Your Letters

Journal or Times?

Having read your editorial commentary in this week’s issue,I was tempted to turn back to the front page to reassure myself that I was notreading the editorial page of the Los Angeles Times (“Accord Allure,” Dec. 5).Your alignment with the thinking of such “Jew-loving” stalwarts as JimmyCarter, Nelson Mandela, Jacque Chirac and the other E.U. leaders isdisappointing and serious, given your position. The route you have taken willmost certainly give Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Arafat et al. their singularobjective — the destruction of Israel.

Harry Finkel, Century City

Ray of Fantasy

Larry Derfner’s ray-of-optimism view of the Geneva accordreminds one of the Peter Sellers movie of 1980, “Being There,” which, whileentertaining, was an allegory for the public being entirely immersed in theperceptual error of seeing and hearing what they want to see and hear, when thefacts are entirely different (“Geneva Pact Generates Ray of Optimism,” Dec.12).

Derfner sees an Arab Peace Now movement because a fewnotables negotiated and signed a document with Yasser Arafat’s approval, whichincludes the provisions of uprooting many thousands of Jews from their homes,Arab sovereignty over the Temple Mount and part of Jerusalem, the Jewishtownships of Gaza, 1967 borders, the cutting of Israel in two with anArab-controlled strip from Hebron to the Mediterranean Sea, prohibition againstIsrael from either flying over the new Arab sovereignty or the hot pursuit ofattackers emanating from there. All the above is topped by the introduction ofarmed forces into the Jerusalem area to protect the Arabs from Israel’sself-defense measures.

If all the above isn’t enough, the Arabs are still left withthe unsolved refugee problem to make future demands upon Israel. There is,however, a realistic note in this “ray of optimism” article: Even Derfner doesnot promise a cessation of threats, terrorism and more peace victims, butmerely a signed peace treaty.

Bernard Lindner  , Los Angeles

Dreams for Ethiopia

As someone who has been in the forefront of the issues ofEthiopian Jews for some 20 years, I was very happy to read John Fishel’sarticle regarding his trip to Ethiopia and his visit to our North AmericanConference on Ethiopian Jewry (NACOEJ) compound (“Ethiopian Aliyah Dilemma,”Dec. 12). NACOEJ has provided education for children and adults, includingHebrew; daily synagogue services; feeding programs for children and nursingmothers; food distribution to all; pre- and postnatal care, and so much morefor so many thousands of our people.

NACOEJ has spent the last 20 years in rescue work, superiorafter-school education programs in Israel, as well as all that we continue todo in Ethiopia, because we can’t desert our own people. It is our hope when thelast Ethiopian Jews have made aliyah, that we will be able to spend all ourefforts and our funds in Israel making sure that those Israeli Ethiopianchildren get a fair chance to develop their intellect and their talents.

Peachy Levy, Founding Member North American Conference onEthiopian Jewry

Right or Wrong?

I make no apology for belonging to the emerging Jewish GOPas described in “Republican Redux: Jews Going Right?” (Dec. 12). Indeed, I findin Judaism the foundation for my Conservative positions, especially vis-à-visthe Iraq War, the heterosexual ideal,  and respect for the unborn. In thespirit of true liberalism, the Jewish community should make room for those ofus who have jumped the political mechitzah. For sure we are far outnumbered –perhaps even pariahs. Yet, proudly, we stand alongside you in the minyan andfor “Hatikva.” 

Dr. Kenneth Wepman, Studio City

‘Fritos’ Inspired

A big “Thank you” for “From Fritos to Freedom” (Nov. 28).

I was taken aback by the tone of Deborah Klein’s letter inresponse to the inspiring article written by Sandy Wolshin Mendlowitz (Letters,Dec. 12). Her story was so helpful and inspirational that I made copies andgave them to several of my patients who have been struggling with food issuesfor years.

I have witnessed firsthand the pain and suffering of mypatients who not only have struggled with being overweight — or underweight –but the agony and regret of thousands of dollars wasted on failed diets, includingmoney spent on nutritionists and dietitians. I have found that the only hopefor many of these people is a spiritual answer which can never be found in adiet. It sounds like Sandy Wolshin Mendlowitz has had success with weight lossand has found spiritual answers. Maybe Klein should contact her and find outmore about her success so that she can truly help the people who seek her outas a dietitian.

Dr. Sarah Rosenblatt , via e-mail