Your Letters – January 5-11,2001

Israel

For thousands of years, we Jews have prayed for the peace of Jerusalem. Nowadays, it seems as if we are reduced to praying for a piece of Jerusalem. How very, very sad.

David S. Glicksberg,West Hills

President Clinton, in these last days of his tenure, is doing all he can to “broker” a final settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

It is beyond a doubt that the people of Israel have not given Barak, at this time, a mandate to negotiate the conditions of a final settlement. This issue is the reason for the current election, the results of which will determine the will of the people concerning these negotiations.

The United States can and should do all it can to stop the terror in the region, but action beyond that constitutes an infringement of the democratic rights of the Israelis to determine their destiny.

I humbly request that Clinton should respect the democratic rights of the Israeli people and confine his efforts to stopping terrorism.

Brian Goldenfeld,Woodland Hills

George W. Bush

For the first time since the Eisenhower Administration, there will not be a single Jew in a president’s cabinet.

Steven Goldsmith, the innovative former mayor of Indianapolis, would have been a superb choice to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or as Bush called it, “Housing and Human Development.”

Jews should not be surprised that we are the only minority group not represented in his Cabinet. There is an Arab American – defeated former Sen. Spencer Abraham (Energy). Then again, given that Bush declared Jesus Day in the state of Texas, can we soon expect Jesus Day declared in the U.S. now?

Howard Cohen, North Hills

Irving Moskowitz

I write this letter as a professional and as an individual. My constituents and I read The Jewish Journal. Although I do not always agree with everything that is printed in the newspaper, The Jewish Journal is respected for its objectivity and evenhandedness.

That is why I am shocked that The Journal has accepted and printed paid advertisements against a private person, Dr. Irving Moskowitz. Personal attacks and defamation of character do not belong in any publication.

For the record, the people of Hawaiian Gardens recently voted in their referendum, by a large majority, in favor of Moskowitz’s continued endeavors. Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert is in full support of Moskowitz’s housing projects.

Mainstream American Jewry today is in support of a united Jerusalem, Israel’s sovereignty of the Temple Mount and Israel’s control of the Har Hazeitim (Mount of Olives cemetery area). Moskowitz’s project falls into these areas and is part of Jerusalem.

For individuals to use their personal political views to defame a very charitable individual and for a community newspaper to print such lies, misinformation, etc. is a black mark on our community and a challenge to the reputation of a respected newspaper.

I respectfully request that such ads be left to the tabloids, where even there they do not belong.

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice PresidentNational Council of Young IsraelNew York

Rabbi Julian White distorts the character of the Coalition for Justice in Hawaiian Gardens and Jerusalem and misconstrues our civic objectives, which are actually quite modest (Letters, Dec. 22).

The coalition harbors no animus toward Dr. Irving Moskowitz and has no interest in exhibiting the kind of personal criticism displayed in White’s letter. Were it possible to fault the actions of his corporation in Hawaiian Gardens or the groups it bankrolls in Israel without actually mentioning Moskowitz, most of us would prefer to do so. Regrettably, public action draws public notice.

Contrary to White’s accusation, the coalition is simply petitioning the attorney general to apply the rigorous standards which California statute mandates should be assessed upon any applicant for a gaming license in this state.

As for Dr. Moskowitz’s subvention of far-right groups in the Jewish State, we feel that genuine Zionist philanthropy should be devoted to building up Israeli society, while leaving vital decisions about Israel’s security to those with biggest stake, namely Israeli voters.

Rabbi J. N. Ronald, Temple Beth Hillel

I would like to know who favors, as I do, the granting of a casino license to Dr. Irving Moskowitz.I know that over the years Moskowitz has donated millions to Hawaiian Gardens and provided many decent jobs.

Smoking, alcohol and other forms of gambling are legal in Hawaiian Gardens. Why not casino gambling?

Harold Goldwasser, Los Angeles

Joseph Farah

I was sorry that you sought fit not to include a portion of The Editor’s Corner in the online version of The Jewish Journal (“Junk Mail,” Dec. 15). Friends in Israel forward a lot of mail by Joseph Farah on to me. I agree with your assessment and would have liked to have forwarded it on to all the people who forward me Farah’s stuff. Actually, I think it is more important to have it on the online version of The Jewish Journal than in the print version.

Keep up the good work. I enjoy The Jewish Journal, especially the editorials.

Irving Zlotnik, via e-mail

Editor’s Note: The editorial is now available online in The Jewish Journal’s archive for Dec. 15 at www.jewishjournal.com.

Burbank

The Jewish Journal characterized Burbank as a small Midwestern town (“A Losing Battle?” Dec. 22). Demographics reveal that in 1999, out of approximately 91,000 Burbankers, there are 1,500 Jewish households (1.5 to 2 percent of the population). Many Jews, like me, walk without fear to synagogue on Friday nights and Saturday mornings wearing a yarmulke. During Chanukah, I saw 6-foot menorahs in three public places. Most local supermarkets maintain large kosher sections year-round.

Chabad of Burbank worked to gather over 120 local Jews to a three-hour menorah candlelighting event where the vice mayor read a proclamation. Perhaps The Jewish Journal should give consideration to the growing Burbank Jewish community of the present rather than dated characterizations based on experiences of the past.

Michael Goldberg, Burbank

Kudos

Regarding the article about me (“Mightier Than the Sword,” Dec. 22), I was delighted by the accuracy, tone and scope of the piece written by Beverly Gray.

Gray was able to use her skill as a writer to synthesize many divergent themes into a solid whole. I commend her and I thank you for the opportunity to reach your readers with information about my work.

Sonia Levitin, Los Angeles

Small Print

We are all not blessed with 20/20 vision and not so young and wear glasses, I hope that you surely must be aware of how difficult it is to read the last two editions.

Holding a magnifying glass in one hand and the paper in the other is ridiculous. Is this a cost cutting reason?Or do you believe smaller is better?

Morris Levin, Newbury Park

New Millennium

“On Jan. 1, the new millennium officially begins,” opens Michael Gotlieb’s article (“Time on Our Side,” Dec. 29). Wouldn’t this statement be more appropriate for The Christian Science Monitor? I would rather read about Tishri 1 of any year than about January 1, 2001.

Oscar Wainbuch, Bellflower