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[additional-authors]
March 27, 2003

In Harm’s Way

Thank you for your article “In Harm’s Way” (March 21). We,too, are the parents of a Jewish serviceman: Petty Officer 3rd Class GeoffreyS. Frankel, serving on a nuclear aircraft carrier. Our son was on the firstcarrier to send aircraft to bomb Afghanistan after Sept. 11. He is currentlydeployed and, once again, will not be home for Passover. We are well aware ofthe concerns of parents of Jewish servicemen/women.

In our son’s more than four years of service in the Navy, hehas experienced no acts of hostility or discrimination. There are jokes bandiedabout, but the jokes go in all directions. Jewish services, even at HighHolidays, are not readily available, but the chaplaincy has been responsive torequests that even lay Jews be made available to conduct services should theserviceperson come forward to request them. Being an extreme minority, werealize that Jews in the service must be somewhat flexible and recognize thatlife on shipboard will be geared to the majority of its occupants. But they arestill free to be observant Jews to the extent their consciences and the rulesof military conduct permit.

Our son, too, indicates “undeclared” on his dogtags. Whilewe were initially upset that he did that, we now realize that such adesignation may someday save his life. We are certain that God would approve.

We hope you can convey to Rabbi Alan Henkin our prayers forhis son, Michael. We continue to pray for all of our servicemen/women, bothJewish and [non-Jewish].

God bless America and God protect our troops.

Jeff and Susan Frankel, West Hills

Rabbis for Rent

If the Jewish community, particularly the Los Angeles Jewishcommunity, didn’t make the cost of synagogue membership and Torah study soprohibitive (“Rabbis for Rent,” March 7), there certainly wouldn’t be a needfor this type of service offered. As a single parent with a single income,finding a synagogue willing to teach my son Hebrew, let alone let him become abar mitzvah there, was mind-boggling. A sample of answers I received when myincome was revealed: “I’m sorry, everyone has to pay; we even have people onpublic assistance who have to pay” and “We are not a bar mitzvah factory,either you become a member or we can’t accept you.”

If I did not find someone who does travel, teaches quicklyand doesn’t cost a full year’s salary, my son would not be called to the Torahthis year. These so-called “Rabbis for Rent” are a godsend, and are definitelydoing God’s work without putting a price tag on it, as it should be.

Miriam Garber, Los Angeles

The Fear Factor

I enjoyed Jane Ulman’s piece on Purim (“The Fear Factor,”March 14). However, I do take question at her statement “… to discuss theproblems of assimilation, intermarriage and the great sacrifice that Esthermade.”

What was the “problem” of intermarriage in this story? Frommy understanding, because of intermarriage, Esther was in the right place atthe right time. Thank God she did intermarry or the story could have had a verydifferent ending.

I wonder when the Jewish community will stop the blanket ofdisrespect of interfaith marriages and start welcoming all the possible alliesand children? Maybe never. In the meantime, I will remain a non-Jew married toa Jew raising by his own definition a very Jewish child.

What makes for a good story is when it continues to havelessons previously never seen. So I say hurray for Esther.

Paula Swinford, Culver City

Romance in the Negev

I was fascinated by Loolwa Khazzoom’s “Romance in the Negev”(March 7). I have nothing against young love, peace or friendship, but I wonderwhy the editor felt it worthwhile to publish this article by an apparentlyobservant young Jewish woman glorifying in her seduction of an affair with anArab Muslim. It could be understood by young Jewish readers of The Journal thatyou give approval of her glorification of her adventure. They might think, thatin their early adult life, with the insecurities and stresses that are normal,it may be all right to emulate such a misadventure. I hope her parents arespared seeing this article.

P.S., I showed my wife the article and my letter and shecompletely disagrees with me.

Dr. David Ackermann, Rolling Hills Estates

Corrections

The pseudonym Mark Altman, used in “The Agonizing Toll of Sexual Addiction”(March 7), was fabricated by the author. The Mark Altman featured in the storybears no relation to anyone associated with Congregation Or Ami who shares thatlast name.

In addition, the correct address and phone number forCongregation Or Ami, where Rabbi Paul Kipnes runs 12-step services, is 32945Calabasas Road, Suite 112, Calabasas, (818) 222-4922.

Temple Beth Haverim has moved to 29900 Ladyface Court,Agoura Hills,(818) 991-7111. “Anything Goes 12-Step” meets at the synagogueThursdays, 7-8 p.m.  For information on the group, contact meeting leader Jasonat (818) 735-9934.

In “Mensch Madness” (March 21), Stanford University playedagainst University of San Diego.

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