Letters
May 9, 2008

Thanks from JHSCJ

Thank you for your coverage of the 90th anniversary of the Raritan Valley Chapter of Hadassah. It has been the pleasure of the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey to help researchers from the local Hadassah chapter prepare their anniversary celebration. 

The JHSCJ, located in New Brunswick, is the best-kept secret in the local Jewish community, not least because our name is often misstated in articles such as this one.

The JHSCJ archives span more than 300 years, and preserve much of the history and original documentation of congregations and organizations founded by the local Jewish community. One example is the original certificate issued by the Federation of American Zionists, which created the New Brunswick Chapter of Hadassah in June 1916. A photograph of this certificate was used to decorate the cover of Hadassah's current calendar.

The Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey is an invaluable resource for anyone searching for information on local Jewish history, whether to celebrate a congregation's milestone anniversary or to research a family tree. Our collection includes historical and current documents (including monthly newsletters), which reflect the activities of all congregations and Jewish organizations in Middlesex, Somerset, Mercer, Monmouth, Warren, and Hunterdon counties. We also have many individual family documents and records. All documents are preserved in climate-controlled safety.

If you are looking for information on the history of your congregation or organization, the Jewish Historical Society of Central Jersey archives should be one of the first places you contact. We will be happy to help you with your research.

Deborah Cohn

Archivist/Office Manager

Jewish Historical Society of  Central Jersey, New Brunswick

Which path do we choose?

As I look out at the broader Jewish community beyond my own synagogue, I am motivated by a strong belief that what unites us -- Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, etc. -- is so much more important than what divides us. This outlook allows me to see the shared values in widely divergent practices, programs, and modes of expression.

Occasionally, my approach is sorely tested. Such was the case in reading the report, "A bar mitzvah by the sea," in your April 25 issue.

The author of the report expresses no regret or remorse that all four of her children have intermarried. She is entitled, and interpersonally astute, to make the best of the situation in her family. But to share this sorrowful fact in a Jewish newspaper without qualification is a sad statement on contemporary Jewish life.

The fact that the bar mitzvah took place on a beach -- arguably one of the least modest places available for a religious celebration -- indicates a worrisome estrangement from Jewish values that prize modesty and humility before God.

I was struck most, though, by the comment of the bar mitzvah boy's teacher: "The philosophy is that we choose the path -- not that we are chosen." This viewpoint is diametrically opposed to the direct statements made in numerous places in our Torah, which indicate clearly that in fact, yes, God did choose the Jewish people to play a special role in the world. This role demands not merely the consumption of latkes and chicken soup. Rather, our role as a ‘chosen' people is to observe God's specific commandments (such as Sabbath, Kosher, holidays, prayer, and Jewish education of our youth), while also respecting one's fellow man and woman (Jew and non-Jew) in the process. An essential part of being ‘chosen' is an obligation to make sacrifices to preserve those values.

Accepting all of these reservations, I think the author of the article should take pride in her grandson's accomplishment. But such nachas should be leavened with an honest appraisal of the circumstances surrounding the occasion. These circumstances, unfortunately, do not bode well for the continuity of the Jewish faith that the grandson has elected to discover.

Harry Glazer

Highland Park

Thoughts on Jewish spy

The recent arrest of Middlesex County resident Ben-Ami Kadish on accusations of spying for our friend and ally, Israel, raises concerns.

Although I certainly do not condone Mr. Kadish's alleged conduct, I do not view him as a "criminal" in the traditional sense. One has to wonder what possessed Israel in spying on its greatest (and perhaps only) true ally. Was it that the Pentagon or National Security Agency did not share fully with Israel all of its intelligence that Israel perceived it needed for its survival? Or might it not be the fact that Israel faces daily threats of annihilation and war and must do everything in its power to protect its citizens by having a superior army, intelligence, and military equipment compared to its hostile neighbors?

Israel's very existence, of course, must include intelligence gathering at any cost or price, even if it means stealing it from a friend.

I must add that Mr. Kadish's alleged conduct occurred many years ago, and it is disheartening that he is now, more than 20 years later, being prosecuted. The man is 85 years old and certainly not a threat to anyone at this point. Although he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, I cannot help but have sympathy for what he has done to help ensure Israel's survival.

Despite this potentially damaging incident for U.S.-Israeli relations, the fact remains that Israel is America's only true friend in the Middle East. Witness only Israel's recent bombing of a Syrian military facility that was gearing up for eventual production of nuclear weapons, or its attack more than 25 years ago of Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor.

These heroic military operations were certainly in the U.S.'s interest and may have been done with the assistance of Mr. Kadish's (or Jonathan Pollard's) "theft" of U.S. classified material. I shudder at the very thought of dangerous dictators like Saddam Hussein or Bashar al-Assad having a nuclear bomb. Is there any doubt that these demonic leaders would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons if given the opportunity?

Israel continues to engage in daily battles with anti-U.S. terrorists (Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, etc.) and serves to deter anti-U.S. countries like Syria and Iran from territorial expansion. If Mr. Kadish's illegal conduct aided a friend in need who serves U.S. Middle Eastern interests, I ask what is the real harm, other than the obvious that he violated the law? I can only hope that Mr. Kadish's past act of alleged espionage strengthens and not harms the U.S.'s and Israel's joint intelligence gathering and sharing efforts and military cooperation. Although Mr. Kadish may have broken the law, I can state almost unequivocally that his heart as a Jew was in the right direction.

Andrew S. Turkish

Morganville

Learn from our mistakes

Debbie Israel's recent commentary, "Jewish success should be a light unto the nations" (April 25) poses a number of problems.

After a brief synopsis of claiming that, "given even half a chance, Jews have risen to the top," she states that she doesn't "quite understand why the Islamists are trying to destroy us," and suggests they emulate us so they are as successful as the Jews have been. She also claims that one reason they try to destroy us are their "corrupt governments," and differentiates between "fundamentalist" "Islamist" culture and "Islamic" culture.

The reason the Islamists, the Christians, and a number of non-Orthodox Jews have tried to destroy the Jewish people throughout the centuries is simple; the Children of Israel were chosen by God to be His emissaries and to live by His Torah. Those who murder us want to free themselves from God's morality so they can set up a society based on their own "values". They seek to kill God Himself but, since they can't, they go after His people.

Although Ms. Israel advises that Islamists should emulate "Jewish success," she fails to describe how that success is achieved and at what price. Yes, with God's blessing, Jews did achieve material success in the various lands of the Diaspora. But they also assimilated. Ultimately, the Jews as a group were murdered and/or cast out. It is like the Passover story repeated over and over again. Some success!!! The big exception is, of course, the United States of America. However, given the tone of the liberal media, events on college campuses, and the "tolerance" for anti-Semites in the Democrat party, there is cause to suspect that times are not changing for the better in this country.

Ms. Israel is correct regarding the corruption in Islamic governments; however, you will have to look long and hard to find any government that is not corrupt at some level. More importantly, we shouldn't overlook the fact that Islamists themselves are generally corrupt (not to mention bloodthirsty and murderous) and seek to murder us for their own reasons.

Lastly, the notion that there is a difference between "fundamentalist" Islam and "basic" Islam is an exercise in self-delusion, at best. The difference between "fundamentalists" and "ordinary" Muslims is like the difference between Fatah and Hamas; they have the same goal (destruction of Israel and extermination of the Jews), they just differ in the methods. As for the difference between "Islamist" vs. "Islamic" cultures, there is no "separation of Church and State" in any Islamic state except Turkey, and even that is changing.

Ms. Israel presumes to suggest a course of action to others. Instead, I suggest we first learn from our own mistakes.

Benjamin Feigenbaum
East Brunswick