Week of Nov. 27. 2014

The new sheriff in town

Kol Hakavod to David Nitkin, Donald Carr and all the wonderful volunteers who are “gunning for the bad guys,” legally that is (“New group to employ ‘lawfare’ in support of Israel,” Nov. 13). Finally, a group who will speak for us and all Canadians against the groups who seem to have had the freedom to promote their hateful agenda against our Canadian values and the Jewish community.

Judy Schwartz
Burlington, Ont. 

Prayer on the Temple Mount

The question “Should Jews pray at the Temple Mount?,” (Nov. 13), should be rephrased: why shouldn’t Jews pray at the Temple Mount?

Rabbi Yehuda Glick had it right, but paid a heavy price for pointing out the truth: being severely wounded in yet another Islamist attack on Jews. To twist the question to satisfy the Islamist narrative and to cower to terrorists who insist that all of Israel is theirs, including the holiest Jewish sites, reveals their belief that there is no place for Jews on the face of the earth. There is no reason why Jews ought to help their propaganda along by giving any consideration to their genocidal demands.

Gary Gerofsky
Dundas, Ont.

Anger on the Temple Mount

The mind boggles. Elka Saadon sent her son to the Temple Mount with Rabbi Yehuda Glick, but she was sublimely ignorant of the possible risk involved (“Religious Israelis divided on the Temple Mount,” Nov. 20). 

She has lived in Israel for 17 years, but she remains blindingly ignorant of the Arab history of the site. She also ignores that the “other” might have their own point of view, not to mention the agreements with Jordan regarding the site, which the article also ignores. Saadon is a perfect reflection of the mindset of some Israelis – full of its own needs, justifications and anger, yet willing to assert that ideas which explain the conflict should remain unknown. With that one-sided perception, she sends her son so that he will not be among the “passive.”

The article seems to want to present the religious in a good light. But what it really shows is that having adherents with a one-sided view is precisely why men like Likud MK Moshe Feiglin can succeed in triggering a violent reaction by demanding a change in the status quo and strutting on the Temple Mount. Have we all forgotten the trigger that Ariel Sharon’s visit was and the intifadah that followed? Clearly Saadon doesn’t want to know it, but certainly Feiglin does. Ignorance is useful to those who wish to set fires. 

Shelley Corrin
Montreal

The price of Judaism

My Jewish education rests on two pillars. The first is Rabbi Hillel’s injunction: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary, now go and study.” The second is “justice, justice shall you pursue.” This is why Rabbi Jay Kelman’s article  “We need not price Jews out of Judaism,” (Nov. 13), where he acknowledges this is actually happening in some portions of the Orthodox sphere, broke my heart. 

The idea of refusing a convert to Judaism on the basis that if they cannot afford the fees surrounding conversion, how will they afford kosher food or Jewish parochial schools, makes a mockery of what I believe Judaism to be. The inordinate emphasis on money in the Jewish community is an ongoing problem and a disgrace.

Beverly Akerman
Montreal

Remembering the war

The stories of Jewish service in the wars were touching and a needed remembrance (Nov. 6). As a young boy, my war consisted of watching my dad don his Air Raid Warden helmet, armband and flashlight to challenge the night, and listening to the plans and concerns of the adults hanging around his pharmacy at Harbord Street and Montrose Avenue. 

My war was thrilling at the tales of cousins Milt (RCAF) and Jack Pollock (Royal Canadian Navy). The CJN has done a great service to the lives and memory of those brave young Jewish men who stood up for Canada in two world wars.

Bernard Goldman
Toronto