Letters
Fighting BDS in D.C.
American support for Israel has longstanding and unshakably bipartisan support in Congress. Unfortunately, today’s fractious politics, intensified by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, makes it more difficult to achieve bipartisan cooperation in support of our stalwart friend.
To combat this, we in Congress passed a trio of bills last week making crystal clear our support of our ally, including one piece of legislation that stands in stark opposition to efforts to delegitimize Israel. That resolution, H. R. 246, denounces the BDS movement targeting Israel while affirming the constitutional right of free speech. The Democratic House also swiftly passed H.R.1837, legislation I co-sponsored to improve defense and security assistance provisions authorized for Israel, and H.R.1850, legislation co-authored by my colleague Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-5th Dist.), to impose sanctions with respect to foreign support for Palestinian terrorism.
As long as I am in office, I will support Israel and its people against movements to delegitimize our important ally.
Bill Pascrell Jr.
Member of Congress (D-N.J. 9th Dist.)
Thank you from Beth Rishon
On behalf of our entire congregation, I would sincerely like to thank you for your continued support of our clergy and programming at Temple Beth Rishon (“Wyckoff synagogue is launching innovative b’nai mitzvah program,” July 26).
This past year has been a very difficult time in the history of our shul, with the premature loss of our Cantor Ilan Mamber during the transitioning of our new Reb Beni. Couple that with the widespread hate crimes throughout the year, and one can only imagine what our membership has had to endure.
The Jewish Standard’s compassionate reporters have consistently communicated the essence of our community while reporting on our retired Rabbi Emert, our beloved Cantor Mamber, and our new, inspiring Rabbi Wajnberg.
Once again your recent article highlighting our Kivun B’nei Mitzvah Initiative captures what this program means to our young rabbi as well as our religious school families. We can’t thank you enough for adding credibility to our vision by reporting it in your well respected publication.
May we both grow from strength to strength.
Yasher koach.
Michael Goldberg
President, Temple Beth Rishon, Wyckoff
Take a look at Israel’s gun policy
I believe that our country should closely examine the firearms policy of Israel. Several other nations have a similar approach. I urge all readers to research this.
We are in the midst of a tragic epidemic of violence that has festered for many years. The Second Amendment should be revised to reflect the true intentions of our founders. It’s long past time that we give up our immature tradition that we are a nation of “pistol packing” COWBOYS!!
Jerry Terdiman
Woodcliff Lake
Impeachment is inevitable
I support the process of impeachment against President Trump.
He is a racist and a danger to our country. There is so much evidence for impeachment. He has caused so much harm, he has no regard for the free press, and more importantly, no regard for our Constitution. He is an embarrassment to our country. At rallies, he talks like a mob boss. He is a liar, a sexual harasser, and a business cheat. The Republican defenders of this president are a disgrace to their office.
Our foreign policy has grown weak. We as a nation must maintain strong alliances and show respect to our allies. Trump likes flaunting his ties to dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin. How deplorable for the president to support Saudi Arabia given the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The borders are a disaster, with no plan in sight, and it is sickening to see children separated from their parents.
Trump abides by no rules. Why hasn’t he been made to abide by the emolument clause and the nepotism law? The Oval Office has become a cash cow for the Trump family.
Robert Mueller’s investigation summed up Trump’s Russian interference in the 2016 election, which still continues, with nothing being done about it. Mueller detailed Trump’s obstruction of justice. He did not exonerate the president, as Trump repeats over and over as he gaslights with “No Collusion, No Obstruction.”
Determined to avoid setting up a king, impeachment was the founders’ method of holding a president accountable. Alexander Hamilton explained, “We have a particular constitutional process for adjudicating claims of a political nature: IMPEACHMENT.” Also, in Hamilton’s words, impeachment is reserved for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” meaning offenses that flow “from the abuse or violation of some public trust.”
The demagogue in the White House has to be removed. I believe impeachment is inevitable.
Grace Jacobs
Cliffside Park
comments