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4 leTTers JTNews . www.JTNews.NeT . friday, february 25, 2011 W LeTTeRS PAGe 3 peace with the Palestinians, it would “involve risks.” But obviously, no risks to the brave Mr. Silverstein or his family, all snug and safe in Seattle, half a world away from the daily rocket and bomb attacks Israelis face in their battle for survival. Attacks by Palestinians against Jews, which began long before the rebirth of Israel. Mr. Silverstein may have some military background, even faced combat, but if so, he remains strangely quiet on this subject. But to this very matured World War II Air Force combat vet with two overseas assignments, when you are attacked, when other forces say they will destroy you, take them seriously. You hit back hard, often and quickly, or you perish. As Israelis stress: “Never again!” Ironically, Mr. Silverstein’s slanted, error-filled diatribe against Israel, strangely headlined as fact with “The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not occupy,” seems to have phrasing lifted verbatim from the Hamas attack machine. As a self-anointed journalist, Mr. Silverstein should have at least used quotes. And of course, the headline should have included quotes to tell readers the headline was not an editorial judgment — which, without the quotes, is what it appears to be. Most damning in Mr. Silverstein’s often-incoherent charges against the sliver of land called Israel, of occupation, lack of democracy, and his complete silence on Arab atrocities: Not a word about Arabs expelling Jews, even as Israel in 1948 pleaded with its Arab residents to remain in Israel. Not a word about Israel defending itself by having to push back the Arab attackers from Israel’s front door. Not a word by Mr. Silverstein of Israel being the only democracy in the Mideast, with open elections, where Arabs also hold office. Philip r. scheier shoreline in need oF education I am very concerned about the comments Mr. Silverstein makes regarding Israel (“The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not occupy,” Feb. 11). I am concerned about Jews who so strongly support the Palestinians against Israel. Mr. Silverstein claims to be a Zionist, yet his statements tell a different story. He clearly ignores (and I don’t know whether it is ignorance or “IGNORE-ance”) the facts and history of Israel and the Jewish people. Space does not allow detailing all the historical facts about Israel, so I urge Mr. Silverstein and others to learn and synthesize these facts before speaking about Israel. Israel has been a Jewish land for 3,500 years, albeit with limited control and numbers for almost 2,000 of those years. With creation of the State of Israel, it was supposed to be the Jewish homeland, with Jordan, the Hashemite kingdom, being a place for Arabs in Palestine; this has never worked as Jordan (along with Lebanon, Syria and Egypt) does not allow Palestinians entry. Temple B’nai Torah Purim March 19 & 20 Join Our Purim Festivities Activities Available - All Ages Saturday, March 19 7:00pm: Megillah Reading (FREE) Followed by Purim Party with Rabbi Mirel’s-Shalom Klezmer Band (Adults 21+) RSVP by March 11, $10/person; after March 11 and at door, $20/person Call TBT at 425-603-9677; Pay by charge or mail checks to TBT Sunday, March 20 9:30am-Noon: Purim Family Celebration (FREE) Megillah Reading, Parade, Sing-a-long & Carnival - All Ages ---------TBT PURIM EVENTS OFFSITE--------- Sunday, March 13 3:00pm-5:00pm: Shaarei Tikvah: Gates of Hope Saturday, March 19 8:30pm: Young Adults Tri-Temple Purim Party Temple B’nai Torah 15727 NE 4th Street Bellevue, WA 98008 Phone 425-603-9677 Fax 425-603-9699 www.TempleBnaiTorah.org In 2005, possession of Gaza was turned over to the Palestinians, in exchange for peace. There has been no peace since then. The Palestinians have violated the rules of war in using schools, clinics, mosques and homes as military bases and weapons launchers. This shows that there is little hope in “land for peace” with current trends in thought in the Arab/Muslim world. Giving up control of the West Bank means a very narrow corridor, which could easily be blocked, cutting off the northern and southern halves of Israel. Thus it is vital to keep the current borders. Mr. Silverstein calls for full equal rights for all Arabs and Palestinians living in Israel. This cannot be allowed to happen if Israel is to survive. Israel is first and foremost a Jewish state. To keep it such requires restrictions on non-Jewish people. I would also point out the irony of anyone living in the Pacific Northwest complaining about Israeli occupation, given that we live on Native lands. I suggest that Mr. Silverstein do some serious introspection regarding his positions, and ensure that he is not taking contradictory stands on things. rabbi Jaron Matlow olympia unreasonable standards Mr. Silverstein, who do you propose will make this peace with Israel that you talk about (“The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not occupy,” Feb. 11)? The two-state solution was first proposed back in 1937, again in 1948, at Camp David, at Oslo, and continues to be on the table in every meeting Israel has with the West and with the Palestinians. Only one problem: the Palestinians don’t want it. They have said that their goal is to push Israel into the sea. Don’t you believe them? I do. I believe when they say they want to destroy Israel and to kill all of the Jews worldwide. It’s in the Hamas Charter. Don’t you respect what they say? Why would Israel move back to the pre-1967 borders, with a nine-mile strip of land separating their eastern border and the sea. With just a little shove they could be pushed into the sea. Look at Arab maps of the region, and the speeches of their leaders. Israel doesn’t exist. Two-state solution? Would they be integrated states? No, the Palestinians want all Jews out of their lands. Talk about Apartheid! No, they don’t want to live with Jews. Unless, of course they can live in Israel, take over our holiest site, the Temple Mount, take our capital city, and cry that they don’t have equal rights. Oh no, only Israel has to be an integrated state. None of the other Arab nations, especially not the future Palestine, need to be integrated. Jews out, just like the 800,000 Jews kicked out of Arab lands in 1949. Only Israel has to have the bill of rights? What’s wrong with any Arab nation having a bill of rights, having freedoms for their own people before you demand that Israel give Curious? Welcome new advertisers! 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friday, february 25, 2011 . www.JTNews.NeT . JTNews iNside yiddish lesson by murray mELd Eyn hant vasht der anderer; tzuzamen vashn zey dem ponim. Translation: One hand washes the other; together, they wash the face. Moral: Whatever one does alone; two can do better. BoB LaMacchia Joel Magalnick, right, current editor of JTNews, and esther Quint, who served as editor of the Jewish Transcript from 1948 to 1951. The two met during a speaking engagement at Temple B’nai Torah in Bellevue for Jewish Family Service’s “endless Opportunities” seniors’ program, when the current editor spoke about what he does for the paper. Quint recalled to the audience her duties at the paper during her tenure, when she was its only employee. JTNews is the Voice of Jewish Washington. Our mission is to meet the interests of our Jewish community through fair and accurate coverage of local, national and international news, opinion and information. We seek to expose our readers to diverse viewpoints and vibrant debate on many fronts, including the news and events in Israel. We strive to contribute to the continued growth of our local Jewish community as we carry out our mission. 2041 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121 206-441-4553 • editor@jtnews.net www.jtnews.net JTNews (ISSN0021-678X) is published biweekly by The Seattle Jewish Transcript, a nonprofit corporation owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, 2041 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. Subscriptions are $56.50 for one year, $96.50 for two years. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to JTNews, 2041 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98121. The opinions of our columnists and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the views of JTNews. Remember when From the Jewish Transcript, Feb. 27, 1981, page 13. Joel Polsky and Louis Himmelfarb, students at what is now known as Hebrew High, polish candlesticks once used by Louis’s great-grandmother, Stella Himmelfarb. The Shabbat candlesticks, given to the Himmelfarbs as a wedding gift in 1915, were part of a local traveling exhibit called “Judaica on Display.” The voice oF J e w i S h waShiNgToN STAff Reach us directly at 206-441-4553 + ext. Publisher *karen chachkes 267 Editor * § Joel Magalnick 233 Assistant Editor Eric nusbaum 240 Account Executive Lynn Feldhammer 264 Account Executive David Stahl 235 Account Executive Stacy Schill 292 Classifieds Manager rebecca Minsky 238 Art Director Susan Beardsley 239 BOArd Of direcTOrS Peter horvitz, Chair*; Robin Boehler; Andrew Cohen § ; Cynthia Flash Hemphill*; Nancy Greer § ; Aimee Johnson; Stan Mark; Daniel Mayer; Cantor David Serkin-Poole*; Leland Rockoff richard Fruchter, CEO and President, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle ron Leibsohn, Federation Board Chair *Member, JTNews Editorial Board § Ex-Officio Member puBliShed By J e w i S h TraNScripT media inside this issue The Synagogue chronicles: a home for those who return 7 Chabad-Lubavitch can count ba’ale t’shuva — people who return to traditional Judaism — as a large component of its success in the past several years. Chabad’s congregation in Seattle’s Wedgwood neighborhood is proof of that. a yeshiva with a progressive bent 9 West Seattle’s Kol HaNeshamah congregation just received a grant from the Union for Reform Judaism to begin something completely different: An in-depth, text- and discussion-heavy learning program with progressive values. Film festival previews The Seattle Jewish Film Festival launches March 3 with a special party and a host of short films, then really gets into the swing of things March 12. Previewing this issue: The human resources manager 20 A nameless personnel manager for “the bakery” must accompany the body of a woman killed in a suicide bombing to her home in Romania. la rafle 21 A poignant, searing Holocaust drama about the Vichy government’s roundup of children to send them to Auschwitz. (rock the) Belz 22 You can fit a lot into four minutes, including a rose-colored remembrance of the shtetl, but it’s never quite the same as reality, as we learn in a music video you won’t find on MTV. vancouver maestro does double duty — in israel 30 The conductor of the Vancouver, Wash. Symphony Orchestra has been in Israel in the past week, and he’s going back again next month to conduct for the symphonette in Raanana. more m.o.T.: Jewish life for a Saudi 10 celebrations 11 what’s your JQ?: a h’esthery game 23 community calendar 25 lifecycles 31 The arts 32 The Shouk classifieds 29 Correction Due to an editing error, rabbi and concert emcee Bob Maslan’s name (“Backstage with the three cantors (plus one),” Feb. 11) was misspelled. JTNews regrets the error. Welcome to The JTNews Tribe! Richard Asia • Kevin Bank • Lynne Brazg • Joan Brement • Israel & Simy Burman • Evelyn Chestnut • Debra Crespin • Lea Ehrlich • Laurence Epstein • Randy Fischer • Perry & Gerda Frumkin • Frank Funis • Ilya Goldberg • Dan & Marilyn Gottlieb • Laura Hartstein • Sue Israel • Jerry & Michelle Kavesh • Helen Kustina • Rene Levy • Mark & Claire Litchman • Shirley Melzer • Rose Motola • William & Barbara Peltz • Nancy Potash • Jerry & Esther Schor • Mort Shecter • Mark Shteynberg • Sonia Siegel Vexler • Rose Singer • Velva Stern • Herbert & Sydney Steuer • Sol Sylvan • Linda Teachout • Rachel Vaillancourt • Leonard Wiviott • Karen Wolkofsky • Alfred Zunterstein 4 Look for MAR 11 Jewish & Green MAR 25 Spring Philanthropy
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