April 24, 2008
Voice of reason in a sea of insanity, Jewish Dodgers, Prager, archaeologists, politicians and peace
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First the men came to take food home to their women and children. Later, they brought their women and children and according to legend, were fruitful and multiplied.They spoke their own language. They kept their own customs. They were strangers in the midst of Egypt. As their numbers grew, they were perceived as a threat. Finally, the Egyptians made them slaves.
I ride my bicycle through the fields of Oxnard and Ventura to Shabbat morning services. I am struck with the vision of the "strangers" picking our strawberries.
Their hands work in a blur. They run from the counting shed to the row of plants to pick as many berries as possible during the day.
When it was just workers in our midst, I don't remember hearing a lot of complaints. But now, there are families. They are being fruitful and multiplying.
Many fear the strangers are devastating our schools. They are breaking our health system. They are the cause of gangs, violence and crime.
We say, "Go back to your villages of starving children. Go back to your hopelessness. Learn our language if you are going to live in our country. We can't afford your strangeness."
We thank God for redeeming us from slavery and we hear, "When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them.... You shall love them as yourself for you were strangers in the land of Egypt."
Are we accepting the commandment of Passover or are we just enjoying our "strange" traditions?
Bob Ingrum
President
Men of Reform Judaism -- Pacific Southwest Region
Archaeologists and Peace
It always fascinates me how otherwise intelligent people can be so naive (Archaeologists Hope Past Can Spur Mideast Peace," April 11).
Jewish archaeologists actually believe that by working with Palestinian archaeologists, their findings will increase the chances for peace in the region.
They suggest, "Putting your precious archaeological heritage things you believe your ancestors created in the hands of your enemy." Can they be serious? Are they oblivious to the illegal excavations currently being carried out by the Palestinians under the Temple Mount for the purpose of destroying any evidence of a Jewish connection to the land?
Are they unaware that the Palestinians set fire to the tombs of Joseph and Rachel? Do they really believe that once the Palestinians have a state, they'll provide "full protection of all sites and free access for scholars and the public, regardless of ethnicity or religion?"
Perhaps they will if the new prime minister and president of Palestine are Mr. Rourke and Tatoo.
Daniel Iltis
Los Angeles
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