This article brought tears to my eyes as I, too, have a tendency to fall in love with my trees (“Pom Wonderful,” Jan. 10). So I would urge you, if you have not already done so, to consult with a certified and licensed arborist before heeding the advice of a contractor who tells you to cut down your tree.\n
As a state and federal criminal prosecutor, I can tell you that for every Bernard Madoff or Jordan Belfort, there are dozens of Jewish white-collar criminals you will never read about (“ ‘The Wolf’ and the Jewish Problem,” Jan. 3). Rob Eshman is right on the money when he declares that our rabbis and leaders are not doing enough to address this issue.
I’d like to express my gratitude for writing a detailed story about the Azerbaijani Jews in your article (“The Mysteries of Azerbaijan,” Dec. 20).
Every few weeks there is a letter urging the Jewish Journal to discontinue Dennis Prager. I have never seen a letter asking that Marty Kaplan be discontinued. Either a) everyone likes and agrees with Marty Kaplan or b) the readers who want Prager discontinued don’t believe in the principle of freedom of speech.
I am a committed supporter of Conservative Judaism and have been a member of Conservative Temple Beth Am for more than 20 years (“Conservative Judaism Reborn — In Germany,” Nov. 29). I agree with Rabbi Brad Artson that the movement is not dying.
In “No Faith, No Jewish Future” (Nov. 6), Dennis Prager has it backward. The assiduous practice of mitzvot results in recognition of their foundation, not visa versa. Halachic adherence remains the key to growth in Orthodox Judaism. A 3-year-old child learns what we do, i.e., wear tzitzit, when he puts them on and recites a bracha.
Rob Eshman is right to question George W. Bush’s decision to address the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (“Why Bush Was Wrong,” Nov. 15), but I feel there is another issue that he should have addressed in this context: the Jewish position toward Evangelical Christian movements.
Rob Eshman’s criticism of former President George W. Bush’s public support for the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI) is well put (“Why Bush Was Wrong,” Nov. 15). However, the participation of a former president in MJBI’s activities should be profoundly insulting to all Americans regardless of religion.
Thank you for the great article “The Torah of Drones” (Nov. 8). It’s extremely important and well written. My only concern is that the question regarding the morality of deciding who shall live and who shall die is mentioned at the end of the article, but not really explored at all.
Women of the Wall did not decide to pray on [Religious Affairs Minister Naftali] Bennett’s sun deck (“A Kotel Platform for No One?” Oct. 25). We decided to negotiate with the government on the creation of a third section at the Kotel. This section will have to accommodate our women’s-only prayer group as well as egalitarian services.
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