Can’t Rely on Democrat Support Anymore
Bipartisan support for Israel is a figment of people’s imagination. This should be obvious by now. I believe in bipartisan support of Israel, but it’s clear to anyone reading the news that the Democratic Party no longer unequivocally supports Israel.
It’s mind-boggling that there’s even a debate about Israel’s response. If rabid genocidal terrorists fired 3,000 rockets at another sovereign country’s civilian population, would there be a debate? Would anyone need to actually state that he or she supports that country’s right to self-defense from genocidal terrorists?
The only reason there’s a debate in this instance is because the targets are Jews in the Jewish state.
Imagine for a moment that Mexico shot 3,000 missiles and rockets into Texas, Arizona, or California? There would be no more Mexico. But somehow it’s okay to debate killing of Jews and discuss proportionality. It is blatant Jew-hatred and should be vigorously opposed by anyone who believes in human rights.
Brian Goldenfeld
Oak Park, CA
Phony Moral Indignation
It seems every time Israel is forced to retaliate against its enemies, we hear public outcries about how Arab casualties are far greater than Israel’s casualties.
Since when are bodies counted in war to ensure that both sides have an equal number of casualties? Is Israel supposed to sit back, do nothing, and allow its cities to be bombed until there are enough casualties to retaliate?
Then we hear strong condemnations of Israel because of Palestinian civilians who are killed. Israel has the most compassionate military in the world. Which other army warns the enemy of its intention to attack so that civilians have enough time to get out of harm’s way?
Hamas, meanwhile, deliberately hides among civilians in order to increase civilian casualties so that all the useful idiots and anti-Semites around the world can have something to condemn Israel for.
Josh Greenberger
Brooklyn, NY
The IDF: An Immoral Army?
Israel supporters keep on shouting that the IDF is the most moral army in the world. No, it isn’t. The IDF is the most immoral army in the world. A moral army puts the lives of its own population first. The IDF, in contrast, puts the lives of the enemy population first.
Josh Bernstein
Brooklyn, NY
Expulsion
After World War II, Czechoslovakia and Poland drove out millions of ethnic Germans from their midst. Perhaps Israel should have done the same decades ago.
Nelson Marans
New York, NY
MIA: Schumer and Nadler
No one should be surprised by the usual gaggle of Democrats condemning Israel for committing “war crimes.” It’s appalling, though, that Democrats like Schumer and Nadler – who claim to support Israel – haven’t spoken up and condemned these haters.
It has always been a mystery to me why any Jewish American who loves Israel opts to be a member of the Democrat Party knowing full well that the Democrats embrace virulent anti-Semites like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar among others.
Let’s hope Jewish Americans finally step up and vote the likes of Schumer and Nadler out of office.
Gerald Jacobs
No Point in Getting Angry
Recently, the esteemed Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg wrote that he was “beyond angry” at Jews who voted for Joe Biden. His anger is justified considering the monetary support Biden has given the Palestinians.
However, this is not the first time Jews have supported their enemies. As a Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Rosenberg is no doubt aware that the Association of German National Jews, for example, supported Hitler, yemach sh’mo.
I don’t think it’s valid to compare Biden to Hitler, or even a Hitler-wannabe. However, some of Biden’s supporters – such as “the Squad,” Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters, and Nancy Pelosi – seem to crave the kind of totalitarian power we saw in Germany and evince a negative attitude toward Jews.
To Democrats who might take exception to my words, I say: If you were silent while President Trump was compared to Hitler by people on your side of the fence, have the decency to keep your mouths shut now.
But the question is: What should we do? Getting angry accomplishes nothing. The Democrats don’t care that we’re angry – just as they don’t care that rockets are snuffing out Jewish lives. I don’t have a solution. But getting angry will only hurt those who are angered.
Ben Feigenbaum
East Brunswick, NJ
Worse Than Pearl Harbor
The day after Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt said, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
Hamas’s attack on Israel is even worse than Japan’s attack on America. While the Japanese targeted the U.S. military, Hamas targeted Israel’s civilian population.
Arthur Horn
Fort Lee, NJ
Don’t Call Them Rabbis
I read with interest last week’s “Is It Proper…?” feature on whether it’s appropriate to use the title “Rabbi” when referring to someone who received rabbinic ordination from a Reform or Conservative institution.
It brought to mind your late columnist, the great Rabbi David Hollander, z”l, who was a leader in addressing such matters for many decades. He would refer to heterodox clergy with titles such as “Dr.,” “Minister,” and “spiritual leader” (he would sometimes quip that they are spiritual misleaders), taking great care not to confer on them the legitimacy that comes with the title “Rabbi.”
I think he would take great exception to dropping that policy now. While it’s true that the non-Orthodox movements are much weaker than they were decades ago, many people (both Jews and gentiles) are not fully aware that the Orthodox world doesn’t recognize these movements as legitimate forms of Judaism, and calling their clergy “Rabbi” would only serve to confuse them.
A Friend of Rabbi Hollander, z”l
Thank Your Waiter
In these difficult economic times, it’s important to patronize your favorite restaurants and honor the employees who make them a success. Now that more of us have received our Covid-19 vaccine, we should make sure to celebrate National Waiter and Waitress Day, which is May 21.
There are several ways to say thank you. For example, why not leave a 25 percent tip in honor of this day? If you can afford to eat out, you can afford to give a larger tip. Another idea is to drop off a box of candy, cookies, or some other treat for your favorite waiter or restaurant staff member.
Remember, the people who work at your favorite restaurant are your neighbors. They work long hours for little pay and count on tips, which make up a significant portion of their income. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they will lose their jobs. Our purchases keep our neighbors employed and the local economy growing.
Larry Penner
Great Neck, NY
Get Off Your High Horse
Yasher koach to Henni Halberstam for putting the young man who wrote to her in his place last week. As I was reading his letter, I was hoping she would mention his utter arrogance. Thankfully, she did not disappoint.
No one says you need to be married by 24. By all means, go out with your friends, take a trip, enjoy your single days “before life gets ‘real,'” but don’t think for one second that just because you have a Y chromosome, ladies will line up for the honor of trying to marry you.
You clearly think very highly of yourself, so it might do you some good while you’re still single to take a few steps down off your pedestal before you meet any of these “choices and choices of amazing single girls waiting for dates.”
Ahuva Lamm
Fair Lawn, NJ