Circumcision beneficial
I read with great interest the Aug. 27 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics that the benefits of infant circumcision have been shown to outweigh the risks.
The Jewish people have practiced brit milah, religious circumcision, for more than 3,500 years. The basis of this practice is our belief that circumcision is a mitzvah, a Divine Commandment.
This, indeed, is the basis for all the commandments of the Bible. Yet it has also been a principle of belief that the commandments are intended by G-d for the good of mankind. In the case of many commandments the inherent goodness of the commandments are self-evident, such as the biblical imperatives to give charity, to set up courts to adjudicate disputes or to care for the sick. In other instances, the benefits to the Bible’s prescriptions are less apparent. It is, therefore, truly a happy occasion when news of this most recent study confirms our principle of belief, “Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peaceful.” (Proverbs 3:17)
Rabbi Elchanan Schulgasser
Certified Mohel
Overland Park, Kan.
Rabbi Margolies and his judges
With judges, judgment and justice begins Shoftim, the parashah of the past two weeks. Rabbi Morris Margolies acknowledged and celebrated this parashah by honoring with aliyot the attending judges, accompanied by an historic accounting of the contribution of American judges and justices. He concluded by paraphrasing the answer Rabbi Gamaliel the Second of Yavneh, chief of the Sanhedrin, gave to the heckling Roman philosopher, as cited in his book “The Jew of the Century,” with the concluding commentary that Am Yisrael “refuses to give up its faith that G-d knows what He is doing, that justice will triumph, that the evil will be punished, and that the righteous will be rewarded.” To Rabbi Margolies and his family, may this New Year be abundantly bountiful.
Harris Winitz
Kansas City, Mo.
A pleasure to work with
Congratulations to Rabbi Mendel Segal and the Vaad on their success in putting together the first Kansas City Kosher BBQ contest.
I can’t believe it has been a year since our daughter’s wedding! I want to apologize to Mendel for the delay in this letter to the editor.
My family planned and celebrated two weddings in the past year; each were Vaad overseen kosher events. Working with Mendel was a pleasure. Both of our weddings’ venues were the first kosher Vaad wedding for these venues. We used vendors that had never experienced a Jewish event before, let alone worked a kosher wedding. Mendel worked side-by-side with these venues and vendors to instruct them on the rules and regulations of kashrut. After each wedding our venue and vendors told us how much they enjoyed working with Mendel and loved learning about Jewish laws and customs. They said, “we hope to work with Mendel again soon.”
Anyone who is even contemplating a kosher wedding will not regret having the honor and pleasure of working with and getting know a wonderful young man, Mendel Segal.
I also want to make people aware of the Vaad’s Facebook page. Mendel has so many things going on! His updates help keep persons, whether they keep kosher or not, abreast of what is happening on the kosher scene in the Kansas City metro area.
We — Kansas City — are so fortunate to have Mendel Segal. The Friedman, Langert and Belozer families want to thank Mendel for helping us create and execute beautiful kosher simchas.
Sharon Friedman
Leawood, Kan.
Treat others with civility
This letter is in response to Carole Plesser’s letter published in last week’s Chronicle (Aug. 30), which was in response to Marc Birnbaum’s letter in the Aug. 23 edition, and which was in turn in response to a letter from Gloria Schlosenberg, printed in the Aug. 16 issue. I no longer have a copy of Ms. Schlossenberg’s letter and therefore will not comment on it directly. Instead I am contrasting Mr. Birnbaum’s letter with Ms. Plesser’s, with regard to tone and to a lesser degree to substance.
Although I no longer have Ms. Schlossenberg’s letter, it appears that she had attacked David H. Koch, to which attack Mr. Birnbaum responded. I am no fan of the Koch brothers because of their stand on the environment and the enormous sums they have contributed to right-wing causes. However Mr. Birnbaum did not address these issues. Instead he factually reported the work David H. Koch has done for his Integrative Cancer Research foundation. Ms. Plesser responds by denigrating Mr. Koch’s motives, stating the only reason for his charitable work is that he’s in it for the tax deduction. According to her any philanthropy he has done is for purely selfish motives. I wonder how Ms. Plesser has gained the ability to see into peoples’ hearts and minds, for it is a talent I certainly lack. She subsequently launches into an uncalled for and ugly personal attack on Mr. Birnbaum, apparently because she disagrees with his views.
Although I am not personally acquainted with the Koch brothers I do know Marc Birnbaum. He is a personal friend. He is a kind and generous person. We do not see eye to eye politically, in fact we are near the opposite ends of the spectrum.
Nevertheless I value his friendship, and I’d like to think that people, even those who are not friends, can rise above such differences and treat each other with civility. I see no reason why The Chronicle should stoop to publishing personal invective and ad hominem attacks. Ms. Schlossenberg’s letter is pure vitriol. It did not need to see the light of day.
David M. Friedman
Overland Park, Kan.
Full of hate
This is a response to the letter written by Carole Plesser last week (Aug. 30). Talking about hate, she should talk. Her letter was full of hate. I do not agree with many things the Koch brothers do but to criticize them for giving millions for cancer research is as low and hateful as you can get. So what if they can deduct some of the money on their taxes. They are giving and by that saving lives. What has Carole Plesser done to save any lives?
Marcel Matson
Prairie Village, Kan.
Dangerous policies
I see where Shoula Romano Horing is now pushing us to vote for Romney. She wants women to lose their rights of choice. She also wants us to go along with vice president nominee Ryan to gut Social Security and attack Medicare. She is such a right wing Republican that she just doesn’t understand that their policies are dangerous not just for women but for the country. She wants to turn this country over to Romney, Ryan and the Koch Brothers. All of these men are darlings of Karl Rove.
I don’t think it is good for the Jews or any thinking voter to follow her and go for the ultra right wing.
P.S. Thank you to those who wrote to The Chronicle a few weeks ago in support of my previous letter.
Gloria Schlossenberg
Overland Park, Kan.
Respect needed
When members of our Jewish community write a letter to The Jewish Chronicle to express a political opinion, they should not be subjected to personal attacks. Is a reasoned response, such as “I disagree with so and so’s opinion because ...” too much to ask, without resorting to name calling? It doesn’t matter what side of the political aisle you’re on; it’s clear as day that some recent letters have lowered the level of civil discourse in this community. Personal attacks by one member of the community on another should be condemned by people of all political persuasions. I’m not in favor of censorship, but for the sake of peace in the community, The Chronicle might want to refrain from publishing such letters in the future.
Judy Press
Overland Park, Kan.
