Keep comments

constructive and civil

I am glad to have the opinions of our Jewish community printed in The Chronicle. I think it provides us with different opinions and hopefully thoughtful and constructive views. I am, however, distressed to read hateful letters that are not constructive. This is not helpful.

In the Kansas City area we have a small Jewish community and we are united just by that alone. As we express ourselves in our local community publication, keep in mind our community is lucky to have the KC Jewish Chronicle. When letters expressing complaints are made, let us keep it constructive and helpful to our community. Does it unite us or divide us?

We are about to exercise our right to vote in this country as another major election is coming up. The presidential race is highly contested and people feel passionately about their choices. When we make our choices we do not make them on one issue (my hope) but on many.

As far as what is printed in this newspaper, there is someone on the paper’s staff called an editor who makes choices based on space and a variety of other things. It is called freedom of speech/press. We are lucky to have this publication.

Debbie Dubinsky
Overland Park, Kan.

Apology necessary

I was disappointed to hear the story, “Cemetery For Hezbollah Martyrs Continues To Grow,” on “All Things Considered,” National Public Radio, Oct. 12. The host, Audie Cornish, said, “In a cemetery in Beirut, Lebanon, new graves are appearing more frequently than usual. This isn’t just any cemetery. It’s where the martyrs of Hezbollah are buried. ... Hezbollah, created in 1982 to resist the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, is not at war now, at least not openly.”

The Israeli invasion of Lebanon was a response to repeated attacks from the PLO.

Hezbollah is an enemy of the United States. The acting director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John McLaughlin, said in an interview, July 18, 2004, “Iran is the place where Hezbollah, an organization that killed more Americans that Al Qaida before 9/11, draws its inspiration and its finances.” The State Department has Hezbollah on its list of terrorist groups. Among the group’s many attacks against the United States is the bombing of our barracks in Beruit in 1983, murdering 241 marines.

In addition to hating the United States and Israel, Hezbollah is anti-Semitic. Its founder, Hassan Nasrallah, said, “If we searched the whole world for a person more cowardly and despicable, weak, and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology, and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew,” (quoted by Jeffrey Goldblum, “A Reporter at Large: In the Party of God,” New Yorker, Oct. 14, 2002).

If Hezbollah has martyrs, who else gets such glory? Our local martyrs/serial killers, Robert Berdella and John Robinson?  Al-Queda and Nazi SS? NPR owes an apology to Americans and Jews.

Elizabeth Appelbaum, Ph.D.
Overland Park, Kan.

Luea is the right choice

for Kansas House

Those of us who live in the Kansas House of Representative’s 19th District (which borders 83rd between Lamar and State Line to the north and I-435 and 99th St. to the south) have the opportunity to elect an outstanding candidate for state representative on Nov. 6: Zachary Luea.

It is essential that we elect Zach because he is the candidate who will strongly support the funding we need for our public schools, the separation of church and state, women’s health, and the merit selection of judges in our state in fearless opposition to Gov. Brownback’s destructive agenda. Zach is an attorney focusing on business law and an educator/administrator for an area university. He is a former public school teacher and a passionate advocate for strong public schools. Zach and his wife, Emily, are active members of our Jewish community. Emily’s family were long-time members of K.I. Zach is endorsed by the MAINstream Coalition PAC, KNEA, Kansas Families for Education, Citizens for Higher Education, former Congressman Dennis Moore and former State Rep. Lisa Benlon. As a former member of the Kansas House of Representatives from our area, I join them all in urging you to vote for Zach Luea as our state representative for the 19th District. The preservation of all that we value in Kansas depends upon it.

For more information on Zach, please visit his website at www.zachluea.com.

Carol H. Sader
Former Kansas State Representative
Prairie Village, Kan.

Making menschen

Regarding the article “HBHA senior enjoys helping kids become menches” on page six of the Oct. 18 edition, there is no such word as “mensches.” The singular for a person is “mensch” and the plural is “menschen.”

Andrew Reiz
Leawood, Kan.

As we are reflecting during this domestic abuse awareness month, we can think about all types of victims and invisible people in our society today.

Having moved between countries and cities throughout my childhood, I recall often standing alone at recess feeling as if I was invisible. In a very small way, I feel like I can relate to the hundreds of people feeling the powerlessness of invisibility in a society that does not see them.

Far beyond the social awkwardness of the playground, there are invisible people everywhere who are victims of deep injustices and oppression. They are the boys who wash our dishes at restaurants and the men who wash our cars. They are the girls who make our hotel beds and the women who serve in our homes. They are the slaves confined by our penal code and the objectified defined by our sexual appetites. They are the homeless who spend their days in our shadow and their nights in our parks. They are the abused who cry but are not heard.

While “underclass” invisibility is caused initially by systems of oppression, shame invariably leads these vulnerable individuals to perpetuate this depressed psychological and social state. “Shame involves the realization that one is weak and inadequate in some ways in which one expects oneself to be adequate. Its reflex is to hide from the eyes of those who will see one’s deficiency, to cover it up,” explains legal scholar Martha Nussbaum.

One who lacks basic needs often wishes not to be seen for fear of shame. This is made worse by our shame at seeing them and not taking action, and the further clouding of visibility that follows. As Nelson Mandela rose to become the first democratically elected state president of South Africa, a country shamed by a history of painful injustice, he shared that, “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” We need the courage to see and make seen the victims of injustice among us.

We have been granted the power to help make visible the invisible. We accomplish this by letting the vulnerable hiding in the shadows know every time we encounter them that they are recognized members of society, members in good standing even, and especially by letting the public know they exist by advocating for their rights and welfare.

Jewish law even demands not only that we see but that we be seen (“yireh, yai’raeh”) in Jerusalem on the festivals (Chagigah 2a). This is training for the rest of the year that our eyes, and hearts, be open to see those who are unseen. Connecting and supporting the unseen is not a distraction from the tradition but its actualization.

One of the primary goals of Jewish spiritual life is to see beyond the physical, to sanctify the unseen and to elevate matter to a higher plane. The Maggid of Mezritch, the great Chassidic master, helped to introduce us to the idea of “yesh me’ayin” — creation out of nothing — to mean that in helping something come into existence that previously did not exist, or helping something be seen that previously was unseen, it is like we are emulating the very creation of the universe.

Greater than lending money or giving tzedakah to a poor individual, the rabbis tell us, is providing partnership (Shabbat 63a). Our charge is to join the invisible in solidarity and partnership: Let us help make their voices heard and their humanity seen.

Some of the most terrifying times in my own life have been when I didn’t really feel like I existed; in these moments, I didn’t feel acknowledged by the world, let alone appreciated or loved.

I have been fortunate to have the support to get through those times. I would venture to say I am not alone in having had these feelings, neither am I alone in recognizing the crucial role played by friends and family members to remind me of my visibility and humanity. Let us be those friends, let us be those family members, and let us be those advocates for those who have none. May we be blessed with the good sight to see the unseen, and the vision to increase their visibility in our blessed nation.

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz is the senior rabbi at Kehilath Israel Synagogue, the founder and president of Uri L’Tzedek, and is the author of “Jewish Ethics & Social Justice: A Guide for the 21st Century.” Newsweek named Rav Shmuly one of the top 50 rabbis in America earlier this year.

The Jewish vote: For humanity

A while ago Shoula Horing, an ardent supporter of Israel, urged us to vote against the re-election of President Obama so that Israel, with United States support, could go to war with Iran after the election. She also speculates that, if re-elected, President Obama’s policies will favor the Arab nations in the resolution of the Middle East problems.

War with Iran is not a permanent answer to the developing nuclear threat. Nor is it likely that a re-elected President Obama will not support Israel, the only functioning democracy in the region, as the search for a peaceful solution continues.

What, then, of Ms. Horing’s advice to vote against President Obama? That leaves two choices — stay at home or vote for Gov. Romney. Staying home, even where the conclusion is foregone, as in Kansas, is really not an option. Voting is a privilege which must be exercised to be protected.

So what do we get if the vote is for Gov. Romney?

Continuation of a 14 percent tax rate for the very rich while the rest of us pay more.

A policy against equal pay for women for equal work.

A policy against allowing women to control their own bodily future.

A policy against affordable health care for all Americans.

A policy in favor of the manipulation of the economy to benefit big financial institutions and against the middle classes.

A policy to privatize Medicare and Social Security to the detriment of the middle classes and in favor of the insurance and financial institutions.

A Policy of reducing federal program benefits for future generations.

A policy against preserving the environment from pollution.

President Obama, on the other hand, is trying to remedy these problems in the face of determined opposition from the Republicans and their billionaire supporters. He is curing an economy that was many years in the making. He is ending our undeclared wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have drained our blood and resources. He is trying to preserve the American way of life for all Americans, not just the 1 percent. He is trying to maintain our moral stance in the eyes of the world.

The Jewish obligation is to heal the world. The choice in November then is clear.

Joel Pelofsky
Kansas City, Mo.

Pay attention to local races

Public education and the arts are important Jewish values that I believe are an essential part of a democratic society. I encourage everyone who also feels these are critical to pay attention to the local races for the Kansas House and Kansas Senate. Unfortunately, many of the moderate Republicans in the legislature lost in the primary to candidates who favor Gov. Brownback’s policies. These include cutting public education, eliminating arts funding to Kansas communities (which caused us to lose $1.2 million in federal arts funding), and draconian tax cuts that will decimate vital services. Brownback’s attitude toward separation of church and state is another concern. It is imperative that enough moderates win races to keep Brownback from getting a supermajority in the legislature and giving him the opportunity to make changes to the Kansas Constitution.

There is hope. In almost all races, the only moderate candidate is the Democrat who can win with your help. Even current State Senators Tim Owens (lost in primary) and John Vratil (retiring) have crossed party lines to endorse several Democratic candidates, praising their common moderate philosophies.

Do your own research. Check out the endorsements from Mainstream Coalition (http://www.mainstreamcoalition.org) and Kansas Families for Education (http://www.fundourpublicschools.com/Endorsements.html.) Take advantage of early voting to avoid lines on Nov. 6. Get details at www.jocoelection.org, and take your driver’s license or government issued ID to the polls. Your vote counts.

Alice Capson
Overland Park, Kan.

Assist older adults

Thanks to Anita Loeb for her kind letter (Oct. 4) about how the JET Express volunteer driver program has changed her life for the better. While our volunteers love to give older adults the support they need to stay active and independent, the friendships formed often mean so much more than the services provided.

Jewish Family Services’ older adults initiatives offer a variety of ways for volunteers to connect with older adults in our community. In addition to JET Express, our Help@Home program uses handy volunteers of every skill level to make minor home repairs, provide computer support, and other services so older adults can stay independent, comfortable, and in control of their daily lives.

We would love to expand these services and offer assistance to even more older adults who just need a little help to continue living independently. However, demand for these much-needed services continues to increase, as does the need for volunteers. If you want to connect with older adults and would like to learn more about getting involved with great programs like JET Express and Help@Home, please call 913-730-1410 or visit www.jfskc.com/volunteer.

Suzanna Barnes
Washburn Americorps VISTA Fellow
Volunteer Coordinator
Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City

Tzedakah at its best

Kudos to The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah for continuing to think outside the box and initiating another wonderfully creative project that engages their congregation: The Giving Tree Project. Many congregants plucked leaves from the tree that involved purchasing gifts for SAFEHOME’s residents/clients. Many of these generous people called asking “is this really enough?” When women and children need to leave their homes quickly to be safe, it’s the little things in life that end up meaning the most. Perspectives change. Everyone who chose a leaf for SAFEHOME should feel good about the fact that when these gifts reached the intended resident or client, they made a huge difference in that person’s life. This project beautifully illustrates how one can give tzedakah by performing a mitzvah, and teach the importance of both to children. Thank you for your innovative thinking and generosity.

Sharon Katz
Executive Director
SAFEHOME5

Is it tradition or Jewish law?

QUESTION: I am a member of a local Orthodox congregation here in Kansas City. My son is marrying a modern Orthodox girl in a large East Coast city. The wedding will take place in a Spanish Portuguese synagogue of which her family has been a member for generations. My son has been told by the rabbi that it is not their tradition for the bride to walk around the groom. Furthermore, my son was told he cannot wear a kittel or the white gown that many Orthodox grooms wear when they are married. Are not these laws in Judaism or are they just tradition?

ANSWER: These are just traditions. They are not law. Unfortunately in the Spanish and Portuguese world the groom does not wear a kittel nor does the bride usually walk around seven times. That is an Ashkenazic tradition.

There are many traditions in Judaism that we hold near and dear, but they are just traditions.

For example, my wife and I have different traditions about lighting yahrzeit lights. I come from a Germanic tradition and our custom is to light a yahrzeit on Yom Kippur for all our deceased loved ones and on the yahrzeit date, the date on which they passed. We do not have a tradition of lighting a yahrzeit light on the day when Yizkor is recited in synagogue such as Passover, Shavuot, or Sukkot. My wife comes from an Eastern European background and yahrzeit lights are lit also on days when Yizkor is recited in the synagogue. It is not that one tradition is right or wrong. They are just different.

Obviously, there are many things that are law; but there are other things that are tradition depending on where your family comes from or what the tradition of the synagogue is. I am sure that if the rabbi officiating at your son’s wedding were doing the ceremony at a hotel or a private home or a catering hall, he might have been more flexible about permitting those traditions you mentioned in your question. However, with the wedding being held in a Spanish Portuguese synagogue those are just not traditions that are practiced in that type of setting.

Another area where tradition or custom plays a very important role deals with death. There are other traditions regarding whether a person should say Yizkor or memorial prayers on the different holidays in the Jewish year during the first year after the passing of a relative. Generally we advise people these days that it is preferable to say Yizkor immediately and not wait until the year of mourning passes, particularly for a parent, to recite memorial prayers on holidays. If however a family has a strong tradition for generations of not reciting Yizkor or memorial prayers in that first year after death, then they certainly should follow their family tradition.

Another area that has become a little controversial over recent years is whether or not people who have both their parents in life should recite Yizkor or not. When I was a child no one recited Yizkor for anyone if one’s mother and father were both living. Even if one had lost a sibling or G-d forbid a child or a spouse, one did not say Yizkor if one’s mother and father were both living out of respect to them.

In recent years many Conservative and even some modern Orthodox rabbis have now recommended that because of the losses of the Holocaust and for other reasons, people should remain in the service for Yizkor services. However, if one’s family tradition is to leave services during memorial prayers if your mother and father are both in life, that tradition should be followed. There are serious roots for that tradition and it is actually found in the Code of Jewish Law that one whose parents are living does not recite Yizkor. Once again you should depend on your family tradition as far as what is practiced in your individual life.

“Israel: The Will to Prevail” by Danny Danon (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012)

It isn’t often that one gets to see the manuscript of a well-known political figure before it is published, so I was flattered when a good acquaintance asked in June if I would look over an edited manuscript of a Member of Knesset, who needed it in two days. I readily agreed.

The author was Deputy Speaker of the Knesset Danny Danon, chairman of the World Likud Organization and chairman of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee in the Knesset.

Forty-one-year-old Danon writes that his late father was severely wounded in the 1969 War of Attrition, something that influenced his entire life. Danon was born the same year the PLO established itself in Lebanon.

The book is, in Danon’s words, “a concise but detailed response to [recent events], including an analysis of the position Israel finds itself in today and an argument for the United States to reassert support for the State of Israel; an illustration of how history shows us Israel is better off when she acts on her own behalf; and a road map for Jewish victory.”

Danon “defines the present moment and describes what Israelis of [his] generation and the next must do to preserve the nation they love.”

Danon says Israel arrived at its current situation because of: the instability in the region and a nuclear Iran; the U.S. administration’s appeasement strategy in relation to the Palestinians; and the ideological war against Israel.
In Part 1 he describes the current landscape as danger and opportunity. Part 2 explains how Israel arrived at the crossroad; and Part 3 is a road map for Jewish victory.

Danon is highly critical as he outlines the series of mishaps of Obama with regard to Israel. He explains and analyzes America’s support for Israel, which has “laced Israel into a precarious position [and] threatens to endanger American interests throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world.”

He states that the current conflict is based not only on territorial demands but on a cultural conflict. Among his recommendations are: that Israel should apply sovereignty over the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria; stop talking about the establishment of a Palestinian State; and declare its right to exist within the current borders.

He also calls on the Arab world to stop incitement and teaching of hatred.

This book is, in Danon’s words, “a call to action to adopt a new ... way in dealing with the conflict,” namely, a three-state solution engaging Egypt and Jordan.

He sees permanent status of the Palestinians determined in a final peace agreement which would be signed by Jordan and Egypt. In other words, the three-state solution would include Jordan (which has a 70 percent Palestinian population) and Egypt as places of residence for the Palestinians.

There are four appendices: General Provisions and Oslo Accords; the Council of the League of Nations; Resolution 242; and the Biblical connections to Israel and Jerusalem.

This book is provocative. It is informative. It is not just one’s man’s opinions and ideas but a vocalization of what many people in Israel are feeling today. This is a must read for any and all sensible people who care about Israel and who care about a peaceful future.


Sybil Kaplan is a foreign correspondent living in Jerusalem.

Rabbi ‘profoundly embarrassed’ by book

Barbara Bayer recently wrote about a newly released book called “Am I a Jew?” by Theodore Ross. (Oct. 4)

In it, she properly criticized both Ross and me. In response, I wanted Chronicle readers to have an explanation from me about this matter.

Several years ago Ross contacted me to learn more about Classical Reform Judaism for a book he was writing. I was glad to help educate him. He came to Kansas City twice for interviews, once even staying at my home by my invitation.

At the time, I was in a frustrating relationship with the board of my former congregation, The New Reform Temple. I made the mistake of trusting Ross to be judicious when I expressed some of my frustrations about my situation in front of him. The account of my distress with NRT in his book has embarrassed me as well as the Kansas City Jewish community. I profoundly regret venting my frustrations to Ross and I regret his account of our conversations, which — as Barbara Bayer correctly noted — had almost nothing to do with Classical Reform Judaism. In fact, when I read the book, I was baffled by why Ross thought my relations with NRT had anything to do with the purpose of his book.

Ross made a number of factual errors and misquotes in his writing about me, but that’s really beside the point. I made the larger error of trusting him and expressing some personal feelings in front of him. I won’t make that mistake again.

My plan is to continue to work to build a wonderful congregation at Temple Israel of Greater Kansas City, which now has a chastened and somewhat wiser rabbi.

Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn
www.templeisraelkc.org

Proud to serve Israel

First, please allow me the opportunity to tell you what a fine paper you run. The Jewish Chronicle has been keeping Kansas City’s Jewish community informed and current on local Jewish happenings and issues for almost a century.
I am writing you in response to the article, “Dynamic speakers, new leadership headline AIPAC Israel Action Forum,” from the Sept. 27 issue. I would like to correct some misinformation.

The article reads, “Former Kansas Citian Jason Barnett is an officer in the Israel Defense Force.” I am, in fact, a non-commissioned officer in the IDF. Another line began, “Master Sergeant Jason Barnett…”  In reality, I have attained the rank of first sergeant to this date. At the time the article was published I had still only made sergeant. I apologize if I seem a bit overly dedicated to correcting the details, however I was quite discouraged to see my ranking misprinted, as I have worked extremely hard to achieve all of my rankings from my first day as an enlisted man.

I encourage any writer on your staff to please consult me directly for a number of reasons, first and foremost security, before printing any information about myself or other Kansas Citians currently serving in the IDF.  I would also like to humbly offer my services to The Chronicle if you should have any questions concerning Israel or the IDF in the future. Let me work with you in providing useful and correct information about the IDF to Kansas City’s Jewish community.

As Kansas Citians serving in the IDF, we want nothing more than to make our families and community proud of the work we are doing. We appreciate to no end the sacrifices made by our families and friends as we pursue the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people overseas. Thank you for your continued support.

First Sergeant Jason Barnett
101st Airborne
Israel Defense Force

A Jewish Holocaust survivor is haunted by memories of the Polish lover that risked his life to save her. The romantic war drama “Remembrance” directed by Anna Justice is the opening night film of the 14th Annual Kansas City Jewish Film Festival.

The remarkable love story that blossomed amidst the terror of a German concentration camp in 1944 Poland is inspired by true events. A bond of passionate feelings forms between Tomasz Limanowski, a young Polish prisoner, and Hannah Silberstein, a German Jew from Berlin. Although men and women are separated in the camp, these two lovers meet clandestinely. Against all odds, Tomasz finds the courage to pull off a daring escape and rescues Hannah from a likely death. They survive a treacherous journey to freedom through the forest. They do whatever it takes to find food, clothing and shelter.

They end up at Tomasz’s mother’s house. His mother, upon being introduced to Hannah, tells Tomasz to get rid of her. She is against Tomasz marrying a Jewess. Tomasz is in possession of a film canister that he smuggled out of the camp. It is vital evidence of the Final Solution. He needs to turn this information over to the Polish homeland army. He keeps this a secret from Hannah. He leaves for Warsaw and promises to be back in two days.

Hannah is unable to get along with Tomasz’s mother. After nearly being discovered by an SS officer, she makes her way to Tomasz’s older brother’s house. She forms a friendship with sister-in-law Magda. Hannah finally gives up hope when Tomasz never returns.

The other half of the film takes place more than 30 years later in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Hannah is a happily married 52-year-old mother of a college-aged daughter. While waiting to pick up her tablecloths at a New York City dry cleaners, she accidentally notices a television interview with a man that resembles her former Polish lover. He is recalling his first encounter with a woman who became the love of his life. Hannah is overwhelmed by memories of the past she has never shared with anybody. She begins to search again for Tomasz believing that he is still alive.

The movie goes back and forth between 1944 and 1976 much like the narrative in “Sarah’s Key.” Initially, the scenes are short to keep the viewer guessing. The scenes are then replayed and drawn out in longer takes to fill in the blanks.

A different set of actors play the central couple in the two time periods. The cast is mostly unknown to American audiences except for David Rasche (“Burn After Reading”) who plays Hannah’s present day researcher husband Daniel Levine.

Besides the superb acting, the movie’s strengths include the beautiful cinematography and an intelligent script that explores the deepest emotions of mankind. The movie was previously shown at Jewish film festivals around the world and won the Audience Award in Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Zagreb.

This emotionally moving film is for mature audiences with scenes of torture and sexuality. It holds your interest throughout a running time of 105 minutes. The dialogue is in German, Polish and Russian with easy-to-read English subtitles. It gets my vote as the best film of this year’s festival and deserves my GOOD rating of 3 stars.

Kansas City Jewish Film Festival

Seven films will be featured at the 14th Annual Jewish Film Festival. They are:

“Remembrance,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13

“The Rescuers,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14

“A Serious Man,” 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15

“Jews and Baseball — An American Love Story,” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17

“This Is Sodom,” 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

“The Yankles,” 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

“Le Concert,” 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21

The film festival program is posted in its entirety at www.kcjff.org, along with preview clips and links for ticket purchase.

Tickets for individual films or a festival pass are available online at kcjff.org or by calling the box office 913-327-8054. Box office hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. All films are general admission; festival pass holders are seated 10 minutes before general public.

For further information contact Krista Blackwood, director of cultural Arts at 913-327-8073 or .

Thank you JET Express

During these special days of remembrance and appreciation, my thoughts are focused on all the wonderful people in my life — my parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and friends, who are no longer living, and my wonderful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and friends who surround me always with love and care.

This past year I have added another SPECIAL FRIEND — JET Express, sponsored by Jewish Family Services. This agency provides driving assistance to those of us no longer able to drive. By calling one week in advance to schedule appointments, they send a driver to your place of residence, who takes you to your appointment (medical, grocery store, beauty shop, etc.) and returns you to your home afterwards. There is a very small fee for the service (every time I started my own car in my driveway, it cost much more, I am sure) and in addition to not having to buy gas, maintenance expenses on the car — insurance, licenses, etc. — I have made wonderful new friends and renewed old ones!

These drivers volunteer their time and we, the recipients of their services and care, are most grateful. If you have a morning or afternoon when you could offer your services for this mitzvah, it would be deeply appreciated.

My thanks to the staff and volunteers of JET Express who have so greatly assisted me in my adjustment to life without driving!

Anita Loeb
Overland Park, KS

Voter suppression is personal

In 1964 we were living in Louisiana and because the elections were approaching we went to register. However, I failed the literacy exam. At that time I was a professor at Tulane School of Medicine. If they were correct I would have been the first illiterate professor at Tulane University and at their Medical School. However, one thing I was positive of, I was far more literate than the person who tested me.

Of course, poll taxes and literacy tests are the most undemocratic and the most un-American policy in a democracy. Not believing my ears I asked why I had failed. The man said that he could not tell me. Hmmm, why not? Later on we learned that there were many blacks and other northerners who just weren’t literate enough to vote in Louisiana.

We went to the League of Women Voters where we learned about the tricks that were used to suppress the “undesirable vote.” This is not North Korea, Burma or Russia. This is The United States; the land of the free — where each person is supposed to have the right to vote as they please.

Now in 2012 we have the same egregious behavior. Suddenly and just in time for the election, 11 Republican state legislatures have passed laws to prevent one type of “voter fraud” that is essentially nonexistent (except perhaps if these voter suppression laws in 11 states are carried out). It is not surprising that the type of voter suppression that Republican legislatures are targeting will disenfranchise blacks, Hispanics, the poor, the infirm, the young and the elderly.

The type of voter suppression they have ignored is the type that they themselves are accused of fostering. As you know from today’s news in Florida the Republican Party hired a firm to register voters, but they tore up the forms by those who identified themselves as Democrats and submitted all the forms submitted by Republicans. This is not only immoral but it is illegal.

This should make every American angry, regardless of party and indeed it has. Many Republicans are fighting against these immoral tactics and have even reported the cheaters to the authorities. This is an American problem.

Perhaps I am a shade more indignant than some because it happened to me. But I know that no Jewish Chronicle reader would want that to happen to them or to our fellow countrymen or women.

Jack Katz, Ph.D.
Prairie Village, Kan.

The community is buzzing about a newly published book, “Am I a Jew?” written by Theodore Ross, an author from New York. It’s been out a month or so already. I wasn’t terribly interested in it, and it just sat on my desk waiting to be given to one of our book reviewers. However out of the blue, just before Yom Kippur, I got some phone calls about it. Then I was intrigued.

The book focuses on different types of Judaism, one being Classical Reform Judaism. Ross claims (I didn’t confirm the facts myself) that there are only 15 such congregations in the United States. He hand-picked our own Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn as the expert on that subject.

He came to Kansas City to interview Rabbi Cukierkorn twice about the topic. According to the book, he even stayed at his home. I am deeply disturbed by what he wrote about Classical Reform Judaism and the New Reform Temple in particular.

In my opinion, the chapters on Classical Reform Judaism are not really about Classical Reform Judaism at all. He spends very little time describing the difference between Classical Reform Judaism and what we typically refer to as simply Reform Judaism. Instead, I see it as a not-so-flattering depiction of Rabbi Cukierkorn, the former rabbinical leader of The New Reform Temple who now heads up the year-old Temple Israel. In doing that, these chapters also become a not-so-flattering, and I believe skewed, view of the Jewish community in Kansas City as a whole.

I have not interviewed either the author or any of the parties quoted in this book. I believe it would be a waste of my time as I would probably get typical comments such as “I stand by what I wrote,” and “I was misquoted.” As a journalist I do have to wonder why Ross chose to publish the information he gathered about New Reform from Rabbi Cukierkorn after he met with the rabbi the first time. At that time the relationship between the rabbi and the congregation had become a rocky one. In my opinion that’s when he should have walked away and chosen another congregation and rabbi to profile. By not doing so, he implies that the relationship between this rabbi and this congregation represents a typical rabbi-congregational relationship for such parties in Classical Reform congregations. I certainly believe this is not the case.

By the time Ross came to Kansas City a second time, Rabbi Cukierkorn’s relationship with NRT’s board of directors had deteriorated to the point of not renewing the rabbi’s contract. The two parties negotiated a separation agreement. Did the author really think he was getting an accurate depiction of a Classical Reform congregation when he discovered that all the parties involved were effectively right in the middle of a “divorce?” As a journalist, has he never had to walk away from an interview because he wasn’t getting the information he needed?

At this point you might be saying, but The Chronicle mentioned all of these things in its newspaper as well. Yes, we did. It’s something we have agonized about, but we see it as our duty to report the news in our community. But that news certainly does not represent what is going on in Classic Reform congregations.

Rabbi Cukierkorn isn’t off the hook here either, by any stretch of the imagination. He was speaking to a journalist who was writing a book, so he should have been more careful about what he said and the words he chose to use. Clearly he was unhappy with his situation and many people involved in it. But as my mother, of blessed memory, used to say to me on a regular basis, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I hope he has learned this valuable lesson.

As I read on Kol Nidre “words matter, words can hurt, reputations matter, gossip hurts.” I am not and have never been a member of The New Reform Temple. But as a member of the Kansas City Jewish community I am hurt by this book. I don’t want people across the country thinking this is how the Kansas City Jewish community speaks to others or speaks about others. It simply isn’t an accurate depiction of who we are. Period.

Don’t buy the book. If you want to know the author’s personal story, read it online. He’s told it in plenty of interviews. The rest isn’t worth your valuable time.

Paying taxes is a privilege

I would like to thank Marc Birnbaum for his letter of Sept. 13, wherein he inadvertently substantiated one of the points I made in my letter of Aug. 30.

I’d like to share a response that I received from one of my cousins after she read Birnbaum’s views. I couldn’t have stated it any better than she did:

“Ye gads my heart flutters. Should we perhaps have pushkes to contribute some funds to help out these rich folk who are being robbed of their profit margin?”

“If only we could be struck with such a misfortune. I remember back when (my husband) was in practice how he said, ‘Goldie, I’m grateful we have to pay taxes. It means we have money.’ ”

Carole Plesser
Prairie Village, Kan.

Assisting the less fortunate

I was delighted to read your recent articles about the JFS Food Pantry and Yachad — The Kosher Food Pantry (Sept. 6). What a tribute to Kansas City! Here we have two organizations committed to feeding the hungry and a community that is willing to support both.

Yachad has always served the needy with dedication and soul. It is wonderful that JFS has decided to follow its example.

I know that many of the local congregations have supported Yachad in the past through food collection bins and tzedakah boxes. I salute the rabbis and the Rabbinical Association for continuing their support of Yachad and at the same time, supporting JFS’ new food pantry. How fortunate we are to live in a Jewish community that is unified on the issue of assisting those less fortunate, especially in these times of politics and pettiness!

To Chabad, keep up the good work. You exemplify what dedicated, hard-working volunteers can achieve. To JFS, may your endeavor be as meaningful and successful. And to the Jewish community and its spiritual leaders, thank you for sharing your voices and resources to ensure that both food pantries thrive.

B. Silver
Overland Park, Kan.

Unacceptable censorship

My wife and I have been longtime subscribers to the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. We are proud members of the K.C. Jewish community. Unfortunately, I understand that due to pressure from leftist Democrats — some of whom may be subscribers — you are not publishing Ms. Shoula Romano Horing’s articles. This, of course, is partisanship, censorship and a violation of people’s right to know.

I am reminded of the leftist and anarchic articles by Rabbi Margolies that you published week after week, much to my sadness, disappointment and dismay, which were mainly accusations and reproaches against our homeland, the United States of America, and our beloved Israel. Throughout the many years of your publishing these articles, we never cancelled our subscription! However, you are now getting into the realm of violating my right to know and the First Amendment.

Our Jewish people, as well as any other people, have the right and deserve to hear a variety of opinions so they can wisely select their leaders. What you are doing is censorship and not acceptable. The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle must be fair.

Please begin publishing Ms. Horing’s articles again.

K. Tom Khadavi
Overland Park, Kan.