Working And Studying Torah
I found something very interesting in Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser’s May 15 column. He wrote that before the Noda B’Yehuda accepted the position of rav of Prague, he sent his son-in-law to check out the city’s population.
The young man arrived in Prague, went to an inn owned by a Jew, and sat down at a table. While there he heard a learned Torah discourse between the innkeeper and a tailor. At another table sat two carpenters and two shoemakers and they became involved in the discussion. Unable to decide the halacha, they all agreed to wait for the night watchman who would soon arrive, and sure enough he was able to solve the dilemma.
Although this was not the point of the column, I was most taken with the fact that all of these Torah scholars were identified by their occupations. It seems they were able to work to support their families while still having time to delve into Torah.
Why does that seem to be such a challenge in our generation?
Nachum Meyers
(Via E-Mail)
Remembering Bitburg
In “Bitburg Bears Remembering” (front page essay, May 15), Jason Maoz revisited the controversy of President Ronald Reagan’s participation in a ceremony at a military cemetery in Bitburg, Germany, 30 years ago.
Despite the advice and urging of many, including Elie Wiesel, not to attend, the president decided against skipping the event.
I remember in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Harvard Square, a young man stood for a few days straight with a poster stating: “Bury Reagan at Bitburg!”
It was certainly offensive. But it did make me think about the first amendment and the freedom of speech we have in the U.S. – something without equivalence anywhere else.
Reagan didn’t have to go to Bitburg. He chose to do so, no doubt knowing it would be remembered when people looked back on his record as president. Indeed, it will forever remain part of that record.
Dr. Elie Feuerwerker
Highland Park, NJ
Blaming Israel
Jews are being brutalized from Copenhagen to Cannes and seriously contemplating the second mass exodus from Europe in less than a century.
Those who would blame any of this on Benjamin Netanyahu or Israeli policies conveniently ignore the fact that historically, and to this day, it has been the Palestinian leadership that has always favored the destruction of Israel over the creation of a Palestinian state.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has nothing to do with the lack of a Palestinian state, only the existence of the Jewish one, and recognizing a Palestinian state before the Palestinians are willing to make peace will not stem the violence, it will encourage more bloodshed – as Israel’s disengagement from Gaza did.
ISIS is murdering Christians en masse, but Israel is the recipient of the Vatican’s scorn.
Iran is destabilizing the entire Middle East, but Israel is the enemy.
Regardless, these recent betrayals only serve to illustrate why a Jewish homeland is so necessary. Only Jews can be counted on to defend Jews.
Gary Taustine
New York, NY
Difference Between Israel And Pakistan
Re Dennis Prager’s excellent May 8 op-ed article, “Why Is Pakistan More Legitimate Than Israel?”:
The difference is indeed clear despite all the arguments to the contrary. The main point is that Israel is condemned because it is the lone Jewish state. Israel never intended or wanted to displace the Palestinians. They left of their own accord expecting the Jews to be expelled and defeated. They weren’t, and the world can’t seem to get over that.
It’s the Jewishness of Israel that makes it totally unacceptable to so many. There is room in the world for so many Arab states but not for one Jewish state. That is why Israel is condemned while Pakistan is not.