Is Praying At Rav Nachman’s Kever Idol Worship?
Two articles in your most recent issue appear to contradict one another. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes about the death of Moses, who has no tomb, no grave, no shrine. The Torah serves as his “shrine.” And one of its many laws admonishes us not to serve idols.
But in the same issue, Rabbi Yossi Katz, a Breslover rabbi, writes ecstatically about a visit to Uman to pray at the grave of a man long deceased. He attributes many responses to prayers offered by pilgrims to the person buried there.
Doesn’t this attribution amount to idol worship? Isn’t it a denial of Moshe’s Torah?
Bert Zackim
Don’t Forget What the Ukrainians Did
The picture of Uman painted by Rabbi Yossi Katz in last week’s issue is unquestionably sincere and well-intentioned. What was lacking from his portrait, though, was a discussion of the Jews of Ukraine who suffered dearly.
Thousands were massacred during pogroms perpetrated by Chmielnicki and the Haidamaks. During the Holocaust, Jews were slaughtered by German forces who were aided by Ukrainian police and military units as well as local citizens.
To visit Rav Nachman’s grave is commendable, but we must never forget the tens of thousands of innocent men, women, and children who were murdered by the Ukrainians.
Shmuly Kovitz
Forest Hills, NY
The Salem Witch Trials 2.0?
The hysteria surrounding the confirmation process of Judge Kavanaugh is reminiscent of the Salem Witch Trials and the reign of terror of the French Revolution. Due process was non-existent. An accusation was tantamount to guilt. Personal motives, fear, hatred, and political power drove the process.
The Constitution and culture of our beloved republic guarantee the accused due process. Burden of proof rests with the accuser.
If credible evidence supports Dr. Ford’s allegation, he should not be confirmed. However, our tradition of due process and the presumption of innocence must be preserved. Hearsay, polygraph technology, suggestive hypnosis, etc. are not legitimate sources of evidence.
Jerrold Terdiman MD
Woodcliff Lake
Kavanaugh – the Man, Not the Teenager
May I commend you on your robust response last week to Betty Atlas-Rumelt, whose letter accused Dennis Prager of excusing attempted rape (“Even if Kavanaugh Is Guilty…”).
As you correctly point out, Judge Kavanaugh is “a person whose moral record over an adult life spanning 30 years is widely acknowledged to be impeccable.” Such a person, as Dennis Prager argued, should not be judged on alleged “inappropriate behavior as a teenager.”
Ms. Atlas-Rumelt, though, chose to overlook Dennis Prager’s main argument. That you even published her letter is a tribute to your broadmindedness.
I should also note that Kavanaugh’s accuser is an anti-Trump activist. That she raised this matter so long after the alleged events took place – knowing it would be almost impossible to verify – suggests her motivation may be more political than moral or anything else.
Martin D. Stern
Salford, England
We Believe Women – Except When We Don’t
What is even more pernicious than our country’s new presumption-of-guilt standard is the selective application of this standard.
Accusers of conservatives are both believed and lauded, even if they make nothing more than unsubstantiated charges. Meanwhile, those who accuse liberals, often with detailed evidence, are ignored. The dismissal of Bill Clinton’s accusers is a perfect example.
Character assassination is now almost exclusively a tactic of the progressive movement that has infected the larger Democratic Party. This unjust cudgel is an early feature of totalitarianism, under which the disfavored lose their individual rights while the favored can count on them more than ever before.
Brian J. Goldenfeld
Woodland Hills, CA
Prager Is Wrong, Kavanaugh Is No Saint
Mr. Prager’s article in defense of Judge Kavanaugh, which focuses on the absurdity of holding changed individuals accountable for past deeds, is deeply flawed. He argues that even if Judge Kavanaugh is guilty of sexual assault, the deed was committed before he was an adult and firmly established a life as an upstanding, moral citizen and patriot.
However, Mr. Prager fails to note that, if Judge Kavanaugh is indeed guilty, his persistent denial of the sexual assault and gaslighting of his accuser demonstrates misconduct today. A changed and moral man, when confronted and called out on past misconduct, admits to his misdeeds instead of intentionally smearing the reputation of an innocent woman.
In other words, Judge Kavanaugh is not an individual who has matured from his juvenile ways (to put the matter lightly), but rather an individual who continues to harm, discredit, and belittle women.
Charles Samuel Litwick
The Arabs’ Murderous Zeal
The conflict in the Middle East can be summed up as follows: The Palestinian Authority and Hamas would like to murder Jews in Israel, and the Jews do not want to be murdered.
The proof that the PA is homicidal can be seen by what is called “Pay to Slay.” The PA pays stipends to the families of Palestinian terrorists who are sent to prison for murdering Israelis, or even tourists to Israel. The strength of that murderous zeal is illustrated by the following:
Since the United States recently passed the Taylor Force Act – which reduces foreign aid to the PA by the amount it pays terrorists and their families – the PA has not reduced the amount of money it gives Palestinian terrorists one bit. In other words, the PA is willing to lose a significant amount of money – in excess of $300 million per year – rather than stop rewarding terrorism.
Arthur Horn
East Windsor, NJ