Letters to the Editor

Irving Moskowitz

Dr. Irving Moskowitz and his attorney, Beryl Weiner, have failed in their attempt to delegitimate the report of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) that provides “A Study in Redevelopment Abuse” in Hawaiian Gardens.

At a hearing in Sacramento last week, the JLAC affirmed the persuasive report as authentic. Weiner and his troops were present. So was our heroic Rabbi Haim Beliak, who has spearheaded the awesome effort of the Coalition for Justice in Hawaiian Gardens and Jerusalem.

We owe appreciation to State Senator Richard Alarcon for his aggressive efforts in the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to pursue further the investigation of injustice in Hawaiian Gardens. Continuing investigation by the JLAC must expose the systematic pattern of civic abuse orchestrated by Moskowitz in Hawaiian Gardens.

The JLAC’s July report on Moskowitz’s manipulation of Hawaiian Gardens’ redevelopment agency just began to open a public scandal in that beleaguered little city. The whole Moskowitz operation must now be exposed.

Moskowitz has channeled untold millions of dollars out of Hawaiian Gardens. I believe that he uses the funds in Jerusalem to cripple the Mideast peace process – in opposition to American and Israeli national policies.

In the name of justice and decency, Moskowitz must be stopped.

Rabbi Jerrold Goldstein
Associate Director
Pacific Southwest Region
Union of American Hebrew Congregations

For the past 35 years I have known Dr. Irving Moskowitz as a forthright person of sterling character. He does not deserve Tom Tugend’s fuzzy article (“Corruption in Hawaiian Gardens?” July 21).Because of the successful operation of Moskowitz’s state-of-the-art hospital built in Hawaiian Gardens in 1968, he was invited by the city to take over a shabbily run bingo parlor. Not being a gaming person, he did not seek this activity. It was virtually thrust upon him to help the city.

To cast light on the basic motivation behind this staged campaign, headed by Rabbi Haim Beliak to discredit Moskowitz, we must ask why all the money, energy and fuss expended on Moskowitz over claims of violation of law – especially since both the City of Hawaiian Gardens and Moskowitz have been found, in a binding Los Angeles Superior Court judgment entered June 30, 1997, to have fully complied with “all applicable laws, statutes, ordinances, rules and regulations.”

Moskowitz is being dragged through the mud for nothing illegal, immoral or unethical. Rather, it is his Jerusalem activity – buying property in Jerusalem and donating its use to yeshivot – which these campaigners have in mind. Had Moskowitz purchased property for an Arab orphanage or nursery, would he have suffered such condemnations?

Fortunately for Hawaiian Gardens, Moskowitz continues to pour millions of dollars into its model food bank, sponsors a full array of sports activities for Hawaiian Gardens children, keeps the swimming pool open all season for the public and graciously helps make up budgetary shortfalls of the community when necessary. In addition, the community enjoys a significant return – as designated by law – from the monthly income of the gaming activities.

Needless to say, the host community of Hawaiian Gardens is most appreciative of Moskowitz’s activities.

Rabbi Julian M. White, Los Angeles

German Opposition

I have met David Myers (“My German Question,” Aug. 25) on numerous occasions and have great respect not only for his work at UCLA but also for his innate mentschlachkayt, so I regard this as a minor disagreement between, if not friends, then certainly acquaintances. One important difference between us is that I have been personally touched by the Holocaust, having had my mother’s entire family slaughtered by the Germans.

I am also among the rapidly dwindling minority of Jews he mentions who have no desire to visit German soil and who make a great effort not to buy any German goods – an effort which has become increasingly more difficult, but which is still possible.

Because of not only official German military policy toward Jews but also because of the enthusiastic participation of the German population, I feel that this is a minute gesture to honor the lives of my ancestors and to disparage that of the Germans – many still living in denial – who slaughtered them. The bottom line is that I choose not to do anything that will support the German economy, especially that of such companies who knowingly employed slave laborers from whom no verbal apology has been forthcoming and who are flourishing partly because of the many Jews who eagerly purchase their products. At the very least, I would hope that scholars like Myers who decide to go would not keep silent but would risk the discomfort – and perhaps the antagonism – that confrontation would bring. Without this kind of dialogue and with our continued economic support of Germany we do our dead relatives a great dishonor.

Dina Adler, Westlake Village

Violent Entertainment

The nomination of Sen. Lieberman brings to prominence an issue of direct relevance to many Los Angeles Jews, namely the proliferation of repugnant violence in movies and television.

In the past few weeks, we have been treated to “Bless the Child” and “The Cell.” To my fellow Jews who worked on these films: Shame on you! This is not entertainment. This does not make our world a better place. You are responsible for the product you create and how it may influence people. Could you possibly want your children to watch this material? If one disturbed person acts out after seeing these images, how could you consider yourself innocent?

Please, don’t cower behind First Amendment privilege in defense of these films. Ultimately, the only reason to purvey this obscenity is to make a dollar.

Jews working in entertainment have the power to insist on an acceptable level of moral and societal value in their work, and would then merit approbation. However, if one insists on presenting this sort of material, expect nothing but censure and disgrace.

Dr. Charles L. Schnee, Los Angeles

AMIT’s New Location

In the past several issues of The Jewish Journal, we’ve seen that The Jewish Federation is scheduled to return to 6505 Wilshire Blvd. Good luck and good fortune is wished to all the offices that will return to that building. At the same time, we regret that AMIT was not also able to return.

AMIT is the American organization that sponsors and maintains children’s homes, youth villages and technology schools in Israel and provides underprivileged children with family-centered schools and child care.

AMIT has relocated to 1122 South Robertson Blvd., Room 9, Los Angeles, Calif. 90035. The new phone number is (310) 859-4885. We hope your readers will visit the AMIT office, learn more about this worthy organization, and extend a hearty, sincere yasher koach to its members.

Bella Sokoloff, Los Angeles