Your Letters

David Myers

Being very familiar with the StandWithUs brochure DavidMyers referred to I am puzzled as to where in its 16 pages there is any mentionor implication of Israel as “defenseless in the face of hostile neighbors”(Letters, Feb. 21). I can only conclude that it is Myers’ subjective analysisof the brochure that led him to this interpretation.

Do we diminish Hertzl’s magnificent vision for Israel bytaking a sobering look at the region surrounding her? Do we “do violence” to America’splace as the world’s superpower by acknowledging that there are very realthreats against her? To look superficially at a “powerhouse” as omnipotentwould be a suicidal recipe.

Our brochure, requested by academics and students alike (todate almost a quarter of a million have been distributed internationally) isfilled with historical facts, and proudly notes Israel’s record on humanrights, humanitarian efforts worldwide, peace initiatives and scientificadvancements. The totality of information presents Israel as a light amongnations.

It is our belief that with a willingness to confront andunderstand the complexities of the region, real dialogue will ensue that canultimately lead to an end of the suffering of both the Israelis andPalestinians. If campus educators such as Myers would be willing to look beyondtheir own biases and provide the balanced dialogue campus students call usregularly to request, we would gladly leave it to them. Those who wish to decidefor themselves can order a free brochure from info@standwithus.com .

Esther Renzer, Acting President, StandWithUs

In professor David Myers’ letter, he urges Roz Rothstein andRobeta Seid of StandWithUs to “leave education to the educators.” As pastpresident of Bruins For Israel (UCLA’s pro-Israel student group) I found thatmany of the educators have not only been unhelpful in presenting a balancedview of the conflict, but have used their positions and departments to spewanti-Israel rhetoric and to provide a platform for anti-Israel speakers andunbalanced panel discussions. The moderate view is seldom presented through theeducators at UCLA.

Due to the biased presentations given to students by many oftheir educators as well as the vehement lies and propaganda paraded on campusby the pro-Palestinian groups, Bruins for Israel relies on the support fromoutside organizations such as Hillel, the American Israel Public AffairsCommittee, the Israeli Consulate, The Jewish Federation and StandWithUs toprovide a pro-Israel presence at UCLA. The materials, speakers and communitysupport that StandWithUs has given to pro-Israel campus groups has equippedstudents with the desperately needed resources to present Israel’s position tothe student body.

I urge Myers, as well as other pro-Israel professors, to usetheir respectable positions and authority to help ensure that more moderateviews are presented on campus.

Megan Michaels, President  Bruins For Israel 2001-2002

Ed. Note: The Journal made several critical editing errorsin printing David Myers’ letter. We apologize. Below is his response.

Education and hasbara (propaganda), are not the same. Eachhas its season; each has its experts. I read the StandWithUs brochure as apiece of hasbara, a tool in a public relations battle that its soldiers deemessential in the current climate. StandWithUs has every right to wage thisbattle, provided that it be peaceful and civil. But education is more than boosterism.It is about imparting knowledge, nuance and critical thinking. From such aperspective, I fail to fathom the pro-Palestinian supporter who holds Israelentirely to blame for the current conflict — or the pro-Israel supporter whoholds the Palestinians entirely to blame.

While I am no less an ohev Yisrael (lover of Israel) thanthose who belong to StandWithUs, I have a responsibility as an educator to seekout balance and nuance in understanding the conflict. And here is the crux ofthe matter. StandWithUs supporters equate “balanced dialogue” with unequivocalsupport for the policies of the present Israeli government. I regard balance asa measured appreciation of the responsibility of both sides, as well as of thedynamic relationship between them. If this criterion does not conform to StandWithUs’mission, then I fear that we will have to agree to disagree on what the goal ofeducation is.

David N. Myers, Professor and Vice Chair UCLA HistoryDepartment Los Angeles

Don’t Judge a Book

Reading the article by Yosef Reinman on Orthodox versusnon-Orthodox relations (“Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover,” Feb. 14) makes onedespair. How very sad that an apparently fine Orthodox writer and scholarspeaks with pride about how Orthodox rabbis may not/do not have officialcontact with non-Orthodox rabbis. This is the sort of animosity our sages referto when they explain that the second Temple was destroyed because of needlesshatred among Jews.

It has been my privilege over the years to study and davenwith many warm and kind Orthodox and non-Orthodox rabbis, teachers andscholars, as I still do. All of them love Torah and wish to promote it for thebetterment of the world.  What they have in common far outweighs what separatesthem.  We do not serve the Holy One of blessing when we refuse to recognizethat “both this and this are the words of the living God.”

Jeff (Yosef) Gornbein, Santa Monica