On Abuse, the Catholic Church’s Progress Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative to United Nations organizations in Geneva, noted that the Catholic Church has been “cleaning its own house” and that other institutions “could do the same” (“Vatican’s New Defense on Child Molestation Charges: Finger-pointing,” October 16). There is validity to his statement. While the…
Putting Victims First I am writing this letter to correct any misimpressions that may arise as a result of quotes from me that were published in your October 23 article “Rabbis Still Want Role in Abuse Cases.” I fear that the context in which my quotes were presented in the article may cause my views…
An Orthodox Exodus I was surprised and disappointed to see you print the old-school canard that the liberal streams of Judaism will inevitably disappear due to intermarriage, with only Orthodoxy thriving in the future (“The Jewish Future, in Black and White,” October 16). This outcome has been predicted for decades with no tangible proof that…
Desmond Tutu Was Not Right About Israel Desmond Tutu was wrong about Israel, and so is letter-writer Martin Hird (“Desmond Tutu Was Not Wrong About Israel,” October 2). Hird wrote: “I don’t believe anyone can argue that if not for the Holocaust the State of Israel would exist today.” A more accurate statement about the…
Defending Democracy In Honduras The rule of law and democracy must be restored in Honduras (“Jewish Groups Take Sides in Honduran Strife,” October 2). Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is correct in his statement that, regardless of how we view a deposed leader, coups d’etat are unacceptable and the United…
Desmond Tutu Was Not Wrong About Israel In your September 18 editorial “Despairing Words,” you take Desmond Tutu to task for “implying that Israel resembles apartheid.” Under the South African apartheid policy, blacks had to present identification periodically to legitimize a presence or activity. Today, in the West Bank, there are dozens of internal Israeli…
With Ehud Olmert, What Could Have Been Your September 11 article “Hidden in Olmert Indictment Are Charges That He Swindled U.S. Jews” reported that pro-Israel organizations allegedly “unwittingly ponied up tens of thousands of dollars in false travel expenses for Olmert that he used as a personal travel fund for himself and for his friends…
Where Are the Reform Outreach Centers? In your September 4 article “Largest Outreach Effort for Alums of Birthright Raises Concerns,” Reform rabbis Eric Yoffie and Andrew Bachman express concern over what is being taught at the Jewish Enrichment Center, which is staffed by Orthodox rabbis, and call for greater pluralism in Jewish outreach efforts. What…
‘Crazy Eddie’ Cousin Slurs Syrian Jews We at the Sephardic Community Federation were shocked and appalled by the Forward’s decision to print Sam Antar’s slanderous comments about our Sephardic community without any substantiation (“‘Crazy’ Eddie’s Cousin, a Former Fraudster, Speaks Out on Syrian ‘Subculture of Crime,’” September 4). To run a prominent article alleging in…
Sudan Still Needs the Jewish Community Your August 14 editorial “Save Sudan” explained in great nuance the complexities of the situation in Darfur. The Forward is correct in noting the importance of looking beyond semantics and recognizing the fact that, unless the comprehensive peace agreement between North and South Sudan is effectively implemented, the entire…
Those Who Wish To Receive Organs Must Also Give The issues relating to Jews and organ transplants are indeed troublesome (“How Kidneys Are Bought and Sold on Black Market,” August 7). There is a significant halachic issue for some rabbis regarding whether organs can be removed from brain dead patients. Those Jews who feel that…
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