Israel must halt settlements in capital
I am writing as a member of JSpace Canada, a progressive Zionist organization that is committed to a democratic Jewish state alongside a viable Palestinian state.
We are dismayed by the recent announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to greatly accelerate settlement expansion in east Jerusalem. This exacerbates the occupation and undermines the creation of a Palestinian state. Settlement expansion is an act of provocation and bad faith during peace talks.
If a peace treaty is not achieved soon, Israel risks losing its status as a democracy, and with that, the support of progressive Jews who cherish the values in Israel’s Declaration of Independence. It also risks leaving a legacy of war and insecurity for future generations of both Israelis and Palestinians.
We call on Israel to halt settlement construction and make a good-faith effort to achieve a just peace. We urge world leaders to take a strong position condemning actions by both Israelis and Palestinians that may undermine the success of these historic talks.
Barbara Landau
Toronto
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Intermarriage’s root cause is lack of relevance
While Rabbi Reuven Bulka utilizes the Pew Report statistics to make his point about abuse in Jewish homes, which does of course exist, he is not, I hope, suggesting that abuse is a root cause of the rising rate of intermarriage (“The elephant in the Jewish room,” The CJN, Nov. 7).
A root cause that we should be examining is the seeming lack of relevance of religion itself in our daily lives. After all, if intermarriage has risen, non-Jews as well are complicit. Religion preaches exclusivity, but fewer people are listening.
If we are concerned about a Jewish continuity that includes adherence to our religious traditions, when are our religious leaders going to recognize that what they are preaching and how they are preaching it is failing in today’s society? This, I respectfully suggest, is the real elephant in the room.
Ron Hoffman
Toronto
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Action is needed to stop intermarriage
The high intermarriage rate is threatening Jewish survival. Respectfully, I take issue with Rabbi Dow Marmur’s recommendation to “not preach against it, but do God’s will as best we can – and leave the rest to God.” (“What should we do about intermarriage?” The CJN, Oct. 31).
Taking the proactive approach, as suggested by Prof. Jack Wertheimer (whom Rabbi Marmur quotes), to have communities do a better job at organizing opportunities for socializing and by making greater efforts to encourage non-Jewish marriage partners to embrace Judaism, is at least a step toward ensuring our survival. Can we brainstorm as a community to figure out why so many Jews are opting to intermarry?
Does Rabbi Marmur have any suggestions as to how we can help people see that Judaism is a religion rich in joy, beauty and wisdom, and that maintaining Jewish continuity should be considered a top priority in our values?
Debbie Bauer
Toronto
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U.S. must not reduce sanctions
There is understandable fear in Israel and by Jews around the world that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, with his words of peace and reconciliation at the United Nations, has seduced U.S. President Barack Obama into thinking that a reasonable settlement of Iran’s nuclear ambitions is possible (“Rouhani declaration of openness to nuclear talks met with skepticism,” cjnews.com, Sept. 25).
Obama has a bad track record in his dealings with Arab and Muslim leaders. His love affair with Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood turned out to be a disaster and made it necessary for the Egyptian military to move in and remove president Mohammed Morsi.
Forcing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey’s president over the attempt to breach the Gaza blockade was again a terrible miscalculation on the part of Obama. Israel must persuade American congressional leaders not to reduce the sanctions imposed on Iran until, as a positive first step, Iran ends – subject to independent confirmation – its pursuit of atomic weapons.
Bert Raphael
Toronto