Jewish Programs for the Disabled/Chaverim

While the article "Finding Independence" (Jan. 7) had some positive points, it also had a few errors.

Rae Klaus was quoted as being from the group Haverim. The group is Jewish Programs for the Disabled/Chaverim, a Jewish Family Service program. Rae Klaus is no longer affiliated with this program.

Jewish Programs for the Disabled/Chaverim provides independent living skills training and a social friendship program. We are exploring the idea of opening a group home.

We provide 24-hour on-call emergency response.

Jewish Programs for the Disabled/Chaverim was recently issued a certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for providing an outstanding and invaluable service to the community. To date, more than one thousand families have benefited from our services.

Ellen F. Bussell, M.A., QMRP

Program Director of Jewish Programs for the Disabled/Chaverim

We've Only Just Begun

I understand the frustration of my fellow Jews who would like to have the pope go further in his apologies (March 24). I also grieve for the suffering of the Holocaust survivors. No words can describe the horror that they and their families were subjected to. I believe that Pope Pius XII could have put a stop to it if he had wanted to. The church will bear everlasting shame if they make him a saint. But that is their own business, and we have no right to interfere.

On the other hand, we need to thank Pope John Paul II for what he has done to further Catholic-Jewish relations. He has gone farther than we had dared hope for just a few short years ago.

Cardinal Mahoney spoke twice at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino. There was an overflowing crowd both times. He came with a group of priests and nuns who also spoke about improving interfaith relations. Afterwards, they all stood in a receiving line. They did not leave until they had shaken hands with everyone. I have to admit that it was a thrill to shake hands and speak with the cardinal.

Pope John Paul II has visited a synagogue. Now he has visited Israel. We should thank him for his efforts. We can look upon it as a beginning. Let's not make it an end with harsh criticism about how he could have gone farther. That might discourage future popes from continuing his policies. Perhaps with goodwill and gentle persuasion we can progress and attain more of our goals.

Ronald S. Lever, M.D.

Encino

The Jews Are the Losers

If the pope wants to travel the world preaching peace that seems harmless, and perhaps, it could even have benefits. But when he ventures into politics, he is out of line (March 24). When he appears with Arafat, supporting a Palestinian state in what is now Israel, he steps over the line, as far as I'm concerned. And, once again, the Jews are the losers.

Roxane Winkler

Sherman Oaks

A Vanishing Jewish Male Speaks Out

In response to Abigail Pickus' article, "The Vanishing Jewish Male" (March 24), the question is not where the Jewish single men are, but rather, why they are choosing not to attend Jewish singles events.

When Jewish men try to approach Jewish women and carry on an intelligent and thoughtful conversation, many Jewish women react by being aloof, distant and callous. And then only three minutes into the conversation this Jewish woman begins probing into the Jewish man's line of work to find out his financial status.

I have found Jewish women to be overly particular, uncompromising and unapproachable. Given all of these flaws, is it any wonder why Jewish men gravitate toward gentile women, who are generally less concerned with a man's financial status and more receptive to receiving a Jewish man based on value, virtue and character.

Name withheld upon request

Just a Few Bad Apples

Allow me to respond to Editor-In-Chief Gene Lichtenstein's column in the March 24 issue of The Jewish Journal. These remarks review for us the aspect of gangs in Los Angeles and the wrongfulness of the behavior of the Rampart Division in this regard.

As a citizen of Los Angeles since 1939, I suspect that I have a longer time knowledge of this matter than Lichtenstein. It simply is not true, as he writes, that many of our home areas were not engulfed in gang crime. In the 1970s and '80s the gangs were everywhere... they tagged everywhere, even over the freeways; they tagged our residence fences and walls, and the gangs brutalized us in our homes and on the street. And this was everywhere: Wilshire, Pico-Robertson, Hancock Park, Larchmont and Hollywood. Citizens were afraid to be on the streets past sundown. The gangs controlled this city!

The situation is not as out-of-control now as it once was, and I am sure I speak for many of my fellow citizens when I thank our police force. Yes, there are, and always will be, a few bad apples; but I suspect that nine out of ten do a fine job. For Los Angeles to be anything but intolerant of gangs and criminal behavior is to bring back the bad times.

Gary M. Gorlick, M.D.

Los Angeles

Our House is a Very, Very, Very Fine House

I would like to say thank you to Beverly Gray. In her March 31 article, "Following The Money," she correctly interpreted our position that funding more affluent schools serves to benefit all day schools.

I am, however, disappointed in her statement about replacing our "somewhat dilapidated campus." Please note that seven years ago, we took a dilapidated building and turned it into a well-maintained, child-friendly environment. We like our facility, and many of our 400 teachers who visited our site for the annual Bureau of Jewish Education's Teacher Share-in marveled at our ample space and well-appointed classrooms. We are seeking a permanent site so that we can separate ourselves from LAUSD.

Dr. Barbara Gereboff

Head of School, Kadima Hebrew Academy