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Southern-style chutzpah

The notorious Jew-hating Jimmy Carter is "asking the Jewish community for forgiveness" -- and insists it's not simply because his grandson, Jason Carter, has decided to launch a political career with a run for the Georgia state Senate. This seat will cover suburban DeKalb County, which has a substantial Jewish community. This man, who embraced Hamas and offered compassion for Nazi war criminals, has the unmitigated chutzpah to use the words "Al Chet" for his past statements and actions.

Carter is what a he is -- a liberal who is embraced as an "elder statesman" of the Democratic Party -- and his attitudes and conduct are what can be expected from those who know deep down in their hearts that some "Jews" would vote and support Hitler himself, y'mach sh'mo, should that evil one rise from the dead and run for office as a Democrat.

Does that explain the behavior of Abe Foxman and Ira Forman?

Foxman, the Anti-Defamation League's national director, said he was not disturbed that the former president's reaching out to the Jewish community might have been triggered in part by his grandson's political aspirations. "If it turns out that President Carter's love for his grandson brought about an epiphany in his relationship with the Jewish people, that's fine," said Foxman. "I don't care what stimulated him to re-examine his bias toward the Jewish people. If it's his grandson and his understanding that his grandson's relations to the Jewish community will help him succeed -- I don't think we have the right to judge."

Foxman most certainly doesn't have the right to judge Carter's politically motivated "epiphany" -- which is why he should keep his big mouth shut. He does not speak for anyone except his organization. An organization which, by the way, is so good at ferreting out right-wing and Christian "anti-Semitism" that it can find it even where it doesn't exist. Of course, left-wing and Muslim Jew-hatred is another story, and Foxman's easy "forgiveness" for Jimmy is a big part of that.

Forman, the CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council, told JTA. "We think only fair that when the former president asks for forgiveness for any criticism that may have stigmatized Israel that we should respond in kind. We appreciate President Carter's 'Al Het' and encourage him to keep these sentiments in mind as he speaks in the future about the state of Israel."

Both Foxman and Forman's cowardice in failing to denounce Carter's "apology" for the politcally-motivated manure that it is amply demonstrates their lack of pride in anything Jewish.

I seriously doubt that the conduct of Foxman and Forman alone is insufficient reason for bad things happening to the Jewish people. When people like Foxman and Forman commit a chillul Hashem, a desecration of God's name, as they have done with their comments on Jimmy Carter's "apology," they show that they're part of the problem. However, when those who know better, and who have the power to take action, allow this desecration of Jewish pride to occur without a proper response, then our collective punishment becomes both understandable and deserved.

Where are the true leaders of the Jewish people and why are they silent when we are disgraced by these liberal "Jewish" Democrats?

Benjamin Feigenbaum
East Brunswick

Politically incorrect

I hope all my Christian friends had a merry Christmas, and I wish them a happy New Year. This is no doubt politically incorrect. President Carter has asked for forgiveness for any words or deeds that may have upset the Jewish community. As a human being, I can forgive but I do not believe him. It just happens his comments appear after his grandson, Jason, declared he is running for a Georgian state Senate seat. I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you. President Carter, forgive me for thinking you are disingenuous.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Congregation Beth-El, Edison