The Jewish Advocate | This Weeks Issue

Letters to the editor

The Problem Solvers

When I hear V.P. candidate Sarah Palin and others disparage Barack Obama's work as a community organizer, I realize how narrow their understanding of public life is. I have served as an elected official for four years and as a community organizer for more than 30. [So] I have some perspective on the relative "actual responsibilities" [of both.]
Americans have long solved problems by building community organizations. We don't rely on government to solve all our problems because it can't. Government is too distant and the issues are too complex.
Maybe Palin et al. think community organizers should relinquish our "actual responsibilities" and wait for the mayors, governors, Congress and Senate to solve all our problems. But if experience is any teacher, we will all be waiting a very long time.

Michael Jacoby Brown
Former Assistant Judge, Rutland County, Vt.
Founder, Jewish Organizing Initiative, Boston

Shifting On The Fly?

I read with interest Tom Mountain's praise of Sarah Palin. Isn't it amazing how the Right Wing has altered its position on family values. Now they embrace teen pregnancy, premarital sex, working women with five children and mothers returning to work three days post-partum. And how wonderful, according to Mr. Mountain, that Sarah didn't attend Vassar, Wellesley, or Smith. She only attended five colleges before finally graduating from Idaho. That's an achievement!

Hilda Lander
Brockton

Book Bans Of The Past

The McCain campaign is defending Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's much-criticized inquiry into banning books at her hometown library, saying her questions were only hypothetical. The fact that an attempt was made by Palin to ban books and censor the librarian recalls another period in time in which book banning led to far more serious historical events.
It is widely known that when Nazis first came to power in early 1930 in Germany, book banning marked the beginning of their regime. Book banning signaled the initial infringements on freedom and tolerance that ultimately led to the Holocaust.

Ilya Rubinstein
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mountain's Views

I find Tom Mountain's latest screed ("Liberal Jews and Sarah Palin," Sept. 19, 2008) to be offensive at best. For the record, this "liberal Jew" has a son who is a Major in the United States Marine Corps, and who has served in Iraq. Does Mr. Mountain have any family members who have volunteered to serve in the military recently? Or does he just "talk a good game" and accuse "liberals" of being somehow disloyal?
Rather than "hav[ing] a problem with Sarah Palin," I have a problem with a person who discusses her supposed strong points, and ignores the myriad inconsistencies in her record.

Joseph Milstein
Brookline

News And Torah

Last week's Torah portion admonished us that for men to wear women's clothes "is an abomination onto the L-ord thy G-d." (Deutoronomy 22:4). And last week's Jewish Advocate featured an article celebrating a "transgender" man who dresses as a woman and has had gender alteration operations to mutilate his body to look more female.
Was this just a coincidence or another of The Advocate's regular in-your-face insults directed toward those who put Judaism before politically-correct liberalism?
At the very least, you might have mentioned that Gender Identity Disorder is recognized by the DSM-IV diagnostic manual as a fairly serious mental condition. These people need help -- not encouragement to continue down an emotionally destructive path.

Brian Camenker
Newton

Pulling Palin

I am disgusted with the shameful cancellation of Sarah Palin's appearance and shocked that Hillary would not appear on the same platform. The cause is bigger than both of them. The heads of the major Jewish organizations are acting like a new Judenrat.

Sandra Calmas
Chestnut Hill

Quincy's Jews Still Here

In regard to your article about the Jewish Community in Quincy ("Jewish community in Quincy may be history," Sept. 19), I would just like to clarify some information about Quincy's Jewish community.
There are close to 90,000 residents of Quincy, with a Jewish population of 2,000. It has the largest Jewish population of any of the surrounding towns, including Randolph, Braintree, Hingham and Hull.
Here at Hingham Quincy Chabad, we have celebrated the full spectrum of Jewish Life. We have even printed a Jewish Art Calendar for the local community. In addition to the work of Chabad, there are other organizations in Quincy such as Haddassah and the Quincy Jewish Committee.
In this weekend's Patriot Ledger they estimated that more than 300 people are expected at the High Holiday Services at Temple Beth El, hardly a sign of demise.
The [Jewish] community in Quincy expects a correction in an upcoming edition of The Jewish Advocate. Quincy has had a rich Jewish History but it's future is Bright!

Rabbi Bronstein
Hingham Quincy Chabad

Quincy Fights On

I just read your headline article at The Jewish Advocate online "Jewish community in Quincy may be history" (Sept. 19). In it, you write, "With turnout expected to be low, Beth El has asked congregants of Temple B'nai Shalom in Braintree to join them for High Holy Day services this year. Sumner Greenberg, a prominent Jewish leader in Quincy and a member of Temple Beth El, said it is a last-ditch effort to save both congregations from failure."
As Temple B'nai Shalom's Administrative Vice President, I can assure you that our decision to celebrate the High Holy Days with our neighbors in Quincy was not motivated to prevent failure of our temple. We are doing quite well, managing our challenges and seeking to be involved in options faced by many religious communities in these difficult economic times.
I am most stunned by your reports of a dying religious community. Perhaps, because, it may in fact come true, but mostly in that many people here are working hard to prevent this from happening. We are out here. You should have talked to us.

Dr. Richard A. Hacker
Temple B'nai Shalom, Braintree

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