Dear Editor:
Many traveled to Washington on November 13 for the long overdue mass demonstration in support of Israel’s battle for survival against Palestinian barbarism. But the question remains: What else can we do?
Make no mistake, the Palestinians and their allies are waging a very successful war right here in New York. It’s a war for public opinion, which is equally crucial for Israel’s survival. In New York, the Jewish community greatly outnumbers the ever-growing Muslim community, yet the anti-Israel forces have completely dominated the public opinion war. They had the audacity to demonstrate against Israel literally the day after the most horrific attack against Jews since the Holocaust. Instead of fighting back, with visible displays of support for our brethren in Israel, we’ve largely been completely complacent.
When the conflict between Russia and Ukraine began, the city was inundated with displays of support for Ukraine. The sight of Ukrainian Flags, while driving around the city, became commonplace. They were all over the place, in home windows, bumper stickers, etc. Why aren’t there visible of support of Israel, all over our Queens Jewish neighborhoods? Why isn’t there an Israeli flag or some other sign of support in every home window? Why are Jewish businesses on the heavily traveled major arteries, like Main Street, Union Turnpike, Kissena Blvd., etc., afraid to fly an Israeli flag? Why are we the ones who are scared to show our support for Israel’s right to defend herself? Why are we allowing the anti-Semites to go unchallenged as they spread lies and hate?
Make no mistake, the world views silence as consent and our barren windows, in our homes, store fronts and cars, is tantamount to silence. Many non-Jews drive down our streets. Why do we make it appear, like we are the ones who need to hide, while terror supporting “pro-Palestinians” brazenly demonstrate all over the city? Those of us who traveled to Washington did so at great sacrifice, but let’s not neglect to fight on our home front, as well. Displays of support, in front of our homes and businesses, as well as on our cars, are virtually effortless and go a long way to forge public opinion going forward.
Mark Gruenbaum
Dear Editor:
A question contemplated by many is why so many people stayed silent during the horrors of the Holocaust. Given the recent rise in anti-Semitism within this country, it’s worth examining this very question within the modern landscape we exist in today. Why aren’t all Americans defending Jews against the surge of anti-Semitism that has taken place?
Imagine, for instance, that you’re a gentile living in one of the flyover states. You are a patriotic American enjoying your life for the most part. You do not interact with any Jews on a daily basis. In fact, you may have gone through life having never met a Jewish person. You do not harbor any overtly anti-Jewish feelings within your heart. All you know about Jews is what you see on TV and what you read online.
You have enjoyed living in this country for decades, so you are disturbed by the recent changes that have changed the very fabric of this once great country. You have seen your spending power drop precipitously because of the rise of inflation, yet you keep seeing our Jewish Secretary of the Treasury smiling on TV, telling us how inflation has been in decline for months, thanks to fiscal policy deemed “Bidenomics.”
You do not particularly care for gay marriage, preferred pronouns, or abortion on demand, yet you can’t help but notice that the Majority Leader of the United States Senate with a distinctly Jewish last name is heading the political party that is pushing all these wretched ideas on the public.
For decades, you enjoyed the fact that this country was the “Land of the Free.” However, in the last few years you noticed the Jewish United States Attorney General weaponizing the Department of Justice numerous times against those who are deemed enemies of the ruling political party.
You liked the country the way it was and are opposed to illegal immigration and open borders. Therefore, you find it extremely disturbing that the Jewish Secretary of Homeland Security has intentionally left the Southern border open, allowing millions of unvetted foreigners who have no interest in assimilating into American culture, pouring through for the past three years. Some of these infiltrators include the very same terrorists chanting “From the River to the Sea” and other menacing threats to Jews in the United States.
Then you do a Google search and realize that 75% of Jews voted for the political party that inflicted all these horrible policies on the United States. And we wonder why ordinary gentiles aren’t running to stand with Jewish people in our time of need?!
Doniel Behar
Dear Editor:
I would like to respond to Warren Hecht and David Pecaro. These people are representative of Jews who say they support Israel and the Jewish people but vote for the radical Democratic Party. Many of these leftists argue that they care about human rights, and therefore they give their support for left-wing Democrats who support BLM and LGBT. The problem is that the Democratic Party is at war with Torah values.
In Parshas Noach, Hashem destroyed the world because of these immoral practices that the Democratic Party enthusiastically embraces. Hashem has demonstrated to us what happens when one uses his own moral compass instead of following the Torah. This LGBT farce, which is supposed to support human rights, actually supports Hamas and genocide of the Jews. LGBT spits on Torah values and define marriage as anything that makes people happy. There is no happiness without the Torah. Now these LGBT activists say that murdering Jews is okay.
BLM, which is supposed to be against racism, praises the October 7 genocide. The Democrats overwhelmingly voted against the censure of Tlaib after she called for the extermination of Israel. Left-wing Jews such as Warren and David Pecaro simply don’t care. They support what feels right to them, not what the Torah says. These Leftists claim that it is important to be free to explore whatever perversion feels good at the moment.
There is no freedom without the moral structure of the Torah. Society cannot survive without Torah values. The breakdown of this country and other civilizations who spat on Torah values is all the proof you need. I implore those left-wing Jews to support Torah values and get out of the darkness.
Martin Berkowitz
Dear Editor:
This letter is addressed to Warren Hecht.
Mr. Hecht, I often read your articles, and there was one line at the end of this week’s article that rubbed me the wrong way. “It would be interesting to hear from the usual critics as to what they have done. How many of them have been at a rally, given charity...”
Look, there are people who disagree with your political opinions, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t davening, saying T’hilim, etc. You’re right that people often play “color war” when it comes to politics, but I assume everyone in klal Yisrael is davening/doing good deeds for the z’chus of our brothers and sisters in Israel. I feel like that was a tad divisive and uncalled for.
Also, I, and perhaps many others, would take your criticism of Republicans more seriously if you called out the problems with the Democrats, as well. In an earlier article, you said now’s not the time for “cheap shots” at Biden. But I think it’s fair to say that, baruch Hashem, while he’s largely been supportive of Israel, you can also criticize the fact that he gave $6 billion to Iran and was showing weakness before all this occurred (Afghanistan, bending over backwards to try to make a new Iran deal, etc.).
My main point is, while you’re right that we should be supportive of and applaud politicians who support Israel (even when we may disagree with them about many other things), it’s not all black and white. It should never be “Oh, Biden/Trump did something pro-Israel, so they’re always right and always labeled as pro-Israel.” Just like you’re correct that Trump said something foolish when he called Hamas smart, there’s nothing wrong with criticizing Biden for the things he’s been saying that are also not in Israel’s interest.
For example, his Oval Office speech spoke way too much about Ukraine, a war that has nothing to do with the situation in Israel now, and shows weakness, in my opinion. Furthermore, in that speech and onward, he and his administration talk about “Islamophobia” when there’s been a large increase of anti-Semitism and not Islamophobia. His administration is cheapening the issue.
But the worst part is that Biden has routinely been pressuring Israel to do a “humanitarian pause” (aka short cease-fire) which won’t be in the interest of the war effort (gives time for Hamas). Furthermore, Biden won’t stop talking about the only way to solve this is a “two-state solution.” Two problems with that: 1) Israel belongs to us; 2) How do you make a deal with someone who wants to literally mass genocide all of your people?
And finally, [Secretary of State Antony] Blinken met with [Mahmoud] Abbas of the PA, and the Biden administration wants him to take charge of Gaza after Israel, b’ezras Hashem, wins. That’s the same man who’s a Holocaust denier and pays martyrs’ families for murdering innocent Jews. I assume Biden and his team aren’t stupid and do this because of all the pressure they get from their base (in fact, Bibi in his biography wrote how Biden in a 2021 battle, told him something along the lines of “Listen, I’m getting a lot of pressure to get you to have a cease fire”).
So, with all due respect, I’m not sure why sure why you’re being so gung ho about the premise that Biden is pro-Israel with zero criticism about him, and then say that the conservatives should be more upset about certain mistakes that Republicans are making in regard to Israel. He absolutely should be applauded for all the good pro-Israel things, but he should also be attacked for all the bad he does for Israel. By the way, I agree 100 percent that many on the right do the same with Trump and other Republicans. They should be called out when they’re wrong. I’m just saying that I think people would take you more seriously if you also mention the mistakes that even Biden is making (not just Tlaib and Omar). I feel like just as they’re hesitant to attack Republicans, you seem to be more hesitant to attack democrats.
In a similar respect, it did look ironic to see you write, “This isn’t the time for cheap shots at Biden,” and then immediately proceeded to take shots at Trump. Is it time to attack politicians or not? I think shots at Biden are more substantial now, considering he’s actually President and controls US policy. Also, while Trump said something really stupid then, it’s hard to ignore that he’s been objectively the most pro-Israel president just because he said one ridiculous line (and to be fair, while in poor taste to call true evil “smart,” they had to have at least a certain level of IQ to come up with their sick plan).
Phew! Sorry about the long message, but I’ve been meaning to write to you for the last couple of weeks but didn’t get around to it. That “T’hilim” line spurred me into action. Wow! Props for writing so much every week, this takes a while! I just wanted to add, absolutely no hard feelings here, Mr. Hecht; we can agree to disagree, but I just wanted to share an alternative perspective. I don’t like seeing some of the hate mail you get, and I respect you for being okay with all the attacks nonetheless. At the end of the day, Hashem runs the world, and politics are largely sports in my opinion.
Enjoy your week!
D.K.
Dear Editor:
Why, Warren, why? You start off your recent article so nicely and positively by talking first about your bar mitzvah and having grown up. You push for Jewish unity and its importance, especially now (a point with which I agree wholeheartedly), and then your article makes a sharp turn and gets lost in the weeds of double standards, half-truths, and misrepresentation – specialties of your favorite political party.
Does the fact that some people express criticism of your Democrat, self-anointed “most prestigious Jew in the land” friend mean that they don’t appreciate his supportive words or the support of Torres, Fetterman, or Adams? I don’t know about you, but in the (primarily) conservative circles that I frequent, I hear much appreciation being expressed for them. In fact, I and a number of colleagues have sent emails and called their offices expressing our thanks. Surely a bit of you judging others favorably wouldn’t hurt our achdus! And in that spirit of bipartisan unity which you tout so adamantly, yet seem sorely challenged to uphold, I ask you, how did you express your appreciation to Marjorie Taylor Greene for her strong support of Israel? It’s funny that you failed to mention that in your article.
You point out how Mike Johnson is attempting to tie Israel aid to the IRS reduction and ask us (correctly, I admit) why there isn’t criticism of him, but then claim, with the skills of one adept at false equivalencies, that your “most prestigious Jew” compatriot, however, is “pushing for funding.” Really, Warren? Is Schumer’s insisting that the Israel aid bill instead be tied to Ukraine aid that much better?
Please spare us your empty rhetoric that you yourself don’t follow. Please spare us your unabashed partisanship on behalf of a party rife with woke nonsense, anti-Semitism, and support for mindless, hateful masses. Please spare us your presumptions, half-truths, and conveniently crafted false equivalence. Your call for unity is wonderful. Let QJL readers know when you’re ready to lead by example.
E. Azulai
Dear Editor:
S.A.D. – I know this sounds like the general mood, but it’s really Seasonal Affective Disorder. That’s what occurs when we turn the clocks and fall back one hour. Darkness envelops us, but we have to break through and extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone.
What do I mean by that? Of course, stretching the dollar and donating to the numerous tz’dakos in Israel is vital. However, there is something we can physically do, as well. We can fight the 2023 version of Kristallnacht. It’s been 85 years since that horrific night, and if anyone naively believes it can’t happen here, look at the gematria of “poh” – (here in Hebrew) 85.
If you think I’m all talk but no action, I signed up for the rally in Washington. Believe me, I’m not the 12-year-old who went to a similar rally in Washington during the Six-Day War. Nowadays, it’s difficult for me to take the subway to Manhattan.
Now that the rally is over, though, I must extend my gratitude to those at the Young Israel of Queens Valley who worked tirelessly to make sure that the passengers on board the five buses to Washington got there safely and sated. Also, thanks go to the donors who paid for the numerous meals and snacks that were provided to us, as well as our receiving free Metro cards for the subway in Washington. Finally, my hat’s off to the incredible bus drivers who miraculously made the long journey (5-6 hours) to Washington seem seamless.
I feel I was zocheh to be part of the rally, and I especially admired those who attended the rally in wheelchairs and walkers. I feel as if Moshe Rabbeinu’s arms were lifted, and they gave each of us attendees chizuk and bitachon.
Debbie Horowitz
Dear Editor:
The ADL does not deserve praise for standing up to anti-Semitism. That’s its mission. Abe Foxman was a Holocaust survivor who understood the fight. However, since Mr. Greenblatt, who worked in the anti-Semitic Obama administration took over as CEO, the organization has become a progressive, left-wing political activist organization. This means that they are fair game when it comes to criticism. On their own website, it says, “ADL has long fought in the US and abroad to advance LGBTQ+ equity, encouraging legislation that protects individuals’ rights and providing education resources that make schools, workplaces and communities more welcoming and inclusive.” That is not a Jewish value. It is antithetical to the Torah, and it has nothing to do with their mission statement of stopping the defamation of all Jews.
Some Democrats, to be fair, have been very outspoken and pro-Israel. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania has been a pleasant surprise, despite our political differences on almost every issue. However, he, like our very own Senator Chuck Schumer, voted against the stand-alone Israel aid package passed in a bipartisan in the House. So out of one side of their mouth, they stand for Israel. On the other, no Israel aid! It’s all politics, all the time with the Democrats. When will the Jews who are left in the Democratic Party going to open their eyes?
I agree with Mr. Hecht. We have to stand with Israel and support it in its time of need. We are davening. We are giving tz’dakah to organizations that can help with those who have been displaced in the south and the north due to rocket fire. We are doing what we can to help the war effort. We are part of organizations that are doing solidarity missions to Israel. But I’m not going to praise Senator Schumer for showing up to the National Mall, scream into a microphone and then go back to the Capitol and kill a bill as Senate Majority Leader, which was vital to the safety and security of Israel. Not going to happen.
Shalom Markowitz
Dear Editor:
The photo of a NYC Transit Bus with the destination sign “Not In Service” says it all. It was published in separate news stories on migrants not wanting to stay at the new Floyd Bennett Field shelter in both the New York Post and New York Daily News on November 13.
The MTA has been incurring costs for two years, most recently to Floyd Bennett Field, using newer buses to move migrants around town. Who is paying for the drivers’ salaries, fueling, maintenance, washing, and interior cleaning? It costs NYC Transit $218 per hour to run each bus. These buses are also accumulating mileage, adding to straight-line depreciation of the equipment value. How many buses are being used daily? Are commuters being deprived of this newer equipment?
Why doesn’t NYC Transit use older buses out of the spare or reserve fleets instead? Are any of the buses funded by the Federal Transit Administration? If so, prior approval by FTA is required when equipment is used for incidental use such as this, rather than open door service available to the general public. The MTA or United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, City, or State Comptroller should look into this waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars on behalf of commuters.
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Dear Editor:
I would like to publicly thank the Young Israel of Queens Valley for arranging the bus caravan to the March for Israel in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, November 14. I know it was not an easy job to coordinate a five-bus caravan. (And I know it could have been more if buses were available.) They provided food for the buses, as well. (This did turn out to be necessary, as there was no food available at FedEx Field – all the food vendors went to RFK Stadium.) And there was no food available on the National Mall either.
I want to thank them for opening up the buses to the entire community, and allowed anyone who was able to register in time to go (I know there was a quick turnaround and tickets sold fast) and not just their shul members. Our community is stronger when we are united and able to do things as a community. It was truly a sight to be in from of the YIQV on Tuesday morning and see lots of people heading down to Washington DC. Yashar koach!
Howard Schoenfeld
Dear Editor:
Tuesday’s mass pro-Israel gathering in Washington drew nearly 300,000 people and, baruch Hashem, was a huge success. Jews of various denominations, as well as many non-Jews, came together to show love and support for the besieged Jewish state. And, unlike the numerous pro-Hamas gatherings that we have seen during the past few weeks, the event in DC was extremely peaceful.
Nobody attempted to scale the White House fence, nobody burned any Palestinian flags, nobody called for the annihilation of the Palestinians, nobody defaced public property, nobody held up signs with expletives on them, cursing our country or president, and (I believe) nobody was arrested.
The gathering was a huge kiddush Hashem, with one unfortunate exception – the presence of Neturei Karta. There they were, those vile people who dress like chareidi Jews but are anything but religious, spewing their hateful venom for the whole world to see. Many non-Jews see them and say to themselves, “Gee, these guys who look like Orthodox Jews hate Israel, so it’s okay for me to hate Israel, too.” How vile is Neturei Karta? Even the fervently anti-Zionist Satmar chasidim have come out against Neturei Karta and their hateful rhetoric. Neturei Karta is as big a threat to Jews and Israel as is Hamas.
Barry Koppel
Kew Gardens Hills, New York
Dear Editor:
I wish to express my deep concern regarding Representative Grace Meng’s recent justification for voting against the censure of Representative Rashida Tlaib. Unlike her Democratic colleagues, Ritchie Torres and Dan Goldman, who stood against anti-Semitism and incitement, Meng chose to support Tlaib. Meng’s explanation that the censure would be ineffective due to Tlaib’s re-election prospects rings hollow, given her past support for symbolic votes against Republicans who easily secured re-election. She also could have abstained, but she chose to vote in defense of Tlaib instead.
Meng’s pattern of prioritizing party over community is evident in her history. In 2020, she actively supported Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez against a primary challenger, stating that her allegiance was to re-electing all elected Democrats (including primaries), regardless of who they were. Similarly, in 2022, Meng aided Ilhan Omar in defeating a primary challenger, helping that anti-Semite keep her seat. Moreover, Meng was the architect behind the 2019 dilution of a motion condemning Omar’s anti-Semitism to a farce. This raises serious questions about her commitment to standing up against hatred within her own party.
While Meng once stood against her party on issues like the Iran deal, she has transformed into a party-first politician as she has risen in the ranks of the DNC. Her opposition to School Choice and protection of anti-Semitic figures like AOC, Omar, and Tlaib. But even on basic Israel issues, she has shifted her views to support for a two-state solution on the 1967 lines with land swaps, falling in line with the party leadership, not our community. In contrast, last election, Republican Tom Zmich demonstrated a pro-Israel stance, favoring Jewish communities over the Green Line, the use of the terms Judea and Samaria over “West Bank,” and opposing US interference in Israel’s decisions.
It is disheartening to witness Meng’s selective allegiance, being a friend to the community only when convenient. Her associations with AOC, Omar, and Tlaib, coupled with a history of voting against community interests, raise doubts about her commitment to representing our values. The Mishnah in Avos 2:3 warns: “Beware of Government Officials, for they do not befriend a person except for their own needs; they seem like friends when it is to their own interest, but they do not stand by a man in the hour of his distress” – an apt description of Meng’s behavior.
Furthermore, the entanglement of corrupt special interests in our neighborhood is alarming. Individuals protecting their personal political power and connections, many who own businesses reliant on government contracts and funds, stand to lose if Meng or other Democrats are not in power. This compromise of community interests for personal gain is unacceptable. They are defending Meng on this, like they defend other Democrats when it harms our community, to protect their wallets and personal interest.
As the upcoming elections approach, it is crucial for our community to hold Meng accountable. We must consider candidates who prioritize our values over party loyalty, such as a Ritchie Torres-type Democratic ally or a Republican. It is time to break free from the influence of corrupt special interests and elect representatives who genuinely serve the best interests of our community.
Mike A.
Dear Editor:
Mainstream America was a bit slow to catch on to the Big Pharma sham they pulled off in 2021 with their Covid “vaccines.” For those with short memories, the “vaccine” was released in record time, and we were informed that it had an efficacy rate in the high 90s with no safety issues. Case closed. On the basis of this information that we now know is an outright lie, the government started instituting “vaccine” mandates.
Well, Rasmussen polling released a survey last week with some interesting findings.: 24% of respondents said they knew someone who was killed by the Covid “vaccine,” and 42% said it was somewhat likely or very likely they would join a major class-action lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies for vaccine side effects.
When one extrapolates out the 24% number, it leads to a finding of hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by the Covid “vaccine.”
When the 42% number is extrapolated, it brings with it the potential for the largest class action in US history by a long shot.
Given these stunning numbers, you can be sure legal minds are working overtime to find a loophole around the blanket immunity the government gave the pharmaceutical companies for producing the “vaccine” that has caused so much damage to Americans that previously trusted their government. Stay tuned!
Jason Stark
Dear Editor:
Three recent high profile hate crimes occurred in various parts of the country:
On October 16, a Muslim boy named Wadea Al-Fayoume was murdered, and his mother injured, by their white landlord in Chicago.
On November 5, a Jewish man named Paul Kessler attended a protest in Los Angeles, where a Palestinian protester hit him over the head with a megaphone; he fell back and hit his head on the concrete. He died a day later from blunt force trauma.
On November 6, Ruba Almaghtheh, a not-too-bright Indiana woman, intentionally drove her car into a building used by Black Hebrew Israelites when she mistakenly thought they were a Jewish group.
President Biden publicly condemned only one of these incidents. Unsurprisingly, only the murder of the Muslim boy was deemed a “horrific act of hate.” The other two incidents didn’t warrant a comment from the White House. The silence coming out of the White House regarding violence against Jews is despicable but not surprising at all. Democrats have sold out their Jewish supporters in favor of anyone else higher on the intersectional credentials than Jews.
Avi Goldberg
Dear Editor:
Republicans have lost or underperformed every election year since 2016. One of the major factors contributing to these losses is the Republican position on abortion vs. the public’s view of abortion. Regardless of how we as religious people feel about it, Americans have made their feelings abundantly clear: They love it! Red states, which Trump dominates in Presidential elections, voted Democrats into office last week because of concerns that Republicans would restrict abortion. It’s about time Republicans get in sync with the American public on this issue and drop their pro-life stances so they can stop this evil Democratic Party runaway freight train that has dominated politics since 2016.
No one is forcing anyone to get an abortion. If you oppose it on moral grounds, well fantastic, don’t get one. But please, Republicans: Drop the issue; it’s an absolute loser for you.
Jonathan Goldgrab
