Letters (January 8, 2010)

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A selection of letters published in the AJN print edition of January 8, 2010

Apology from Carter doesn’t ring true

One can only be sceptical about former US President Jimmy Carter’s request for forgiveness from the Jewish world for any offense he “may” have caused.

For the last few years, Carter has forged a career out of universally blaming Israel for the propagation of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and has further insulted the Jewish community by writing a book equating Israel’s policies with apartheid; a book replete with factual errors and versions of events that have been disputed by other people present at the time.

Carter has extensive financial connections to Arab money, particularly from Saudi Arabia, and has also intimated that US foreign policy has been unduly influenced by Jewish interests.

And here at home we have Carter’s protege in our own former prime minister Malcolm Fraser who asserts that Israel is at fault for not talking to Hamas, an organisation that as recently as last month declared that violence emanating from Gaza was only the beginning and that it wouldn’t stop until “all of Palestine is liberated”. You have to wonder if he has even read the Hamas charter.

It is difficult to observe these former leaders without being cynical. Is the issue that they miss the trappings of power so much that they seek any path available to return to the world stage? Or is it simply more mercenary than ideological, and that perhaps being funded by overseas interests prompts them to advocate a particular policy?

I don’t buy Jimmy Carter’s apology for a minute, and he will have to do a lot more than offer a folksy “al het” to redeem himself in the eyes of the Jewish world.

Alan Freedman
East St Kilda, VIC

Don’t overlook positives of faith parliament

I was very concerned on reading the article by Lexi Landsman (AJN 18/12), that our community’s impressions of the Parliament of the World’s Religions would be influenced by one negative piece.

As a member of the Community Relations Committee of the parliament and a hands-on volunteer before and during the week-long event, I felt that the parliament held very positive experiences for the many members of the Jewish community who attended.

While it was disappointing that a Jewish faith leader was not included in the closing ceremony, the strong contribution by many high-calibre Jewish speakers, both local and international, was outstanding. The parliament offered a unique opportunity for us to meet and listen to people from a wide range of faiths and from all corners of the world.

Those involved could engage in meaningful debate with people of other faiths on interfaith issues and on global issues that affect people of all faiths, as well as those who consider themselves secular; issues such as poverty, human rights abuses and the environment.

Jewish speakers presented as very rational, compassionate people who are making a strong contribution to interfaith relations worldwide and working for peace. A Jewish presence was very evident in the many panel discussions that took place, especially in the main plenary hall. Important connections with people of other faiths were initiated or strengthened, which promise to bear much fruit in the future.

I, for one, was not left with a “sour taste”, but many sweet memories, as well as hope for both the future and relevance of interfaith dialogue throughout the world.

Di Hirsh
Caulfield South, VIC

Zentai shouldn’t have had Xmas present

Reprieve for an accused war criminal is wrong.

I wonder how many alleged Jewish criminals were free for Chanukah? If Zentai (and he knows this the best) is really innocent, why are his lawyers taking every possible step against his extradition to the Hungarian court?

I was nine years old when Peter Balazs was murdered. I travelled on the tram without the mandatory yellow star many times as well. If some war criminals had caught me, this letter wouldn’t have been written. They would most probably have murdered me and thrown my body into the Danube.

It’s a terrible feeling to think that those accused of my murder would be free to celebrate Christmas at home.

Ivan Singer
Castle Cove, NSW

So-called ‘snub’ isn’t worth worrying about

We write as members of the Jewish community who were actively involved in various elements of what was, Baruch Hashem, a most amazing week during 3-9 December — when the highly successful 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions was conducted here in Melbourne.

Numerous representatives of the Jewish world -— from every spectrum of Jewish expression —- blended in peace and harmony with people of every faith, from every corner of the world, and until publication of Lexi Landsman’s article (AJN 18/12), we had not heard one “sour word” about the closing ceremony from any of the hundred plus Jews thus canvassed — we felt exhilarated as Jews, with no sense of any “snub”.

It is our belief that The AJN has a responsibility to cover good news stories — and this parliament was bursting with many such outcomes every day; yet the only piece seen fit to publish in that week’s AJN has now itself sadly left the first “sour aftertaste”.

I do wonder whether even those quoted realised the Hillul Hashem that could be subsequently caused by being the only community to make such a fuss that the “other blessings were stand-alone and introduced”. Please, Jews of Australia, let’s celebrate the achievements of all faiths in their stance promoting dialogue — rather than going to press with our sensitivities about one lack of “introduction” in an otherwise brilliant and awe-inspiring closing ceremony!

For the record, Miriam Ohevetal Iron, who so beautifully recited the Barchu, in front of the Dalai Lama and all other distinguished attendees, was officially brought to Australia specifically to perform at this very world parliament of religions, by courtesy of the Israeli Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs -— and thus formally represented world Jewry on the invitation of parliament organisers, also on behalf of the State of Israel.

Much naches was felt by almost all Jews who attended this amazing closing ceremony — and the positive impact of this performance will resonate around the world for many years to come.

Avraham Schwarz
Production assistant, closing ceremony, 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions

Steven Einfield
Jewish community delegate, Melbourne Plenary Planning Committee, 2009 Parliament of the World’s Religions

Correcting the record on Israel’s Nobels

Israel has done very well in the Nobel Prize sweepstakes, but according to Wikipedia (search “Nobel laureates by country”), it has not topped the ladder as Eddie Moses (AJN, 25/12) suggests.

Excluding micro-nations like the Faroe Islands, whose one laureate for its population of 49,006 makes it Number 1, Israel comes ninth with 1.2 laureates per million of the population.

It comes after Switzerland (3.2), Sweden (3.0), Austria (2.4), Denmark (2.3), Norway (2.2), the UK (1.9), Ireland (1.8) and Germany (1.3). Israel does, however, come ahead of the USA (1.4), France (1.0), Hungry (1.0), New Zealand (0.7) and Australia (0.5).

Nor does Israel do as well as Jewish USA, whose 104 laureates in a population of 5.275 million implies an average of 19.7 laureates per million —- placing it a close second to the Faroe Islands (20.4).

A close analysis shows acceleration in Laureates won by Israel, with five of the prizes being awarded in the last eight years. Given Israel’s late 1948 start, given something like a 20-year lag between when the science is done and when the science is recognised by the Nobel Prize committee and given the possible Scandinavian bias in awards, barring blatant anti-Israelism, it is reasonable to expect that Israel will move up the ladder fairly rapidly. Eddie Moses is perhaps a prophet looking 30 years into the future.

Jack Frisch
Bellevue Hill, NSW

Venues should be forced to go green

I was thrilled to see the Rabbinical Council chief acknowledge the importance of environmental issues to us as Jews (AJN 25/12). I was also pleased to see the Jewish National Fund (which I have supported for many years) promote “Green Sunday”.

So it was with great disappointment that I entered the latest kosher deli in Carlisle Street to see the bins overflowing with waste and people eating off throwaway plates with plastic implements. How simple would it be to use reusable cutlery and crockery?

In this fragile world we now live in, perhaps there is a new role for the Mashgiach (kashrut supervisor) to ensure environmental sustainability in our restaurants.

Prof Lionel Lubitz
Royal Children’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC

Metzger wrong over Kristallnacht

Rabbi Metzger’s claim, reported in the Israeli and local press, that the Yasuf mosque arson was like the start of Shoah, dismayed and astounded me. Kristallnacht occurred five-and-a-half years after institutionalised anti-Semitism by the Nazis. Rabbi Metzger’s extreme language not only plays into the hands of our enemies, but echoes that used by extremists leading up to Rabin’s assassination. He also ignores Islamists’ use of mosques for incitement.

An attack on any house of worship is wrong. But Rabbi Metzger airbrushes the 58 synagogues destroyed in 1948, in what the international community terms Arab East Jerusalem, the synagogues destroyed in Gaza in 2005, the conversion of Joseph’s Tomb into a mosque and subsequent attacks in it since its restoration, and the need for a protective wall around Rachel’s Tomb. And not one priest or imam condemned any of those sequels to Kristallnacht.

It is important that Jews behave in a way that allows us to respect ourselves. But restraint and appeasement have resulted in the Goldstone report after eight years of bombardment from Gaza. The placement of the Temple Mount in the care of the Waqf has resulted in the prohibition of Jewish prayer there and the excavation and dumping, as so much rubbish, of Jewish artefacts from that site.

The various peace offers and the building of the Palestinian economy has resulted in demands for a one-state solution ending Jewish self-determination.

Rabbi Metzger should not meddle in politics. But if he does make a statement, it should be not as a dhimmi, but as a reasonable person reminding the world that in the face or unrelenting, unreasonable pressure, some Jews will start to act like some Muslims have.

Paul Winter
Chatswood, NSW

Nothing natural about climate change

Terry Davis (AJN 18/12) resurrects the myths that the climate crisis is somehow a natural phenomenon and that the Earth has cooled for the past decade. It is frustrating that climate change deniers continue to put forward arguments that have been refuted countless times by actual climate scientists in reputable, peer-reviewed journals.

The Earth is not cooling, and any objective reading of the statistics shows that the warming trend is not only continuing, but accelerating. Just this month, the World Meteorology Organisation announced that the first decade of the 21st century was the warmest on record.

Secondly, to say that current climate change is part of a natural cycle is to completely misrepresent the science. The speed at which the climate is changing is unprecedented. Climate scientists have proven to a high certainty that the additional global warming pollution that humans have emitted since the industrial revolution is having a major effect on our climate system, and is the deciding factor in the changes we are seeing, such as the drought and bushfires here in Victoria.

Deniers take advantage of the fact that people are more likely to read the letters page of a newspaper than reputable scientific journals in order to spread their myths, but they must not be allowed to delay the urgent action necessary to avoid runaway climate change. If they succeed we will continue to see the catastrophic collapse of the systems we rely on for water, food and other resources.

Pablo Brait
Richmond, VIC

Supporting Shoah education

The article referring to “Educators Israel-Bound for Holocaust Studies” (AJN 18/12) states in passing that “Yad Vashem has worked with Australian educators in the past.”

The community should be aware that for over 10 years, The Raoul Wallenberg Unit of B’nai B’rith has fully funded the travel, accommodation and seminar costs of nearly 50 secondary teachers to join the International Seminar at Yad Vashem, which caters for teachers from Australia and many other countries, to learn not only the best educational methods of teaching students the history and facts of the Holocaust, but also to learn about the background of European Jewry, the history of anti-Semitism, and the establishment and present situation of modern Israel.

This year for the three-week seminar commencing on January 3, we have sent a record number of 12 outstanding teachers from city and country secondary schools in Victoria.

Since we commenced this project, the teachers have taught hundreds and possibly thousands of non-Jewish students the history of the Holocaust, which they studied at the International School at Yad Vashem.

The Pauline Glass Study Grants are awarded annually, financed by generous donations by B’nai B’rith members and the wider Jewish community. These grants to date total a quarter of a million dollars.

We welcome the inauguration of the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators, which will cater for non-Victorian educators. The Raoul Wallenberg Unit of B’nai B’rith is proud of this project and its outstanding results in keeping the history of the Holocaust alive.

Eddie Komesaroff
President, Raoul Wallenberg Unit

Phil Symons
Co-chairperson, Action Wallenberg Committee

Simone Markus
Co-chairperson, Action Wallenberg Committee

Masha Zeleznikow
Foundation member, Action Wallenberg Committee

If you would like to submit a letter, email letters@jewishnews.net.au