Letters
The JC Letters Page, 26th July 2019
Basil Jeuda, Melvyn Bragg, Stephen Miller, Stephen Vishnick, Mark Fox, David Freeman, Stan Labovitch and Martin Sugarman share their views with JC readers
August 1, 2019 09:49
5 min read
Basil Jeuda, Melvyn Bragg, Stephen Miller, Stephen Vishnick, Mark Fox, David Freeman, Stan Labovitch and Martin Sugarman share their views with JC readers
August 1, 2019 09:49I read with interest the recent leaflet issued by the Labour Party, ‘No Place for Anti-Semitism’. What concerned me most is how silent it is on what has caused so much pain and friction to Jews and non-Jews and to party members and non-party members — I refer to process and governance.
After the serious allegations and detailed disclosures of recent weeks, where is the leaflet on ‘New Arrangements for Proper Governance’ and where are the party’s apologies for getting governance so wrong on so many issues and causing so much hurt and anger?
Where are the apologies for operating separate private and party e-mail systems on disciplinary matters and for destroying sensitive emails?
Where are the apologies for threatening staff and former staff with legal action in respect of disclosure of matters that would be embarrassing to the party?
Where are the apologies for the actions of the leadership, and those close to it, for operating a policy of protection to those under threat of disciplinary action, whilst attempting to give the impression that its processes are fair and robust? Where are its apologies for attempting to set a high bar for proof of antisemitism?
Where are its apologies over the leniency of punishment and sanctions?
Where are the apologies for failure to release the party’s evidence to the EHRC, even to members of the National Executive Committee?
Where are the apologies for not tackling sooner the internal party disciplinary processes that are underpinned by factional and sectarian infighting on the NEC and its sub-committees?
The real measure by which proposals working through the Labour Party should be judged is just how far process and governance will change and how far the sectarian nature of its governance and process will change to genuine independence.
Basil Jeuda
Macclesfield SK10
Unfortunately although I submitted my name to be part of the advertisement of Labour peers against the Labour Party’s antisemitism, it was not included. I was told this was to do with everything being done in rather a rush. I was not the only one but I want to state publicly, as I have done on many occasions, that I am wholly opposed to the current Labour Party’s unforgiveable handling of antisemitism within the party.
Melvyn Bragg
House of Lords
The JC’s extensive coverage in recent months of antisemitism in the Labour Party shows what happens when hatred is allowed to fester and manifest itself.
How pleasing to read last week’s article, (Praise for university response to hate, JC, July 19). The University of Essex should be commended for taking quick and decisive action when confronted with antisemitic behaviour on its premises.
The movers and shakers in Labour, not least the leader, would do well to follow the example set by Essex University.
Stephen Miller
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
The questions regarding Benjamin Netanyahu’s past, current and continued position can and should attract a most detailed response. However, let’s keep it simple: Benjamin Netanyahu as the face of Israel on the world scene has projected and promoted Israel as a nation worthy of sitting at the top table.
He has achieved this by nurturing through numerous contacts with many countries from both the first and third world, garnering via these liaisons highly successful trade contracts.
Lastly but not least he showed one US president that we will not look the other way and remain silent when decisions (the deal with Iran) instituted in a most arbitrary manner might well affect our very security.
With his successor, he immediately instigated with that close relationship the moving of its embassy to our capital Jerusalem and this continued with obtaining recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Love him or hate him, a more dedicated front man for Israel will be a hard act to follow — and until then, long may he reign.
Stephen Vishnick
Tel Aviv
It is worth adding an observation to Raphael Zarum’s excellent piece (What Maimonides would have made of the first moon landing, JC, July 19). Maimonides was arguably the first champion of the specific notion that advances in man’s scientific knowledge would strengthen our belief in and enhance our knowledge of God rather than squeeze God out, that ‘God’ was only the default option for what we fail to understand.
He was an enthusiast of relentless pursuit of knowledge contributing toward a greater understanding of God, not as a substitute for God. This lesson was sadly almost entirely lost in Victorian times and is still not understood by many of our contemporary eminent scientists.
Mark Fox
London W5
Whilst I share the disgust at President Trump’s all too familiar words, very little media space was given to the rest of his address.
I share with him the fear that the four Congesswomen to whom he refers pose a real threat to America. It seems that American Jewry have not yet absorbed the fact that they are variously anti-Israel and antisemitic.
Whilst Ilhan Omar refers to Israel as Palestine, she, together with Rashina Taub, proposed a pro-BDS resolution and suggested that the so-called Jewish lobby was paying politicians to support Israel. On a number of occasions, she has repeated the old trope that there are Jewish influences on
foreign policy.
These women pose a real and present danger.
David Freeman
New Barnet EN5
McDonalds are absolutely right in refusing to employ a Chasidic man with a religiously-mandated long beard (Chasidic Man files law against McDonalds for not hiring him due to ‘no beard rule’, JC, July 19 online). Hygiene trumps irrational religious customs that are incompatible with the standards of the modern world. When I order a Big Mac I don’t expect to be served a Big Beard.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor SL45
This year, 2019, is Ezra Youth Movement’s centenary. We are collating Ezra memorabilia from the past 100 years to exhibit at the Ezra Centenary Gala Dinner and would like to ask your readers to email or post any Ezra related photos or articles that they would be willing to share.
ezrauk100@gmail.com
The Administrator, PAI House, 2a Alba Gardens, London NW11 9NR
AJEX are searching for families of the following
Jewish WW1 and WW2 casualties; please contact me at the email below if you have any information on them so we can correct these grave symbols/find out more.
WW1:
Lt P. Weinberg, Black Watch - WW1 - Cross on grave in error
Lt R. Sternberg, RA - WW1 - NO symbol on grave
Driver F, Cardoza, RA - WW1 - Cross on grave in error
Pte B. Barodosky - East Yorks Reg. - not recognised as war dead - wrong spelling or ALIAS?
Pte H. Levinsky - Suffolk Reg - not recognisd - wrong spelling or ALIAS?
WW2:
Mrs M. Glicksman, VAD/Nurse? - died 1942 or 1943 buried Edmonton cemetery
Firewatcher John Goldberg, husband of Louisa - died of injuries incurred in Lavender Hill in 1944, one year later in 1945, from Battersea area
Martin Sugarman
martin.sugarman@yahoo.co.uk