Readers’ Letters: My ‘vip’ message to the Royal Family: Visit Israel Please!
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Here’s my ‘vip’ message to the Royal Family: Visit Israel please!
I refer to the item in your News in Brief column headlined “Rivlin invites royals to join the Balfour celebrations” (Jewish News, 9 March).
It may have been only a short item, but such a visit would be
a massive statement by the Foreign Office and the monarchy that they finally recognise Israel as worthy of a royal visit at this propitious time in her history.
In support of the Queen and Prince Philip going to one of the only countries in the Middle East and the world that they have not officially
been to, I refer to the saying by the Rabbinic Sage Hillel the Elder: “If not now, then when?” (Ethics of the Fathers/Pirkei Avot).
To the Queen who is a true VIP – VIP (Visit Israel, Please).
J D Milaric, By email
Rudeness is not generally accepted
I have witnessed rude behaviour by the black hat brigade on flights to and from Israel. Some spoke in the most disgusting manner to the cabin crew, who were politely trying to work.
Why do people refer to the offenders as ‘Orthodox’? Most dictionary definitions of ‘orthodox’ are along the lines of “following the traditional or generally-accepted rules or beliefs of a religion”.
Where in our religion is it generally accepted to be rude? The Kedoshim commandment is to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ and Hillel said: ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah.’
Daniel Shear, Edgware
Further to your story about pork being placed next to kosher food at Morrisons [Jewish News, 9 March], I noticed in the section for
kosher and halal produce in the Asda hypermarket in north Watford an inappropriate illustration above the shelves [see below].
After I pointed this out to the management, to their credit, they replaced it with something more appropriate.
Julian Marks, Wallingford
Charedim not always as pure as driven snow
I read Geoffrey Niman’s letter with a sense of incredulity [Jewish News,
9 March]. He implied Charedi people are as pure as can be and righteously uphold the words of the Torah.
I’m sure most do but many despicable issues have arisen involving Charedi men’s behaviour towards women and children. Some who deserved to be prosecuted were hidden away among their communities in a shameful way.
His comments about ‘promiscuous intermingling of the sexes that sadly is regularly promoted in the social event photo pages’, is crass beyond belief.
If Mr Niman doesn’t like photos of charity events that raise much-needed funds, smiling faces of children, and simchas, he should take his
medieval outlook somewhere else.
My thanks to Jewish News for the these pages, which show despite ongoing anti Semitism and hatred against Israel, Anglo-Jewry is still vibrantly alive and kicking.
Robert Dulin, Winchmore Hill
Dad had exemplary care
Our father recently passed away in Jewish Care’s Rubens House, aged 101.
The wonderful attention he received from carers and management staff was exemplary. Without these carers, who came from different countries, his last few months would not have been as meaningful and fulfilling as it was. It was amazing how they all got on.
Two of the carers on their day off even made the schlap to Rainham for his funeral.
We will always be thankful to Jewish Care for providing the warmth and care to all its residents.
Tony de Swarte and Avril Milner, By email
Israeli court is not politically biased
While I have some sympathy for Rosalyn Pine’s view about the trial of IDF soldier Elor Azaria, I’m puzzled by her statement that the court was ‘politically biased’ [Jewish News, 23 March].
I wonder what is the basis for this assertion, particularly as I’ve always understood that Israel’s courts are free and independent, and not under political control.
The operating of Israel’s court is something to be proud of, particularly when it has had to mete out justice to individuals such as terrorists charged with committing heinous crimes against its people.
The fact that, in general, it has managed to achieve this fairly while under intense provocation is one of the reasons why most fair-minded people consider Israel to be a beacon of freedom and democracy in the Middle East.
J Supran, Barnet
Judge Israel by same rules
I can’t be the only member of Anglo-Jewry who sees the Israeli boycott law, directed mainly at the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement (BDS) and its ilk, as perfectly proper and legitimate. The charge made by Simon Johnson of the Jewish Leadership Council, that it is undemocratic, is nonsense.
Many countries, including the UK, have laws allowing their governments to bar entry to representatives of organisations that incite hatred or are deemed harmful to the interests of the state or citizens. Why should Israel be judged by different standards?
As for student members of the NUS, the battle by Jewish and non-Jewish students to prevent it becoming anti-Zionist was lost. There is now no place for such students in the NUS.
BDS and similar organisations are vile anti-Semitic bodies and Israel has every right to take action against them.
Lionel Blumenthal, NW11
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