Letters (December 25, 2009)
A selection of letters published in the AJN print edition of December 25, 2009
Mazal tov also to those at non-Jewish schools
YOUR editorial, “A light unto our nation” (AJN 18/12), rightly and understandably praises the young members of our community for their scholastic achievements. You refer to them as the People of the Book. True enough.
This presents a very real opportunity for your paper to show respect, grace and leadership by recognising and acknowledging the excellent results of other hard workers and high achievers who are not students of one of our exclusively Jewish schools.
In particular, I draw your attention to the terrific results of Reddam House and Malek Fahd Islamic School, which ranked well at seven and 11 on the top 100 list as published in our daily papers.
Extending a congratulatory hand of genuine warmth would be a menschlich thing to do and would demonstrate that our community is willing to recognise others and show the hand of friendship, even to those not in the same tent.
Mike Lyons
Bondi Beach, NSW
No faith in the world faith parliament
IT is a great injustice, as Josie Lacey stated, that Jews should be snubbed or not heard at the end of an interfaith gathering (AJN 18/12), as they were at the closing of Parliament of the World’s Religions.
This is the typical story of religions today. It is a shame that we all have one God (supposedly) but we call him or her by a different name and, in the adopted God’s name, we persecute, maim and kill each other as untrue believers.
I am always sceptical if anything called “world so-and-so” really works. The biggest disappointment is the current United Nations, which was supposedly formed after World War II to help resolve problems in any region of the world. It has failed miserably.
We cannot have an interfaith friendship by locking out one of the fundamental religions in the world, no matter who is singing at the end of the conference.
Tom Sinclair
Bondi Junction, NSW
Parliamentary snub reflects a blessing
I do not believe that Jewish community leaders need be “disappointed” that they were excluded from delivering a formal blessing in the closing ceremony of the Parliament of the World’s Religions (PWR) in the company of Sikh, Buddhist and Christian representatives.
Albeit unwittingly or subconsciously, the PWR organisers were affirming a far more ancient blessing bestowed upon the Jewish nation by the non-Jewish prophet Balaam under Divine inspiration: “Behold it is a nation that dwells alone, not to be counted as just one among the other nations!” (Numbers 23:9).
Rabbi Chaim Ingram
Bondi Junction, NSW
Secular interference in Jewish law
IT appears that one of my major fears about secular interference in religious practice has been confirmed in England. The new Supreme Court has made the ridiculous decision that Jewish law is not religious law but racial law. This is a sad indictment on our society.
For a person who passionately believes that all people should be free to believe in whatever they want, I am extremely saddened to see this blatant secular interference and attempt to change religious practice.
People should have the right to think what they want and not be told how to think by “Big Brother”.
I resent being told how my religion should operate by non-Jews and people who have no qualification in the area.
Multiculturalism has its merits, but interfering in the free practice of religion has none. I am thankful that I live in Victoria, where the law still recognises freedom of religion.
Joshua D Szwarcbard
Caulfield North, Vic
Attack on Abbott lacks the facts
I THINK “perfunctory” is the reason Terry Davis (“Abbott’s entitled to his personal view” AJN 18/12) has his facts so muddled. A more detailed study of the facts about climate change are perhaps needed. Also so with regards to temporary protection visas.
In actual fact, there was an increase in numbers of people coming by boat when this policy was first introduced by the Howard government, as wives and children desperate to join family members, who were not allowed to leave Australia under this system, undertook such perilous journeys.
A reduction in people smuggling occurred around the world as people became less desperate, in part due to Afghanistan becoming more stable after the allied invasion.
Unfortunately, there are now many areas in the world where the situation has become unsafe for many of its population, for example Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. People flee these awful situations and take whatever means they can to ensure safety for themselves and their families.
It is also interesting that he has chosen to pass judgement on who is and isn’t a true refugee. A large percentage of the people arriving by boat have been proven to be refugees. The number of people attempting to come to our shores by boat are far fewer than those who come in by air — many of whom are not judged to be refugees.
Terry Davis is entitled to his views — perhaps he should acquaint himself with the facts before he criticises another letter writer.
Beverley Garlick
Double Bay, NSW
Failings of temporary protection visas
Terry Davis (AJN 18/12) writes: “Temporary protection visas (TPVs) worked very well. They were part of a policy that stopped backdoor immigration‚Ķ”
Let’s consider the facts. TPV holders were unable to sponsor family members to join them. As a result, these TPV holders were forced to put their lives on hold. Wives and children were impelled to undertake hazardous voyages in leaky boats in order to be reunited with their breadwinner in Australia and in October 2001, 353 such people on the SIEVX drowned.
Petro Georgiou, Liberal MP for Kooyong, has described TPVs as a cruel response to legitimate refugees and has pointed out that when TPVs were introduced in 1999 they were ineffective in stopping the flow of unauthorised arrivals.
Moreover, the failure of the TPV policy to achieve its objective is demonstrated by the fact that during the period of its operation only 3 per cent of TPV holders returned to their country of origin. The other 97 per cent were punished for no valid reason.
Robin Rothfield
Fairfield, VIC
Biblical resonance of Korman’s Auschwitz art
I WISH to respond to the letters about Jane Korman’s work of art Dancing Auschwitz (AJN 04/12, 18/12).
I have seen her work and each time (about eight now) I see the film of the song and dance I am moved to tears -— tears that keep coming.
There is something profound in the juxtaposition of the song with its strong rhythm, compelling me to want to dance with it, and the absolute horror of the places where the song and dance are filmed -— even as I write this the tears come.
I’m also compelled to keep watching this film over and over —- somehow to take in the awfulness and the joy, two emotions seemingly apart but always linked in our journey of living.
I am not Jewish. I have always had Jewish friends and been aware of the horrors of the Holocaust.
I teach the stories of the Hebrew scriptures to primary-school children and in the telling of the story of the exodus, as the people move through to freedom the words are “look at the people of God. They are doing different things to show how they feel … when all the people of God passed through, the water closed … and they were safe. They were free. The people of God were so happy they were free they just had to thank God. So they sang their thanks, and Miriam the prophet led the dancing.”
When I saw Jane’s film I thought “this is the Jewish story -— the story of the Jewish faith with song and dance the response to freedom -— even 65 years later.” How profound is that!
I honour other people’s response to this work as every response to art is one’s own, and valid.
I believe it absolutely honours the horrors of Auschwitz and the power of love, hope and courage that can free people from bondage to a past.
Georgie Stubbs
Mount Martha, Vic
Yonath’s prize is a source of great pride
THE first Israeli woman to win the Nobel Prize (for chemistry, in this case) is Professor Ada Yonath, becoming the ninth Israeli Nobel laureate, the first woman from the Middle East to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences and the first woman in 45 years to win the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.
The State of Israel, in relation to its population, has now won more Nobel Prizes than any other country. There is also a disproportionate relationship given the number of Jews in the world.
“This is a great blessing and honour for the Jewish people and the State of Israel” (in the words of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu). This marvellous achievement indicates the thirst for learning and fierce desire for the progress of the Jewish people.
Eddie Moses
Caulfield South, Vic
CDP Israel support makes no difference
I REFER to your article “Survey Slammed on Election Eve” (AJN 04/12). Being a former resident of the Bradfield electorate, I was interested to read about the Christian Democratic Party’s (CDP) survey. I strongly objected, however, to the tone of the final paragraph of the article.
By stating that despite the CDP’s racist pamphlet, “nevertheless, it has been unfailing in its support for the State of Israel”, The AJN has lent legitimacy to the CDP’s actions. “They circulated a racist pamphlet, but they still support Israel so they can’t be that bad” … I sincerely hope that none of my fellow members of the Jewish community are naive enough to reason in this way. Surely we’ve all learnt by now that racism in any form does not bode well for any of us?
Cygal Pellach
St Kilda East, Vic
Support for public Chanukah parties
SAM Lipski is correct in asserting that Chabad is the driving force behind public menorah-lightings in this country (AJN 11/12).
While praising the good work of Chabad in general, Mr Lipski suggests that these public celebrations may cause embarrassment. In response to that suggestion, I think it would be informative for The AJN readership to know what The Hon David Clarke MP, a gentile Member of the Legislative Council of NSW Parliament, said during an official session of Parliament a couple of weeks ago.
“Earlier this week our Parliament celebrated for the first time an event that has been a tradition for more than 2200 years … It is the celebration of the universal triumph of light over darkness, freedom over oppression and good over evil.
“These concepts are certainly worthwhile celebrating, and that is why it was good to see Chanukah being celebrated in our Parliament … Following the formal ceremony, Rabbi Feldman presented to the Parliament a solid silver menorah to be held by it in perpetuity so as to serve not only as a symbol of the good values that Chanukah has come to represent, but also as a sign of respect by the Jewish community for the values of freedom and decency, which our democratic Parliament upholds.
“I am honoured to be able to have recorded in Hansard these reflections on the first-ever Chanukah celebration held in this Parliament, as well as the positive and uplifting message that it represents, not only for our Jewish community, but also for those like me who come from a non-Jewish background.”
Rabbi Pinchus Feldman
Dean and spiritual leader, The Yeshiva Centre —- Chabad NSW Headquarters
Tribute to former FAJEX president
ON behalf of my association, I wish to extend our sympathy to the family and friends of the late Lieutenant Commander Frank Albert Slutzkin, VRD, who was not only a past president of the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women (VAJEX) but also a past president of our association, Federation of Jewish Ex-Service Associations (FAJEX).
Though I did not have the pleasure of knowing Frank Slutzkin personally, for years I have heard stories of his dedication and leadership of these ex-service organisations and of the wonderful voluntary work he did for the community.
Men of the calibre of Frank Slutzkin are few and far between, and I am sure he will be fondly remembered and missed by so many, especially in the state of Victoria.
Wesley Browne
President, FAJEX
Welfare fund in need of support
I AM writing this letter as we all know what a difficult time people are going through in this economic climate. In fact, it is worse than we all think. The Yeshiva Welfare Fund helps so many people and it is all done with absolute kindness and caring. They even take from there own pockets when the tzedakah is low and there are families in desperate need of help.
I personally know of a family of migrants that can get no government support, the husband lost his job and they had no money for food or rent. The Yeshiva Welfare Fund was the only organisation that arranged thousands of dollars of donations and loans to save this family.
This welfare fund is in desperate need of funds right now as they have so many people that they are helping and have to help. If we as a community don’t step in and help, then what will happen to all these families that have lost their homes, their jobs and need food to feed their families. The Yeshiva Welfare Fund is what gives families hope that they will be able to survive during tough times.
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.yeshiva.org.au.
Sherrey Sacks
Sydney, NSW
If you would like to submit a letter, email letters@jewishnews.net.au
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