A selection of letters published in the AJN print edition of February 5, 2010
Comparison with talking to Nazis is misleading
MESSRS Sztainbok and Lewis (AJN 29/01) insist that trying to talk to Hamas is like trying to negotiate with Hitler. But it is surely misleading to draw parallels between Hamas and Nazi Germany, for the situations are entirely different, even if Hamas is not above using Nazi propaganda for its own purposes.
My original letter was in response to another reader who had strongly implied that the Australian Jewish Democratic Society saw Hamas as peace-loving and a morally worthy partner in discussion. In refuting this, I simply said that Hamas has to be taken into account as long as it has the support of a substantial number of Palestinians. That was all. No good guys, bad guys scenario.
Secondly, and most importantly, despite its electoral success, Hamas does not represent all Palestinians, and it is dishonest to claim that it does. A parallel here might be a Palestinian claim that all Israelis, and Jews elsewhere, support Likud.
How true would that be?
Steve Brook
Elwood, Vic
First move to peace must come from Hamas
IN advocating that Israel talks with Hamas, Steve Brook and the Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) demonstrate how, as usual, they get their analysis of the conflict the wrong way around (AJN 22/01).
It is not Israel that needs to talk to Hamas; rather, it is Hamas that must agree to talk to Israel. To date, Hamas has shown absolutely no interest in opening any dialogue that includes Israel’s right to exist, preferring instead to let its rockets do the talking.
The flying start to criticism of the AJDS for 2010 that Brook laments is for one very good reason: they deserve it.
Alan Freedman
St Kilda East, Vic
Terror supporters lack ‘moral authority’
MALVINA Malinek questioned the Australian Jewish Democratic Society’s (AJDS) “moral authority” (AJN 15/01) for the letter to The Australian, in which some of its members wrote that the people under the Hamas regime are entitled to an independent and viable state and Israel’s moral authority is diminished by actions that prevent that.
To circumvent Malinek’s criticism, Steve Brook (AJN 22/01) played the AJDS victim card and introduced the red herring of Israel’s need to talk to a “popular” Hamas (AJN 22/01). I didn’t notice Winston Churchill rushing to talk to a popular Adolf Hitler.
Apart from indirect talks, say with regard to kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, the AJDS is actually urging Israel to recognise a regime that refuses to recognise it. In doing so, Israel would remove one reason that civilised nations refuse to (openly) deal with Hamas. Brook’s proposal is merely another ploy to deny Jewish self-determination.
Brook (for AJDS) fails to suggest what there is to talk about with an openly anti-Semitic regime dedicated to destroying Israel. Hamas curtailed its eight-year war only after the exceptionally moral Operation Cast Lead, which started too late and finished too soon.
AJDS is supporting talks with a regime that uses its civilians as human shields, subjects them to hardship in pursuit of jihad, commits war crimes in attacking Israeli civilians and flouts Geneva conventions on hostage-taking and prisoners. Moral authority is absent from Hamas’ claim to statehood and from those of its supporters who advocate Israel’s national suicide.
Paul Winter
Chatswood, NSW
Israel’s right to defend itself from attack
UNLIKE Tom Wolkenberg (AJN 29/01) and the Australian Jewish Democratic Society, I believe that my fellow countrymen here and fellow Jews in Israel follow the same moral principles as I do. That is, they examine all the necessary alternatives appropriate to each situation and use the most morally acceptable options.
Citizens in a democracy may argue for and against each action of their country’s leadership, but they also understand their country’s right to defend itself against an existential threat. Protesting an action from afar is okay, but not the country’s “moral authority”.
Negative stereotypes and propaganda aside, the Israel I know and respect is the same one whose moral imperative is to save lives: the lives of people from Haiti to Ethiopia and beyond, as well as the lives of its own citizens.
If Israel’s Gazan neighbours shared the same moral principles, then doubtlessly they would be sharing in all the same benefits.
Perceptions of morality against implacable enemies cannot be in one direction only when security and survival are at stake.
We also want to feel secure in Australia.
Malvina Malinek
South Yarra, Vic
Anti-Semitic attitudes still rife in Poland
THE recent alleged ramblings of the Polish-Catholic bishop and professor, Tadeusz Pieronek, claiming that Jews exploit the Holocaust for propaganda purposes, reminds us that anti-Semitism is alive and well in today’s Poland.
The anti-Semitic venom has not dissipated, and its ugly spectre surfaces more frequently now that there is a green light in a great number of European nations to practise the ancient art of using Jews, and now Israel, as a scapegoat for the many ills that infect their countries.
Let us not forget that a number of Poles have yet to admit their willing participation and cooperation with the Nazis in the execution of the Final Solution on Polish soil, as well as their involvement in the pogroms in Kielce, Jedwabne and others, where Jews were massacred by their Polish neighbours without external assistance.
Polish anti-Semitism still exists. Remembering the past may prevent future atrocities from being committed.
Moshe Lichtenstein
Armadale, Vic
Balanced coverage in the wake of Haiti
ISRAEL’S response is certainly “disproportionate”.
A country of just seven million sent a medical team of 220, including 40 doctors, and the only fully equipped field hospital halfway around the world to Haiti.
The media, so quick to pass judgement about “Israeli humanitarian transgressions in Gaza”, should focus on actual confirmed events, rather than repeat unsubstantiated claims by Hamas or Hamas sympathisers.
Paul Rozental
South Melbourne, Vic
Labi’s view of Oz is far-fetched
TUCKED away among Joel Labi’s contradictory ramblings (AJN 22/01) is the harsh and unfair accusation that Australia is a “racist” country where “anti-Semitism is rife”?
Racism? Anti-Semitism? Maybe he should try visiting the UK where anti-Jewish hostility masquerading under the transparent disguise of anti-Zionism is growing alarmingly. Or France, where certain forms of Muslim attire may soon be outlawed in all public places.
That Labi can write as he does without fear of repercussion and that Australian Jews are happy to state so openly and freely that Yom Ha’atzmaut means more to them than Australia Day (Vox Pop 29/01) testifies to the degree of racial and religious tolerance with which we are blessed in this country.
If Australia Day has any significance beyond the ubiquitous barbie, it should be as a day when we utter a quiet prayer of thanksgiving to God for a benevolent regime where bipartisan respect for Jews and support for Israel is at a level probably unequalled anywhere else in the Diaspora.
Rabbi Chaim Ingram
Bondi Junction, NSW
Loyalty and love for two countries
I REFER to your online poll (AJN 29/01) in which you ask “Which means more to you, Australia Day or Yom Ha’azmaut?” All five of your photographed respondents nominated Yom Ha’azmaut.
Your question, although interesting, is not only politically inappropriate, but could, through non-Jewish eyes, be viewed as asking “Where does your true loyalty lie – with Israel or with Australia?” The answer, which was 55 per cent in favour of Yom Ha’azmaut, could be interpreted as lack of loyalty and commitment to Australia.
Since it was asked, though, the answer should be that just as I love both my children equally and am loyal to both of them in equal measure, so my loyalty to both Australia and Israel is total and my loyalty and commitment to one in no way diminishes my loyalty and commitment to the other.
Both Australia Day and Yom Ha’azmaut make me happy and proud.
Michael Katzew
Doncaster, Vic
What’s happening with Hakoah?
ONCE upon a time there was a lovely, friendly, homey club where members could talk, socialise and eat value-for-money food.
Unfortunately, this was all destroyed, and the club lost its atmosphere and became increasingly unpopular, resulting in a dwindling membership base.
If the president of the late Hakoah Club wants to gain back the respect of the old members, there should be a members’ meeting at which the following questions should be answered: How much money does the club currently have? Where are the funds being held? Where are the fixtures and fittings located? And anything else that members may wish to know.
The board must listen to members and be transparent. Such a meeting would be an important opportunity for members to put forward their ideas about the future direction of the club.
Leslie Kahane
Gold Star member, Hakoah Club, NSW
Take pride in our schools’ integration
YOUR feature, “Back to school in 2010” (AJN 29/01), is full of the excitement and anticipation felt at the start of the new school year.
I would like to highlight an achievement that often does not make the headlines. This week, a group of 175 students packed their schoolbags and set off for school. They all attend one of our Jewish day schools, but they will not be able to join in all the activities offered. They may not be able to play on the new play equipment. They may not be able to develop the skills of research as your article describes. These children all have a physical, intellectual or emotional disability.
However, with the financial help of Rosalie Silverstein and the Posh Oppe Shoppe, and the determination and willingness of our schools, each individual is helped to grow and learn, achieve his own potential, learn from his peers and take his rightful place as part of the wider Jewish community.
There can be no doubt that by inclusion we are creating a better future for all our children. Our mainstream children continue to grow into empathetic and inclusive-minded young adults. Our Melbourne Jewish community and our schools should be very proud.
Sharon Goodhardt
Integration coordinator, Jewish Schools Integration Program
Desperate need for life-saving donors
I AM urgently raising awareness of three dying leukaemia patients for whom a stem cell/bone marrow transfusion is the only hope for survival.
One of these patients, who Gift of Life is trying to find a match for, is 50-something-year-old Stephen Lubovsky, who lives in New York and is the son of the late Rabbi Ron Lubovsky.
Stephen’s friends and a few relatives who live in Melbourne have already been tested, but have not been found to be a match. A match has also not been found within the families of the two other patients and all three must now look for a potential unrelated donor within the Jewish community.
Because DNA is ethnically related, the likelihood of finding a match is highest within their own ethnic group. Even so, such a chance is only one in 100,000.
The Jewish community, however, is not well represented on the Aussie Bone Marrow/Stem Cell Donor Registry (ABMDR).
Special testing sessions are being organised so that the community will have the opportunity to register and help save a life. Being healthy, between 18 and 50 years of age, and having a two-teaspoon blood test is all that it takes to have your tissue typed.
In Sydney, testing will be held on Sunday, February 14 to coincide with Valentine’s Day. The “Find Your Perfect Match” project is being held from 10am-4pm on the grounds of the Wolper Jewish Hospital, Woollahra.
In addition, those wishing to have genetic carrier testing for such disorders as Tay-Sachs and cystic fibrosis may make an appointment to do so on the same day at the same time.
In Melbourne, testing is being held on Tuesday, February 9 from 4-7pm.
For further information and to make an appointment to be tested, please call 0414 780 444, email shula@giftoflifeaustralia.org.au or visit www.giftoflifeaustralia.org.au.
Shula Endrey-Walder
Co-founder, Gift of Life
Mazal tov to Noel Hall on his honour
ON behalf of the Bentleigh Progressive Community (BPS), I wish to congratulate Noel Hall on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2010 Australian Day honours.
The citation reads: “For service to youth through the scouting movement and to the community.”
Noel has involved himself in many facets within the Australian community. This award recognises his work and I am thrilled to see Noel receiving this well-earned recognition.
This award also recognises the work that Noel has given to the BPS community.
Congratulations Noel, well done and we at BPS are proud of your achievement.
Frank Moore
Cheltenham, Vic
If you would like to submit a letter, email letters@jewishnews.net.au
