Letters to the Editor | Oct. 28, 2024

The Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia condemns the heinous attack on the synagogue Mikveh Israel. There is never a justification for violence or for desecrating a sacred space. The act of setting a fire outside of one of the oldest synagogues in the country is an insult to all people of goodwill, even though it is directed against the Jewish people. Philadelphia has welcomed the Jewish community. It is a place where all of us can live together, celebrating our differences and the things that unite us. We are comforted by the good wishes we have received and the strong response against this vicious act. The United States, the city of Philadelphia, and the good people who live here do not accept these shameful and cowardly acts of hatred. Together, we stand strong.

Rabbi David Levin, Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia

Ask yourself: Why would Donald Trump, who is obsessed with winning, praise Adolf Hitler’s generals who lost World War II? As a student and teacher of the history of antisemitism, let me suggest we not get tripped up in arguments about whether Trump is an antisemite. He admires Hitler’s generals because they obeyed Hitler’s orders in gross violation of time-honored rules of war. Trump has been consistent throughout his life in insisting that the rule of law does not apply to him, whether it be civil, criminal, or constitutional.

In 1937, Hitler’s air force led the bombing campaign of a small town in northern Spain on market day — targeting hundreds of civilians with aerial bombing for the first time in history. Picasso immortalized the moment in Guernica. Those are Trump’s heroes: Hitler and his soldiers who knew no boundaries in the pursuit of power. Trump’s diagnosis is not antisemitism, per se; it’s megalomania. Meanwhile, Trump’s local minions hear their führer and commit arson and petty vandalism at Congregation Mikveh Israel. I fear to imagine what Trump’s generals are plotting.

Rabbi Shai Cherry, Congregation Adath Jeshurun, Elkins Park

Can someone explain to me why Pennsylvania is so reluctant to join other states that make voting easier? Early voting has been going on now in many states, which means people in those states have more opportunities to cast their ballots in a timely, reflective, responsible way. And why all the gotcha restrictions on mail-in ballots? For a while, Pennsylvania votes that had inaccurate dates or lacked signatures on the outer envelopes did not mean that person’s vote would not be counted. What happened?

And for the life of me, I can’t understand why officials can’t open ballots and prepare them for official counting prior to Election Day. In these days of automation and efficiency, why start preparing the mail-in ballots from square one as if it were a race that could only begin the moment the polls opened for those casting their ballots in person? Pennsylvania must look at other states whose voting procedures and policies ensure their voting results are accurate very soon after the polls close on election night. Why should the whole country have to wait for Pennsylvania to know who will be their leaders?

Mary A. McKenna, Philadelphia

Haven’t we destabilized the Middle East enough? In the early 2000s, the GOP relentlessly banged the drum of weapons of mass destruction, which, as many of us knew then and all of us know now, was a complete fabrication. Iraq has never recovered. Were they better off under Saddam Hussein? Under a Democratic administration, we intervened in Libya, plunging it into complete chaos and sparking a refugee crisis. Afghanistan? Ask the women there now who have lost even the right to speak. But is that enough of our meddling? It seems not.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has put the rescue of the remaining hostages second to his ongoing war effort, which conveniently overshadows his corruption issues, and is now expanding the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians to create an all-out war with Lebanon and Iran — all with U.S. assistance and on our dime. Protests meet repression in our country as criticism of Israel becomes taboo. None of these recent U.S. interventions have left a country better off, and the blood on our hands is getting harder to wash off. When will we stop?

Elizabeth Seltzer, Parkside

The recent approval of a $1.1 million weapons detection system for Upper Darby High School and two middle schools has sparked a crucial conversation about student safety. While this initiative aims to address the immediate concern of weapons in schools, it only scratches the surface of a much deeper issue. As a Pennsylvania resident and a master of public policy student at American University, I believe genuine safety in our schools requires a holistic approach. Beyond the presence of weapons, we must confront significant underlying factors such as student mental health, home life, and the overall school environment.

Rather than solely investing in detection technology, it would be prudent for Upper Darby and other school districts across Pennsylvania — and indeed the nation — to establish task forces dedicated to identifying and addressing the root causes of school violence. By focusing on prevention and support, we can foster a safer atmosphere for all students. No parent should feel the need to add bulletproof vests to their back-to-school shopping lists. Instead, we should strive for a future where safety measures go beyond detection, and truly nurture the well-being of our children.

Rachel Leopold, Chalfont

In addition to focusing on the national elections, our Jewish community must pay attention to the local elections for school board, city council, and state legislatures when we vote in November. Since Oct. 7, 2023, and the rise of antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment, we see how local elections matter. Over the past year, how many city council meetings have been besieged by protesters demanding resolutions condemning Israel? In Philadelphia, supporters of a resolution condemning Hamas faced protesters spewing antisemitic rhetoric, effectively disallowing their testimony. These protests and demands to condemn Israel have continued, including one at City Council last week.

When you cast your ballot, do you consider the candidates for your boards of education? We need to know who is running for our boards of education to ensure that we have candidates on the ballot who will protect our students and families against blatant antisemitism. Another critical group of local officials is our state legislators. Our state officials provide state-funded security grants to our Jewish institutions, protecting our community from increasing threats. These officials also play a key role in combating anti-Israel BDS resolutions and defining antisemitism.

When casting your ballot, be an informed voter for national and local elections. We need leaders who respect diversity, defend minorities against hate crimes, and focus on local community needs without being drawn into international disputes. They must also respect Israel as an ally of the United States, and the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

Robin Schatz, director of government affairs, and Jeffrey Lasday, senior chief of external affairs, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

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