CHICAGO’S OLDEST AND MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED INDEPENDENT JEWISH NEWSPAPER FREE THROUGHOUT METRO CHICAGO js

VOL. XVII, NO. 397 © Star Media Group, Inc. — “USEFUL INFORMATION FAITHFULLY RECORDED” — By Mail: $30 JULY 13 - 26, 2007

AS BLACK New complaint over WAITS, City’s Arab Festival

POST FIRST-TIME “CHICAGO ARABESQUE” RECALLS PAST NEGATIVITY WRITERS CITY CLAIMS A “NON-POLITICAL” EVENT, BUT ANTI-ISRAEL MATERIAL CIRCULATES RECALL JEWISH FEDERATION “AT WIT’S END” DAMAGE By DOUGLAS WERTHEIMER Star, Nov. 21, 2003). EDITOR The trouble had begun af- ter the Second Intifada of As he strolled around 2000. By November 2003, a CONRAD BLACK, RADLER Daley Plaza in downtown remarkable 26 per cent of all ARE SKEWERED BY WRITERS Chicago on June 29, Jay the Arab Heritage Month AT JERUSALEM POST Tcath thought that every- programs dealt with the thing looked as it Jewish State, a fact By GIL ZOHAR should. Editorial, un rec og nized by City It was not long ago officials. ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT page 4

— ISRANET PHOTO — ISRANET that the City of Chica - Though the City JERUSALEM — As these Micha Taubman, the operating manager of Israel’s desalination plant at Ash ke l on go had lost its grip on refused to publicly words are being written, — the world’s lar gest, most technologically advanced and economical — stands next its Arab Heritage Month acknowledge its failed over- the jury verdict is pending to some of the 40,000 membrane units that are the heart of the purification technology. program. That annual event sight, it quietly took action. in Conrad Black’s trial at seemed to be on cruise con- In the following year, the Chicago’s Dirksen Federal trol until a report in the bashing of, and ob session Courthouse. ISRAELI TECHNOLOGY Jewish Star documented with, Israel taking place “Tubby,” as he was called, how it had been hijacked by under official City aus pices the one-time chair man of mainline Prot estant groups virtually ceased (Jewish Hollinger In ter national, and Thirst Quencher, Peace Dividend bent on promoting their Star, Nov. 26, 2004). three former subordin ates, anti-Israel ag enda (Jewish gPLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 are ac cused of looting $60 By EDGAR ASHER day from the sea at the incredibly low cost million from stockholders of ISRANET of just over 50 cents per cubic meter. That’s the newspaper publishing almost 30 cents less than desalination pro- business, which controlled The French environmental services con - jects in other parts of the world. A missing ingredient in scores of dailies, in cluding glomerate Veolia Environnement SA an - The projection is that the desalinated , the nounced in May that it is doubling its water, which is sold to the Israel gov- Chicago Sun-Times and the investment in Israel by adding an addi- Saudi peace plan: Saudis ernment, will soon represent about London Daily Tele graph. tional $1 billion over the next five 20% of all of Israel’s domestic con- If convicted, he faces up years. sumption. ARAB LEAGUE TRIP ough to bother going along. to 20 years in jail. No wonder. This latest ex pan sion Such is the remarkable quality TO ISRAEL IS A That includes the Sau - Apart from the criminal comes on the heels of one of the most and purity of the product that dis, whose king has taken charges of fraud, racke- significant breakthroughs in water PROFILE IN COWARDICE some of the natural chemicals credit for a proposal the teering and obstruction of desalination technology — pion- found in spring water have to be Riyadh royals now say justice — and the accusa- eered and developed in Israel. By DOUGLAS BLOOMFIELD added back to give the water a little they’ve shelved. tions of insatiable greed, The new process allows for the WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT ‘taste’. The king’s top priority is snobbery and extravag - production of fresh water from sea- The Ashkelon plant was developed WASHINGTON, D.C., July making salaam between ance by the international water, or brackish water, by a system of by an Israeli-led consortium consisting of 9 — The Mideast seems in Hamas and Fatah, and re - media — the Canadian- reverse osmosis. Veolia Water of France, and Elran Infra - for another round of pseu- constituting the short-lived born media tycoon is also Reverse osmosis technology structures and IDE Technologies (both do-diplomacy as the Arab Palestinian unity gov ern - being pillor ied for chroni- Israeli). IDE is op erating the plant on a BOT League gets set to send a ment he brokered this cally mismanaging The At the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon, (build-operate-transfer) con cept. The delegation to Israel — now spring in Mecca. Jer usalem Post during the next to the Rutenberg Power Station, Israeli company will operate it at a profit postponed to July 25. The failure of other 15 years he controlled Is - Israel is already operating the lar gest, for a 25-year period (which includes three Notwithstanding its “his- Arab diplomats to join the rael’s flagship English-lan- most technologically advanced and eco- years to construct the plant), and then hand toric” billing in the media, its delegation undermines the guage daily, and of causing nomical, desalination facility in the world it over to the Israeli government. actually something less than League’s credibility and enduring damage to Jew - producing water through reverse osmosis. IDE Technologies has supplied over that as the U.S. secretary of tells Israelis the new ini- ish journalism, according The plant produces 330,000 cubic met ers of extremely high quality sweet water every g state drops by for one more tiative is not really serious. to several writers here. PLEASE TURN TO BACK PAGE photo-op and pep talk, and The group’s terms re - With acid sarcasm, form - nobody takes any of this very main: No contact with Is - er managing editor Calev SONG MYSTERY SOLVED seriously because they know rael until it accepts the Ben-David wrote a satire nothing will come of it. terms of the all-or-nothing purporting to be a court SECUNDA’S HIT “BAY MIR BISTU SHEYN” CAME FROM 2ND AVE. NEW YORK YIDDISH THEATRE What’s really happening Saudi proposal. transcript of his testimony. is that the Egyptian and When the proposal was Ben-David described By CHANAN TIGAY Second Avenue Yiddish 1990, has un earth ed the Jor danian foreign min isters first tabled five years ago, the imaginary suggestion the ater of the 1930s. back- are making ano ther trip to Israel rejected it, but when it by Black’s co-defendent LOS ANGELES — “Bay Even few er ground to Israel — but this time was revived earlier this year gPLEASE TURN TO PAGE 3 mir bistu sheyn”, written by people knew this ic - they’re saying they repre- Israel’s embattled Prime composer Shol om Sec un da, what the play sent the Arab League. Min ister Ehud Ol mert could- may very well be the most that launch ed They’re ostensibly going n’t say enough good things Germans did it famous of all Yid dish songs. this massive hit was to talk up the League’s about it and practically beg - It was the American about. Indeed, many casu- peace proposal, but none of ged the Sau dis to discuss it — NEW NAME FOR AUSCHWITZ Society of Com posers, Au - al listeners didn’t even onic the group’s other 20 mem- but they snubbed him. No thors and Pub lishers’ most know that the words of the song and bers takes it seriously en - gPLEASE TURN TO PAGE 3 popular song of 1938. title were anything more many others, A year after it was first Renditions have been than gibberish, Nuw vd tsyb rym Ub announced, UNESCO last recorded by the Andrews or some form INSIDE

month officially changed the Sis ters, Ella Fitzgerald, of Americanized Ger man. and has set DEPS ILLUSTRATION name of the “Auschwitz Ju dy Garland, the Barry In fact, the original song it down in ——U—— Concen tration Camp” located Sisters, Benny Good man, was in Yiddish, and the pop- the liner notes to its three- Editorial: Olmert’s defeatism ....4 in Poland to “Auschwitz- Guy Lombardo, and Rudy ular versions main tained CD set of Yiddish theater Israel’s healthcare system ...... 4 Birkenau. German Nazi Con - Vall ee, among other musi- only the Yiddish of the title songs, released last year, cen tra tion and Extermi n a - cal luminaries. (Nuw vd tsyb rym Ub), substi- along with a new recording DC: Blair’s new mission...... 5 tion Camp (1940-1945)”. Yet until recently, only a tuting English for the rest. of the piece as it might have Will Rogers on Congress...... 6 Poland had lobbied for handful of theater histori- Thanks to the Milken sounded when originally Summer reading...... 7 the change, to distance its ans were aware that the Ar chive of American Jew - sung at Brook lyn’s Rolland FrontRow: “Hairspray”...... 8 HOFMAN PHOTO — ETHEL citizens from the master- song — whose title means ish Music, that’s all chang- Theater in 1932. Community Calendar ...... 10 Djerba is an enchanting minds of the Holo caust. y “In my eyes, you’re beauti- ing. The Los An geles-based It’s one of more than place, with a thriving, an cient Torah: Tisha B’Av...... 11 Jewish community, page 9. —JTA /Jewish Star ful” — originated in the institution, founded in gPLEASE TURN TO PAGE 3 2 JULY 13 - 26, 2007 CHICAGO JEWISH STAR N E W S

Chicago Arabesque Chicago’s Arab Festival: Factual confusion “Chicago Arabesque,” sponsored June 27-30 in part by the City of Chicago, maintained a eFROM THE FRONT PAGE rich cultural heritage of website with inaccurate and questionable statements.Some examples are below. the Arab World.” Issue Organizer’s statement Comment Tcath was familiar with Mayor Richard Daley, this background. He had who appeared at the festi- Description of ”It is a non-religious, non-political Anti-Israel flyers were distrib- been doing his job; he’s cur- val on the fourth and final Chicago Arabesque, festival that will promote public uted by Palestine Solidarity YOU BE THE JUDGE rently the Executive Direct - day, likewise gave it his “the first ever awareness, understanding, and Group, a vendor on the orga- “In a Glaswegian accent or of the Jewish Commun - imprimatur. Arab festival in Chicago” appreciation of the rich cultural nizer’s approved list; another that is at times impene- ity Rela tions Council, an But before Tcath left heritage of the Arab world.” approved vendor, American trable — Aus tralia’s arm of the Jewish United Daley Plaza on that June Friends Service Committee, Channel 7 subtitl ed its Fund/Jew ish Fed eration of day, he was startled to dis- was the most egregious pro- TOPIC: interview Metropolitan Chi ca go. cover that there was in fact moter of anti-Israel attacks with him In 2003, following the something out of whack at the City’s 2003 Arab “We’ll just — [John] Jewish Star report, he and with the cruise control. Heritage Month set aboot ye” Smeaton Federation official Michael Chicago Arabesque was Who is an Arab? “The term Arab does not refer to a Although “the significance of voiced a Kotzin had met with Clar - not the non-political pro- race, a lineage, or a religion, but the word Arab has been defiance that has turned ence Wood, Chairman of gram advertised. rather to a language and a culture. steadily changing” in a “slow, him into a de facto the Chicago Commission First he noticed dis- Arabs may be Muslim, Christian, or complex and extensive” spokesman for Glasgow’s on Human Rights (CCHR). plays and items for sale fighting spirit. His mes- Jewish, dark skinned or light skin - way1, Jews — even though CCHR has eight adviso- which showed maps depict- ned, city dwellers or farmers.” they used to live in Arab sage to terrorists: ‘You ry councils, one of which — ing “Pales tine” on the very countries in large numbers — come to Glasgow, we on Arab Affairs — was dir- territory internationally don’t stand for it,’ he are not Arabs2. ectly responsible for pro- de fin ed as the State of Is - says. ‘We’ll just set aboot gramming for Arab Heri - rael. Chicago Arab “almost 250,000” Arabs in There is no agreement on the ye.” (Translation: ‘In tage Month. Not less troubling were population Chicago; Mayor Richard Daley told size of Chicago’s Arab popula- Glasgow, we’ll just deck The meeting with Wood the stickers and flyers be - ABC-7 Chicago television during tion, but as noted in 2003,3 you.’)” y was collegial and cordial. ing distributed at the Pal - Chicago Arabesque that Chicago the City’s estimate is high. — John Smeaton, And it was productive: the estine Solidarity Group has the country’s 3rd largest Arab Other figures: U.S. Cen sus, the 31-year-old baggage two went away with the it- booth. population 52,0004; Prof. L. Cainkar: handler who ran over and kicked the driver of a Jeep em they were seeking — a A flyer was headed “BOY- about 142,0005;Pales tinian who tried to escape after pledge that the CCHR COTT THE RACIST SUN-TIMES”. writer Ray Hanania: 180,0006; would prevent such a dev - It urged people to stop read- he intentionally drove his Chicago has the 4th largest car into the Glasgow el opment in the fut ure. ing or selling the Chicago U.S. Arab population (not 3rd)7 Airport June 30. In the ensuing years, Sun-Times because the Source: Wall Street Journal, Tcath and others moni- newspaper, it was claimed, “Palestine” A list of countries in the Arab world “Palestine” — that is, a place July 7, 2007 tored Arab Heritage has “consistently biased in the Arab world includes Palestine, with its capital with defined borders — has Month. It seemed to be coverage of the Israel-Pal - in Jerusalem; a slide-show displays not existed since 1948, JEWISH STAR back on cruise control. estine conflict.” It called for 3 maps of “Palestine”: (1) Pales- when the British abolished QUOTE OF THE WEEK So when the City this an end to “its columnists’ tine British Mandate 1920-48; (2) the entity which they had year an nounced a new racist slander of Arabs and Palestine UN Partition Plan (1947); established following their about the Palestine Solid - Council on Arab Affairs Muslims”. and (3) Gaza, West Bank, “Occu p - conquest of that area in ar ity Group material, but program — “Chica go Ar ab- “SAY NO TO RACIST JOUR- ied Palestinian Territory” (the word 1917-88; the organizer’s map had yet to see it. esque”, hailed as the city’s NALISM,” the flyer stated. “Israel” appears on the map in suggests that Is rael is “Occu - While refraining from first cultural heritage fes- Tcath also picked up a what is the Negev region). p ied Palestinian Territory” being any more specific, he tival — Tcath didn’t give tri-fold leaflet. It featured a said that “We will look at the matter much thought. map sandwiched between Sources: The organizer’s statements are from chicagoarabesque.com 1Bernard Lewis, The Arabs in History (rev. ed., them and follow up with And when he looked at the phrases “40 years of oc - 1966), p. 10 2Raphael Patai, The Arab Mind (rev. ed., 2002), pp. 12-14; see also George Antonius, The Arab Awakening those individual organiza- 3 several of the 22 booths at cupation” and “60 years of (1965 pb), p. 18; the point is implicit in the title of S.D. Goitein’s Jews and Arabs (1964 pb). Chicago Jewish Star (Nov. tions.” 21, 2003), p. 12 4G. Patricia de la Cruz and Angela Brittingham, “The Arab Population: 2000” (US Census Bureau, Dec. the festival, he didn’t see injustice & dispossession”. 2003); Chicago Sun-Times (Dec. 4, 2003) 5See L. Cainkar, “Palestinians,” in Encyclopedia of Chicago (2004), p. 597 Meanwhile Tcath has anything notable either. The map obliterates the 6hanania.com/arabvote.htm [2003] 7De La Cruz and Brittingham, as cited, table 3, p. 7 8Bernard Lewis, “Palestine: On the again written to Clarence Nor did there seem any State of Israel (it consists of History and Geography of a Name,” in Islam in History (2ed., 2001), p. 165 Wood and is awaiting a reason for him to feel con- a silhouette of the Gaza response to his July 5 let- cern. After all, Sahar H. Strip, West Bank and the the festival. descendants, to the homes one at the City or in its ter. Maw lawi, the Director of State of Israel, and does not PSG’s website does not and land from which they Arab Affairs Council not- “We’re at wit’s end be - the City’s Arab Affairs indicate any boundary lines hide its anti-Israel purpose. were exiled in 1947-49 and iced that this event had cause this is a problem Council, had de scribed be tween these areas). One aim, according to the again in 1967”. shown signs of returning to that has happened in the Chicago Arabesque in an Palestine Solidarity leaflet, is to “advocate and Those who campaign for the Israel-bashing activi- past,” he told the Jewish open letter as “a non-reli- Group, according to the organize” for (among other an absolute right of Pal es- ties of earlier years? Star, “and now within a gious, non-political festival Chicago Arabesque website, things) “the implementa- tinians to return to the City officials did speak few years we see it recur- that promotes public aw - is a non-profit organization tion of the comprehensive Jewish state are, for obvi- with vendors about the ring again.” areness, understanding, which was permitted to sell Right of Re turn for all Pal - ous reasons, considered to guidelines for Chicago Ar- But it’s more trouble- and appreciation of the books and t-shirts during estinian re fugees and their advocate the destruction of abesque, a cautious Ken- some this year than before, the Jewish state. neth Gunn, First De puty he said. The number of Commiss ioner of the attendees at Arab Heritage More troubling than before CCHR, told the Jewish Star Month has not been nearly The four-day Chicago Ar - this week. as large as for Chicago Ar - abesque, which was fund ed Al though out of town for abesque, which took place by sponsors at an estimated much of the festival, he during the Taste of Chica go. cost of $80,000, be gan on had managed a brief visit Kenneth Gunn estimat- Peace of Mind June 27. Jay Tcath didn’t to it. ed that some 40,000 people Loss can be overwhelming. Uncertainty crashes visit it until the third day. “Some things have been had visited the City of Why, he asked the Jew- brought to our attention,” Chicago’s latest celebra- into our lives and while we try to stay balanced, ish Star last week, had no he said. 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Published twice monthly by IN THE NEWS Star Media Group, Inc. (Established 1990) By Nechemia Meyers P.O. Box 268, Skokie, IL 60076-0268 Fax: (847) 674-0014 • Tel: (847) 674-STAR (7827) ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT E-Mail: [email protected] • DOUGLAS WERTHEIMER, PhD, Editor j GILA WERTHEIMER, Associate Editor Israel’s Uneven Health Care Contributors: JAMES D. BESSER, Political Affairs CAGLE CARTOONS DOUGLAS M. BLOOMFIELD, Washington SHAUL E. WERTHEIMER, Torah Columnist AD CHANA PLAYED BY THE RULES OF tient and (among other EDGAR ASHER, Israel ARNOLD AGES, Special Correspondent things) offer patients the MICHAEL FOX, Film Critic VIRGINIA BOYD, Special Correspondent standard medical practice in Isra - opportunity to choose what s ETHEL G. H OFMAN, Food Columnist NECHEMIA MEYERS, Israel Correspondent Lurie’s World is by RANAN LURIE Sales: MITCH WEXLER, LS ASSOCIATES el a year ago, she would certainly they will eat. H They are staffed almost The Chicago Jewish Star is a by now be suffering from irreversible dam- exclusively by top-flight subscriber to the JTA, specialists who visit pati - Isranet, Cagle Cartoons, age to her immune system. ents in the afternoon after and Cartoonews services. Chana is afflicted with a ISSN 1054 -1365 finishing their morning job severe auto-immune dis- The first copy of each issue of this newspaper is available for free to inter- at a public hospital. ested readers. Taking multiple copies from newsboxes or other distribution ease, the treatment of Another feature of pri- sites is a crime and will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. which de mands extreme measures that can only be decided upon by a senior specialist. Where some Will they ever get it right? When she turned to the Israeli medical insurance What excuse now for Chicago’s lack of oversight for Arab events? fund to which she belongs, are more they told her she would HE CITY THAT WORKS? WHEN IT COMES After 2003, Arab Heritage Month pro- have to wait six months to to programming events related to gramming was returned to what it had equal than T see a specialist. Yet during Arab heritage under the aus pices of the been initially intended to accomplish — a that period, she knew her City of Chicago, we don’t think so. focus on Arab culture. Then this year, after without any medical insur- others condition would deterio- From 2001-3, the City allowed its Arab Mayor Daley gave his go-ahead, a new ance whatsoever. rate. Heritage Month programming to be co- event — Chicago Arabesque — was added. So contrary to the situa- So instead she decided tion in the U.S., where opted by mainline Protestant groups here. With the exception of the involvement of the vate institutions is the fact to jump to the head of the health care is a key issue Those groups were only too happy to take American Friends Service Committee (an that they exclude depart- line by paying to see a spe- for all political campaigns, control when they saw officials asleep at the anti-Israel Quaker group), those in volved ments that don’t bring in a cialist on a private basis. it is not really on the polit- wheel. Year-after-year they turned Arab appeared to be from the Arab community. substantial profit (for ex- She is now receiving the ical agenda here. Heritage Month into Israel Bashing Month Nonetheless, once again due to a lack of ample, emergency wards vital treatment she re - With few exceptions, — until about one out of every four pro- oversight (and notwithstanding disclaimers and internal medicine). quires. grams celebrating Arab culture was devot- to the contrary), political material — specif- vot ers don’t seem to be par- Chana was able to pay ed to Israel or twisted into an attack on the ically, anti-Israel material — was handed ticularly concerned by a the specialist with funds Jewish state. And all of this was done with out at this Arab festival at Daley Plaza dur- situation in which, to para- EALTH MINISTER MOSHE provided by her supple- the imprimatur of the City That Works. ing Taste of Chicago (report, page 1). phrase George Orwell, all HSharoni is worried by mentary insurance policy City officials refused to talk about this Chicago’s efforts at promoting communal Israeli citizens are equally current trends in private and from her own pocket. outrageous development after it was docu- harmony have become a joke. Will officials entitled to medical care, and hospital care in Israel. In Israel, this is all above mented in these pages. But — to their cred- ever get it right? And for that matter — see but some are more equal He has warned that, board. it — they did take action. the box on page 2 — will City officials or than others. unless there are changes, Sometimes, however, It’s just there was not enough of it. Mayor Daley ever get their facts right? To be sure, inequities in “Israel will end up with such arrangements are not the Israeli health system two health systems — one practical. The result: Un- are found not only in pri- for the affluent and one for der-the-table payment to a vate care, but in hospital- ordinary people.” Lost in translation physician who, naturally, ization as well. Unmentioned by Shar o - Ehud Olmert’s defeatist attitude comes through in his speeches may not feel inclined to Most public hospitals — ni is a third health con- report it to the income tax which offer treatment sumer level in Israel. This HUD OLMERT STRUCK A SOUR NOTE LAST tigue on other occasions, nota bly in a Sept. authorities. which is virtually free — group is in far worse shape Emonth in a speech on the stability of 1, 2005 speech in New York. While the Vice are of a reasonable stand - where medical care is con- Israeli society. Prime Minister, he said: N SOME RESPECTS, THE ard. But they are badly cerned. Ably pointing out some of the remarkable “We are tired of fighting, we are tired of Ime dical care system here overcrowded, with four to These are people too strengths of the Israeli achievement at the being courageous, we are tired of winning, is better than that of the six people in a room, and poor to even pay the stand - Caesarea Conference in Haifa on June 28, we are tired of defeating our enemies, we . sometimes one or two more ard fee to fill each prescrip- and pointing to other areas which want that we will be able to live in Tragically, In Israel, every citizen in the nearby hallway. tion. Statistics indicate need im provement, the Israeli prime an en tirely different environment of is covered and will receive Private hospitals, which that some 8% of Israelis minister towards the end of his wrong relations with our enemies. We treatment when s/he re- charge substantial fees, don’t even go to get the me - remarks turned his attention to the twice want them to be our friends, our quires it, unlike some 43 are far less crowded, have d icines for which they are challenge to Israel presented by the partners, our good neighbors.” million Am ericans who are more nursing staff per pa- given prescriptions. y missiles being launched on virtually a daily It would be nice if the world were the way basis from Hamas’ Gaza towards Sderot. Mr. Olmert wished it would be. But it isn’t. Mr. Olmert urged patience, arguing that Pining for it with a profound sense of sad- “we cannot, in the short-term, provide you ness, of Weltschmerz, doesn’t help. The with all the personal security we would like words do not inspire. They dampen and un - to provide.” dermine resolve, they do an injustice to To expend the resources necessary to fully those who fought to make Israel what it is shield the area, he noted, would simply draw today. resources from other areas. And then he said: /kucd rcsk iht hf w,gsk vnmg idnk vkufh tk vbhsn T IS EASY TO SAY, FROM OUT OF THE RANGE LETTERS What did he mean by this? Iof danger, what someone ought to do. According to the government transla- It is easy to be critical of the one who lives Investing in Israel delighted to find the Jewish much by reading it that I tion, the Israeli leader was doing no more in constant danger and fear that a single Star article that you wrote took out a subscription. than stating the obvious: “The country misstep could have tragic consequences. To the Editor: waiting for me. I read “Discovering Tor - cannot completely shield itself, because And yet, that doesn’t mean the de feat- Re: “JUF rejects anti-Is - You certainly captured the ah” — what a wonderful, there is no end to it.” ism is not palpable. Indeed, it can be felt rael investment allegation” breadth of the project and wonderful article. (June 22): But according to a Jerusalem Post trans- across the oceans. gave a sense to the public of MARIA MATA lation of the sentence, which was pub- Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, formerly of New American Jews need to the importance of our work. Chicago, June 28 lished the same day as the conference, Mr. York and now of Efrat, recalled in 2002 a ap proach Israel with objec- I thank you so much, and Olmert was expressing a dreadfully de - meeting which he had nearly a decade tivity rather than Stars of as the soldiers say “Elef Thanks featist attitude: “A country cannot protect ear lier with then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Davids in their eyes. bra chot ” — a thousand itself ad infinitum, because there would Rabin. It came after Israel had decided to When Jews finally realize blessings. To the Editor: there’s money to be made Thank you for your re- be no end to it.” arm the Palestine Authority police force, BARBARA BLOOM here, they’ll see Israel with view of Alex Grobman’s According to Dr. Pinchas Hayman, form - an act which Rabbi Riskin questioned. SILVERMAN erly of Bar-Ilan University, Mr. Olmert’s “We’ve got to take the risk,” Rabin re - a proper perspective. It’s Founder, Nation’s United: How the sentence was an idiomatic pun on the ex - sponded. “Our people are too tired for ano - not a country for tzedakah A Package from Home United Na tions Under - pression l’abed et atzmo l’da’at, which ther war.” dollars but investment dol- Jerusalem, June 18 mines Israel and the West means “to commit suicide”. The sense was Commenting on this exchange years lat - lars — and immigration by (Jewish Star, May 18). We thus that “a state cannot endlessly defend er, Rabbi Riskin’s inspiring words appear choice for people from the really appreciate it. itself,” which supports the Post’s rendering. — sadly, but pro phe tically — aimed at Is - West. To the Editor: STACEY DRAKE In fact this defeatist attitude appears rael’s current leader as well: GIL KEZWER I found your wonderful New Leaf Publishing, not to have crept into Mr. Olmert’s speech, “Tragically Mr. Rabin was wrong on the Jerusalem, June 22 newspaper, and learned so Green Forest, AR, June 1y but to be a faithful expression of his wear- first issue; fortunately Mr. Rabin was iness. It came across a few days earlier in also wrong on the second. Despite these Star articles to our readers. When writing, his pleading, ingratiating, servile-sound- most difficult and precarious times, the i please include a daytime tele- ing words to Palestinian Authority presi- Israeli populace — and especially my To the Editor: phone number and address. A dent Mahmoud Abbas at the Sharm el- people in Efrat — are standing coura- Please forgive my slow Advice to writer’s name may be withheld Sheikh Summit, organized by Egypt and geous and resolute, proud to be pro- response to the wonderful Letter Writers upon request, but anonymous attended by Jord an. In hyper-inflated and tecting Jews the world over, proud to article you wrote about A letters are not published. All letters are subject to editing. over-the-top rhetoric, Mr. Olmert noted be waging the battle of the just and the Package From Home (“Ali - The Chicago Jewish Star wel- Chicago Jewish Star the “profound” suffering of the Palestin- free against the primitivism of terror- yah story: Making a differ- comes original Letters to the P.O. Box 268 ians. “Their pain and memories are infin - ist suicide bombers. Mr. Rabin, sadly, ence,” May 18). I have just Editor on issues raised in these Skokie, IL 60076-0268 ite,” he said. underestimated his nation — and we returned from a six week pages or on subjects of interest [email protected] And he has given expression to this fa - are now paying a bitter price.” y trip in the States and was