Where's the Real Jew Haven? Israel vs. New York

Sir, – Yair Lapid’s statement made in an interview with CBS’s Charlie Rose (“Lapid: Jews safer in NY than in Israel,” October 9) was both boorish and simplistic, and not at all worthy of a senior government minister.

Objectively speaking, Lapid has no real facts about life in New York that could lend support to his statement, and frankly I am not certain what it means. The one possible area where it has a ring of accuracy would be that of road accidents caused by the criminally irresponsible Israeli drivers.

With the great amount of talk about the need for hasbara (public diplomacy) and the concern that Israeli students and professors traveling abroad serve as ambassadors carrying a positive image of Israel, flippant, thoughtless statements like the above serve to obliterate much of that effort.

At any rate, while it might indeed be safer for Jews in New York than in Israel, beyond any shadow of a doubt Israel is the securest place for the Jewish people. This is so because Israel has two invincible sources of help, as reported by columnist Leonard Lyons immediately after the Six Day War.

Israel, Lyons explained, was aided by both a supernatural and a natural source.

The supernatural was its army. The natural was its God.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva

[Image credit: Roman Iakoubtchik]

Naftali Bennet and Yair Lapid: Not Haredi-Haters

Sir, - Shas's labeling of the Bennet-Lapid ties as a "bond of hating ultra-Orthodox" is utterly reprehensible. Besides being completely false, it appears to be maliciously slanderous. It most unfortunately and gratuitously injects the element of hatred where it is not present, and it thus further tears asunder the national cohesiveness that we so desperately need.

Not having participated in the convoluted political maneuvering of coalition building, I cannot and will not attempt to rationalize or justify any of the machinations involved, but I most assuredly assert that they are not at all grounded in hatred. The contrary seems to be closer to the truth. Both Naftali Bennet and Yair Lapid have clearly stated and demonstrated their respect for Torah Learning and have stressed its importance in our national calculus. They do have differences with the Haredi parties on plans for trying to find solutions to the very real problems of equitably sharing in the national burden of military and civilian service. My impressions are that they are sincere and not in the least motivated by hatred of Haredim. In fact, it was the Shas mentor who was first to introduce contempt for the other side by labeling the 'Bayit Yehudi' membership as "goyim."

At a time when our country is surrounded by increasing hostility and hatred it is of the utmost importance that we do everything possible to establish a completely unified sense of national purpose.

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Wikimedia]

J.Post November 4: Lapid and His Declarations

Sir, – Yair Lapid’s dramatic and extremely important declaration (“Lapid: We won’t sit in a government that won’t return to negotiating peace with the Palestinians,” October 31) is a most welcome introduction announcement to the platform of his Yesh Atid party.

It is about time that Israel’s citizenry heard a crystal clear and bold statement about principles from those who seek their votes.

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I, however, believe such statements must be correctly understood.

Thus, I was most pleased to learn that Yesh Atid won’t sit with the Palestinian Authority government of President Mahmoud Abbas until its gives up its consistent and adamant refusal to return to the peace table without demanding suicidal concessions from Israel.

I do strongly believe that all parties that make up the political spectrum of Israel, Right or Left, Ashkenazi or Sephardi, religious or secular, follow the example set unintentionally by Lapid and present a totally unified position to the world.

ZEV CHAMUDOT
Petah Tikva

[Image credit: YouTube screenshot]