No, It Isn’t Anti-Semitism
In response to “Chassidim Are The Target, Not Overdevelopment” (op-ed, Sept. 13):
Concerns about irresponsible development in Rockland County are not anti-chassidic; “us vs. them” name-calling is counterproductive; and labeling people anti-Semitic when they are simply concerned about the problems they see around them is un-American.
Rockland’s homeowners see ever-increasing taxes of all sorts; public corruption that stems, at least in part, from bloc voting; housing and fire code violations endangering lives; crumbling public schools; and educationally-deficient private schools.
Our nation is great because we welcome diversity and respect everyone’s right to their own religious beliefs. I learned this from my father, who fought in World War II. But religious belief does not give a citizen a free pass to ignore the obligations of citizenship – and one of these obligations is to be an educated citizen.
An informed, educated citizen knows it’s wrong to discriminate against a person because of his religious faith, knows it’s wrong to say, “You cannot live in my neighborhood” because of unfamiliar clothing attire or customs, and knows it’s wrong to be a bigot.
But an informed, educated citizen also knows it’s wrong to deny children their right to a sound secular education and know it’s wrong to call someone an anti-Semite for supporting core American values.
I am an independent Democrat running for District Attorney in Rockland County who served with the U.S. military in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. I have been part of the fight against religious hatred. And as District Attorney, I will promote the values I outlined above since these values protect all citizens.
Mike Diederich, Jr.
Stony Point, NY
Take Your Propaganda Elsewhere
Months ago, the Highland Park Public Library Board of Trustees scheduled a program for toddlers revolving around the book P is for Palestine by Golbarg Bashi, a supporter for the BDS movement.
After an uproar by many in the Jewish community, the program was postponed and has now suddenly been rescheduled for October 20, Erev Shmini Atzeres, a very inconvenient time for Jews to mount an effective protest.
Presenting a highly provocative program aimed at little children is a deliberate, blatant provocation designed to stir up trouble. And politicizing a local library by using little children as pawns is absolutely unconscionable.
Max Wisotsky
Highland Park, NJ
How To Raise a Good Person
Dennis Prager suggested last week that you tell your child to answer, “I want to be a good person” when he or she is asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” He argued that this answer (rather than “I want to be a doctor,” “I want to be an engineer,” etc.) can change a child’s life for the better.
Prager, however, misses an important step between aspiration and realization. Action is required. Just stating what one would like to become in and of itself doesn’t accomplish much.
How do children become good people? Probably the best start is for their parents to be what they want their children to be. If these parents, though, put their faith in declarations like “I want to be a good person,” they may neglect to take more appropriate steps to put their children on the proper path to good character development.
Josh Greenberger
Brooklyn, NY
They’re Speaking Where?
I am disappointed that Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, will be the main attractions at the upcoming J Street conference.
J Street is a radical organization that for many years would picket or have a counter-demonstration at the Salute to Israel Parade in New York City.
Arthur Horn
Fort Lee, NJ
Loves ‘Dating Decoded’
I buy The Jewish Press every week so that I can read “Dating Decoded.” Henni Halberstam is a fabulous writer of great wisdom, wit, kindness, and deep insights. Thank you for this wonderful column. Keep it coming.
Toby Kahn
Trump Is a Blessing
As a Jew I feel gratitude to President Trump for his friendship to my people. And I am saddened and ashamed that many Jews have turned against him because of differing political views. Unfortunately, our history records many examples of us turning away from friends that G-d has sent us.
Jerry Terdiman
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Have We No Self-Respect?
How low can Jewish self-abasement go? The very idea of Manhattan’s East Side synagogue inviting Al Sharpton – a rabid anti-Semite, racial extortionist, and inciter to murder even – into its midst, let alone to deliver a Rosh Hashanah sermon, is beyond bizarre.
Apparently, the rabbis of the shul had run out of pertinently inspiring sermons to deliver to congregants.
This congregation’s website boasts that people “talk about their [High Holyday services] for months.” This time, they might well talk about it for years, but the comments won’t be complimentary.
Richard D. Wilkins
Syracuse, NY
Who Should Vote in a Jewish State?
Chief Editor Elliot Resnick’s “Straight Talk” column two weeks ago was spot on. As he noted, the entire Oslo “industry” was born on the Arab vote. Only with it was Yitzhak Rabin able to garner a majority of 61 in the Knesset to support the Oslo Accords.
In other words, a Jewish state gave away large swaths of the heartland of biblical Israel even though the majority of voting Jews in Israel opposed this chillul Hashem.
Before the only “democracy” in the Middle East banned Rabbi Meir Kahane from running for Knesset, he proclaimed that the 1988 election was not between Labor and Likud, but between Kahane and Arafat. “If you don’t choose Kahane, you’ll get Arafat,” he said.
Well, Israel got Arafat in 1993 and now another “Arafat” in the form of the third largest voting bloc in Israel – the 13-seat Joint List. If given the opportunity, this Arab party will team up with the Jewish minority to pass anti-Jewish policies in Israel.
The first order of business of a “Kahane” government would have been to ensure that the laws of the Jewish state are determined by Jewish Knesset members elected by Jewish voters.
In order to vote in the French state, you must be a Frenchman, in order to vote in the English state, you must be an Englishman, and in order to vote in the Jewish state, you must be a Jew. That’s not racism (a member of any race can become a Jew). That’s logic 101.
David Ferster
Hoping Bernie Sanders Retires
Although I wish him a rapid recovery, I would be pleased if Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race because of the heart attack he recently suffered. His views on Israel have been very critical, and he seeks a reduction in, if not elimination of, American aid to Israel. He also support the BDS movement.
Unfortunately, the person likely to replace him as the candidate of the far left is Elizabeth Warren, who isn’t much better. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, who is favorable towards Israel, has essentially been eliminated from contention due to his advanced age and associated problems.
Essentially, then, the forthcoming presidential election will pit a radical and anti-Israel candidate against Donald Trump.
Nelson Marans
New York, NY