Your Letters

Fuel for the Fire

Nothing is more frustrating than seeing another United Against Terror bumper sticker, bedecked with the American and Israeli flags, stuck on the back of a mammoth SUV (“Fuel for the Fire,” Nov. 22.) Stand by the gates of many a shul in Los Angeles on a Saturday morning and the column of SUVs filing out looks like a military operation. The publication of this critically important story in The Jewish Journal was long overdue.

Of course, a car is a necessity in Los Angeles, but aside from the enormous environmental consequences of automobile use, Jews, in particular, must be mindful of the fact that every time we fill up at the pump, we are sending money to governments that fund terrorist groups bent on the destruction of Israel.

Steffen Turoff, Los Angeles

When I read Rob Eshman’s article,”Fuel for the Fire,” Ilooked closely for the use of federal subsidies given to fossil-fuel producers,to be directed toward renewable energy production. I found nothing.

There is no question that upping automobile miles per gallon is the fastest way to reduce gas consumption. But getting the fossil-fuel producers into windmills or solar cells could be the basis to provide a long-term solution to producing energy when the oil and gas resources run out — and they will.

Using windmills, which are economically competitive now, is a way to make money, reduce our reliance on Middle East oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Amory Lovins probably doesn’t care to take on the fossil-fuel lobbyists to get the Congress to force the fossil-fuel companies to use part of their subsidies for funding renewable energy production.

If we were able to get those producers to fund renewables, it would be a win-win deal.

Masse Bloomfield, Canoga Park

Eight Crazy Nights

I took my family to see Adam Sandler’s “Eight Crazy Nights.” This is not a Chanukah movie. I left the theater embarrassed, disgusted and disappointed. Those feelings were exacerbated when I received my Journal. I’m not sure that The Journal, and especially Naomi Pfefferman, saw the same movie I did (“‘Crazy’ for Chanukah,” Nov. 29).

There was no valuable Chanukah lesson in the entire movie, and there was no telling of the Chanukah story in any form as the title implies.

To write “some people were offended by the juxtaposition of Yiddishkayt and toilet humor” is an understatement, as well as an incredible diluted sense of what Yiddishkayt is. I did enjoy the third rendition of the “Chanukah Song,” but it was performed during the credits, as if Sandler knew that the movie had nothing to do with Chanukah.

I am embarrassed that the non-Jewish community thinks that this movie is anything remotely associated with Chanukah. I am embarrassed that The Journal put Sandler on the front cover and dedicated a full page to his movie. I intend to encourage my congregation not to see the movie. I am sorry I took my family.

Won’t someone produce a Chanukah cartoon or movie with the uplifting and powerful messages of Chanukah. Everyone, every day, at any age, has Maccabean moments.

Rabbi Jim Kaufman, Temple Beth Hillel North Hollywood

Potential Suicide Bomber

I take serious offense to many of Uri Avnery’s statements (“The Making of a Potential Suicide Bomber,” Nov. 29). As a paratrooper in the 101st from November 1994 through February 1997, who spent a total of nine months in Hebron, I can say that there are few soldiers — and none in my experience — that “do repulsive things” with the approval of their commanding officers or without (and contrary to Avnery’s opinion, those few do receive punishment).

Every soldier that I came in contact with, from many different units, showed the utmost professionalism and compassion. Some of my chevre (comrades) are still serving, and I hear it has not changed.

Why doesn’t Avnery take note of what happens to the nice Palestinian boys and girls who become “order-fulfilling robots” and “do repulsive things?”

Nate White, Los Angeles

While condemning suicide bombings, Uri Avnery thenexplains that the “rage” experienced by the Palestinians, because of thebrutality of the Israelis, is understandable, and understanding that can help us”cope.”

In other words, their heinous acts of murdering children in cold blood are “understandable.” And he has a solution — cease the “occupation.”

Never mind that the PLO was formed in 1964, three years before the “occupation” in 1967. Avnery continues to display selective memory loss by ignoring the Clinton/Barak offer, which would have removed the remaining “occupation.” So is it really the “occupation?” Or is it something more fundamental?

Jack Salem, Los Angeles

Listening to Needs

I appreciated Wendy Madnick’s article (“Listening to Needs,” Nov. 29), on the Jewish deaf. However, the article stated that Our Way NCSY is aimed at observant Jews. Our Way, like its sister organization, NCSY, is designed to provide outreach to the nonreligious, in this case, the Jewish deaf.

Through its programs, Our Way helps deaf Jews learn about their heritage, as well as providing services like the deaf Jewish singles registry that helps to combat the high rate of intermarriage in the deaf community.

Anyone desiring additional information can reach us at OurWayLA@juno.com.

Lori Moore. Director Our Way Los Angeles

One Community, Many Voices

To all my friends who hold a stake in the Jewish community: I assure you, I do hold dear to my heart all the same values you so eloquently shared with us on the back cover of The Jewish Journal (full-page ad, Nov. 22).

Only two small items defied my comprehension.

1. We, as a Jewish community, have had an open debate on the ongoing conflict since before I was born. The only side that is closed to debate and stands as a united front in its efforts to destroy Israel is the Arab world and its supporters in the West.

2. Your assumption that the State of Israel is strong enough to withstand all the onslaught of terror and world pressure is optimistic. We are only people, we hurt when we are beaten, we bleed when injured and we fight when our back is against the wall.

That is why we are called to support them in these hard times, even if we do not believe in every decision made by the government they elect. Please ask all that oppose us to have the same open mind that we share.

E. Teitler , Sherman Oaks

I object to much in “One Community, Many Voices.” Forexample, “Our blood is no redder than theirs….” This statement suggests thatpeople support Israel for racist reasons. I know no one in Los Angeles likethat. Could this be an attempt to deflect criticism of the signatories’position?

Apparently, to their mind, “occupation” is the problem. They ignore that Israel offered the Palestinians a state with 97 percent of the “occupied” lands returned to them. The offer was rejected, and the Palestinians left the negotiating table. To the Palestinians, “occupation” means all of Israel.

The statement also suggests that the two sides of the conflict are equal. Our blood may be equal, but there is no equality in action between blowing up a mother with her children and fighting hand to hand combat with terrorists.

The final irony lies in the Palestinians’ refusal to accept blood plasma from Israelis because it was Jewish.

I don’t accuse the signatories of being anti-Semitic. I accuse them of being wrong. Israel and world Jewry are being attacked on many fronts. It’s time for our many voices to work together.

Robert Bonem, Los Angeles

A Stamp of Approval

Michael Aushenker (“A Stamp of Approval,” Nov. 22) missed an important piece of local history connected to the Chanukah stamp. The stamp was issued at Kadima Hebrew Academy in 1996 in response to an extensive letter-writing campaign regarding this matter. The letter-writing campaign was set in the Chanukah context of teaching students about the democratic process.

Dr. Barbara Gereboff, Head of School Kadima Hebrew Academy Woodland Hills

Jewish Book Festival

On behalf of the Jewish Federation serving the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, I would like to thank The Jewish Journal for its extensive coverage of our community’s fourth annual Jewish Book Festival (“Turning a New Page,” Nov. 8).

A success since its inception, our celebration of Jewish Book Month has grown each year, featuring increasingly more author events and garnering more sponsors, as well as more Book Festival committee members.

From the beginning, we have worked in partnership with the Jewish Book Council. In its early stages, our staff consulted with and sought out resources from the JCCA (Jewish Book Month coordinator Seville Porsch) and the Jewish Community Library (Abigail Yasgur, librarian).

As always, we welcome all members of the Los Angeles Jewish community to attend our Book Festival events.

Alan Whitman, President Jewish Federation of Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys

Corrections

In “Take It to the Church” (Nov. 29), the quote, “I know that it’s going to be the most unusual eighth night of Chanukah I’ve ever seen,” should have been attributed to Rabbi David Baron of Temple Shalom for the Arts.