Letters to the Editor: ‘No proof that we were ever apes’

No proof that we were ever apes

Regarding your article, “Out of Africa and in to Israel”, on the basis of a single Mount Carmel jawbone (Jewish News, 1 February), Israeli evolutionists, like evolutionists worldwide, fervently seek to extend the age of humanity.

Yet of the surprisingly scarce human bones, graves, artefacts, and records, which should be everywhere if homo sapiens really has been around for one million years, none can be positively dated as being older than 10,000 years, indicating that the Biblical time scale is much more likely.

There is no evidence that our ancestors were apes or ape-like creatures, and no fossils have ever been found to link human beings with anything other than human beings.

Amnon Goldberg, Israel

To activists, Israel shouldn’t exist

After actively campaigning for Israel for nearly 10 years, a recent experience convinced me that Israel is not ultimately at fault.

I was privileged to be at a pro-Palestine meeting where I was the only Zionist. The Q&A revealed much of the mindset of the pro-Palestine agenda, namely that Israel has no right to exist. This basic tenet by the pro-Palestine lobby is the crux of why a ‘peace agreement’ has never been implemented.

The following is clear. Palestinians who live in Jordan and the West Bank are adhering to the futile belief that they have a right of return, but Jews have no right to a homeland.

The narrative continues that the two-state solution will be based upon the borders of 1967.

Rubbish. If that were the case, the conflict would have been resolved years ago. The bottom line is that the Palestinians want Palestine back as in ‘from the river to the sea’ or, pre-1948 borders.

The fact that the majority of the refugees from 1948 are now dead means that their offspring have no memory of pre-1948 Palestine.

Mike Abramov, By email

Ofsted’s policy is worrying

Laurence Garber states in his letter that Ofsted only want children to be taught facts, which begs the question why they require the teaching of evolution, which is not claimed by anybody as fact, merely a theory (Jewish News, 1 February). More worrying is the fact that because Darwin thought up this theory, Ofsted has decided that teaching creationism or not teaching the theory as fact is sufficient reason to close down a school.

Ann Cohen, Golders Green

Cartoon was in bad taste

At the time of writing, the outcome of the judicial inquiry into the policy and procedure of senior coroner Mary Hassell in regard to the burial of Jewish bodies has yet to be decided.

Your Sketches and Kvetches cartoon of 25 January) attempted to introduce humour into the very serious situation regarding the release of bodies with the minimum delay for burial and was,
I feel, in grossly bad taste.

I fail to see how this can be a subject for humour and I would urge editorial control to prevent future gratuitous offence.

Henry Jacobs, By email

What are we, chopped liver?!

The Shechita Board has decided we are no longer capable of koshering liver at home. Only pre koshered liver is available in the butcher shops. This has been decided without any discussion with the people who matter, the customer.

For 52 years I have koshered liver at home and then made chopped liver. It is not hard to do. I will not buy pre koshered liver. Pre koshered liver means that it is cooked and cooled before the customer takes it home and then cooks it. This is a health risk as liver goes off very quickly.

Should the Shechita Board be allowed to police me in my own home?  What will they do next?

Patricia Stanton, Mill Hill

Synagogues should mark HMD

This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day took place on Shabbat, 27 January, and was instigated largely as a result of the efforts of the Emeritus Chief Rabbi, Lord Sacks.

It is with considerable disappointment that I noted many synagogues failed to mark the occasion by reciting any memorial prayers, or acknowleged the special occasion in any way.

This was particularly ironic as
on Shabbat most synagogues
recite prayers marking the
passing of relatives of members or attendees.

Why was the day allowed to pass without mention?

Clive BoxerVice chairman, AJEX

Tattoos have a painful past

Regarding your article, “Out of Africa and in to Israel”, on the basis of a single Mount Carmel jawbone (Jewish News, 1 February), Israeli evolutionists, like evolutionists worldwide, fervently seek to extend the age of humanity.

Yet of the surprisingly scarce human bones, graves, artefacts, and records, which should be everywhere if homo sapiens really has been around for one million years, none can be positively dated as being older than 10,000 years, indicating that the Biblical time scale is much more likely.

There is no evidence that our ancestors were apes or ape-like creatures, and no fossils have ever been found to link human beings with anything other than human beings.

Amnon Goldberg, Israel