Your Letters

UJF Campaign

I would like to correct a quote I gave Michael Aushenker relative to the results of the 2002 United Jewish Fund Campaign (“Coming Out on Top,” Jan. 25). The campaign was extremely successful. However, I stated that the $45 million total did not include an additional $1 million raised for the Victims of Terror Fund. In fact, the $45 million does include these funds. I apologize for any confusion this may have caused your readers.

William S. Bernstein,Executive Vice President The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Cynthia McKinney

As an African American who reads your journal on a weekly basis, I think that your decision to reprint such a nasty piece on Rep. Cynthia McKinney without comment from her camp and an equal number of comments from insiders who didn’t share such an anti-McKinney viewpoint was in poor taste, not to mention poor journalism (“In-Your-Face Crusader,” Jan. 25).

While The Journal was not originally published with African Americans in mind, a large population of us are out there who do read The Journal on a weekly basis. We don’t appreciate you spreading lies and breeding discord without provocation.

Francis Johnson-Rosenthal, Los Angeles

Editor’s Note: Rep. Cynthia McKinney failed to return several phone calls from the reporter asking for comment. Her lawyer spoke on her behalf.

Israel Solidarity

Having just returned from an Orthodox Union solidarity mission to Israel, I can certainly agree with the point made by MK Avraham Burg and espoused by Rob Eshman that “the simple days are gone” (“Nostalgia,” Jan. 25). I would also concur that eventually Israel will return to negotiation, though this statement is itself simplistic. The real question is, when and with whom?

That Israelis are suffering physically, emotionally and financially is readily apparent. But what most impressed me was their determination to persevere. Repeated horrific acts of terror have not led Israelis to conclude that further concessions are the answer. Instead, the attacks have reinforced a belief that the Palestinians are currently unprepared to make peace, and indeed retain as their goal the destruction of the State of Israel.

Burg’s timetable for negotiations is one the majority of Israelis reject. They are waiting for a sea change in Palestinian thought and behavior, not just a temporary lull in violence. The Israelis I met are prepared to wait for a generation if need be, rather than commit national suicide.

If American Jews are to consider being more discriminatory with their financial support, as the column seemed to advocate, I would suggest that they first make the trip to Israel and see for themselves. They will likely conclude, as have I, that we “simply” must stand with our people in these difficult times.

Larry Eisenberg, President West Coast Orthodox Union

J.D. Smith

I caught J.D. Smith’s column (“Bundles of Joy,” Jan. 18) and he made me laugh out loud. My refrigerator used to be covered in pictures of my friends, and now it’s covered in pictures of their toddlers.

I opened the Jan. 25 Journal looking for Smith’s column and found a letter to the editor from someone who just doesn’t get it. People need to relax and have a sense of humor. Smith is the voice of single people. I look forward to reading more of his columns in the future.

Valarie Shaw, Gardena

I thought J.D. Smith’s Jan. 18 column was great and right on. I am in that boat. Just two weeks ago my twin sister had a son, my first nephew. I totally relate.

Marina Janofsky, Alhambra

Correction

The Calendar listing for “Shared Roots: A Dance Partnership” at the Skirball Cultural Center in our Jan. 25 issue contained some inaccuracies. Please see the corrected calendar listing on page 22.