Dear Editor:
A few weeks back, I took Warren Hecht to task for what I felt was his insensitivity to our Jewish brethren in Israel who were murdered in several terrorist attacks. After reading Shmuel Sackett’s column this week, I’m getting a strangely similar feeling about OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Moshe Hauer. It’s a bit odd for me to criticize Rabbi Hauer as I consider myself more hashkafically aligned with Rabbi Hauer than Shmuel Sackett.
That said, I like to call it as I see it so here goes: I am sure Rabbi Hauer is far more familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than most mainstream media members who frequently characterize Israel’s defending itself vs. Palestinian terrorism as a “cycle of violence.” However, Rabbi Hauer does not live in Israel, and thus does not deal with the day-to-day threat of violence Jews who must traverse Arab villages daily have to contend with. Therefore, complaining about the property damage Israelis inflicted on the town of Huwara in response to the murder of two Jewish brothers who were driving through that town comes off as tone deaf.
I’m not condoning the property damage, but the response was completely understandable given (1) the outrage over the brutal murders of two innocent Jewish brothers (2) the Arab celebrations that ensued in Huwara in response to the murders and (3) the frustration and helplessness many feel about the feckless Israeli response to the terror. It is easy to criticize Israelis living in areas surrounded by Arab villages from the comfort of your living room in the United States. Perhaps staying silent on the incident or at least waiting a period of time to address the response would have been more advisable.
Doniel Behar
Dear Editor:
With Moshe Hill writing a column talking about institutions that “feed on the gullibility of the masses,” you would think, especially with how much he decries dishonesty in the media, he would be referring to the stream of revelations detailing how Fox News personalities were saying one thing in their text messages (Tucker Carlson said he hates Trump passionately!) but another on air, all apparently in an effort to protect their bottom line. But no, instead it was about COVID and how it proves you shouldn’t trust the government. His column has a provocative headline of “Lab Leak Theory Confirmed,” but he conveniently doesn’t get into the details to explain that he’s talking about a study (commissioned by President Biden and the supposedly lying government) from one government agency saying “with a low level of confidence” that the origin of COVID was “most likely” a result of a lab leak and not zoonotic transfer. Not a lot of confirmation there, especially as other intelligence agencies and subject matter experts remain split in what they see as the most likely scenario.
But Mr. Hill takes that to conclude that there was some certainty early in the pandemic that should have been publicized. (To what end? He writes this could have led to greater mitigation efforts, while again blasting the actual mitigation efforts.) Mostly, he uses this as proof that you should distrust government agencies as they are filled with the “Deep State” (i.e., people who enact policies that he doesn’t like).
But Mr. Hill then writes about a theory targeting Dr. Fauci and his relationship to a paper advocating the zoonotic origin hypothesis, using a memo from the Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. That apparently is a part of the government that Mr. Hill does trust to tell the unvarnished truth, no doubt due to its distinguished members such as Marjorie Taylor Green. They would never twist the truth for political gain! Even Mr. Hill’s description of the memo uses words like “suggests” and “may have.” But he again turns all this hedging and uncertainty into statements of fact to conclude that we are all being lied to, and therefore we should abandon government regulations on health, safety, and the environment. Presumably, we can rely on well-meaning corporations to police themselves and look out for the public good.
He then finishes by somehow claiming that Governor DeSantis would embody a limited government. That’s the same DeSantis who continually uses the strong arm of the government to force people and businesses in Florida to do what he wants, while decreasing the power of agencies that he doesn’t like. Surely we need that on a federal level.
DeSantis does seem to have the Republican playbook down pat. As a member of Congress, he consistently voted for banking deregulation (some of which passed, and more extreme measures that didn’t), but when asked about the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, he claimed that the government should have been able to prevent it, and also blamed the fact that the bank had some diversity initiatives. So, deregulate, blame the defanged government for not acting, and throw the word “woke” around as much as possible – that is true leadership.
Regards,
Yaakov Ribner
Dear Editor:
Rabbi Schonfeld was kind to not mention the name of the “Orthodox leadership,” but baruch Hashem for Shmuel Sackett, who says it like it is in defense of Israel (not that they need American Jews to defend them). Rabbi Hauer, as a representative of the Orthodox Union, should know the dictum well of “the fence for guarding wisdom is silence.” Vicious animals from the town of Huwara (although to call them animals is too nice) murder brothers for the crime of driving home, and Israelis should just sit by and watch??
The Israelis who “protested” destroyed property and set some fires and that is it. The murderers destroyed lives and that can never be repaid. How dare an American Orthodox organization, living in America, say, “How can this happen?”! How can this happen? I ask: How can it happen that there is such a light reaction, such as destroying only cars and property? How can it happen that the entire city (mind you, they rejoiced and danced when those innocent brothers were murdered) was not leveled to the ground?
Israelis should be able to do a basic thing such as driving home, in their own country, without fear of being killed. I, who happen to have Israeli citizenship as well, who currently lives in the United States, certainly feels that an organization as large and influential as the OU should certainly know better. If you cannot support your brethren, then say nothing!!
Zehava Cohen
Dear Editor:
Caroline Schumsky is a ray of sunshine with her thoughtful and encouraging words. Very often, most of what we read is bleak and deeply negative. Caroline’s words are rooted in solid common sense and kindness, and they open the door for hope and a better view of life. I look forward to her writings as that bright spot in the day.
Sincerely,
Debra Bushman
Dear Editor:
The pitcher digs his cleats into the mound, pounds his glove, checks the runners on base, and shakes his head to reject the catcher’s sign for the next pitch. A second time he rejects the sign, but he nods his head for the third sign. He goes into his wind up but then tries to pick the runner off of first base. Finally, after failing to accomplish the aforementioned, he throws a wild pitch, missing the catcher’s mitt. All of these antics take longer than an 18-minute matzah. Thus, Major League Baseball, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to institute the pitch clock, which will ultimately limit the tedious length of your average baseball game.
“Under this rule, the pitcher gets 15 seconds to deliver his pitch if no one is on base, 20 seconds if runners are on” (Wall Street Journal). If the pitcher takes too long, the umpire calls a ball, and if the batter takes too long, it’s called a strike. I believe that the pitch clock should be used in our daily lives with the noted exceptions of davening and learning.
The idea of timing one’s daily activities originated with the publication of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” where the father of a large family times each daily routine activity. For example, I’m suggesting taking a shower for three minutes, but if you also wash your hair and use conditioner, that’s another two minutes. Brushing your teeth should cover two minutes, but flossing each of your 32 teeth could take an additional 64 seconds. Taking your weight might add four minutes since you must remove all jewelry, hold your breath in, look at the number with one eye closed, and stand on one leg. Next, your mother was right when she told you to make your bed (one minute) even though no one (hopefully) walks into your room. Your clothes should be lying on your bed since you prepared them the previous night, so add another two minutes to that. Instead of spending ten minutes cutting up a bagel, shmearing it with something and topping it off with lettuce (buy the checked kind) and tomatoes which you’ve sliced the night before, grab a yogurt, plastic spoon, and orange, which you don’t have to wash. This will save you nine minutes (during which you can watch “Fauda”), but you will starve and salivate over your colleague’s well-prepared lunch.
All in all, Shlomo HaMelech had it right when he said, “There’s a time for everything.” Spend your time wisely on Torah and getting ready for Pesach.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
Local yeshivah bachur Aaron Rubinov is a shining example of having one’s community at heart. At his young age, he understands the impact of our communal organizations. Aaron had a tremendous impact at Queens Shmira’s campaign headquarters last week, staying on to make phone calls on each day of the fundraiser, alongside Avraham Pinkhasov, Coordinator.
At Minchah on Taanis Esther, I found Aaron at Beth Gavriel in Forest Hills, proudly wearing a Shmira vest, explaining that it was his Purim costume. In response to a call for Purim pictures for our publications, I was sent this remarkable, statement-setting photo that goes well beyond a child wearing a costume.
Shabsie Saphirstein
Community Outreach Coordinator
Queens Shmira
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank Ms. Berger for her thoughtful and respectful response to my letter. I can only relate, as told by those who use these mikvaos, that many Five Towns, Flatbush, Sefardi, and Ashkenazi mikvaos allow the nail polish. I asked a noted rav, and he explained how, and under what circumstances, it is permissible.
As for what would be accomplished by having respectful, possibly supervised, intergender meetings, the answer is simple. Boys and girls, especially those from single gender schools, could learn to relate to each other as more than just a possible future shidduch. In these group settings, they see all types of characteristics and behaviors. Some they might like, some they do not. This would allow these boys and girls to better figure out what traits and behavior, what life goals, and what view of life (aside from hashkafah) they would like to see in a future shidduch. This allows one to meet someone without the insane practice of deciding in two dates if this person is to be your spouse.
As for the disrespectful, presumptuous, insulting example of a lashon ha’ra letter by a man purporting to be a rabbi, I can only say that I have been and am a shomer Torah u’mitzvos – all 613 as given at Har Sinai, or as many as I am blessed to practice properly. I am makpid on respecting the opinion of others and dan l’chaf z’chus, even if believe they are wrong from a halachic and/or hashkafah point of view (with the exception of Neturei Karta, for whom I have no respect, as I consider them to be bogdim, son’im, and rodfim). The questions and opinions I raise are neither new nor novel; they have been expressed by Orthodox rabbanim of impeccable and unquestionable qualification. An example of such dispute between Orthodox rabbanim is the use of the eiruv in Brooklyn where prominent Orthodox rabbanim not only authorized them but helped with their establishment and maintenance. Furthermore, they used them and/or allowed their shuls to use them.
If your disgusting and childish attitude was followed by our g’dolim, Amora’im, and Tana’im Hillel and Shamai would have disrespected each other and considered each other to be apikorsim rather than learned shomrei Torah u’mitzvos who have a different understanding of the halachah.
I thank the editors for allowing this discussion, and hope you continue to allow for healthy and respectful discussions of similarly important topics.
With Ahavas Yisrael,
Samuel J Mark
West Hempstead, New York
Dear Editor:
Last week’s article “ You Can Make a Difference” made it obvious that David Weprin’s intern did not want to give his boss’ views on issues such as bail reform, which the author specifically inquired about. The question was ducked, as indicated by the intern’s response that Weprin likes to “hear all sides,” followed by more meaningless drivel.
In fact, Weprin is a supporter of “criminal justice reform”; he has voted in favor of bail reform. Further, he is quoted as stating that Raise the Age (which tries 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes, often violent in nature, as juveniles, resulting in shorter and less restrictive sentences) as “a solid law.”
It’s no surprise that Weprin’s office wouldn’t want QJL readers aware of his views on this, along with his support of other very liberal issues he faces and votes on in the Assembly. However, QJL readers deserve to know the truth.
Sincerely,
Arlene Ross
Forest Hills, New York
Dear Editor:
So, the President and his press secretary keep regurgitating that the President’s economic plan is working. Doesn’t that make you all warm and fuzzy inside? Inflation is at 40-year highs. Gas was at its highest price per gallon ever and has only come down because the administration tapped into the Strategic Petroleum Reserves. Well, now that the SPR is at its lowest level in 40+ years, expect gas prices to go back up. The price of food and heating our homes is up. Everything costs more.
Now, the President released his budget. It is a joke. He might think it will win him points politically, but careful analysis of the budget and you have to thank Hashem that Republicans have the House. We all know Mitch McConnell would fold like a cheap suit and vote for this garbage. When Biden claims “no one making less than $400,000 will pay more in taxes,” do you honestly believe that? If you do, I have a bridge to sell you. We are already paying more. Look at your monthly expenses!
He thinks it’s all about politics. Some people are living paycheck to paycheck. There are those among us who need financial assistance. Matanos la’evyonim and soon maos chitim are going to neighbors right here who are struggling to pay for food for Purim and Pesach. It’s a terrible, unfortunate thing. And the President and his stupid, lying press secretary laugh and mock.
Now we have one bank, Silicon Valley Bank, that is in serious financial trouble because of the inflation caused by the spending of the Federal government and the Fed’s money printing. I fear this will lead to a major downturn in the markets and a recession like we saw back when Carter was President. Reagan came into the Oval Office in 1981 and had serious economic advisors and individuals who wanted America and individual Americans to thrive. This President and all his cronies want to destroy America and remove all individual freedom. He mocks trickle-down economics, which led to a huge economic boom under Reagan. “Bottom up and middle out,” whatever that is, he made it up. He is for big government and Marxism. His advisors or whoever is calling the shots (Susan Rice) hates capitalism.
Take a look at your retirement plan. Are you doing better under Biden than Trump? What about if you’re on a fixed income? You for sure aren’t. So, if we just focus on economic policy and not at anything else, because we know he’s a complete disaster all over the place, anyone who actually voted for this having buyer’s remorse? Are you seriously going to vote for this to continue in 2024?
Shalom Markowitz
Dear Editor:
Fellow reader Shalom Markowitz once again critiqued Mr. Hecht without a clear grasp of the facts and then demonized the one voice of reason in the Queens Jewish Link.
Attorney General Merrick Garland is a mentch who has shown the patience of Job dealing with the twice-impeached Florida retiree. Any other attorney general would have long ago had Trump indicted for his role in leading the deadly armed seditionist domestic terrorist attack on our Capitol on January 6, 2021. Unfortunately, Shalom once again refused to back the blue when they bravely stood for Democracy, and instead sided with the murderous mob (no matter what lies Tucker Carlson puts forth to defend the indefensible).
In addition, Mr. Markowitz ignores the fact that Trump was given numerous chances to turn over the hundreds of classified documents he knowingly hid at Mar-a-Lago, in violation of the Espionage Act. Only after Trump gave our Attorney General no other alternative did a federal magistrate authorize a lawful search, which Trump made public.
Contrast that behavior with President Biden and former Vice President Pence who voluntarily gave full and prompt unfettered access to all of their papers in order to find a minuscule fraction of questionable documents. That’s why no warrants were needed for them.
Mr. Markowitz, who thankfully admits to not being a lawyer, cannot understand the difference between the primarily unarmed protesters who objected to Supreme Court “Justices” who seem to believe The Handmaid’s Tale and 1984 were how-to manuals rather than cautionary works, as opposed to armed thugs who threatened the lives of school board volunteers and elected officials in Michigan (one of whom was massively armed and was just arrested with a list of Jewish elected officials in Michigan to hunt down).
Finally, Shalom conveniently omitted the fact that Marc Houck was arrested for twice shoving down to the ground an elderly man who was trying to protect women who were trying to peacefully exercise their rights to control over their bodies. Mr. Markowitz also misstated the facts of the arrest – there was no SWAT intervention.
I’m sorry that Shalom – whose name means peace (my youngest shares that Hebrew name) – thinks calling mainstream folks Marxists is useful when we need to unite against the fascist book-bannings in Florida and Texas that our anti-fascist grandfathers fought to defeat in World War II.
David S. Pecoraro
(Still Proud) Former Vice President
Rosedale Jewish Center
Dear Editor:
Under President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and Department of Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas, over five million people illegally crossed into our nation at the southern border. Now more are attempting the same at our Canadian border.
On March 8, 1911, President William Taft sent 20,000 US Marines to the border in response to the Mexican Revolution. Why doesn’t President Biden send some of our 160,000 military, stationed abroad, 482,000 Army active duty stationed in the USA or 337,000 National Guard to both our Mexican and Canadian border? They can assist our overwhelmed US Customs and Border Patrol and local law enforcement to regain control of our borders.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
