February 27, 2009
Why should we pay for others' mistakes?
I, like many of you, am struggling financially to pay my bills, feed my family, and pay tuition for my children. Like my immigrant parents, who came to America with a few dollars in their pockets, I always hoped that the lives of my children and grandchildren would be financially easier. My wife and I have worked hard to achieve everything, including our educational degrees and owning a home. Now I am told by our government that I must support those who bought homes that they could not afford and pay for educators to travel to India and other countries on my taxes.
I have had enough. Daily, we learn of CEOs who caused this economic mess receiving multi-million dollar salaries, bonuses, and buyouts. America should not become a socialist society. Let the politicians who got us into this mess take pay cuts and pay their own health care premiums. Why are we paying for gas for state and local employees who use their cars for personal as well as business pursuits? If I wasn't a law abiding American citizen, I would suggest that we go on strike, like the Boston Tea Party. As a clergyman, I see congregants who have always worked being fired, while others get a free ride on our backs. It has gotten to the point that for many in our country, welfare would be a better option. I pray that we citizens will write letters to our elected officials and email and call them relentlessly. Our lives and the lives of our children are on the line.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Congregation Beth-El, Edison
Keeping our priorities straight
I have been following the various letters regarding the kashrut certification at Shushan Grill, and the fact that not all synagogues were asked to participate in the Tehillim for Israeli soldiers. While these issues are important, and must be resolved, we all need to "get a life."
Can't we just get along? Intermarriage is at 50 percent. Out of town, in the Midwest it is 70 percent. Obtaining kosher meat in certain parts of the United States is extremely difficult and costly. Why don't we focus on what is really important. Young families cannot afford yeshiva and day school education. Institutions, such as Yeshiva University have been hit hard by the economy. People are losing jobs and some, including Jewish families, are struggling to put food on the table. Most cannot afford to buy a home in an Orthodox neighborhood. It is very difficult to find qualified yeshiva and day school teachers because they are not being paid a living wage. We need to focus as a community on helping set up shidduchim, especially for those young adults who have left the college arena. We must raise money for scholarships. We must open our homes to mekarev the huge percentage of Jews we are losing to assimilation every year. While the "glatt kosher pickle" may have meaning to some, we as members of the Jewish community, and the rabbinate in general, must get our heads out of the sand. I do not speak in theory. I deal with families daily whose children are intermarrying and I also try to help young adult Orthodox Jewish singles who are frustrated at their inability to find a shidduch and fear they will never marry. The challenge to the Jewish community is great.
Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Congregation Beth-El, Edison