To the Editor,

Thank you very much for your article about last week’s Yom Haatzmaut celebration in Teaneck.  We would like to add our thanks to the many people who helped plan and work on the event.  Most importantly, we would like to reiterate our gratitude to the children of our community who have decided to serve Israel in so many different ways – in combat units, intelligence units, as social workers, in development schools and much more.  And of course, we give a big “Kol Hakavod” to their parents who have encouraged and supported them in their efforts.

Thank you to everyone who came together, in Teaneck and elsewhere, to express gratitude and support for the privilege of having a Jewish state.

The Yom Haatzmaut Planning Committee

Carmi Abramowitz
Miriam Hermann
Debbie Abramowitz
Zvi Sebrow

To the Editor:

Ira Treuhaft “J Street in Cherem” reminds us of the real tragedy of J Street’s rejection by the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations: we waste so much time pushing fellow Jews out of the tent that we lose sight of the real challenges facing our community and Israel.

That kind of narrow thinking may preserve the illusion of Jewish “consensus,” but it won’t help Israel remain a Jewish democracy, or help the American Jewish community in its fight for relevance with the next generation.

Ultimately, Treuhaft, the Conference and others are seeking to deny legitimacy that is not theirs to give. As Likud Knesset Member—and ally of the prime minister—Tzachi Hanegbi told the crowd at J Street’s 2013 conference:

“With all due respect, you don’t need legitimacy from the Likud or from me or from any one of us. The legitimacy that you have derives from your love for the State of Israel.”

We refuse that love at our own risk.

Linda Poskanzer
J Street North Jersey Executive Committee

To the Editor:

I feel compelled to write and tell you how much I enjoy reading the Jewish Link.  It is a breath of fresh air for our community.  The mix of hard news, human interest stories and sound advice is just what my modern Orthodox lifestyle craves.  I applaud your courage in bringing to light sensitive issues which have long been ignored.  In a world of extremes, your paper is firmly planted on the side of sanity.

Marcia R. Solomon,
Teaneck, N.J.

To the Editor:

Ira Treuhaft in his opinion piece “J Street in Cherem” has written an article which is so factually incorrect and full of unnecessary innuendo that I wonder where he gets his information from. If I responded to all of his allegations, this letter would probably be too long to print and probably become boring. So here are some of the major points:

Mr. Treuhaft describes J Street as being “an admittedly leftist ‘post-Zionist’ Jewish organization,” whereas it is described as being “left of center,” but as anyone familiar with the organization knows that it is definitely “pro-Israel, pro-peace.”

He writes that J Street “admitted lying about … funding from George Soros” and goes on to state that the organization lies to accomplish its goals and therefore must be hiding something. Its president, Jeremy Ben-Ami, has stated that, “Mr. Soros did not help launch J Street or provide its initial funding [although] it is true we would be happy to take his support. But I did not go the extra step to add that he did in fact start providing support in the fall of 2008, six months after our launch.” I might add that anyone who wants full information including policy positions and news releases can consult the J Street website.

He states that J Street supports the “boycotting of Israel.” This is utter nonsense. In fact, J Street opposes the BDS movement.

Additionally, he confuses things. In one sentence he writes that J Street “has little or no credibility in the Jewish Establishment” and in another that it is able to “strong-arm groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Conservative movement.” He notes that most organizations voted against J Street’s admittance to the Conference of Presidents but failed to mention that the Conference is mostly composed of small organizations representing a minority of Jews.

Finally, I want to point out that J Street represents over 180,000 Jews in 50 community chapters, has over 500 rabbis and cantors on its rabbinic cabinet, and 8,000 student members in 60 campus chapters. At its last conference it heard from the Vice President of the United States, the minority leader of the U.S. Congress, and leaders of several Israeli political parties. Consequently, J Street feels that it is indeed a “major American Jewish organization” and deserves to be represented at the Conference which would benefit from its presence. It most certainly was not a ploy to gain a “financial windfall.”

Sincerely yours,

Stuart Kaplan
Executive Committee of the
Northern New Jersey Chapter of J Street
Teaneck