We need to combat hate
Anti-Semitism is a worldwide problem that is getting worse, especially overseas. Our best protection is education, making living conditions better for others and swift eradication of extremist Islamic factions. We can
say a lot of negative things about the United States, but it also affords us tremendous opportunities/choices, albeit a somewhat surreal sense of “security.” We cannot reason with crazy; with radical extremists whose value system(s) are anathema to ours. Quite ironically, they garner sympathies, using our core values of compassion/sympathy while they spread violence and hatred. Influenced journalists predictably fall prey to such misguided attractions and project such biased opinions, often portraying them as “golden truths.”
It would be totally different if the United States was being bombed daily by Canadians who vowed to exterminate all Americans. How long would Americans tolerate tunnels into our towns; crazed extremists with suicide vests, aiming to kill and kidnap our brethren all the while celebrating such mayhem and cowardly hiding their terrorists and weapons among their hospitals, schools, day-care centers and religious institutions — using our very own Judeo-Christian morals against us? This is pure evil. The walls of many dwellings previously occupied by Islamic extremists displayed a shockingly common inscription, “First the Saturday people, then the Sunday people” (a quote from the book, “Israel, the Will to Prevail” by Danny Damon).
It is no coincidence that the Ebola virus is in the news at the same time — that should give us some clues as to how to proactively treat this potential pandemic threat.
John Fasbinder
Lenexa, Kan.
All roads lead to Hebrew
In response to Joe Karbank’s letter to the editor, published in the July 24 edition of The Chronicle.
When Joe spoke of the importance of Hebrew language as central to Jewish identity, he will find no better ally than Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy. On the one hand, Hebrew is values neutral, but on the other hand all Jewish values originate in Hebrew. The keys to the Jewish kingdom are contained in that 22 letter alphabet. Learning a new language (let’s not call it foreign) is challenging especially for Americans, but the spiritual and intellectual rewards are enormous, and the benefits far outweigh the costs. To be connected to Israel through her language is the next best thing to being there, and to study the tradition in the original is an incomparable experience. For the modern, traditional, liberal, secular Jew — all roads lead to Hebrew, and at HBHA we see Hebrew competence as our sacred, and secular mission.
Rabbi Avi Weinstein
Head of Jewish Studies
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy