Letters (December 11, 2009)

A selection of letters published in the AJN print edition of December 11, 2009

Just how friendly is Tony Abbott?

NAOMI Levin wrote in The AJN (04/12) that the community has “no need to worry” about Tony Abbott because he is a “friend of Israel”. Really? This is a man who wants to re-introduce the temporary protection visas, who denies that climate change is caused by humans, and who holds personal views that are against abortion, stem-cell research, and no-fault divorce.

Given the near identical positions on Israel from both parties, The AJN should appreciate that the views of Abbott on most issues, aside from Israel, are at odds with the majority of the Jewish community and, in fact, his election causes concern to many.

Ittay Flescher
Caulfield, Vic

Don’t condemn Jane Korman’s Auschwitz art

I WOULD be interested to know if Helen Leperere (“Dancing on the graves of our martyrs” AJN 04/12) and Ingrid Weinberg (“Nothing glorious about Gloria at Auschwitz” AJN 04/12) have actually seen Jane Korman’s art exhibit, or if they are responding to the article about the exhibit in the previous week’s AJN. I found the news item misleading.

The song by Gloria Gaynor was I Will Survive and the video was of Jane’s father, a survivor, doing something he never dreamed possible -— dancing with his daughter and grandchildren at the place where every effort had been made to annihilate his people completely. I saw Jane Korman’s exhibit, and was moved to tears.

Debbie Masel
Caulfield North, Vic

Settlement objections are red herring

I DOUBT there has ever been a bigger non-issue catapulted into undeserved media prominence than that of the Israeli settlements.

Firstly, the settlements have been around for more than 35 years and have never been an obstacle to peace negotiations in the past. Secondly, many of them — which are now suburbs — were originally built on Jordanian “crown land”, claimed as a result of the defensive Six-Day War and are arguably legal under international law. Where the Israeli judicial system has deemed settlements to be illegal, they have been dismantled.

Furthermore, the real obstacle to peace is not the settlements, but rather the refusal of the Palestinians to enter into any meaningful dialogue to resolve the conflict because for the Arabs, an end to the ¬≠conflict is far less important than “continuing the struggle”. The Palestinians have effectively defined themselves by this conflict, as there was never any Palestinian national movement until the mid-1960s.

From an economic perspective, resolving the conflict would also mean the Palestinians have to accept responsibility for their own lives, something they appear reluctant to do. United Nations figures indicate that by virtue of the enormous aid packages they receive, Palestinians currently have the second-highest GDP (gross domestic product) per capita and third-highest life expectancy in the Arab world.

First it was the occupation, now it is the settlements, and when this issue fades away another will surface to replace it as an excuse for maintaining hostility towards Israel.

The conflict has nothing to do with territory — the Arabs simply can’t bear the thought of a tiny Jewish state existing in what they perceive as their God-given part of the world.

Alan Freedman
St Kilda East, Vic

UK’s Jewish leadership is shoddy and shameful

WITH all due respect to Zeddy Lawrence (AJN 04/11), who is so ambivalent to the perception around the Jewish world that his fellow British Jews have abandoned Israel and all but given in to the overwhelming anti-Israel English majority, no wonder there is so much unchallenged hatred of Israel and increased anti-Semitism in the UK.

The UK is home to some of the most virulent anti-Zionist Jewish activists who promote boycotts against Israel, align themselves with other anti-Zionist groups, write books vilifying Israel and Zionism, and form anti-Israel groups such as Independent Jewish Voices (UK).

In the last few days alone, the treasurer of the Board of Deputies of British Jews suggested on the BBC that there should be a freeze on building in Jerusalem and that the Board of Deputies should distance itself from the Israeli embassy.

Highly respected, London-based Jewish journalist/author Melanie Phillips, who writes for the Daily Mail/Guardian and has her own blog and monitors the British-Jewish community, not only agrees with the virulent critic of British Jews, Isi Leibler, but she also believes the Jewish community should get rid of its leaders.

Phillips accuses the British-Jewish leadership and its intellectuals and political class of throwing Israel under the bus. The actions and non-actions we have seen from British Jews over the past 10 years, when Israel has urgently needed friends and advocates, back up Phillips’ and Leibler’s accusations.

For some reason, British-Jewish leaders have the attitude of turning the other cheek while the British media, universities and trade unions vilify Israel on a daily basis. Clearly the “softly softly” approach by British Jews is not working.

British-Jewish leaders have even attacked and demonised the few Jews who have robustly defended Israel.

The UK has taken over France as the most active anti-Israel/anti-Zionist country in Europe and there are no organisations with strong, proactive, pro-Zionist leaders to defend Israel.

The fact that Lawrence, who was involved in the UK Jewish community, believes that British-Jewish leadership is in fact doing a good job is a worry and perhaps the UK is a lost cause as far as defending Israel goes.

Michael Burd
Toorak, Vic

In de-nile over Fred’s party

THE survey by the Christian Democrats Party (led by Reverend Fred Nile) in Bradfield was racist and disgusting. I find it abhorrent that in Naomi Levin’s final comment in an article about this matter, she states that “Nevertheless the [party] … has been unfailing in its support for the State of Israel.”

What do you mean by “nevertheless”? Does this support of Israel in any way forgive his actions?

Manuela Epstein
Killara, NSW

What is sauce for the Jews …

IN their letter “Democracy for all”, (AJN 04/12), the leaders of the Progressive movement claim that their protest at the case of a woman arrested for wearing a tallit in Israel is one of “defending the rights of its Jewish citizens to live their Judaism as they see fit”.

What I would like to hear from them is their attitude to those messianic Jews or Jews for Jesus who consider that their Judaism is completed by their acceptance of the Christian saviour and, in consequence, wish to witness their faith to other Jews (a euphemism for trying to convert them).

If the Progressives are not prepared to accept these groups as bona fide versions of Judaism, how can they protest that Orthodox Judaism refuses to recognise their religion as such. Their appeal for us to join them in “defending the rights of its Jewish citizens to live their Judaism as they see fit” can therefore be seen to be sheer hypocrisy. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Martin D Stern
Salford, England

It can’t get any verse at the IAEA

GOODBYE Mohammed ElBaradei,
Time for you to leave the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency],
Twelve effete years at the wheel,
During which you could find nothing to reveal,
Syria and Iran could not believe their luck,
That the world had appointed such a shmuck.
Kim Jong-il, Ahmadinejad, and Saddam,
All believed that you were a fine man,
Allowing them to chase their nuclear dreams,
While always blaming Israeli schemes.
The job you’ve done for non-proliferation,
Will come to haunt the next generation.

Paul Rozental
South Yarra, Vic

Inquisition analogies are misplaced

NICK Greiner is reported (SMH 30/11) as likening today’s Liberal turncoats to “people who didn’t want to be burnt at the stake 400 years ago — if you were prepared to change your religion you wouldn’t get burnt”. As a direct descendant of survivors of the Spanish Inquisition who found safe haven in England, I take issue with his offensive hypocrisy.

The tens of thousands of Marranos who converted notionally in order to preserve their lives and faith were in fact not prepared to change their religion. At tremendous risk, they continued to practise as “secret Jews” and, when denounced, were burnt at the stake for their trouble. Thousands more who refused conversion were tortured or expelled.

The Inquisition is the standout historical example of forced conversion, torture and burning at the stake. Greiner’s flippant denigration of its victims, with its imputations of cowardice, is to be deplored. Strangely, he overlooks a target far closer to home.

Prior to World War II, many Hungarian Jews converted; a small number out of religious or social conviction, the majority in the tragically misguided belief that conversion would save them from the Nazis. These individuals, whatever their motive, are Greiner’s antecedents. Yet I doubt that, despite the analogous situation, he would hold them to ridicule, as he has ridiculed my own forebears with a cheap throwaway line and with mind-stretching hypocrisy.

Ruth Mendes Barnett
Bondi Junction, NSW

Students are a credit to the community

WE were recently kindly extended the special privilege and honour of attending the valedictory of Masada year 12, 2009.

If these students reflect the values of our future generation, we are truly a very fortunate community.

In the school captains’ valedictory address, teachers and students past and present were acknowledged and paid tribute, including our son David who attended Masada primary with the current year 12s for four years from years K to 3. David unfortunately lost his life in a tragic accident in January 2001.

Almost nine years later, the students not only talked about David being “very much alive in all of our hearts”, but they also shared their valedictory milestone by creating and funding the perpetual year 12 David Selinger Memorial Prize and planting a tree in David’s memory on the high-school campus. The tree dedication ceremony was incredibly moving on so many levels, and two of David’s friends, who no longer attend Masada, were respectfully included.

We have received many comments about the amazing and wonderful values of the students, they certainly are true mensches and are a credit to their school and community.

Let us all be proud of them and enjoy the nachas.

Selinger Family
Northbridge, NSW

Rabbis’ unprecedented prenup resolution

I’D like to thank The AJN for its report (04/12) on a recent vote by the Rabbinical Council of Victoria (RCV) by its member rabbis to introduce mandatory prenuptial agreements. Unfortunately, the report omitted one crucial point -— a point I believe will be of much interest to the Jewish community in general, and to prospective couples in particular.

During its recent annual general meeting, the RCV voted on a resolution that would require all its member rabbis to recommend the signing of a prenuptial agreement prior to their officiating under the chuppah. The resolution was passed almost unanimously.

The introduction of a prenuptial document halachically acceptable to all RCV rabbis, and the rabbis’ desire and willingness to recommend its signing by couples, is both unprecedented within the Victorian rabbinate and a major step forward in the prevention of spousal refusal to grant or receive a gett (divorce) in the future.

Rabbi Yaakov Glasman
President, Rabbinical Council of Victoria

Men shouldn’t all be lumped together

WITH respect Samantha Mimeran — Out of Africa (AJN 27/11), I wish to take issue with your flippant comment that “men could manage with beer and pizza for company”.

There are many lonely guys out there who don’t know how to communicate or make friends. They keep their feelings to themselves and put on a macho face to hide what they may feel inside, emotionally, and don’t speak out.

There are many men in Australian refuges for many reasons in life, for example failed marriages, loss of jobs, alcoholism, losing a loved one -— the list is endless.

Women are better communicators and find it easier to meet people and chat among themselves when they have a problem. Men tend to keep things to themselves.

Women generally look after their health better than men do and as a result generally outlive them.

Perhaps if some women cared a little more about the men in their lives there would be a little less pain and suffering and loneliness out there.

I recall a saying, “Behind every successful man there is a woman.” Adam needed Eve, but Eve also needed Adam to survive. Think about that.

Tony Aufgang
South Yarra, Vic

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