Letters, January 21, 2011
We should hit back with a boycott of Marrickville
I HAVE recently had a robust exchange of views with Councillor Dimitrios Thanos of Marrickville Council, regarding that council’s divestment and boycott of any and all ties to Israel and its goods and services, the subject of a formal council resolution on December 14, 2010.
The councillor expressed, and this is a direct quote, “There are resident groups in Marrickville comprised of non-Muslim, non-Arabs, who have been campaigning for the decision council made.”
Accordingly, and since boycotts work both ways, I call on everyone to henceforth boycott all goods and services to come out of the Marrickville municipality, and if you deal with factories or other firms there, to tell them why.
Dr David Bornstein
Castlecrag, NSW
Criticism of Rabbi Sacks ignores his achievements
ZEDDY Lawrence’s article regarding Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (AJN 07/01) is bound to be controversial in that it focused on the public controversies without clarifying them, and minimised Rabbi Sacks’s achievements and contributions to modern Orthodox Judaism. The article trivialised the role Rabbi Sacks has played at a time when articulate leadership of the Jewish people is essential, and where the moderate position needs clear explanation.
Rabbi Sacks has led the development of a new edition of the Singer’s Siddur to rival the supremacy of the Artscroll Siddur. His commentaries on the weekly Torah portion have been illuminating and have highlighted the contemporary relevance of the Torah. His books have highlighted issues faced by Jews today with excellent explanations of his creative ideas.
Rabbi Sacks has provided leadership for the Jewish people at a time of complexity and ambiguity. He will doubtless continue his prodigious output after vacating his current post. His work to date merits a detailed analysis by your paper.
David Tofler
Doncaster, Vic
Shuls shouldn’t reveal their rabbinical candidates
JOB applications are confidential and respectful to both the candidate and the organisation in question, following the principles of privacy and confidentiality. Imagine my surprise when I read in The Australian Jewish News (14/01) about the details of the applicants who applied for the position of chief minister at St Kilda Hebrew Congregation.
Not only were the applicants’ names supplied, but also their current work experience and employer – being the shul where they are currently working – with photos to add to the applicants’ exposure. More so, imagine seeing my rabbi’s photo exposed.
Employers need to be discreet and protect this business information and the reputation of the applicants, and itself as an organisation. It is preferable to read about the successful candidate, their background and goals once employed.
Leah Shmerling
Author, Job applications: The Winning Edge
Stepping up campaign for release of Pollard
I COMMEND Dr Mat Gelman (AJN 07/01) for taking up the cause of Jonathan Pollard and providing the necessary fax number. This number was published so we could fax President Barack Obama with a request that he show clemency to Pollard who has been languishing for 23 years in jail for having spied for a very friendly ally.
I have written to every president over the years with the same request, to no avail. Now the Prime Minister of Israel has also made the request and if we reinforce it with our faxes, we may achieve our aim.
If you have not yet done so, please send a fax to President Obama with a plea to pardon Pollard. The number, once more, is 00111 202 4562 461.
Adrienne Schwartz
Darling Point, NSW
The real vultures and sharks in the Middle East
THE recent stories about “Israeli spies” are an attempt to have a propaganda blitz against Israel after everything else has failed. The latest saga is the spying. First it was sharks, then it was vultures.
It was claimed the shark that killed a swimmer in Egypt was an Israeli conspiracy against tourists. Then there was the vulture in Saudi airspace. The Saudis claimed it was Israel’s latest method of spying.
One could laugh about these false accusations if they came from any normal country, but these are not laughing matters. They stem from hatred and misguided propaganda, aimed at whipping up a fanatical, anti-Israeli, extremist mentality in the Arab world.
While the stories may make for a good film from Steven Spielberg where the main spies are sharks and vultures, in reality they show the human sharks and vultures who wish the destruction of other human beings just because they live in Israel or are Jewish.
These are the human sharks and vultures who cause so much misery. We hope that 2011 may bring the people of the world together to fight these “inhuman” beings regardless of race, colour or religion.
Tom Sinclair
Bondi Junction, NSW
Wearing our Judaism as a hat of pride
VIC Alhadeff’s article “We need to show up” (AJN 17/12) stated that each member of our community is an ambassador for the Jewish community. Alhadeff also spoke of the mandate of tikkun olam, repairing the world through good deeds and acts of kindness, and how effective this is in countering anti-Semitism.
I agree with all these comments. Actions speak louder than words, and when someone visibly Jewish is seen as a good person, then a disjoint appears between what people see and what the media says. Unless we are visible, it becomes too easy to believe the constant barrage of anti-Israel propaganda that hits us from the media.
The problem is that we aren’t often visible as Jews because we have assimilated so well. As Jews, we are invisible.
I would like to suggest a way to make us visible that has many other benefits as well. I practice this myself, and the results have been exceptional.
What I would suggest, to make ourselves visible and to help overcome our alienation, is for males among us to wear kippot in our spheres of living. Wearing a kippah needs to become a symbol of our Jewish identity, not just a symbol of religiosity. Doing this achieves many things: we become visible as Jews; we do good deeds because we are constantly aware, through the kippah, of our role in repairing the world and bringing light to it; we help to overcome anti-Semitism and grow support for Israel; we are reminded of Hashem constantly through the day, and feed our spirituality; and we become better people and role models for our kids, as we are constantly aware of our public view and adopt the highest standards of behaviour.
I suggest this not as a frum Jew (which I am far from), but as someone who feels intensely Jewish and has been looking for meaning all his life. Wearing a kippah in a number of my life’s spheres has opened up new dimensions, which so far have only produced positive results. I recommend it as a badge of identity. I’m not sure what our women can do to be visible, but am sure that suggestions in this regard will come.
For those of you who are hesitant and fearful of doing something like this, look around you when you are in a shopping centre at the Muslim women in their traditional garb. If they can do it, can’t you? Be bold, and stand up for your community and yourself.
Meyer Mussry
Frenchs Forest, NSW