Letters to the Editor: ‘Don’t paint everyone with the same brush’
Send us your comments to: PO Box 815, Edgware, HA8 4SX | letters@jewishnews.co.uk
Singularly fair coverage
I want to comment on the letters by Dov Leitner (JN is ‘against Torah’), and Sammy (Admit your anti-religious agenda), in last week’s edition, dated 11 February 2021.
Well done for publishing these letters, which are highly critical of this newspaper’s journalism and what these individuals maintain should be its true ‘modus operandi’.
Jewish News, in its coverage of this sorry tale of how some Charedim have behaved during lockdown, has been balanced and, in my view, adopted a single standard of fairness.
To my knowledge and delight, Jewish News does not profess to be a publication that adheres to Torah or any particular religious bent. It is
a real and valued newspaper to many of us, since it prides itself on, and publishes articles, editorial comment and reader’s letters (like ours), covering a range of issues that matter to British Jews.
Making accusations to Jewish News by writing: “Why do you continue to lie?” and suggesting it changes its name to the “Non-Jewish News” or the “Palestinian News,” as Sammy did, is not helpful or likely to encourage any form of positive outcome to what he wants to happen.
Mr Leitner is reading the wrong newspaper if he seeks to ensure everything in a newspaper for the Jewish community is seen through the eyes of journalists and readers who strictly adhere to the Torah as he would want it to.
It is wrong and disingenuous of him to maintain that Jewish News’ content is “against Torah”, whatever that is intended to mean.
There is only one real problem here – the Charedim (some only, I reaffirm), who caused this issue in the first place.
JD Milaric, Stanmore
Don’t paint everyone with the same brush
I found it extremely disappointing that, in Jewish News’ defence of its recent report into illegal weddings, it employed discriminatory terminology such as ‘Charedi world’ (a term that, to me, implies foreignness and alienism), as well as painting the entire Charedi community with one brush, which arguably is a form of prejudice.
Moreover, I consider myself as Charedi yet live many miles away from the postcodes where the Jewish News carried out its recent investigation.
Jewish News could have been more careful with its words so as not to tar an entire sect with the same brush.
Daniel Goldwater, NW11
Isolation is no excuse
Among the many letters regarding the Charedim in Stamford Hill, SE Brodheim highlighted the littleknown isolation of too many
Charedim.
No TV, no internet, no newspapers, some not even speaking English. But living isolated from the world is not an option. When the house is on fire, calling 999 and shouting f’brent is pointless.
It did not need your newspaper to show how Charedim have flouted the law and brought shame on all Jews.
This disgrace has been in most of the national newspapers and on television news channels.
Malcolm Factor, by email
Flouting regulations
There’s been considerable debate in the wake of the strictly-Orthodox community’s irresponsible flouting of Covid regulations.
There can be no argument that the conduct we have seen is both an
offence to divine and secular law. As well as a similar attitude when it comes to being prepared to exploit the benefits of the country in which they reside whether it be Israel, the USA, the UK or elsewhere, while at the same time believing it is acceptable to flout laws and put themselves above
society in general, and other Jews in particular.
Michael Gross, by email
Crossword clue made me cross
A clue in the Guardian newspaper’s speedy crossword for the issue of 25 January was: ‘Israel’s administrative capital…(3,4).’
Although Jerusalem houses the Knesset, Supreme Court and Prime Minister’s residence and is, therefore, Israel’s administrative capital, it would appear not to be the correct answer.
I wonder what answer the Guardian crossword writer had in mind?
Kay Bagon, Radlett
Chuppah is key
There seems to be a complete lack of understanding in the general community of Charedi marriage. In non-Jewish society, and increasingly in non-Orthodox Jewish circles, it is quite common for weddings to take place long after the couple have set up home together, often after the birth of several children. So in those circles, the chuppah is seen as a mere antiquated ceremony of relatively little importance that precedes the real celebration, the subsequent ‘party’.
This is anathema in Charedi society, where the chuppah is of primary importance and couples would not dream of being alone together before the chuppah, so the current government regulations are a great hardship. But, with an understanding of differing lifestyles, a solution can be found, allowing marriages while avoiding dangerous activities that involve close contact such as dancing.
Martin Stern, Salford
All haman’s fault?
Remember this Purim not to eat the hamantashen before you get home from the baker and safely remove your mask. I am not dressing up for the festival as I’m already wearing a face covering. I will read my Megillah with extra devotion and bang my hammer hard when I mention Haman. Maybe it’s all his doing?
Norma Neville, Hendon
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