Marlene Adler Marks
Marlene — you are indelible in the hearts and minds of so many — even those who railed against your politics. You captured and wrote what was inside us and gave voice to our dreams, fears and hopes. You held a bright mirror up to yourself and up to us and begged us to see and imagine a tomorrow filled with possibility.
May the One filled with all possibility protect you for eternity. I believe all is spoken gently there. Perhaps in a “woman’s voice?” I miss you already.
Carol Levy, Encino
I didn’t know Marlene, nor did I ever have the pleasure of hearing her speak. But I found her weekly column, especially over the past couple of years, to be deeply moving and insightful. Her bravery in sharing the intimate details of her illness points to the quality of her character. I believe her final piece (“Oh So Sorry,” Aug. 30) was one of her finest. She made a difference. She will be missed.
Barry Oppenheim, Los Angeles
Terrorists in Old City
Your article (“Terrorists in Old City” Aug. 30), was yet another example of the media acting as the Arab’s PR agency. Rather than writing about the terrorists — your article was about how bad the East Jerusalem Arabs have it. Am I to feel sympathy for murders? Are you trying to make a case justifying the acts of terror? Israel is fighting again and she needs our support. Don’t muddy the issue with studies of standards of living or meaningless comparisons of voting rights.
Cindy Jacobs, Claremont
Settler Money?
I noted with interest the letter to the editor from community leaders, Lois and Richard Gunther, concerning the decision by United Jewish Communities (UJC) to provide humanitarian assistance to Israelis living beyond the Green Line who have been victims of terror (Letters, Sept. 6).
While deeply respecting the Gunthers for all that they have done for our community and on behalf of Israel, I must respectfully disagree with their assessment that this aid provided to those who have been terrorized is inappropriate because of where they live. This relief is not directed to the settlers movement or to any other political group, but focuses specifically on individuals whose lives have been incredibly disrupted by the violence of the past few years.
As a significant member of UJC, the Los Angeles Jewish Federation will, of course, be happy to raise the Gunthers’ concern with the national leadership.
Jake Farber Chairman The Jewish Federation of Greater L.A.
Born in East L.A.
Thanks for the fine article about my old neighborhood, one I am so proud to have been a part of (“Born in East L.A.,” Aug. 2). However, the paragraph dealing with service in the military during World War II needs clarification. The article states “36 Boyle Heights youths served in the military.” The “36” were probably members of only the Saxons. Several hundred of the Boyle Heights and City Terrace Jewish boys served in the military in all parts of the world during the war, many of them enlistees and many decorated for their action in service.
Those of us who were not Saxons are indebted to Hershey Eisenberg and Gene Resnikoff and their committee for providing us the opportunity to gather and share our lives and remembrances of those wonderful days in the “heights.”
Gershon L. Lewis, Former Mayor of Monterey Park
Cantor vs. Rabbi
Unfortunately, Wendy Madnick missed the point in picturing Temple Ner Maarav as a victim of clergy dispute (“In Cantor vs. Rabbi, Synagogue Is Victim,” Aug. 30).
The true, miraculous story of Ner Maarav is that despite the difficulties over the last two years, the temple survived and functioned without interruption. We did not miss a single service on Friday night, Saturday morning or any Jewish holiday. The members of Ner Maarav were not victims, but rather heroes who vowed to do everything possible to keep the doors open, providing religious services to the community.
So now a new dawn is rising over Ner Maarav. Our new rabbi, John Crites-Borak, is ready to work hard and lead us to new heights.
Uri Grinblat Vice President-Ritual Temple Ner Maarav
NPR Funding
As anyone who listens to National Public Radio (NPR) knows, Israel is constantly criticized and the Palestinians are seen as victims. While listening to KCRW, I heard an announcer thanking The Jewish Journal for its financial support during the National Public Radio news program “Morning Edition.” I was stunned. What are you thinking? How can an organization that serves the Greater Los Angeles Jewish community support such unrelenting, unfair attacks on Israel? While Jews all across America are registering their disgust with NPR by canceling subscriptions, The Journal is sending them money! Shame.
Jerry Freedman, Los Angeles
Teresa Strasser
“I’m going to die alone.” Those are the words I typed into my favorite search engine on a rather melancholy day. To my surprise, what popped up was your Web page filled with stories of my life (minus the Jewish part) in Teresa Strasser’s column. I am now officially an addict. I have spent the last two days scouring the Web for more of her stories in an effort to keep alive the feeling that somewhere out in the universe another soul is leading a life as steeped in traumatic experience and introspection as mine. Thank you, Teresa, for having the guts to air your dirty laundry to the world. It takes a backbone of steel to put your most personal feelings into print, and you do so with style and eloquence.
Name Withheld Upon Request
Corrections
The Jewish Journal omitted several corrections to the article, “Truth in Pearl’s Final Words (Sept. 6). A quote from Daniel Pearl should have read:
“My family follows Judaism. We made numerous family visits to Israel. Back in the town of Bnei Brak there is a street named after my great-grandfather who was one of the founders of the town.”
The Journal regrets the error.
In “History Comes Alive” (Aug. 30), the name of the store where the “Italian Jewish Musical Tradition” CD mentioned can be purchased is Hatikvah Music, 436 N. Fairfax, Los Angeles, (323) 655-7083.
