Doubting de Blasio
It appears that Mayor de Blasio has lost control over the rapidly worsening anti-police climate he helped bring about (“The Education of Bill de Blasio,” editorial, Dec. 26).
Sadly but not surprisingly, his poignant plea to suspend the rowdy protests until after the funerals of the murdered policemen was rudely rejected.
Unless and until de Blasio weans himself from his unsavory dependence on race-baiters like Al Sharpton, his ability to lead the city as effectively as his two immediate predecessors will be in serious doubt.
Fay Dicker
Lakewood, NJ
Hakarot Hatov And Obama
I fully agree with reader Eliezer Becker (Letters, Dec. 26) that Orthodox Jews’ lack of hakarot hatov toward President Obama is simply abhorrent.
Obama has sent Israel all the arms it has requested. Compare that to Harry Truman, who placed an arms embargo on the fledgling state of Israel; or to Ronald Reagan, who withheld arms from Israel on more than one occasion; or to George H.W. Bush, who held back loan guarantees because he didn’t like Israel’s settlement policy.
Obama has consistently voted with Israel at the UN, something other presidents – including Ronald Reagan – have not always done.
When Israel fought Hamas in 2009 and 2014, Obama repeatedly said Israel had the right to defend itself. Compare that to the comments of other countries’ leaders.
The lack of gratitude on the part of our community toward this man is simply vile.
For shame.
Charles Tal
(Via E-Mail)
Kudos To Feiglin
I want to give a yasher koach to MK (and Jewish Press columnist) Moshe Feiglin on his outstanding record and his bold initiative in the Knesset. May he continue to act in a Torah way and promote all issues that advance the struggle for liberty, identity, and meaning in Israel in the next Knesset.
He should not be intimidated and coerced into changing his ideas and values and should be supported by all Jews in the next election. May Hashem grant him the power to implement all of his bills in the next Knesset and bring peace to the land of Israel.
Harvey Speizer
(Via E-Mail)
Assimilation And Anti-Semitism
Ben Cohen’s questioning whether it’s “Time To Rethink Holocaust Remembrance Day” (op-ed, Dec. 26) rather than be forced into compromises about when we can or can’t mention Israel in the official Holocaust commemoration sounds interesting.
It’s his message, though, that “self-determination is our antidote to centuries of anti-Semitism,” that doesn’t seem to be supported by history.
We’ve had a Jewish state now for over half a century and anti-Semitism has recently resurfaced at levels not seen since World War II. Even in ancient times, when we had our own land and the Temple, we were subjected to virulent anti-Semitism.
History, however, does show that anti-Semitism is often precipitated by assimilation. Perhaps we just need a more realistic message for Holocaust commemoration, instead of a politically correct one, which only tends to exacerbate a situation by camouflaging the real problem.
Josh Greenberger
Brooklyn, NY
Anonymous UNRWA Defender
Several months ago I wrote a letter to The Jewish Press condemning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for its role in supporting Hamas during the Gaza war, a letter you were kind enough to publish (“UNRWA Vs. Israel,” Aug. 8).
Since then I have written nothing, to The Jewish Press or to any other media outlet, referring to UNRWA. I was surprised, therefore, when I recently received a letter in the mail condemning my anti-UNRWA views. The letter had a New York City postmark but no return address and no indication as to the identity of the person who sent it.