The Jewish Advocate | This Weeks Issue

Letters to the editor

Opportunities In Worcester

I am writing in response to last week's article, “Worcester Jewish school to close” by Vladimir Shvorin. In no way do I want to diminish the loss that the Worcester community feels by the closing of The New Jewish Academy.
However, I would like to inform the Worcester community, especially the parents of former students of NJA, that there is an alternative for their children to receive a Jewish education that was not mentioned in the article; and that is religious school education.
As the principal of the Zvi Plich Religious School of Congregation Beth Israel, I can tell you that we are extremely committed to accommodating and welcoming students who were at NJA last year. We are adding more Hebrew classes, and are consulting with teachers and administrators of NJA as to how to transition NJA students into our school.
I am confident that the families who do decide to attend the Zvi Plich Religious school will find it to be warm and welcoming, as well as built on sound pedagogical and Judaic principles.

Nancy Marin
Worcester

An Inaccurate Attack On ADL

Once again, Tom Mountain cannot seem to get the facts straight (“ADL evokes echoes of Skokie,” June 27).
Contrary to his perception, ADL did not dispatch lawyers to Guantanamo and the case before the U.S. Supreme Court was not about advocating for the release of terrorists, but rather upholding the right of habeas corpus, one of this country’s oldest Constitutional rights.
Some of the detainees have been held for more than six years without the opportunity to challenge their detention. This month, the court agreed that habeas corpus applies to them, just as it does to everyone else on American soil.
The decision, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, declared that “Liberty and security can be reconciled” and “The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times.”
The decision ensures that regardless of the accusations, before an individual is imprisoned indefinitely he or she still has the Constitutional right to challenge the detention.
ADL was hardly alone among civil and human rights organizations speaking out about the rights of Guantanamo detainees. A broad coalition of human rights, public interest and religious groups signed on to the “friend of the court” brief, including the American Jewish Committee, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, People for the American Way and The Rutherford Institution.
Yet, Mr. Mountain seems content only to wage an ad hominem attack on ADL, and in the final analysis this seems to be his real agenda.

Robert O. Trestan
Eastern States Civil Rights Counsel
Anti-Defamation League

Poor Policies And Blame

In his criticism of the Zionist Organization of America’s Morton Klein, David Alpert, treasurer of Brit Tzedek v’ Shalom, opines that “there is plenty of blame to go around” and goes on to fault Israel for its “blockade” of Gaza (Letters to the Editor, June 27). It is particularly infuriating that Alpert makes this accusation without any reference to the situation there.
In 2005 Israel removed all Jews from Gaza and handed the territory to the Palestinians. The Palestinians immediately proceeded to burn down the remaining synagogues in Gaza, and subsequently elected the terrorist organization Hamas as their government.
Rocket attacks originating from Gaza on the civilian population of Isareli cities are now daily events. In spite of these rocket attacks, Israel continues to provide humanitarian supplies at border crossings, contrary to Alpert’s statement.
Nevertheless, Alpert’s blame of Israel for blockading Gaza promulgates a new level of Israel bashing: not only must Jews ignore wanton acts of terrorism aimed at their civilian population, but they must now supply and support those who carry out these acts. It is furthermore ironic that Alpert should cast this blame on Israel while Jews in Boston are seeking to help the residents of Sderot protect themselves from terrorist attacks from Gaza.
The unfortunate truth is that since the Oslo “peace process” began in 1993, almost 2,000 Israelis have been murdered. Israel now finds its very existence threatened by those whom Alpert seeks to engage in dialogue. It is way past time for Alpert to recognize the true intent of our adversaries, and to cease his support of policies that have caused so much death and destruction.

Dr. Jack Schuss
Newton

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