Letters to the editor
Readers respond
J Street is a ‘reasonable middle ground’
It was refreshing to hear J Street’s Nadav Tamir give voice to sentiments widespread among American Jews yet too often ostracized by mainstream organizations (“‘American support is not a blank check’: An interview with J Street Israel’s Executive Director Nadav Tamir,” Nov. 29).
Among young Jews like myself, who feel alienated both by groups like Jewish Voice for Peace that have trivialized violence against Israeli civilians, and also by the corrupt, far-right Israeli government, it is common sense to support this reasonable middle ground.
Jonah Berger
Squirrel Hill
A reminder to university faculties
Free speech is a privilege and a forum to express one’s opinion, but it is not an endorsement for inciting violence against one particular group of people and dissenters (“Pitt equity, inclusion committee votes in special meeting,” Nov. 22).
Free speech is a reminder to the faculty of universities to teach students how to think, but not promote their own biases and political preferences. During World War II, the intelligentsia of German universities espoused the evil aims of the Nazi regime’s final solution, murderous annihilation of millions of Jewish people.
Integrity seems to have disappeared today from civilization.
So, who can you trust? The critical minds of simple, good people, respectful of values of tolerance and good will for all.
Solange Lebovitz
Pittsburgh
Pitt’s med school should stand against antisemitism
Thank you for publishing the story “Jewish students at Pitt’s School of Medicine face anti-Israel, antisemitic rhetoric” (Nov. 29). As an alum of the University of Pittsburgh’s medical school, class of 1978, I am appalled. The rhetoric described in the article goes beyond free speech. It is ugly antisemitism and nothing short of that.
My education taught me to treat all people, irrespective of their color, their race or their religion. People are people. The fact that someone would publicly state that supporting Israel means one can’t be a physician is beyond belief.
I am currently retired and living in Israel. Clearly, I have a different point of view. I am hoping that the medical school and the University of Pittsburgh take a stronger stance against antisemitism, which of course includes anti-Zionism. There is no place for a keffiyeh at a pinning ceremony.
I also think support for Pitt’s medical school will change if such behavior continues.
Deborah Rotenstein, MD
Jerusalem
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