Letters to the Editor: ‘Why was I was barred from exhibit?’
Send us your comments by writing us a letter to: PO Box 34296, London NW5 1YW or emailing us at letters@thejngroup.com
Why was I was barred from exhibit?
I applied for a ticket to the event at the Eton Road mosque (Jewish News 24 January) as my knowledge of the Holocaust in Albania is minimal. When I arrived, at the venue I was told my name was not on the list.
I asked why and was told it could be an administrative error. I asked for more information and was told it was unavailable. I said I am Jewish and all were invited, but this fell on deaf ears. I explained my reasons for being there and pointed out that the title of the exhibition was ‘Love Your Neighbour’. Apparently they did not love me. I was upset at being turned away. Maybe my mistake was saying I’m a Zionist. It seemed the community in Redbridge was told not to say why I was denied entry.
Certainly there were other Jews admitted but not me.
This exhibition was sponsored by Yad Vashem. I explained my family perished in the Holocaust, but that too fell on deaf ears.
Even when I needed the toilet, I was refused entry to the building.
Warren Grynberg, Barkingside
Yes, we can count on brave Rachel
Regarding the article “Riley reveals her personal fight against antisemitism”, (Jewish News 17 January), Rachel Riley should be congratulated on her efforts to combat abhorrent behaviour.
Antisemites generally are enjoying the life of Riley at present, freely spouting their cruel, racist remarks on social media and other forms of communication.
Yes, some of the politicians are eventually sanctioned, but this is often mild and hardly acts as a deterrent.
Most just carry on poisoning society with their invective and, as in this case, seek to paint those like Ms Riley as perpetrators rather than victims. In particular, she has been accused of being a bully who is spreading smears.
When it comes to antisemitism, an appropriate “smear test” definition is “any demonisation of, prejudice against and hostility to Jews and the state of Israel which merely seeks to spread the cancer of antisemitism”. Ms Riley is using her status to counter such accusations publicly and campaign against this racism.
J D Milaric, By email
Hadassah sets example
I have an addition to your recent coverage of the example set by hospitals in the field of co-existence, Hadassah Mount Scopus and Wolfson Hospital in Holon being the ones quoted.
My daughter is an ICU nurse in the Carmel Hospital in Haifa. When we visited to celebrate the BeneMitzvot of our grandchildren, we were introduced to both Arab and Jewish doctors and nurses who work together in amity towards their aim of caring for all regardless of faith or ethnicity.
On one occasion, our daughter received an urgent call from the hospital to help free up a bed to accommodate a patient from Gaza in need of intensive care.
Alan Miller, N20
Corbyn’s sickening stunt
Can there be anything and anyone more abhorrent, disgusting and hypocritical than Jeremy Corbyn being pictured signing the Holocaust Memorial book?
This is the man who, as reported in Jewish News, laid a wreath near terrorists who butchered Israeli Olympic athletes yet now cries crocodile tears for the slaughter of six million Jews on one particular day of the year.
Let no one think the Jewish community and wider “decent” public haven’t seen through this sham of a stage-managed propaganda stunt.
Russell Ballen, By email
Netta brings joy to us all
Thanks should go out to all right-thinking people who champion Netta Barzilai.
Having won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest, she is leaving happy smiling faces everywhere she performs and her forthcoming appearance at Carnegie Hall in March will no doubt be very special – hopefully recorded for all to enjoy.
This appreciation of Netta does not of course include those who wish to interrupt her performances with their antisemitic anti-Israel slogans, insulting one of Israel’s best cultural exports to date.
It is beholden to the Israeli organisers of this year’s Eurovision contest to ensure the event is truly spectacular and presents visually both Tel Aviv and Israel in general as the beautiful and democratic nation that it is.
Stephen Vishnick, Tel Aviv
The value of volunteers
May I take one small issue with Leonie Lewis’s piece on 24 January about her 12-year legacy working for the Jewish Volunteer Network. It’s not only charities benefiting from skilled volunteers but also schools and private enterprise. The Baby Boom generation brings relevant skills that would be wasteful to discard. I like to think that in some small measure, I have made a contribution to my non-charitable organisation as a volunteer. I’m certain there are many charities and volunteers who owe Ms Lewis a tremendous debt of gratitude for arranging many successful “marriages” and on their behalf may we wish her a fulfilling retirement. If she’s looking for work, The London School of Jewish Studies Library would be happy to have her services!
Michael Roodyn, 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.
