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Poison funds cut

"Never look a gift horse in the mouth," but that is exactly what the state of New Jersey has recently done by cutting funds to the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES), and potentially foregoing federal funds of over $150,000. The federal funds come with strings attached and cannot be accessed without the state commitment of dollars.

New Jersey receives federal grant funds contingent on the state maintaining its own financial commitment to the center's operation. In decreasing the state commitment by 32 percent over the last four years, state residents take a much bigger hit of decreased federal funding.

The math doesn't add up, and we strongly urge our newly elected executive and legislative officials to take a more informed look at the state emergency services system and the part the N.J. Poison Center plays within it. Studies in New Jersey and other states continue to show that millions of dollars are saved annually by poison control center interventions that handle problems at the scene and prevent unnecessary and expensive hospital visits.

Sadly, the NJPIES budget has been cut consistently for the past four years, just recently with a 22 percent budget cut for the fiscal year 2010. The system is currently running on bare bones, but still providing 24/7 free telephone support to all New Jersey residents, EMS professionals, and MDs in N.J.-based hospitals. The expertise and service is unparalleled and needs to be protected, not impinged. We urge our new governor and legislators to learn more about our services and support NJPIES as a progressive budget-saving and health-reform measure.

Dr. Steven Marcus
Executive medical director, New Jersey Poison Information and Education System

Pope's visit to synagogue

I just viewed the visit by the pope to the synagogue of Rome. As a child of Holocaust survivors who suffered in various concentration camps, I regard this event as a political dance.

I am certain I will be criticized for my remarks, but I refuse to be politically correct. I must speak out in memory of my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who were murdered by the Nazis while the world remained silent. Open the archives and let us find out the truth about Pope Pius XII. Did he help in "a hidden way" as the pope said, or not. This pope and the Catholic Church must let the truth be known.

I really do not care about niceties or speeches. I seek the truth.

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg
Congregation Beth-El, Edison

Parental permission for abuse: A chillul Hashem

As a youngster I attended yeshiva, as a young adult I earned two master's degrees, have taught for many years, raised two fabulous and outstanding children, am thrilled to share that I have 10 grandchildren, and belong to and have held positions in many, many organizations, both religious and secular. Currently I am 61, and believe I do have a modicum of intelligence -- and yet, I am made to feel absolutely benighted when I am confronted with the response of the adult Jewish frum community to the problem of abuse by so called rabbis. I must live on a different planet.

On one hand, I have always been under the impression that 1) we Jews have a gift for learning, and arguing, and using our skills to interpret law, that (most often) is used wisely; and 2) our children are our most prized and precious gift from Hashem.

But here is the disconnect for me: How can a parent who professes to be an observant Jew and therefore concerned with their child's spiritual growth -- in good conscience -- simply ignore their child's psychological and emotional well being? Here is the ultimate question: Under what circumstances are parents comfortable giving up concern for their own child's best interests in exchange for concern of a molester's reputation and parnassa?

As parents, we are blessed with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of our children. Are children not first and foremost our gifts to teach, inspire, and protect? At what point in our "growth" did we start putting or permitting the welfare of our children to be second and the reputation of someone else to be first?

Parents who ascribe to being frum in general do not want to talk about abusive rabbis and certainly do not want to hear about it. Even when they, the parents, are made aware of the issue in their own community. What other catastrophe are parents so willing to ignore? This is called keeping your head in the sand at the beach while your child drowns in the water just a few feet away. What a sad commentary on parental choices.

I see the lengths some parents take to not allow their children to be introduced to, or be influenced by, the flaws of the secular world, but no restraint is used in keeping the very same children safe from the hands of the molesters. Where is the rachmones on our innocent children?

What school policies are in place for the protection of our children? To whom are the children alerted to share should there be a need? Shouldn't it be the parents? It would follow then that the parents' only concern is to protect the child. What is their plan and what are they willing to do? Who in the frum community is the voice/spokesperson/advocate for the children?

The parents hold all the power and their decisions make all the difference.

As long as parents are comfortable with putting their children at risk, choosing to not hear is being an accomplice to the crime. These parents who say nothing are enablers. These parents who choose to save face for the rabbi and lose face in their children's eyes are on the wrong path.

Laurie Dinerstein-Kurs
East Windsor