MAILBOX

Mother ‘would be proud’ of Cohen

Congratulations to Nan Cohen for receiving the 2018 Ruby Bass award. I’m sure that my mother would be proud to know that she is being remembered in this way.

Gail Bass Arnoff Shaker Heights

Where is Jewish morality?

Those who continue to support President Donald Trump do so at the cost of what Judaism teaches us about leading a moral Jewish life: to pursue and advance the concepts of kindness, decency and truth; to speak out against bigotry and prejudice against Jews and all minorities and refugees; to help the downtrodden, particularly those fleeing oppression, just as Jews did when they came to this country after World War II and how Abraham did in welcoming strangers into his tent in last week’s parasha; to renounce publicly those who intentionally rip open the underbelly of racism and prejudice; to call out those who lie perpetually instead of valuing and speaking the truth; to speak out against unfair attacks on a free press. Alternate facts? Really?; and, most importantly, to speak out against ant-Semitism, particularly the intentional use of anti-Semitic code words, like “globalist,” meaning “international Jewish conspiracy.”

Trump recently stated he was a “nationalist and not a globalist.” Almost immediately after, Ku Klux Klan’s David Duke sang Trump’s praises on Twitter.

History’s taught us that Jews have always been outsiders, except in Israel and the U.S. – until now. Make no mistake, we must take a moral stand on this threat to our safety as U.S. Jews rather than just stay silent.

Don’t Jewish teachings on Jewish morality require these things? How can Jews I know to be moral and good people continue to support a president and party without objection to these moral outrages?

Kerry Volsky Solon

Disclaimer

Letters, commentaries and opinions appearing in the Cleveland Jewish News do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Jewish Publication Company, its board, officers or staff.

CJN lauded for Pittsburgh coverage

I am humbled by the incredible reporting job the Cleveland Jewish News did this week, covering so many angles of Saturday’s horrific attack in Pittsburgh.

As you know, I’m always a big fan of the CJN, but this edition goes way beyond what anyone could reasonably expect.

Kol hakavod to you and the entire staff. We are so blessed to have you in our community, working for us every day, every week, every year. I only hope that your skills will never again be tested in this way.

Char Rapoport Nance, Director ORT America – Ohio Region

Comfort in community

My wife, Sandy, and I attended activities four out of seven days at The Temple Tifereth-Israel, our beautiful temple home, the week following the tragedy in Pittsburgh.

Being embraced by a loving, inclusive synagogue community is life enhancing always. But at a time when we have been shaken to our core it is almost lifesaving. It reminds us of all the good in the world. It restores our hope.

Shabbat services and other opportunities to be in community fill us up and bring us peace. This is something that no human power can take away from us permanently. Our four gifted, intelligent and compassionate clergy work diligently and constantly, bringing deep and meaningful experiences to their congregants, and making strides in repairing the world.

It was never a thought for us to stay away because of fear. We knew where we needed to be.

Joy Fox Cleveland

Corrections

• Rabbi Josh Foster of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation in Pepper Pike lights one of the 11 candles representing the Pittsburgh shooting victims during a vigil in Cleveland. He was misidentified.

‘Disappointed’ in Brett column

I like Cleveland Jewish News columnist Regina Brett and read her column every time it is printed. I generally like her views and insights. But I am very disappointed that she used the tragedy in Pittsburgh to be political and turn her column into a dislike President Donald Trump speech, a vote against the Republicans speech. (“Blame the Jews? Enough is enough,” Nov. 2)

Rita Rzepka Gates Mills

Thanks for addiction program

Thank you to Sheryl Hirsh and Siegal Lifelong Learning Program at Case Western Reserve University and the Jewish Federation of Cleveland for an enlightening and important program entitled, “It Happens Here: Addiction and Mental Health Issues in the Jewish Community.”

Sixteen members of the Cleveland area-clergy and 10 lay leaders spent the day learning about substance use disorder and the ways in which the Jewish community can eliminate stigma and support individuals and their families. Clergy and lay leaders represented every branch of Judaism as well as nondenominational Jews.

Clearly, this issue, which kills 11 Ohioans every day, touches every corner of the Jewish community and it is our obligation to respond compassionately and effectively as a community.

We appreciate Hirsh sharing her personal tragedy, Dr. Paul Manning teaching us about the physical aspects of the disease, Marla Kaufman describing her creation of the Jewish Addiction Awareness Network and offering concrete steps we can take in the Greater Cleveland area and Jory Hanselman introducing us to the BaMidbar Wilderness Therapy program.

Thank you for bringing in these experts to share their time and knowledge. The session closed with words from a text called Tanna debei Eliyahu Rabbah, warning us, “If we are able to do something, yet we do nothing, we are responsible for the consequences.”

As clergy representing a wide swath of our Jewish community, we are grateful for the reminder that we can do better as we respond to mental health challenges, substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic.

An open letter to Regina

I just want you to know how meaningful columnist Regina Brett’s article, “Stop blaming the Jews,” was to me.

I used to read your columns all the time in the Akron Beacon-Journal and always enjoyed them.

Anyhow, a friend posted your article from the Cleveland Jewish News on Facebook, and I copied it and sent it to my husband, who sent it to our grandchildren. Hopefully, they will get “turned on” from it and get involved. (I can try, can’t I?)

Thank you for all your beautiful thoughts and eloquent writing.

I Googled you to see if you were Jewish because I felt your passion. I read your article about your boyfriend taking you to a seder. It was terrific.

Stay well and keep writing so beautifully. I will look for your future columns.

Janice Sheftel Akron

Offended by Brett column

I’m sorry but I strongly disagree with Cleveland Jewish News columnist Regina Brett’s recent column (“Blame the Jews again? Enough is enough,” Nov. 2)

To use the Pittsburgh tragedy to take a cheap shot at the president is wrong. I too am tired. I’m tired of Jews wistfully believing some legislation or nice speak is going to protect them. If history teaches us anything, it’s that we are targeted precisely because we are Jews and that responsibility for our safety lies solely with us. I’m tired of the peace-loving rabbis that helped lead my ancestors to the ovens. I’d rather admire the resistance that fought back. Does the writer understand that Israel learned long ago that violence must be met with overwhelming force. Wishing away the evil on her borders won’t cut it. Does armed security always work? No, but it’s better then being a sheep led to slaughter. There are over a billion guns in this country and that’s not changing. Just as our schoolchildren should be protected, we as Jews need to ensure our own safety. Relying on police or politicians is crazy. Just ask those that survived the concentration camps. Just ask any brave member of the Israel Defense Forces. The slogan, “never again,” reflects this view. Never again should Jews allow themselves to be victims. Those last few souls that fought in the Warsaw ghetto understood this just as we must.

• Jade Chinese Kitchen’s hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m Sunday through Thursday. Incorrect hours were reported. (“New kosher Chinese restaurant opens in South Euclid,” Nov. 2)

Noah Leavitt, Rabbi

Oheb Zedek-Cedar Sinai

Sharon Marcus, Rabbi Park Synagogue

Steve Segar, Rabbi

Kol HaLev, Cleveland’s Reconstructionist Community

This letter was also signed by 16 other people.

For what it’s worth, my temple in Columbus has had armed security for more than 20 years. It’s sad those poor souls in Pittsburgh did not.

Bernard Gross Pataskala, Ohio

The Steelers quarterback wanted to honor the Pittsburgh synagogue victims | Source: JTA

At Last, Barbra Streisand is a Bubbe! Westlyn Reign Brolin’s birth was announced on Instagram | Source: Kveller

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Vice Chairs: Rabbi Rosette Barron Haim, Dennis A. Linden, Paul Singerman

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Directors: Cathleen Bolek, Gena Cohen, Jay Geller, Shari Loveman Goldberg, Dr. Elad Granot, Jessa Hochman, Kate Hubben, David Kaufman, Dustin S. Klein, Emily Lebowitz, Gregg A. Levine, Greg Marcus, Wendy Lefko Messeloff, Aaron Minc, David Minc, David Posner, Lauren B. Rock,

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