Graphic discussion inappropriate for holiday

On the evening of May 14, I joined the study program at Kehilath Israel Synagogue to welcome Shavuot. There was a good audience of between 200 and 300 people for the keynote address.

Unfortunately, the guest speaker chose to discuss the physical aspects of homosexual experience in graphic terms. Based on a sense of modesty, I felt that Rabbi Steve Greenberg was out of line to discuss private body parts in the sanctuary. His format was to review four rationales for the prohibition in Leviticus prohibiting a man laying with another man.

After framing three traditional approaches in a manner in which he could ridicule them, he came up with a strained linguistic interpretation of the Hebrew verb to theorize the only prohibition was to use sex as a way to humiliate another person. In effect, he was standing the text on its head to glorify a caring relationship between two men.

Nobody in the audience protested. Nobody in the audience got up and left. I was frozen in a moment of disbelief about what I was witnessing. The only reaction that I noticed was that one older acquaintance quietly picked up a copy of a Bible and was pursuing his own study rather than listening to the address.

The annual Shavuot study night provides the community the opportunity to bring in a speaker of national reputation. Last year, Rabbi Joseph Telushkin provided an example of the power and inspiration to be gained from a visiting scholar. While Rabbi Greenberg may represent a voice that is important to a small element of the Jewish community, the choice of him as a keynote speaker wasted the opportunity to bring in a speaker of far wider appeal. I hope that the leadership of our community chooses future speakers more carefully.

Mark D. Wasserstrom

Kansas City, Mo.

Claims Conference corrupt

An anonymous letter sent to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany’s Frankfurt office in 2001 identified five cases where restitution was approved for ineligible claimants. I have the guts to say they are a bunch of thieves.

I am a child of Holocaust survivors. For years I have yelled and screamed that there has been hanky panky going on while Holocaust survivors were denied their due. How stupid are we not to protest? A lot of people belong in jail.

Holocaust survivors are going without food and medicine while the thieves play with their funds. If you agree with me, speak out. I call on all Holocaust survivors and their children and grandchildren to demand retribution now. I am not afraid to speak out.

The Claims Conference in my opinion is corrupt or at least inept. Soon the Holocaust survivors will all be dead. How much more money will be stolen?

Rabbi Dr. Bernhard Rosenberg

Edison, N.J.