An Open Letter to Rabbis and Congregants Across the USA
Dear Editor:
I hope this letter finds you all as well as can be, considering the fact that the Jewish people everywhere are fighting for our very existence. I live in Israel, and I myself have three sons and one son-in-law who have been sent to the front lines. The truth is that there is not a child in this country whose safety can be guaranteed even in his own bed. There is no need for me to elaborate. Social media has brought all these atrocities into every single home across the globe.
American Jews, and Jews worldwide, have shown an unbelievable outpouring of love and identification with all of us here in Israel. The t’filos that are being said are surely enough to storm the Gates of Heaven. The care packages that have been sent, the medical supplies, the military supplies, millions of dollars in donations, a fabulous and inspiring trip by Hatzalah members, the lists go on and on. All these efforts are tremendously helpful and appreciated by us all. We truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
So why am I writing to you at this moment? Actually, I come to you in the name of my beloved and revered father, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld zt”l – one of the greatest rabbanim in the history of American Jewry. He was one of the greatest Zionists I ever knew, in the purest sense of the word. My father taught me everything I know, and all my life I have striven to follow in his footsteps. My brother himself – Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld – carries high the torch that was lit by my father, but unfortunately health issues prevent him from doing what I must ask you all to do today. Come! Please come!
In the words of this week’s parshah, “Go for yourself from your land...to the Land that I will show you.”
G-d’s message could not be any clearer. His timing could not be any better. As a proud American Orthodox Jew living in Israel, I am puzzled that, three weeks into this milchemes mitzvah, to date there still have been no major rabbinical delegations that have come to mourn with our people, to accompany us as we bury over 1,400 of our dead, to visit the shiv’ah houses, to visit the refugees from the South who have been ravaged by war and are now spread out throughout this country, to sit with us in our bomb shelters as the sirens wail across our land, to visit the 400,000 troops who were called out of their shuls on Simchas Torah, to give us encouragement face to face – so desperately needed by us all. This is what my father would have done. He would have organized mass delegations from across the United States – fellow rabbis, community leaders, laymen, men and women, university students. He would never have taken No for an answer. “No” was not a word that featured in his lexicon. He only knew Eis la’asos laShem! That was his guiding light in life. I have recently heard that YU is beginning to organize missions like these. Have letters been sent out to all shul members encouraging them to do the same?
Next week, we will be reading Parshas Vayeira. How many Yitzchaks we have already sacrificed on our altars here? Who knows how many are still to come? We do not ask you to don the unforms of the IDF. We only ask that you come and support us while we go off to war. Please, I beg you, heed our call!
Oseh shalom bimromav, Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru Amen!
Debby Spero
Karnei Shomron, Israel
Dear Editor:
Imagine if, when Russia invaded Ukraine last year and the Ukrainians suffered heavy casualties, that President Biden told Ukrainian President Zelenskyy that this is a cycle of violence, it leads to nothing, you have a long history with them, Putin does not speak for the Russian people, and we are calling for an immediate ceasefire from you.
If you do not agree to the ceasefire and retaliate, make sure you avoid all Russian infrastructure and, of course, before you bomb Russia, make sure you notify all the Russian civilians first, and we want all your responses to the Russian attack to be proportionate as we work on a peaceful resolution. Of course, this is a ridiculous proposal, as Biden would be laughed out of Ukraine and rightfully so. Yet, this is precisely what our supposedly pro-Israel President wishes for Israel in their war against Hamas. The fact is that no war has ever ended with a “proportionate response.” That just leads to more fighting, and more death and destruction. And what exactly is a proportionate response here anyway? Should Israel go into Gaza, kill 1,500 terrorists, and then declare the mission over in the name of “proportionality?”
It is utterly offensive that Biden treats Israel as a barbaric third-world country instead of the civilized society that it is. Despite the abhorrent response of this administration, Warren Hecht wants us to believe how wonderful and supportive President Biden has been towards Israel. Please, Warren, give us a break! Take the blinders off for a second. I get that you love the Democratic Party and are always reluctant to criticize them, but you need to respect the intelligence of your readership a little more. Biden’s failed Middle East plan is the same as Obama’s: Clamp down on America’s #1 ally in the region while mollifying neighboring terror states and hope that by making nice to the terrorists, everything works out. Weakness always begets failure in the Middle East; only perceived strength is respected.
The content of Biden’s speech to the nation on Thursday was ridiculous. His emphasis on a two-state solution while Israel is in the midst of a war with a genocidal enemy, on the heels of the worst attack since the Holocaust, was politically awkward and demonstrates how completely out of touch Biden truly is. In a setting where Israel has suffered nearly 1,500 casualties, and US rallies in favor of the Hamas terror are ubiquitous, Biden’s warning to the nation of Islamophobia was especially tone deaf.
If you were serious in trying to eliminate the constant threat of Hamas and contain the conflict to Israel vs. Hamas while keeping Hezbollah on the sidelines, which scenario is more likely to deter Hezbollah from entering the fray: 1) Going soft with a proportionate response or 2) Dismantling all of Hamas and leveling all their infrastructure in Gaza? The answer is quite obvious to all except Biden, his advisors, and apparently Warren Hecht.
Doniel Behar
Biden’s Foreign Policy
Dear Editor:
For those who are still undecided whether the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese spy balloon over the US, and our open borders were an aberration, President Biden’s absurd Middle East appeasement attempts including paying terror state Iran billions of dollars and restoring aid to Palestinians, which will all end up in the hands of Hamas should confirm this President’s failed foreign policies as the worst in American history. There was a reason the international world was relatively quiet during the Trump years. For those of you still unsure why that was, or don’t understand the benefits of having America as a superpower, surely the complete meltdown of US deterrence around the world under Biden should serve as an eye-opener, as the world is a much more dangerous place now, with our feeble and feckless Commander-in-Chief at the helm.
David Pecoraro ignores all of the horrific actions and inactions of President Biden and heaps praise on him for his condemnation of the barbaric attacks perpetrated by Hamas on Israel and, seemingly on this basis alone, endorses our senile, corrupt, and wholly inept President for another term. If one were attempting to match up a fitting conclusion to the havoc Biden has unleashed on the world as well as this country, an impeachment, followed by a conviction for treason, would be a more fitting ending than four more years of this dangerous regime.
Jonathan Goldgrab
Shame and Fear
Dear Editor:
Shame and fear. Those were the two overwhelming feelings that coursed through me. Shame, in that I wanted to leave Israel during its time of need. Fear, in that I trembled whenever I heard a siren or rocket being intercepted by the Iron Dome.
Realistically, I understood that aside from helping financially, there was nothing a woman my age could do. We’re talking about a person who was too timid to cross at the crosswalk, fearing that the Israeli drivers would run her over. My daughter kept on yelling, “Cross already! They’re waiting for you!”
When it came to returning to the US, I realized that my Delta ticket was useless. My son-in-law asked me if I wanted to go to Lisbon, then Madrid, and then New York. I told him in no uncertain terms that I might as well take the Star Trek plane to outer space, and thank goodness, he was able to secure for me what seemed to be the last El Al ticket direct to New York.
What awaited me at Ben Gurion Airport was a logistics nightmare. When they tell you to arrive five hours prior to the flight, generally you laugh. However, again, thanks to my son-in-law, we arrived like Yeks (Germans) five hours earlier than the departure time and proceeded to stand on line for…five hours. El Al distributed bottles of water, and my son-in-law waited on line with me for the interminable time. Once I was finished with the line, I had to run the entire distance of the airport to board the plane. After the 12-hour flight, I felt PTSD when I saw the line for customs at JFK mirror the line at Ben Gurion, but thankfully that was only a 30-minute wait.
The bottom line is: It took me 20 years to get back to Israel. Hopefully, b’ezras Hashem, it will take me a few months to return to enjoy Pesach.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
I would like to respond to Warren Hecht and David Pecoraro. They both say that our future is with Biden and the Democratic Party and not with Trump and the Republican Party. Their argument is that things are much better with Biden than Trump. They point to the strong speech that Biden made in support of Israel to bolster their claims.
However, actions speak louder than words. As I stated previously, the Biden administration is full of Iran supporters who are funding Iran. This is an existential threat to Israel and to Jews throughout the world. [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken has stated that there is no evidence that Iran is behind the October 7 genocide. Give me a break! At this very moment, Iran is threatening to wipe out the Jews, chas v’shalom. Also, the Biden administration is putting pressure on Israel to stop their attacks. Biden has also refused to remove the boycott against Israeli companies operating beyond the green line.
The House Democrats are no better: 146 Democrats refused to sign a letter condemning Iran for their part in this massacre. Almost all of the House Democrats support funding Iran. Most of the Democrats refuse to condemn the daily blood libels coming from the “Squad.” Every time I hear Tlaib speak, my blood pressure goes up. The Democrats also support LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter. Both of these organizations support the Hamas genocide.
Warren and Pecoraro hate Trump because he does not support Iran and because he supports Israel. Anyone who votes for Biden over Trump is supporting anti-Semitism and should not call themselves Zionists.
Martin Berkowitz
Dear Editor:
The following story was related by a solider in Israel. He wrote it and emailed it to his uncle here in the US, whom I know personally.
It has been a couple weeks, but I have some time now, and I wanted to write about a neis that happened to me during those first few days of hell.
My unit was called in on Shabbos morning. No Tzav 8, no ishurim, no official order, nothing. Our brigade commander saw that the South needed a battalion to respond ASAP, and he told us to come in. Four hours later, we got on Humvees and headed straight to Kfar Aza. Our weapons had been handed to us on the spot; we had never shot them, didn’t have time to clean them, and had no idea if they worked, and the sights definitely hadn’t been zeroed in. The weapons in the Reserve units are notorious for being unreliable and usually don’t even shoot properly before a good clean, or in some cases, a visit to the armory. That is how we went into combat. We walked into the yishuv and were engaged by terrorists within the first few minutes of walking. A few minutes later, we encountered one hiding in a bush with an AK-47, waiting to ambush us. My rifle worked perfectly, firing every shot, cycling every round, hitting what I was aiming at. Not a single jam. I thanked Hashem for giving me a rifle that worked right off the bat. After three days of fighting, it was clear my rifle was in pristine condition.
On Tuesday night, we finished clearing Kfar Aza, were switched out by another battalion, and were sent up to a base so we could rest, shower, and finally clean and check our weapons. We went to the range. Immediately I got a jam. Another round, another jam. And another. They were getting worse, I had to start using the pliers on my utility knife to clear them. We ended up having to take it to the armory, so they could switch out all the internal parts – to basically rebuild it from the inside. The gun just didn’t work! It was a broken rifle. It was broken from the moment it was handed to me on Shabbos morning. But for me, in those few days in Kfar Aza, it had worked to perfection, so we could do what we needed to do. I heard similar stories from many other soldiers in our battalion. I look forward to the day when I can stand in my shul on Shabbos, at k’rias haTorah, and recite Birkas HaGomel for this miracle and the countless others that Hashem performed for us.
Hinei lo yanum v’lo yishan, shomer Yisrael!
Z.K.
An Open Letter to Jewish Leftists
Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to Mr. Pecoraro and those who share his worldview. You say you support Israel and, therefore, express strong opposition to Hamas supporters in the Democratic Party who have been elected to public office. My question is: Why now? What changed? Did Hamas’ viewpoints change? I think not. They’ve always hated Jews and have committed thousands of terrorist attacks that killed many Jews over the last several decades. Did the Hamas supporters that are currently holding elected positions in the US government change at all? There’s no evidence of that either. The only ones who have changed are you!
Now, if you were intellectually honest with yourselves, you would wonder why that is. And the answer is simple. You were okay with thousands of Jews being injured and killed over a protracted period of time. I’m not suggesting, G-d forbid, that you were in favor of it, but there was a tacit understanding of, hey, the Middle East is a dangerous region, things are complicated, there are occasional flare-ups, “cycles of violence,” “an unfortunate price for peace,” etc, etc.
Then Hamas murdered, raped, maimed, tortured, incinerated, and mutilated 1,400 people in one day, and that was too much for you to stomach. Now they’ve crossed the threshold where you feel you need to speak up. This is the viewpoint of many on the naive Left, and it reeks of ignorance of the history of Hamas and is, in my opinion, morally repugnant. Anyone who thought Hamas was ever a peace partner with their sworn commitment to wiping out all Jews, is a fool. Moreover, the tolerance shown by Jews of the political Left for all the murderous mayhem Hamas inflicted on our Jewish brothers of all political persuasions over the last 35 years is disgraceful and disrespects the memory of the victims of all of Hamas’ terrorist attacks prior to the Sh’mini Atzeres massacre of October 7.
Another fallacy of the political Left that needs to be debunked is that this is exclusively an Israel issue. Newsflash: Thanks to President Biden, the borders of this country have been open for almost three years with millions of illegal entrants pouring through. Do you not think that any militant Islamic extremists have already entered the country? Is it beyond your myopic worldviews to understand how Biden has sowed the seeds of 9/11 2.0 with his insane open-border policies?
Lastly, it was Joe Biden who relaxed sanctions on Iran that were put in place by Trump. It was Joe Biden who paid Iran billions of dollars. And it was Joe Biden who resumed US aid to Palestinians that Trump had cut in August of 2018. (For the uninitiated, Hamas steals US aid sent to Palestinians and uses it to fund families of terrorists who kill Jews in a “pay for slay” program.) Ergo, Joe Biden played a huge role in the slaughter of thousands of our fellow Jews. Offering up even the most generous take on Biden’s policies, leaves him indirectly responsible for the murder of thousands of Jews.
But consider what occurred this week: There are over 200 Jewish hostages being held for the past three weeks by the same depraved pieces of human filth that livestreamed the Nazi-style torture and the killing of 1,400 Jews in one day. And Joe Biden sends the Palestinians $100 million in aid without receiving any concessions or even mentioning the release of any of these hostages?!
When I see Mr. Pecoraro boast of his “Zionist” credentials, I am astonished how he can ignore the plight of our Jewish brothers and sisters being held in captivity and instead reach the perverted conclusion that we must support Joe Biden, the worst President in American history and certainly no friend of Israel.
Jason Stark
Dear Editor:
The US housing market is at its worst, as not many people can afford the American Dream of owning a home. In New York, the prices are especially expensive, and the mortgage rates are soaring over 5% – the highest they’ve been in four decades. The American dream of home ownership may be over if something does not change.
It is a shame that many people who grew up in New York have to leave because of the cost of living. Housing and the mortgage rates, even rents, should not be as high as they are now. Soon, only the rich will be able to afford to live in New York State and most people are not rich.
Something has to change.
Elliot K.
Dear Editor:
Warren Hecht and Former Vice President of the Rosedale Jewish Center David Pecoraro, who were both undoubtedly excited about the phony collusion charges that hung up the Trump Presidency for three years, appear to have colluded themselves in last week’s QJL, to of all things attack Donald Trump. Both appear agitated about Trump’s criticism of Netanyahu. Choosing to attack Trump while staying silent on an actual Jewish blood libel perpetrated by Democrat Rashida Tlaib speaks volumes about the priorities of both gentlemen.
Avi Goldberg
Dear Editor:
President Biden makes one good speech, and we are all to now vote for him in 2024? Just a few days later, he gave an Oval Office speech that was a mess. He is tying aid to Israel with aid to Ukraine among other things. I do not think the two wars have anything in common except Joe Biden started them. One battle is for territory, the other is for survival.
Mr. Berkowitz laid out several reasons why we should not support Democrats. I’d like to add a few more. There are nine Jewish Senators, all Democrats (Bernie Sanders is an Independent but caucuses with the Democratic Party). Have any of them called for the removal of the Hamas wing of the Democratic Party from Congress? Chuck Schumer is not only the Majority Leader, but he is also self-proclaimed “Shomer Yisrael.” I haven’t seen him publicly call for the removal of any “Squad” member from the House. There are 24 Jewish Democratic Representatives. Not one has called for the removal of any of the Jew-haters in their caucus. By the way, neither has Grace Meng, Gregory Meeks, or the Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries.
The world is on fire because Joe Biden is an appeaser. He is weak. He surrounds himself with establishment bureaucrats whose failed policies haven’t worked in the past and will continue to not work in the future. Iran saw this and took full advantage. President Biden nominated an Iran appeaser to be Ambassador to Israel. Jack Lew orchestrated the original, failed, Iran deal. Could there be a worse pick? I know he’s an Orthodox Jew, but anyone who does something like that, clearly does not have Israel’s back. China sees America’s weakness, and it is only a matter of time before Taiwan is attacked.
Our college campuses are a hotbed for Jew hatred, thanks to the Democratic Party. Look at all the pro-Hamas rallies taking place. While there are few who condemn it, there are too many who support it under “free speech.” The ADL is run by a leftist ideologue from the Obama administration. He is not a religious guy who comes to the defense of the Jewish people.
One only needs to look at a candidate’s actions prior to making a voting decision. So, while the President may have made one pro-Israel speech, that’s all nice and good. I’m still not voting for a Democrat in 2024.
Shalom Markowitz
Dear Editor:
President Biden’s call to send $100 million of your tax dollars to Gaza for humanitarian relief is naive. Gaza is governed by Hamas. They are the same terrorists responsible for the loss of 1,400 Israeli citizens murdered at the hands of Hamas. This would be the equivalent of America losing 40,000 babies, children, teenagers, adults, and seniors.
Hamas has a long history of diverting humanitarian aid for military purposes. This included building a network of 300 miles of underground tunnels in Gaza.
First things first, Hamas should release all hostages who are from Israel, the United States, and other nations around the world. Any humanitarian aid after that needs to be administered by the International Red Cross, supplemented by outside observers. This is the only way to assure that aid goes to civilians in need versus Hamas terrorists. Don’t pay for it by adding $100 million to our long-term $33.6 trillion national debt. Instead, reduce our aid to the useless pro-Palestinian United Nations by $100 million.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck, New York
Dear Governor Kathy Hochul:
We are writing to you with a heavy heart, offering our condolences on the sudden loss of your father during your solitary visit to the State of Israel while denouncing acts of terror. We commend your courageous visit to the wounded and affected areas, which served as both a statement of condemnation and as a tangible demonstration of support for Israel, the Jewish people, and the citizens of New York. Your actions have exemplified a strong commitment to combatting hate and terror in all their forms.
During this challenging time, we implore you to guide your administration in notifying the CUNY schools about the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the abuse of hiding behind the banner of freedom of speech to promote terror and intimidate students on campuses. It is vital that our educational institutions foster an environment that promotes open discourse, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue, while ensuring that the promotion of violence and hate finds no place within their walls.
Please accept our deepest condolences as well as our profound appreciation for your steadfast support in condemning acts of terror. Your dedication to the well-being and safety of all New Yorkers, regardless of their backgrounds, serves as an inspiration to us all.
Sincerely,
Duvi Honig
Founder and CEO
Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
Dear Editor:
First, as a Jewish Democrat and Zionist, I have already joined Moshe Hill in publicly condemning individuals who have supported the genocidal Hamas atrocities of October 7. These individuals deserve to be shunned by prospective employers. Democratic members of Congress who have supported lies against Israel, especially surrounding the PIJ bombing of the Gazan hospital, should be primaried by responsible Democrats.
However, after reading the unhinged remarks of fellow readers Larry Penner, Henry Moscovic, and Martin Berkowitz, I feel compelled to ask them to condemn Trump for his horrific remarks attacking Israel after the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, when he disgracefully and unforgivably called Israel weak, saying they should “strengthen themselves up.” Trump then compared Bibi to the “very weak” majority of US Jews who wisely voted to elect President Biden.
On the other hand, Joe Biden became the first US President ever to fly to Israel in wartime and met with family members who have suffered losses from the heinous Hamas attack, taking extra time to speak with each of them with his remarkable kindness and empathy that is his super power. He assured Israel that he would continue standing side-by-side with them. His steadfast support prompted Amir Tibon of Haaretz to exclaim “I met the Most Important Zionist Leader in The World – President Biden”!
After contrasting these two prospective opponents in the 2024 general election, I am forced to ask whether their blind hatred of President Biden trumps their love of Israel and America.
David S. Pecoraro
