Your Letters

Israel Solidarity Rally

David Myers may be an accomplished professor of history, but his assessment of the present is open to question ("Rally Later," July 27). He disputes the need for solidarity, which he believes should be saved for times when Israel’s "survival is in question," and this "is not one of them."

Throughout history, have people or the Jewish nation generally been able to ascertain the moment of greatest peril, respond immediately and appropriately and avert disaster? Will the professor be able to alert us all at the proper time, without the benefit of historical hindsight?

Kudos to The Federation and to all the Solidarity Rally cosponsors. Let’s stop quibbling, and let’s build on this.

Larry Eisenberg, Los Angeles

UCLA Prof. David N. Myers deserves our respectful praise for his courage and wisdom in characterizing the recent Israel Solidarity Rally as asking participants, in effect, to write a blank check endorsing the policies of the present Israeli government, which even some Jews in Israel are reluctant to do. Dare we venture a step further and use the seemingly forbidden words: occupation and settlements.

Recently, university academics from Peace Now in Israel made a study and prepared maps showing that the too-good-to-be-true 95 percent offer made at Camp David is dotted with an estimated 150 to 200 Jewish settlements and laced with a network of connecting bypass roads open only to settlers and requiring security from the Israeli Defense Forces. If this is so, where are the Palestinians supposed to establish their state? In bits and pieces between and among the Jewish settlements?

Saul Halpert, Studio City

The faces of Jewish Los Angeles are startling in their similarity and their diversity. Nowhere was this more apparent than at the rally in support of Israel.

To be a part of this groundswell of Jews was an unexpectedly moving experience; especially since the prospect of violence, which is an unfortunate byproduct in these heated times, didn’t appear to hamper people’s attendance or their enthusiasm once there.

A trace of the day still lingers for me in the blue-and-white ribbon I was given when I arrived at the rally. It is now pinned to the visor of my car, serving as a manifest and constant reminder of my solidarity with the Jews of Los Angeles and of Israel.

Carol Felixson, Culver City

Where were the expected 10,000 Jews at the Solidarity Rally for Israel? How humiliating that the designated area was barely half full. We all talk about wanting to do something for Israel, yet few Angelenos took two hours out of their Sunday to attempt to make a difference in the Israeli political and media situation. If the L.A. Jewish community does not care, why should the American government care? And moreover, as a community, what can we say to our brethren in Israel who live in the midst of terror every day of the week?

Shelly Fenig, Los Angeles

The most poignant moment of the July 22 rally came from Tel Aviv high school student Samion Katin.

Speaking from his heart, he told how hurt and hopeless he felt after losing seven of his classmates in the recent disco bombing. As he looked out into the crowd, he commented that just as being together with his schoolmates gave him strength and hope, the thousands of Los Angeles Jews at the rally did the same for the people of Israel during these difficult times.

At that moment, there was complete silence, as a deep sense of understanding and purpose entered the hearts and thoughts of everyone there.

Gary L. Nudell, Sherman Oaks

Correction

In the June 22 article "JCC Board Approves Major Reform," the JCCGLA was reported to have visited a successful Seattle-area JCC. JCCGLA visited a series of for-profit preschools in Seattle, not a JCC.