Letters to the Editor: ‘Not impressed by batmitzvah story’

Don’t tolerate the intolerant

I’m astonished by your editorial about French president Emmanuel Macron (Jewish News, 11 May).

Macron is a globalist who stresses the supremacy of the EU. Unrestricted immigration will continue, along with strengthening of EU institutions, meaning there will be no substantive moves to combat terrorism. Attacks on Jews will accompany continuing Muslim immigration, along with features such as nightly car burnings, the growing no-go areas and “jungles” as in Calais.

You talk about “hatred of the other” and intolerance; it’s Islam that promotes hatred of “the other” and has zero tolerance for Jews, Christians or any ‘infidel’. At the London marches that accompany each Gaza war, you hear the cries of “Jews to the gas” emanating from left-wing ideologues and Muslims. There are reports of increases in Islamaphobia. More people do exhibit a phobia – of having their heads chopped off or being blown up – while attacks have increased on Jews, for one very obvious reason.

Macron may espouse “tolerance”, but promoting “tolerance” – of the intolerant – is misguided.

Rabbi Menahem Lester, Israel and London

Not impressed by batmitzvah story

Last week’s headline, ‘School Refuses Pupil Time Off for Batmitzvah’ was completely misleading. It should have read: ‘School Refuses Time Off for Preparation of Batmitzvah’.

There is a major difference between the two. The first would be unreasonable.

I think the school’s response is correct. Preparation must be in the pupil’s own time. The attendance rate of the pupil to date is of no consequence to this.

I doubt if children at JFS and other Jewish schools are routinely given time off to prepare for their bar/batmitzvah.

David Wirth, By email

I can’t vote for Tulip, who voted for Corbyn

I live in Hampstead and Kilburn and cannot bring myself to vote for my Labour candidate Tulip Siddiq.

Although she has tried to hide her association with Jeremy Corbyn, Tulip nominated him for leader and served in his shadow cabinet.

I cannot bear to vote for his candidate when you consider the sharp rise in anti-Semitism in the Labour Party in recent years, with a leader who has, throughout Parliament, called Hamas and Hezbollah his ‘friends’.
Stephen Hoffman, Brondesbury Park

Not all of us ladies are like that, Isaac!

I am sorry Isaac Cohen met eight Jewish ladies in their 60s, all of whom were only seeking “a free meal ticket for life”, while the sole non-Jewish lady was the only “genuine and honest” one
(Jewish News, 11 May).

I’m in my 60s and neither look my age, nor am I seeking a free meal ticket.

Having been widowed, I, too, am only looking for companionship.

What a pity I did not see his lonely hearts advert.

Linda Davidson, by email

If Charedim were polite, they might get more help

Does Martin Stern think airlines and passengers on flights have a vendetta against him? (Jewish News, 11 May).

He notes that on an airline (not bound for Israel), he and his wife were sat separately next to a window, presumably on a different row. He further comments that he was sat next to a man and his wife next to a woman – oh and by the way they were not Jewish (oh my goodness!).

He believes by some strange conclusion that this was arranged by the airline and not just a coincidence so airlines can cater for his needs – that really intrigues me.

Many airlines normally allow you to go online and prebook your seat 24 hours – or sometimes 36 hours – beforehand, and print off your boarding card. This guarantees your seat and you can change your allocated seat at no charge.

This paranoia that some readers are so adverse to Charedim is in your mind. If they conducted themselves on the airline in a polite decent manner, and indeed either pre-booked their seats or on board ask the steward if they could help rather than asking the passengers, then this might help the situation.

Clive Pollard, Edgware

Yachad: arab advocacy

True to form, Yachad used the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War to dress up its megaphone dissemination of Arab propaganda as “concern for Israel’s well-being”, calling on Israel to relinquish land under
Jewish sovereignty according to international law, to its ruthless
enemies.

If it doesn’t stop this, it should be removed from the Board of Deputies forthwith.

Roslyn Pine, Finchley

Cartoon was not funny

I don’t think I lack a sense of humour but the Mishpacha cartoon in last week’s edition reinforces the anti-Semitic stereotype that Jews burn down factories for the insurance money (Jewish News, 18 May).

Some years ago we had a small fire at our workplace, and a non-Jewish colleague, who had never before shown any sign of anti-Semitism, made a shockingly snide remark about a Jewish insurance claim.

I was insulted and should have said something, but took the easy way out and ignored him.

Of course, I guess most readers of Jewish News are Jewish and a cartoon like this is meant to be a joke, but I don’t think it’s a joking matter.

Peta Freedman, By email