Letters

Holocaust Payments

James D. Besser’s article (“Dear Bill: Thanks a Lot,” Feb. 16) contained a very valuable lesson to the effect that donations of big money need to be looked at carefully. The same applies to the news that suddenly, 55 years after the end of World War II, the Dutch government, banks, insurance companies and stock exchange want to give many Dutch Jewish survivors money (“Dutch Settlement,” Feb. 16).

Those eligible will indeed receive a considerable sum of money [from the Maror Fund]. To be eligible, a Dutch Jew would need to have lived under Nazi occupation in Holland. Some people who may have claims to these monies are completely disenfranchised; all others have some inheritance rights taken away. There is no question in my mind that the Dutch government wished to do well by those who suffered so much. Others who may have suffered as well are left out.

Personally, I am not eligible even though my grandmother would have been; she was gassed at Sobibor. If she could have made a last wish, I think she would have agreed with the Dutch government that I, born after the war, should not be given any money. Instead, she would have wanted to purchase perpetual care for the graveside of her husband who had the good fortune to die before May 1940, but that was not in the cards with the Nazis. As it is, my grandfather’s grave marker is in the small Jewish section of the general cemetery of a small town. The Jewish markers can easily be found: they are the only ones covered with bird droppings. So much for Maror.

Name withheld by request

Marlene Adler Marks

Thank you, Marlene, for an incredible column (“Back From the Dead,” Feb. 23). As I complete my seemingly long, extensive treatment for breast cancer, I welcome your words, for they so succinctly capture how I feel.

Although I recognize the importance of learning all I can about my disease and its treatment to alleviate side effects and prevent recurrence; although I cannot say enough for maintaining a positive outlook; and although I could not have emotionally survived these past seven months without the unwavering support of my husband, children, family, friends and synagogue community, I do not want to learn from my cancer. I have availed myself of what I believe is the best medical care possible. I have been a compliant patient and will continue to be so for the rest of what I anticipate to be a long life.

I wish you refuah shleymah, Marlene. I hope these next few months are not too difficult.

Debra Frieden Perlo, Hidden Hills

Scott Svonkin

I very much enjoyed Michael Aushenker’s interview with Scott Svonkin (“Scott Svonkin: Pulling Together,” Feb. 16). It was right on the money.

I must say that Svonkin made some excellent points. As a young man in the Jewish community, I often felt like a second-class citizen because of limited financial resources. Svonkin is absolutely correct; it’s all about money.

After reading the article, I hope the powers that be in the Jewish community will stand up and realize the importance of leadership development in addition to simply raising funds. Being Jewish is not simply about making annual donations to causes that help Jews. It involves a lifelong commitment to live Jewishly and perpetuate Jewish values. Many of our community organizations do a wonderful job of raising money for much-needed causes, and for this I applaud them. But they also need to do more to raise our Jewish collective consciousness. I hope the other leaders of the Jewish community will follow Svonkin’s lead and put some of their efforts into better developing the leaders of tomorrow.

Svonkin is to be commended for his honest and refreshing approach and for his continued support of the Jewish community in our area.

Gary Hartstein, Tarzana

Correction

In the Feb. 23 letters, David Novak arrived in Los Angeles from Boston in 1989, not 1998. Also, he received his loan 12 years ago, not two. We regret the error.