By Barbara Geiger, , Seattle Those of us who truly care about Israel know President Barack Obama is right to confront Israel over its approval of a new settlement construction plan in East Jerusalem. Settlement expansion undermines the prospects of peace. And Israel’s future is dependent on reaching a two-stateContinue Reading

By David May, , Dearest Rabbi Bernie Fox: Somehow I have faith this note will find you, though I am sending it to the wrong address. I read with pride the news about the game that did not get played (“Ya gotta love ’em!” March 12).  So rarely does theContinue Reading

By Ronda Stark, , Seattle Morris Malakoff’s article (“On boycotts, divestiture and sanctions,” Feb. 26) certainly gives a free pass to Gad Barzilai — would that his comments have been half as innocuous as the article suggests. While Gordon castigated Israel as an apartheid regime, Barzilai refused to counter suchContinue Reading

By Randy Kessler , , Mercer Island I’m grateful to the JTNews for highlighting the wonderful work that StandWithUs is doing, training our college students to effectively counter the rhetoric of anti-Israel voices on our college campuses (“Fighting back,” Feb. 26). While vigorous political debate has always been expected onContinue Reading

By Josh Basson, , Seattle Re: Jack Greenberg’s letter about Israel and a two-state solution (“Not for Steal,” Feb. 26). Greenberg makes some valid points on this issue. Unfortunately, “the peace process” has not led to peace, but to more violence and killing of innocents. The problem is that ArabContinue Reading

By Rabbi Harry Zeitlin, Congregation Beth Ha’Ari We exist to be loved because the dominant “flavor” of God is love — it must be dynamic and flow in order to flower. And while there is almost nothing our finite minds can truly grasp of His infinite nature, we do knowContinue Reading

By R. David Frum, , Seattle I was very disappointed to open my JTNews last week and see no mention of the J Street kickoff event that took place on February 4. The event had about 100 supporters, who came together (via video) with others from around the country, toContinue Reading

By Jack Greenberg, , Seattle Re: Josh Basson’s recent letter about Israel and a two-state solution (“No conditions, no compromise,” Jan. 29). His basic premise is that if only Moslems would make nice, we would give them our land. We must stop such foolishness, for the “peace process” is aContinue Reading

By David Rosenblum, , Seattle February is the anniversary of my partner’s passing. For the last six years I asked the rabbi of a large temple to say kaddish for her, and he did. This year, however, I called and again spoke to the rabbi’s secretary. She told me asContinue Reading

By Rabbi Beth J. Singer, Temple Beth Am Some days while driving to a downtown meeting or hospital, I listen to KTTH-AM 770, “The Truth” “˜— Seattle radio’s offering of conservative talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlesinger, and Michael Medved. Other days I tune into Seattle’sContinue Reading

By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Rabbi Harry Zeitlin is one of those multi-faceted, multi-talented people — photographer, musician, composer, plus he runs a small teaching synagogue, Beit Ha’Ari. Located above a small suite of offices in Seattle’s Wedgwood, we met there for a widely digressing interview earlier this month. “AsContinue Reading

By Rivy Poupko Kletenik, JTNews Columnist Dear Rivy, Thinking about the story of Esther often leaves me deeply confused and disturbed. Though the holiday of Purim is festive and celebratory with a seemingly happy-ever-after ending, elements of the story give me great pause. There are questions that seem to resurfaceContinue Reading

By Shmuel Hain , JTA World News Service NEW YORK (JTA) — Another month, another round of recriminations in the Modern Orthodox community. Two months ago it was a breakaway rabbinic organization established, in part, to promote decentralized conversion standards. Last month it was a public forum on homosexuality inContinue Reading

By Rabbi Jaron B. Matlow, Shalom Aleichem. I am the “New guy in town,” so I want to introduce myself. I am a retired Navy officer and disabled veteran. After I retired from the Navy in January 2001, I attended Gratz College near Philadelphia to study Jewish Studies and JewishContinue Reading

By Diana Brement, JTNews Columnist Matt Lemchen, BBYO program director for the Evergreen region of Washington, Oregon and Northwest Canada, was recently awarded the International BBYO Arnie Weiner Award for Professional Excellence in Furthering the Principles of AZA and BBG, BBYO’s young men’s and young women’s divisions. The award isContinue Reading

By Mordecai Goldstein, , Everett I read what Rivy Poupko Kletenik wrote about how “our tradition urges us to innovate in prayer and create a blessing unique to our own experiences” (What’s Your JQ?, Jan. 29). I suppose doing so is a good way to “sing unto the Lord aContinue Reading