Torah And Political Liberalism
Re Rabbi Aryeh Klapper’s well-intended but, to me, mostly confusing attempt to equate Torah middos such as gemilut chassadim and tzedakah with non-Orthodox liberalism (“Instinctive Liberalism and Halachic Conservatism,” op-ed, Sept. 30)
The article was, I presume, an attempt, to promote what he refers to as American liberalism (i.e., political liberalism) as a connected value.
I respectfully but strongly disagree. I think many Jews who correctly embrace these middos (in simple form: helping others) assume that political liberalism is a natural extension of those values. But they fail to ask a fundamental question: Do government programs actually constitute the best way to help people and have they best fulfilled the mitzvos we embrace?
In fact, I think examples abound in the Jewish community of dedicated people establishing organizations and processes that do a much better job helping people than any government program.
Wouldn’t it be great if we all had more money in our pockets to donate to those organizations and causes rather than having that money transferred from our pockets (via taxes) to government bureaucracies that have demonstrated over and over again their inability to work efficiently (if at all)?
Sonny Taragin
Baltimore, MD
The Problem With Trump
Donald Trump apparently believes himself to be above other humans – infallible, with the right to exercise vengeance and crush his rivals, competitors, and opponents. When it comes to national leaders, I take my cue from Moshe Rabbeinu, of whom it was said he was the humblest of human beings.
Trump, by contrast, is among the most arrogant of humans. Just about all his decisions have been and will continue to be guided by his lust for power, dominance, and control. As for his expressed support for Israel, there’s no way to know how genuine it is.
The most patriotic act he could perform for the United States would be to quietly drop out of the race without blaming the media, his opponents, or even his supporters,
Ray Kestenbaum
Rego Park, NY
The Problem With Hillary
Hillary Clinton has an inauspicious history, going back over thirty years and pockmarked by scandals such as Travelgate, Filegate, and Whitewater.
For Clinton, the truth is something to be avoided at all costs. She lied repeatedly to the FBI, as we know from FBI Director James Comey. Even after Comey made those comments, she still claimed she’d been truthful in her testimony. She seems to be seriously estranged from the concept of truth.
Donald Trump, on the other hand, may have misspoken on several occasions, but he’s not a polished politician. His language needs some burnishing, but he has done nothing untoward.
Samuel Deitel
Brooklyn, NY
Saving Lives
On Selichos night, Motzaei Shabbos, September 24, at the Elmora Avenue Shul in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Renewal, a world-renowned Jewish organization that helps match donors with those in need of a kidney, held an inspiring event sponsored by the Jewish Educational Center and all of the local shuls, Jewish Family Services, and YM-YWHA of Union County.
Attendees learned about live kidney donations facilitated by the Renewal organization.
Rabbi Josh Sturm, director of outreach at Renewal, began the program with a halachic overview of kidney donation that was both insightful and entertaining.
Following his presentation, Dr. Tamar Green shared the personal story of her decision to donate a kidney, which was a life-changing event for her. Another community member who donated a kidney then shared how her life was changed because of this mitzvah and described her experience. Afterward, a community member who received a kidney expressed her gratitude and described how it saved her life.
Among the attendees was a woman whose 34-year-old niece is in need of a kidney. If you have blood type B or O and are interested in saving a life by possibly donating a kidney to her, please contact Josh Sturm at 718-431-9831 ext. 206 for more information. If you have a different blood type, perhaps you can help save someone else’s life.
Aside from donating a kidney, there are other things you can still do to help those in need of one. You can help spread the word about Renewal by having an event in your community to inspire and educate people about this praiseworthy mitzvah (contact Josh Sturm at 718-431-9831 ext. 206 for more information) and you can tell others about the Renewal organization and the opportunity to possibly donate a kidney to the woman mentioned above or others who have the same need.
Lea P. Davidson
Executive Director
Puah