8 — THE BULLETIN — Thursday. February 24.1994
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
Purim, "victory of justice," is just around the corner. As always, the Book of Esther, the Megillah, will be read in every Jewish school and in every synagogue, as tradition dictates.
Each time Haman's name is mentioned, the old and young are expected to explode with a deafening noise, using a special noise-maker known as the gragger. During the reading of the Megillah. an "irresistible hatred" is worked up against Haman. This is an annual practice that has become a perennial hatred. Is this the kind of legacy we wish to leave with our children?
The greatest tragedy that the world has ever witnessed is the Holocaust. Monuments have been erected in memory of the victims throughout the Jewish world. We mourn their loss on many occasions, but we do it with heartfelt sympathy, with dignity, and with prayers for a better world.
Is it not possible to forget the sweet taste of hamantashen. and start to celebrate Purim as a miracle of survival without carrying malice through the centuries'. Let the exchange of shalach manot (gifts) among friends and relatives keep the ancient memories alive.
JEAN LAWRENCE
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
I am writing in response to Elizabeth Shefrin's letter "Good to know we're not alone" {JWB Feb. 10), regarding your publication of the article "Solidarity menorahs respond to hate" {JWB JdiVi. 27).
I am a born-again Evangelical Christian, member of a Baptist church. I've been in Evangelical Christian churches for over 16 years and would like to confirm that Elizabeth Shefrin's letter is true.
An Evangelical Christian also accepts the Torah (Five Books of Moses) as being 100 percent from G-d, and accepts the fact that all of the land which Israel presently has, belongs to the Jewish people because G-d Himself promised it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) and their descendants.
In fact, in Deuteronomy, the Children of Israel were commanded to "possess" the land. Since G-d gave this land to Israel, it is not for either the UN, the U.S. or anybody else to take ANY part of it from Israel. True Evangelical Christians accept this as absolute fact.
IGOR KONETZOV
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Dear Mr. Kaplan:
The incident of a Reform Party MP quoting Hitler and the response of representatives of the Jewish Community raises many questions — sensitivity, understanding, tactical effectiveness and credibility. I will not comment on these, but rather on what I perceive to be a pervasive but nonetheless counterproductive attitude of many Jews toward Hitler and Nazism.
It is an attitude in which Nazism and Hitler and other Nazi leaders are demonized and anathematized. This expresses itself in many ways, one of the most common of which is in saying that what they did was "inhuman." Alas, it was all too human.
Hitler, as many people know, was a vegetarian, and Himmler wrote extremely tender and caring letters to his
children. Rationality and sensitivity did not prevent them from perpetrating the most monstrous crimes in history.
Unless we recognize that the potential to become a Hitler exists in every human being and the potential for Nazism exists among all peoples, we have to characterize Hitler and Nazism as expressions of an ineffable destiny or as social and psychological mutations.
This would mean that both he and it are beyond rational historical analysis, that we become so mesmerized by the untowardness of both, that we cannot perceive "alternative models" or variants of Nazism, and that we believe there is no way to anticipate the rise of such individuals or movements and. therefore, no truly effective way to prevent them from achieving power except by firing in all directions at once,
EUGENE KAELLIS, New Westminster
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
In regards to your paper's article, "Rabbis to educate Catholic students" {JWB, Jan. 27). it seems to me that if Archbishop Adam Exner really wanted to combat anti-Semitism, a very important first step would be to see that every one of his priests has a copy of the three church documents in which the new church teaching on the Jews and Judaism is laid out, and see to it that the new teaching is followed.
This would effectively put an end to the age old teaching of contempt enshrined in statements such as "The Jews crucified Christ."
Dr. Eugene Fisher, who directs the Office of Interfaith Relations for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has characterized this statement as "a historical and theological absurdity."
When Archbishop Exner told us all on television that, "It's the job of a church leader to maintain the integrity of Christian teaching. That's my job . . .", one might have hoped that such words would be followed by positive action. In the area indicated, however, there was none forthcoming.
To allow rabbis to visit Catholic high schools onfce or twice a year, and not do anything about the teaching the youngsters receive for the other 360-odd days, is no more than a drop in the bucket.
In the absence of deeds which might have lent them some substance, your readers will have to judge for themselves how much reliance may be placed on the archbishop's words, and what, precisely, is the true nature of the attitude with which his gesture is claimed to be consistent.
PAT DOLAN
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
An average newspaper informs. An excellent newspaper, like yours, provokes and stimulates thinking.
Since reading your paper's article, "A non-Jew warns: Israel is in danger" (7W^fi "Insight" Feb. 3), my family and friends have debated on numerous occasions Professor Leon Herbst's warning about the Arabs' "final solution" for the Zionist entity.
In the true shulchan aruch (Code of Jewish Law) tradition, we considered and reasoned: On the one hand, peace must be given a chance; enough is, enough. On the other hand, does an agreement with the likes of Arafat ensure our nation's survival?
What has changed? Could we, and should we, rely on others for survival? Can an agreement between two parties with such opposing values be successful?
I trust other readers of your newspaper have debated the same issue. It would be interesting to read their interpretations.
ARTHUR FRIEDMANN, Surrey
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
In reference to Irving Moskowitz's article {JWB Feb. 10 "A lesson from Egypt"), there is no question that violence by Moslem fundamentalists poses a great risk — a risk that will not currently be affected by any political moves.
However, allowing fundamentalist violence to prevent an accord will strengthen their hand, enabling them to recruit more youth, and thus ensure victory for the fanatics.
On the other hand, an accord will give hope to moderates in the Arab world, giving them strength and enabling them to show the youth that peaceful co-existence is possible.
It will take years but reaching the youth is ther only way to stop the spread of fundamentalism.
As Moslems emigrate and increase in numbers, the moderates among them, as well as Jews and non-Jews throughout the world, will be at risk if we allow ourselves to be cowed by fundamentalist threats of violence.
SANDRA HOLLENBERG
2094 West 43rd at East Boulevard 263-1144
3479 Dunbar Street 228-9339
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From Page 5
tentious and our message a bit crazy — but it is worth risking our lives anyway. Sometimes, Jewish affirmations of unbroken hope for a perfect world and the value of human differences seem to be upholding the reverse of reality.
But, Purim teaches us that reversals can come in the twinkling of a king's eye, in the passage of a single night, out of one woman's courage, out of one people's fight. So, keep laughing, all the way to tikkim olam, to perfecting the world.
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