F L A M E : The Jewish Bulletin

Letter to the editor of
The Jewish Bulletin:

June 3, 2002

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at the poor taste and poorer judgment of the leaders of Temple Emanu-El (my shul!) for inviting Shammai Leibowitz to speak in the temple. Mr. Leibowitz is the attorney of and advocate for the 100 soldiers who are guilty of desertion by refusing to serve in Gaza and Judea/Samaria (the "West Bank"). Mr. Leibowitz is one of those ultra-leftwing "intellectuals" who abound in Israeli academia and, regrettably, also here in the United States, and who are responsible for the disastrous Oslo Accord. Their seditious talk and actions play into the hands of Israelâs mortal enemies ö the entire Muslim world and the resurrected European anti-Semites, who are determined to destroy the Jewish State.

Even with occasional misgivings, it has always been the policy of Jewish institutions in the U.S. to support the government of Israel. To give forum to a speaker whose obvious purpose is to support and incite rebellion in the ranks of the IDF is scandalous. I urge readers, especially members of the Emanu-El congregation, to write the directors and clergy of their temple and to express their dismay and utter disapproval of this invitation.

Sincerely,

Gerardo Joffe, President