Letters 18t6 Annual bo(iSay ,§aie and OranS Opening Cerebration 4il ;5 I ik)ane 747c,t- Wczni,ekc(i7 3;ice Je&)eie.1--.5 PA Bloomfield Plaza Maple & Telegraph 248-356-7007 1463290 Haooy Chanukah A tradition of peace, a time of renewed faith and hope. Have a joyous celebration. Courageous Dialogue There are two things we need to under- stand in order to have truly courageous and honest conversations. First, we have to understand that it is not Jews who are prone to hate and anger; those would be the Islamic terrorists and their enablers throughout the world. When they can't murder Jews outright, they defame Jews and Israel. We, as Jews, have to understand that these people hate us and want to slaughter us simply because we are Jews, as demonstrated by the Mumbai terrorists who specifically targeted the miniscule Jewish communi- ty in a city of almost 13 million people. Second, we have to understand that when somebody claims they have nothing against Jews, just Zionism and Zionists, they are lying. Since biblical times, somebody has always offered "reasons" why Jews should be humili- ated and killed. Today's popular "reason" is anti-Zionism. It allows Jew-haters and their enablers to believe that they really don't have a problem with Jews, only with Zionists. They want us to accept the delusion that if only we Jews would separate ourselves from our roots and discard those nasty Zionist thoughts, we would be welcomed into the world community to live happily ever after, never again having to worry about pogroms, perse- cution, inquisitions, random violence or terrorist attacks. Today, the loudest anti-Jewish anger, hatred and lies come from the Islamist world, propagators of the current Big Lie, the one about Zionists stealing Arab land. Unfortunately, that Big Lie has its enablers among the intellectual elite of Europe and the United Nations, as Robert Sklar's Editor's Letter ("Impugning Israel's Character; Dec. 11, page A5) on the poisonous statements from U.N. General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann spotlights. After reading Sklar's piece on Broclunann's mendacious screed, can anyone believe that interfaith dialogue or "understanding the other" will stop Islamic terrorists from wanting to kill us? Harry Onickel Ferndale Heal, Not Hate I read with great interest Rabbi Joseph Krakoff's article that deals with hatred ("Overcoming Hatred:' Dec. 4, page A35). Jacob's message is certainly one that can help us deal with feelings of hurt, anger and hatred. However, for some it is much easier and more convenient to express unguided and unwarranted hatred toward a person or group. Peer pressure has a lot to do cy*s 1457320 A8 December 18 • 2008 with this also. Like Rabbi Krakoff, I do not allow hate speech in our house. But it goes beyond not just saying the word "hate" or having a strong dislike of some- one or some group. Unfortunately, hate and hatred are something that cross all boundaries of race, religion, gender, etc. I remember two blistering sermons recently delivered at two different churches I attended, one my own church and one as a guest in another, that dealt with hate of others, forgiveness and healing. I swear the mes- sage was directed right at me — it was like a bolt of lightening through my heart. I had to do some soul searching because I was harboring some deep resentment of a few church members. It took some courage, but I made a point of speaking directly to two mem- bers and writing letters to two other acquaintances. I am not saying that all relationships are now blissful. But the power and freedom in forgiveness and making the effort to be kind is something everyone should experience. Life's far too short. Release the resentment; release the hate and let healing begin, and let it begin with me. Franklin Dohanyos Royal Oak Yiddish Limerick Happy Chanukah On Chanukah hot gevein a groyser ness* So shpil di dreidel** and lots of latkes ess.*** We light the big menorah yeder**** night Mir zingen***** "Maoz Tzur" with great delight. And dos, mein kind******, is Chanukah, I guess. Hot gevein a groyser ness — a great miracle happened ** Shpil di dreidel play the dreidel *** Ess — eat **** Yeder — every **** * Mir zingen — we sing ****** Dos, mein kind — this, my child. — Rachel Kapen of West Bloomfield prepared this limerick in memory of the late Mary Jo Fleischmann, long- time JN Yiddish limerick writer.