Thumbs down to The CJN
Over the last year, The CJN has written about its mandate to “serve the Jewish People in Canada.” The president of the board, Donald Carr, even spoke of the paper’s “integrity.”
Yet the paper has chosen to run a full-page ad (Nov. 14) on the charter of values that threatens our individual rights as Jews in Quebec – all for advertising revenue.
What next? The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement? Israel Apartheid Week? Should we be expecting more objectionable ads – all for the sake of making a buck?
The integrity of a paper relies on its strong moral principles – even in advertising.
Without this moral compass, The CJN is indeed doomed.
Michael Kalin
Côte Saint-Luc
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Declaration’s main goal is homeland, not democracy
There is much to disagree with in Barbara Landau’s letter, titled “Israel must halt settlements in capital” (The CJN, Nov. 14), but I would like to examine only one sentence, which is: “If a peace treaty is not achieved soon, Israel risks losing its status as a democracy, and with that, the support of progressive Jews who cherish the values in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.”
Although the Israeli Declaration of Independence deals with equality for all, its main objective is the establishment, maintenance and protection of a Jewish state.
Establishing a Jewish homeland, not establishing a democracy, is the number one reason for the existence of Israel. Because of the need to maintain its Jewish nature, it cannot be both universally democratic and Jewish. It must choose.
JSpace and its Jewish progressives have chosen democracy over Judaism. Many of us politically conservative and socially conscious Jews choose protecting our Jewish homeland over ensuring that Israel has a universal democracy.
Jonathan Usher
Toronto
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Areas disputed, not occupied
Letter writer Barbara Landau, a member of JSpace Canada, is most certainly entitled to her point of view as to what steps Israel should take in achieving a peaceful settlement with the Palestinians (“Israel must halt settlements in capital,” The CJN, Nov. 14).
She states that settlement expansion in east Jerusalem is an act of provocation and bad faith during peace talks. The fundamental error in her opinion is to state that east Jerusalem, and by extension the West Bank, are occupied territories.
Many scholars have opined that the areas in question are disputed, but certainly not occupied. A spokesperson for any Jewish organization should certainly recognize the important distinction between occupied and disputed.
She urges world leaders to take strong positions condemning actions by both Israelis and Palestinians. Please, Landau, there is enough unwarranted condemnation of Israel already without your encouragement.
Bert Raphael
Toronto
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A Jew is a Jew
I am shocked to read Larry Swern’s letter to the editor (“We must not glorify assimilation,” The CJN, Nov. 14).
First off, a Jew is a Jew no matter what they say or do. Raising children as Christians doesn’t make Ellen Burka no longer Jewish.
Secondly, her story is an amazing one that needs to be told, and kudos to The CJN for publishing it.
Lastly, she didn’t choose to be raised as a Christian. She was one of the lucky few that were taken in by a non-Jewish family.
For Swern to judge her for this is shameful.
Allan Bloom
Saint-Laurent, Que.
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Declaration’s main goal is homeland, not democracy
There is much to disagree with in Barbara Landau’s letter, titled “Israel must halt settlements in capital” (The CJN, Nov. 14), but I would like to examine only one sentence, which is: “If a peace treaty is not achieved soon, Israel risks losing its status as a democracy, and with that, the support of progressive Jews who cherish the values in Israel’s Declaration of Independence.”
Although the Israeli Declaration of Independence deals with equality for all, its main objective is the establishment, maintenance and protection of a Jewish state.
Establishing a Jewish homeland, not establishing a democracy, is the number one reason for the existence of Israel. Because of the need to maintain its Jewish nature, it cannot be both universally democratic and Jewish. It must choose.
JSpace and its Jewish progressives have chosen democracy over Judaism. Many of us politically conservative and socially conscious Jews choose protecting our Jewish homeland over ensuring that Israel has a universal democracy.
Jonathan Usher
Toronto
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Remembrance Day is about soldiers
I was lucky enough to attend the rededication ceremony at the Lipa Green Centre on Remembrance Day.
Although this is a minority opinion, I was hoping to hear about the Jewish soldiers that fought, lived or died in the war that Canada participated in – the Jewish soldiers that were captured and killed for being Jewish.
Unfortunately, it became another Holocaust Remembrance day, about the horror of Auschwitz and children that are not alive today.
There was little talk about the soldiers – guys who died in Normandy or served in Italy, the Pacific, Korea and now Afghanistan.
There are many days to remember the horrors of the Holocaust but Remembrance Day is not one of them.
Adam Berel Wetstein
Toronto