Download January 13, 2012 as a PDF - The Jewish Transcript

4 opinion JTnews . www.JTnews.neT . friday, January 13, 2012
W LeTTeRS Page 3 You both apologize, as you should, for both factual inaccuracy, and offensive timing. But though
Professor Jaffee claims to, neither of you truly disavows your judgment of those Jews who are not
I assume Jaffee’s motives were honorable, that he was making the point that the best place
for every Jew is in the Jewish community, for the individual’s good and for the community’s good,
which, for what it’s worth, I agree. To quote a Christian adage, “The road to hell is paved with good
intentions.” An “Onion” t-shirt reads, “Stereotypes are real time savers.” At least in the short term,
assumptions can also be. Longer term, maybe not. Yet, let any who haven’t assumed and unnecessarily
personalized it when making a point, raise a hand.
Anti-Semitism from those who think they’d like to make the world Judenrein, “clean of Jews,” not
surprisingly promotes in at least some Jews feelings of being under such constant threat and maybe
those who don’t have such fears are in denial. The loss of one member can feel like an existential threat.
So, though Jaffee’s religious beliefs aren’t mine — I don’t have any — I think that he has the
interests of the Jewish people at heart, including people like me, and shouldn’t be punished because
of a seriously insensitive gaffe. So maybe the JTNews needs to take a deep breath. Let him write in
the JTNews. Don’t pillory him for an error that any us can make. Besides, he’s a very good writer.
sidney stock
Bellevue
HORRIFIED
Thank you for the letter addressed to Myron Cohon, his family, and the community, published in
JTNews on Fri., Dec. 23, 2011. I was horrified to read the cruel, arrogant column written by Martin
Jaffee, published in the JTNews on Dec. 9, criticizing the obituary and life of Mr. Cohon. The apology
from Mr. Jaffee was essential, although his carelessness in writing the column in the first place
was appalling. Such writings create separation within the Jewish community, not commitment. Mr.
Jaffee, in assuming he had the judgment authority of God, brought shame upon the University of
Washington, the JTNews, and himself. Now that his column has been discontinued, I am willing to
renew my subscription. Such a mistake should never be repeated by the JTNews.
Hillary Lipe
seattle
sTILL muCH TO APOLOgIzE FOR
I’m sorry, but while I appreciate your apologies, you have still missed the mark. In fact, you and
Professor Jaffee are still on the same page, though you profess not to be.
Supreme Court rejects Washington State prisoner case
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s
denial to move forward, a lawsuit that
dragged on for more than five years
was definitively decided in favor of
Jewish Prisoner Services International on
Monday. The suit, filed by inmate Dennis
Florer in 2006, against JPSI and its CEO,
Chaplain Gary Friedman, intimated that
because Friedman was under contract to
W peJe AWARD Page 1
Deborah Frockt, director of advancement
at the Northend community school, told
JTNews. This year, the school is celebrating
its 20-year anniversary, marking its
sixth year since it moved into the expansive
location in North Seattle. The school,
which offers a K-5 general and Judaic curriculum,
was housed in temporary digs for
the first 15 years of its existence.
“We’re utilizing what we know parents
want from our research, looking at what
our community does not yet have, and
JFS services and programs
are made possible through
generous community support of
provide services to inmates, he should be
considered a state actor.
Florer vs. Congregation Pidyon
Shevuyim had been rejected by the 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals, then reinstated
before it was rejected again last April.
At that point, Florer took the case to
the Supreme Court. His attorney, Leonard
J. Feldman, and a group of University of
proceeding with the notion that SJCS can
be a community in different ways for different
families,” explained Frockt. “Some
will have a casual and occasional relationship
with us…. Some will have a deeper
and longer connection directly with us by
enrolling children in our school. Whatever
the particular journey of an individual
family, SJCS can be the community
gateway for this geographic area.”
Currently, SJCS collaborates in partnership
with the Seattle Jewish Cooperative
Playschool, the Stroum Jewish
Community Center, and the PJ Library,
For more information, please
visit www.jfsseattle.org
“Jewish enough” for you. That is wrong.
What if my father was a “secular Jew” who valued Jewish and non-Jewish intellectual and artistic
achievements equally? What if he did marry a person he loved and who was not a practicing Jew? What
if he did raise a child who chose not to practice Judaism, and two who married gentiles? What if he did
love and accept his children’s spouses and his grandchildren equally, regardless of their religious heritage
or practices? What if “the life of Torah” was not “an existential concern” to Myron or some members
of his family? What if you were factually correct about his life, and if the timing of your criticism
had not been so inappropriate? I’ll tell you: It was still wrong. It was religious and ethnic intolerance.
It was not only Myron’s recognition of his Jewish identity, and the fact that some of his progeny
remain active in the Jewish community, that makes the article wrong. It is wrong because you criticize
those aspects of his life, and those members of his family, that are not Jewish enough for you.
It is wrong because you deny the validity of each individual’s choice as to how they carry forward
their religious and ethnic heritage. In failing to recognize that error, you still have much to learn
from Myron, and much to apologize for to his family.
keith Cohon
seattle
FOWL COmmEnTARy
I want to respond to the article written by Tzippy Wiens titled “Killing Animals” (Jew-ish Magazine,
Dec. 23). I realize that most people do eat animals and I praise the article for being very open
and upfront about what happens to animals and how they actually go from being living, feeling
creatures to something presented on a platter. Sadly, most people try not to make the connection
and are “disconnected from their food.”
As a vegetarian, the article struck me as brutal and disturbing. I found the words in the caption,
“Few things bond a group faster than ritually slaughtering and preparing turkeys,” a horrifying
commentary on the human condition. I am reminded of the words of Isaac Bashevis Singer
who wrote, “In relation to animals all people are Nazis; for the animals, it is an eternal Treblinka.”
Something to think about.
Jack Fackerell
Redmond
Washington law students who had taken
up the case, withdrew after the 9th Circuit’s
ruling. The Supreme Court rejected
the case without comment.
“The net result is it clearly establishes
that a chaplain, whether they’re staff or
contract or volunteer, is not a state actor…
when they’re functioning in a clerical or
ecclesiastical capacity,” Friedman said.
a national program administered locally
by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
that mails Jewish children’s literature
and music to families across the country
each month.
The Jewish Day School’s head of school,
Maria Erlitz, said that the preschool–8th
grade non-denominational academy will
apply the award money toward beefing up
its Discovery Grant program, which helps
financially struggling families pay their
tuition using monies from community
donors. The award money will also provide
ongoing funding for the school’s learning-
Though Feldman told JTNews last year
following the 9th Circuit’s dismissal that
he didn’t believe the case would have wide
significance, Friedman said that this ruling
should curb predatory lawsuits against
religious entities.
— Joel Magalnick
based inquiry program, which encourages
learning beyond the classroom.
“JDS believes it is our responsibility
to offer an exceptional education that
empowers our children to be wise and
compassionate human beings committed
to life-long learning, and making a positive
difference in the world and their community,”
Erlitz said. “JDS is also launching
an enhanced differentiated learning program
focused on gifted children to offer
expanded programming opportunities
for local Jewish students to further excel
in school.”
“The help from JFS was a life saver in an ocean of despair.”
– Emergency Services Client, Jewish Family Service