I read the article “Kids and chiropractic” (To Your Health, CJN, Feb. 7) with dismay. The article does not address the serious dangers involved in chiropractic neck manipulation, especially in children. More than 60 Canadian neurologists and the Canadian Stroke Consortium have warned that chiropractic neck manipulation can cause stroke and death, and called for a complete ban on neck manipulations in infants and children. Warning signs that include neck pain, visual impairment, nausea, dizziness and numbness, which often don’t appear until one to two weeks after the visit, require medical attention. The Canadian Medical Association Journal also indicates that the association between chiropractic neck manipulation and stroke is often under-reported, since the link is often not made by questioning the patient. Your article ignores these important facts and does a disservice to your readers. See the website www.faact.com for comments by families whose members have died as a result of chiropractic neck manipulation. More information can be found on the Internet by Googling “chiropractic” and “stroke.”

Linda Fingerote
Clinical Pharmacist
Thornhill, Ont.

I have been reminded, and I concur, that people of position and power have an obligation to educate themselves if their efforts to welcome our growing, diverse population are genuine (“Deputy mayor offended by handshake snub,” CJN, Feb. 14).

In my heart, I am genuine about caring for each other; about sharing our opportunities to live well. A misunderstood tradition, a perceived slight, a feeling of rejection or disrespect on either side can lead to continued ignorance and distance. That would be the greater loss.

I regret that my comments offended some people. I know what it is like to feel offended without understanding all of the circumstances.

I look forward to working with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan and leaders of other faith groups to overcome any misunderstandings that we both have regarding our values, traditions, and beliefs.

Brenda Hogg
Deputy Mayor
Richmond Hill, Ont.

The article “They fought for the nascent Jewish state” (Israel @ 60, CJN, Feb. 21) did not include the Canadian Machal members (Mitnadvei Chutz La’aretz) who made the ultimate sacrifice. It is unfortunate that the Machal, who were a significant bond between Israel and the Diaspora, are often not remembered and their sacrifice unappreciated. Here are the names of the 11 Canadian Machal members who fell in the 1948 War of Independence:

• George (Buzz) Beurling of Verdun, Que. – Canada’s top World War II fighter pilot. He was killed near Rome on May 20, 1948, in the crash of a plane that was being readied for its ferry flight to Israel. He was buried in the Haifa Military Cemetery, non-Jewish section.

• Harvey Cohen and Ed Lugech, first cousins, of Toronto, who served in the Palmach Yiftach Brigade. They participated in battles of Nebi Yusha and Malkiyeh. Missing, Cohen and Lugech were believed waylaid by Arab irregulars near Sarafand in late June 1948.

• Reuben Schiff of Toronto, who served on Aliya-Bet ship Paducah. He was killed on July 11, 1948, near Abu j’Ab while looking for his shipmate and Palmach comrade Lou Ball. Schiff was buried in Nachlat Itzhak.

• Sidney Rubinoff, of Toronto, served with the Palmach in battles of Nebi Yusha, Malkiyeh and Operation Danny, and the capture of Lydda and Ramleh. Wounded at Latrun on July 17, 1948, he died en route to hospital. He was buried at Nachlat Itzhak.

• Sidney Leisure, of Toronto, served in 7th Brigade, 72nd Battalion. Killed on Sept. 7, 1948, during Operation Hiram in the battle for Tamra hill in the Galilee, he was buried at Nahariya.

• Leonard Fitchett, of Vancouver, ex-RCAF pilot, served in 103 Squadron. Downed in his Beaufighter by anti-aircraft fire on Oct. 20, 1948, while attacking Egyptian-held Iraq el Sueidan police fortress, Fitchett was buried in Haifa Military Cemetery, non-Jewish section.

• Wilfred Canter (pilot) of Toronto; Willy Fisher (navigator ) of Winnipeg; and Fred Stevenson (co-pilot) of Vancouver. The three RCAF veterans served in 103 Squadron. During a night supply run to Sdom, on Oct. 24, 1948, their C-47 exploded in the air after an engine caught fire. Canter and Fisher were buried in Rehovot, and Stevenson was buried in Haifa Military Cemetery, non-Jewish section.

• Ralph Moster (pilot), of Vancouver, was killed Dec. 7, 1948, with three others when their Grumman Widgeon crashed into the Sea of Galilee during a training flight. Moster was buried at Nachlat Itzhak.

Wilf Mandel
Nephew of Willy Fisher
Thornhill, Ont.

I read Daniel Held’s column, “We need to create our own shuls” (CJN, Feb. 7), with interest, hoping to gain insight into one of my burning questions, “Where have all the Jewish youth gone?” As a middle-aged member of a “big-box establishment” synagogue, I am often among the younger attendees at Shabbat services.

In defence of these establishments, it has taken generations of hardworking Jews and their financial contributions to build these fine synagogues as a tribute to the maintenance of the Jewish religion and culture. If we, of the older generation, choose to worship in clean, well-decorated surroundings while seated on padded chairs, we’ve paid dearly for that comfort!

Friday night, the synagogue president makes announcements for events that, according to Held, “bear little relevance to me.” These events take a lot of effort to prepare, all of which is expended by volunteers. The volunteers appeal to their peers, knowing that others with similar interests will attend. The synagogue president would be thrilled to add young adult events to his Friday night announcements if only they would take action to organize functions of interest to them. Our synagogues have space that is not being used and excellent staff who are happy to help with the logistics for new events. It just takes some effort to prepare a Jewish-themed event.

Held uses B’nai Jeshurun in New York as a model progressive synagogue. If this congregation of 1,900 families can attract a large number of young adults to Shabbat services, then surely we can learn from their efforts. If this age group wants a 5 p.m. Shabbat service in a stark basement environment, please meet me at my synagogue, as I would be happy to help you clean an unused basement area, whitewash the walls, install electrical outlets and haul amplifiers for your modern liturgy. I’m sure the rabbi would not be opposed to pausing his sermon in the main sanctuary so we all can enjoy your electrified musical strains reverberating throughout the building! I look forward to seeing dozens of young adults gracing the steps of my synagogue, coming for their own service in their own space.

Robert Bowden
Greenfield Park, Que.