Letters to the editor: ‘Rabbi Lord Sacks was wrong on Stephen Hawking’
Write to us at: PO Box 815, London HA8 4SX or email us at letters@thejngroup.com
Lord Sacks wrong on hawking
It was unseemly for Lord Sacks, a believer in the Torah, to give such unwarranted fulsome encomium to fellow Gonville and Caius alumnus, Stephen Hawking (‘Hawking ‘altered our understanding’, 15 March).
In addition to supporting Arab resistance and academic boycotts of Israel, to preaching erroneous science whilst suppressing the true scientific evidence for a recent creation and a geocentric universe, Hawking was an avowed atheist diametrically opposed to the Torah. He asked silly questions like “What place then for a Creator?” (“A Brief History of Time, 1988), “Does it need a Creator, and if so does He have any effect on the universe? And who created Him?” (“A Briefer History of Time”, 2005), “It would not be necessary to appeal to God to decide how the universe began. God is not necessary.” (“Black Holes and Baby Universes”, 1994).
Atheistic Evolutionists and Cosmologists like Hawking and his ilk have divested mankind of certainty, eternity, absolutes, mysticism, vitalism and creationism, having derided, undermined, damaged, and destroyed the abiding faith of countless millions. Hawking’s wife, a devout Christian, separated from him in 1990 partly because she was increasingly offended by his atheism.
Lord Sacks’ suggestion that a bracha be made on seeing Stephen Hawking would be a travesty.
Amnon Goldberg, Israel
Any contribution?
I read with delight the contribution Israel makes to the world in the form of technology, e.g. eyes, water, electicity from the sun. What does the Charedi community do to improve the lives of other people?
Noach Bright, Stamford Hill
Creationism proof
In his letter, Dr Neville Jones stated: “Creationism is high-quality research….” (Jewish News, 15 March 2018). Really? Any evidence? Members of the scientific community would be very interested.
Fraser Michaelson, Southgate
Come to hear more from Grunwald-Spier
I enjoyed your Jewish Views podcast interview with Holocaust survivor and author Agnes Grunwald-Spier (23 March).
She will be speaking at Edgware United Synagogue on Tuesday, 10 April, the day before Yom HaShoah, when she will be discussing her new book, Women’s Experiences in the Holocaust.
I hope Jewish News readers can attend to hear more from this remarkable woman.
Spencer Nathan, By email
Some don’t hear ‘never again’
The 3,000 Polish nationalists who sent emails to the Jewish Museum’s Jewish staff last week ought to know that today’s news is tomorrow’s history. They will end up as footnotes to an exhibit themselves.
Our grandchildren will have to explain to their own grandchildren that even Europe’s right-wing never stopped considering history as ‘fair game’. There are those who never hear the words ‘never again’. They’re too busy typing their next angry email.
Mel Ferlin, Wimbledon
Don’t they read the news?
How ironic the day you report on the UK visit of the father of
the Israel Druze policeman shot and killed at Temple Mount by
a Palestinian terrorist last year, that we should read about a
similar atrocity, with two Israeli soldiers killed (Jewish News,
15 March).
When the world berates Donald Trump for withholding aid money from the Palestinians, do they simply ‘miss’ stories like this?
Perhaps, as a newspaper, you might consider running them side by side to make the point harder to miss.
Adele Bennam, By email
Giving the gift of eyesight at Pesach
I understand the challenges World Jewish Relief faced with its Pesach appeal.
I have lived in Eastern Europe (albeit not Ukraine) and understand the mentality of not wanting to ask.
The reality is that it is only organisations like this – and money from Jewish families in richer countries – that mean Jewish communities in poorer countries get by.
I can think of nothing more pertinent than
giving the gift of eyesight
at Pesach.
Valerie Shaw, By email
So, What’s in a name?
You featured a story online about a text message exchange going viral, involving lawyer ‘Moshe’, arguing with his aunt who wants him to come ‘back to Judaism’ after he refuses to ditch his non-Jewish partner. It reminded me of the man whose son is dating.
The son tells his father he’s met a lovely girl. His father just wants to know the girl’s family name. ‘Ford.’ His father looks aghast and tells him he must find a girl with a nice Jewish name. The next day the son comes back; he’s found a beautiful girl, family name: Smith. No good, says the father. Ditch her for a girl with a Jewish name. Finally, the son comes back, and says: ‘I’ve found a girl with a name you’ll like: Goldberg.’ The dad is delighted. ‘Is her first name one of my favourites, like Rachael or Rebecca?’ ‘No father,’ says the son. ‘It’s Whoopi.’
Jon Meklenberg By email
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
