Letters

If Israel is losing American Jews, where do the problem and the solution lie?

Those of us who care deeply about both the future of Israel and the continued survival of American Jewry have an obligation to speak out and offer our guidance to our relatives who are going dangerously astray. Only then can both communities prosper.

Can Ms. Shaffir clarify her views on the intersection of Jewish history, tradition, faith and mamlachtiyut? Do religious values have anything to contribute to our understanding of “human rights”?

It is essential for funders, and the Jewish community at large, to accept that not every investment in an artist or cultural organization will result in such a slam dunk—and that that’s okay.

There is something even more important than a definition of Jewish art. Does the art enrich Judaism, Jewish history and culture?

In the course of the discussion, Rabbi Wolpe says: “According to Balzac, who knew something about human nature and money, ‘behind every great fortune is a great crime.’”  This quote, though widely and casually cited, is inaccurate and highly misleading. 

I opened this issue of SAPIR on culture with great anticipation…Thus, my deep disappointment when I realized that you had covered literature, cinema, food, television, and theater marvelously. You featured a critically important article about the challenges and current role of museums, but a hearty discussion of Jewish visual art was utterly absent.

I found “The Jewish Future Needs Yiddish” a great read because it stresses the importance of language to culture and makes the case as to why we as Jews should study Yiddish. While I agree with that sentiment, I disagree with the stance of learning to speak Yiddish, on reviving it.

While many lament the lack of Jewish engagement among a younger generation, our experience at the Yiddish Book Center suggests that there is tremendous opportunity to foster that deeper connection not only through learning the Yiddish language, but by creating opportunities to engage with the literature and culture even without knowledge of the language.

I disagree with Mr. Podhoretz in part. We can’t let this redefinition of Cool stand. We must continue to and encourage the search for truth and beauty, because what else are we fighting for?