10 | JULY 30 • 2020
Views
Thoughts on Rashida Tlaib
Many readers have submitted
reactions to our July 16 cover story,
which featured an interview with
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, accompany-
ing article about her upcoming
primary and an editor’
s note
explaining our decision to publish
the pieces. The JN received more
than a dozen letters to the editor
and more than 100 Facebook com-
ments. Here is a selection of the
responses. Some have been edited
for space and clarity.
‘
Outraged’
Myself, many of my friends and
family members were outraged to
see the picture of Rashida Tlaib
on the cover of the Jewish News.
Indeed, what is the purpose
of placing a picture of one of
only two lawmakers to back the
BDS movement on the cover of
the Jewish News? Do we not have
enough prominent advocates
of the State of Israel and of the
Jewish community who are more
deserving of appearing on its
front page?
Moreover, the extensive, five-
page interview of Rep. Tlalib
failed to question her about the
“hardcore”
, essential questions
relative to her views of such basic,
salient issues as her accusation
that Israeli settlers murdered a
young Arab boy, when in actual-
ity the boy drowned and Israeli
first responders found him and
tried to revive him. This is known
in Jewish history as “blood libel”
.
I would suggest that the Jewish
News focus its content to be a
strong advocate of the Jewish
people and of the State of Israel.
During these crazy times, we real-
ly need to relay positive, valuable
views and ideas, as they relate to
Judaism and our Jewish State.
— Daphna Feldman
West Bloomfield
‘
Shining a Light’
It is always fascinating to see
the stars line up. I saw that
happen on Aug. 9, 2018, when
I learned that my friend of 15
years, Rashida Tlaib, had done
the impossible. She would soon
become a member of Congress.
It was an incredible honor for
a woman many like to talk nega-
tively about yet have never actu-
ally met. Too often, we’
re exposed
to information that repeats inac-
curacies and lacks context.
For the past two years, I found
myself as a lonely voice among
my Jewish family and friends
defending this person I’
ve known
and admired. A person with
good in her heart. A person who
I’
ve seen stand up against evil.
And there is plenty of evil in this
world.
I thank the Jewish News for
shining a light on Rashida Tlaib.
Clearly, we have a complicated
world today that is energized by
chaos. It is a difficult world for
any new Congresswoman to nav-
igate. We need the stars to align
and bring us elected leaders who
really do have a pure heart. There
are such people who serve the
public and they have “good” in
their heart.
— Irwin Danto
West Bloomfield
‘
Shameful’
Rashida Tlaib on the cover of the
Jewish News? Really? The same
Rashida Tlaib, supporter of BDS,
who spews her disdain for Israel?
The same Rashida Talib, support-
er of Hamas as they fire rockets
into Israel? The same Rashida
Talib, supporter of Hezbollah?
The same Rashida Tlaib who
glorifies terror against Israel?
The same Rashida Tlaib who has
refused to denounce Antifa?
Is this deplorable
Congresswoman now a role
model to be displayed on the
front cover of our local Jewish
newspaper? Could you not
find a worthier person for this?
Many come to mind — Alan
Dershowitz, Bari Weiss, Mort
Klein, to name a few. Are there
not enough platforms for our
enemies (and make no mistake
about it, Rashida Tlaib ranks
high among these) to spout their
loathing? Is it now the role of the
Jewish News to provide yet one
more stage?
A shameful, shocking and
appalling decision!
— Malka Littman, Ilana Berris,
Tami Brown, Faye Krut
Jewish Educators
West Bloomfield, MI
Can Jews Speak Out?
Rashida still comes to community
meetings in my east side Detroit
neighborhood. Of course, I have
some differences with her — as
with most politicians (I don’
t
think Israeli academics should be
sanctioned). But if people heard
her story without knowing her
religion — immigrant parents;
first in her family to graduate
from high school and college;
works her way through law
school; an activist who fought
for civil rights and just causes —
you’
d think she was Jewish.
I was moved to read her reply
to a Muslim woman who asked
why people aren’
t speaking out
against Trump and what he says
about Muslims: “What were
you saying when Mexicans were
called rapists?”
Jews used to be able to speak
out like that — can we now?
Speak out against the racism of
Israel’
s government to others
without the tired trope of being
“against Israel?” I can speak out
against racism in this country
without being seen as anti-Amer-
ican. I’
d say we are better
Americans for that.
It’
s not people like Rashida who
will destroy Israel or damage the
Jewish position in the world. It’
s
from within us, our behavior.
Your children will see that. Many
of us adults understand that. Jews
were in the diaspora for many
years — it wasn’
t unethical behav-
ior that held us together. We had
laws. We had beliefs. We thrived
in this country fighting ethical
battles when we first arrived.
What happened? We must relearn
lessons we once understood, now
from people who are closer to
that suffering, whether they be
Black, Muslim or immigrants.
I look forward to more
in-depth articles that explore the
difficult truths, and the joys, of
our history and our current situ-
ation.
— Sharon Luckerman
Detroit
Warning Was Needed
What? Are you kidding? On the
cover? What next — Farrakhan?
Nasrallah? Hitler?
So much for your series on
antisemitism. I thought the pur-
pose of that series was to expose
and prevent it, not justify and
accept it. Interviewing her and
thereby allowing her a platform
to publicly and shamelessly extoll
her abhorrent attitude toward
Jews and Israel would have been
objectionable enough, but to
honor and promote her by put-
ting her on the cover is beyond
my ability to understand. I am
torn between a consideration to
cancel my subscription in protest
vs. my desire to “keep my ene-
mies closer.
”
It is so blatantly obvious that,
after lying to you that she and
her staff were unaware of your
past attempts to talk to her, she
only chose to speak to you now
because she is in a fight for her
political life in a close primary
in two weeks. So she used you to
influence public opinion and to
try and placate the people she has
most offended and alienated since
taking office, and you took the
bait faster than a hungry goldfish.
Furthermore, your Editor’
s
Note column that offered a
sheepish defense of the decision
that you admittedly knew would
letters
continued on page 12