful.
From now on, especially when I read a Curious George story to my children, I will feel a special connection to the endearing little monkey and his creators: like George’s “parents,” my grandparents also escaped the Nazis.
Tova Herman
(Via E-Mail)
Gay Parade Abomination
There seems to be much condemnation, as there should be, of Yishai Schlissel for killing a sixteen-year-old girl at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem last month.
Israeli governmental, religious, and political leaders maintain, as your Aug. 7 news story and editorial noted, that this is not the Jewish way.
But all the condemnations leave out an important aspect of this unfortunate incident. The killing was, after all, directly related to a gay parade. Murder is certainly wrong. But a gay parade is not exactly the Jewish way either. There must be plenty of halachic sources that make clear just how wrong it is.
To condemn the killing and make no mention of the abomination of the gay parade itself gives the impression that a gay parade is not so terrible.
Perhaps a tikkun for this unfortunate girl might be that her death will bring an abhorrence of the very idea of a gay parade, especially in Israel, to the forefront of people’s consciousness – and with that an end to this celebration, which is an absolute embarrassment to the Jewish people and a phenomenal Chillul Hashem.
David Balsam
Brooklyn, NY
Empowering Orthodox Women
I am almost 70 years old and have waited all these years to read words such as those written by Rabbi Yehuda Leonard Oppenheimer in his July 31 op-ed article (“A Woman of Valor, Who Can Find – When She’s Being Hidden?”).
As young girls, young women, older women, and seniors, I and so many of my peers thirsted for deeper learning and yearned for the opportunity to expand our knowledge.
Rabbi Oppenheimer’s contentions speak right to one’s neshamah.
Baruch Hashem, women have begun finding their God-given voice and following their dreams and their hearts. The same desire and need that drives many men to want to study and become proficient at what they do also exists in many women.
While it is too late for me, I can’t help but rejoice when I read of Orthodox women striving and succeeding in many areas of religious life that were previously kept out of their reach.