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Letters to the Editor

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By FJN Staff

Letters to the Editor from our 07/20/07 issue.

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Hillel Fencing Update

I would like to update you on Ari Givner, one of the fencers that could not fence in the National Championships because of Shabbat. The experience to be at a national competition was too important to pass up so he (with the encouragement of his coach Arnold Mercado) petitioned the United States Fencing Association (USFA) to fence in another division not on Shabbat. Fencing in another division meant that the competition would be harder because he would be fencing older and more experienced fencers. The USFA approved his appeal. They understood his dilemia and gave him another opportunity to experience the national competition. The competition was very tough, but the experience was unforgetable.

Anita Givner - Bay Harbour

Tisha B’Av and Vegetarianism

Tisha B’Av (the 9th day of the month of Av) which we commemorate this year on July 24, reminds us that over 2,000 years ago Jews failed to heed the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah, which resulted in the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem.

Now the entire world, not just Jerusalem, faces destruction according to many climate scientists and environmentalists—modern day "Jeremiahs." Some noted climate experts, including James Hansen of NASA, are warning that global warming could reach a tipping point and spin out of control within a decade, with catastrophic consequences, unless major changes are soon made.

Israel is also endangered since global climate change could reduce the rainfall that Israel is so dependent on and could cause the Mediterranean Sea to rise, threatening the 60 percent of Israelis who live in its coastal plain. Israel also has other major environmental problems. More Israelis die from air pollution than from terrorism and automobile accidents combined and Israeli rivers are badly polluted.

This Tisha B’Av, we should heed the holiday’s basic lesson that failure to respond to proper admonitions can lead to catastrophe. The Jewish people must make tikkun olam (the repair and healing of the planet) a major focus in Jewish life today, and consider personal and societal changes that will start to move our precious, but imperiled, planet to a sustainable path. By doing this, we would be performing a great kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s Name).

Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.

Posted by FJN Staff on 07/20 at 01:10 PM • Hits: 129



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