Conversion process
Yitzchak Vitale finds it "unfair" to make what he calls "wild generalisations about the London Beth Din’s conduct in the context of Jewish conversions" (Letters, March 13) given his own positive personal experience of its dayanim. Based on what he "would imagine", he believes that "the vast majority of converts who have been through the process will be grateful...for its continued intransigence and dedication to the highest standards". This may well be the case, and I would be delighted if it were. Unfortunately, I am sorry to say that most converts that I have spoken with report far less pleasant experiences. Mr Vitale further claims that "the beneficiaries of these services will be reluctant to speak out in the Beth Din’s defence." He should understand instead why converts may be reluctant to criticise it. Chochmat Nashim's independent "Rate My Beit Din" service currently shows the LBD and the Federation with 3/5 stars, while Kedassia and the SBD have 2/5. None have an overall professional rating. I suggest that more people provide feedback. Daniel Greenberg wrote in the JC in 2019 of the need for rabbinic transparency and accountability: independent scrutiny, not anecdotal experience - positive or negative - continues to be the only answer.
Daniel Jonas
London N3
The Iran war
While President Trump acts decisively when faced with the evil of radical Islam, aiming to eradicate it or at least to subdue it for decades to come, PM Starmer prevaricates, wants to de-escalate, appease and engage in diplomacy with Iran’s fanatical regime, hell-bent for almost half a century on destroying western civilisation. These two diametrically opposed actions highlight the fundamental difference between a reality-driven approach and a pie-in-the-sky, “human rights”-oriented progressive outlook. The first demands courage and decisiveness as well as a clear understanding of morality, the second is characterised by cowardice, confusion of moral values of good and evil and disloyalty to allies – for short-term gains and political opportunism.
Eda Spinka
London NW4
You quoted me as one of the Brits stuck in Israel feeling abandoned by the Foreign Office. (Government has been ‘missing in action’ say furious Brits stuck in Israel, March 13) . A few days later I was contacted by the team at the British Embassy, and my fiancee and I were sorted with a US Homeland Security evacuation flight to Athens. Credit where it is due, the support in getting onto the flight and out was terrific.
Justyn Trenner
London NW11
Palestine studies
I was invited to attend the debate on ‘Why Palestine Studies?; at the Cambridge Union on the February 24 by Professor Stefan Sperl, one of the speakers. Your article (Push for Palestine Studies at Cambridge led by academic who celebrated the ‘heroism’ of Hamas’ October 7 attack, March 6) about the event quoted Laura Trott, the Shadow Secretary of State for Education, who commented that Cambridge University needs to be “uncompromising in its rejection of antisemitism and the glorification of violence”. As a Jewish attendee, I can confirm that nothing that was said at the event struck me as antisemitic, nor was there glorification of violence. Instead, the tone was academic, and balanced throughout.
Clearly the JC journalists had access to the text of Professor Sperl’s talk as they quoted from it extensively in their article. Perhaps if they had included the paragraph below, JC readers would have taken away a different impression of the event?
“Neither Palestine Studies nor Israel Studies can stand alone; instead they should be approached as mutually complementary disciplines. Far from replicating the conflict on the ground, however, they should, in an academic setting such as this one (Cambridge) be given an equal footing, engage in dialogue with each other and seek to enrich each other’s grasp of their respective subjects. Only in this way will our students truly benefit from what we have to offer. Only in this way will they be able to come to understand the human predicament on both sides of the divide, and help, both here and abroad, to strive for a future which grants both peoples peace and the rights and freedoms they deserve.”
Dr Caroline Elton
Chair – UK Friends of the Parents Circle-Families Forum
London NW5
Jewish Book Week
Kings Place was positively heaving with book lovers when I turned up to see Howard Jacobson talk about his new novel, Howl (Jewish Book Week draws record-breaking crowds on 75th anniversary, March 6). There was a palpable sense of joyous defiance-we’re not going anywhere-as I meandered between towering piles of freshly printed books, craving to be read, on my way to the auditorium. Jacobson was as witty and erudite as ever, and like so many presentations at the festival, used his opus as a vehicle to understand the shattering aftermath of October 7th on diaspora Jewry. He had a magnificent rapport with the audience; one of many sold-out events.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor
Biological questions
While Josh Forman frames discussions with KeshetUK as ‘complex,’ [Genetic testing must include the LGBT+ community March 13] as a scientist he would know that the biology is simple: genetic risk depends on gametes, which are male or female. Gender identity does not change reproductive biology, so trans men have female gametes and trans women have male gametes for purposes of carrier screening and inheritance. Phew – one less thing for Jews to worry about! But it is fun to see the JC go down the gender rabbit hole...
Frances Bruce
London N19
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