Visitor doesn’t get sense that Israelis live in fear
I was in Israel two weeks ago in the midst of the reign of terror of stabbings. While my Israeli friends and relatives issued cautions, I did not get the sense that they live in fear (“Jerusalem responds with police and pepper spray,” WJW, Oct.22). When we visited the Kotel, our cab driver drove us in through the Old City, through the Armenian and Jewish quarters, the same route I usually walk. The route was teeming with people, whether tourists or natives I could not say. When we arrived at the Kotel, there were several large youth groups dancing, waving flags and singing “Am Yisrael Chai.” There was a paucity of shoppers on Ben Yehuda Street, and clearly the merchants there are suffering. Great deals to be had.
Visiting Israel is always a boost to one’s hopes and optimism. This was no exception.
BEN MIRMAN
Silver Spring
Grand mufti’s falsehoods are revealing
The Washington Jewish Week front page of Oct. 29 reports, “Current grand mufti denies presence of Jewish temples at Jerusalem holy site.” This false teaching reveals much about him.
No one becomes a grand mufti without scholarship that requires high intelligence. So, we cannot excuse his false teaching on the basis of stupidity. When an intelligent and learned man makes such false statements, he is a liar. But by lying, he betrays the teachings of the Koran.
Chapter 11 Surah Hud, verse 93 states: “And O my people! Act according to your ability and way, and I am acting (on my way). You will come to know who it is on whom descends the torment that will cover him with ignominy, and who is a liar.”
The Koran repeatedly condemns lying and liars, in many verses. It appears that the grand mufti, by his repeated lies, is an apostate from Islam. That his audience likes his lies will not save him from torment (according to this verse).
EDWARD STERN
Bethesda
Palestinians must end violence against Jews
I am irate about the actions of Palestinians against Jews in Israel, especially innocent civilians.
The stone throwing, stabbings, car rammings, Molotov cocktail throwing, sending rockets from Gaza and firebombings must be stopped by the Palestinians (“American pols react to violence in Israel,” WJW, Oct. 15).
It has become obvious that Israel has no peace partner in the Middle East when the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, tells lies about the Israelis and continues to call for further incitement.
President Barack Obama sent Secretary of State John Kerry to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abbas to determine how the violence can be stopped, but it doesn’t seem possible at this time.
In the Old City of Jerusalem is an area containing the Temple Mount, al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites. The violence started when Abbas lied and said that Israel was going to change the status quo of visits by Jews to the al-Aqsa Mosque. This area also consists of the Dome of the Rock, referred to by Arabs as Haram al-Sharif. Nearby is the Western Wall, the Kotel, the holiest site in Judaism. Abbas wants the Kotel to be an Islamic site. Israel has repeatedly said that it has no intention of changing the status quo of this compound. Abbas even lied and said that Israel wants to tear down the al-Aqsa Mosque. Additionally, the P.A. has demanded full Muslim control of Jewish visitors to the
al-Aqsa Mosque, including the Kotel.
In addition, UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) recently passed an incredible resolution on behalf of the P.A., stipulating that Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, important to Jews, are Islamic holy sites. The resolution was withdrawn due to widespread criticism.
KITTY TIMMES
Vienna
From Washingtonjewishweek.com
Objection voiced in YSK
identification
The Raskins are wonderful people, but why is the first thing we need to know about this extraordinary woman that she is a rabbi’s wife (“You Should Know … Sari Raskin,” WJW, Oct. 22)? Sari’s marriage fits nowhere in this story except to answer the curiosity of someone who wants to know if she is any relation to Adam. Come on, Washington Jewish Week! You don’t identify your accomplished staff by their spouses or partners.
RABBI JACK MOLINE
Alexandria
The writer is the executive director of the Interfaith Alliance.
