Letters

About that Super Bowl ad

The recent commercial during the Super Bowl addressing antisemitism seems to have drawn a diverse response, including indignation at the way it portrayed Jews as helpless, cowardly and desperate for acceptance. The February 13 Jewish Standard article by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach “The Super Bowl ad that made Jews look like pre-Holocaust wimps and cowards”) contrasts pointedly with the views expressed in the same issue by fellow columnist Stephen Flatow (“Tackling antisemitism on the biggest stage — why Robert Kraft deserves credit”), who expresses gratitude to the individual who invested heavily in a message promoting support and recognition from our non-Jewish fellow community members.

Though I am not blind to the realities of our world and those who wish us harm, I have never felt helpless or desperate.  Rather, I have always been secure in our faith, while respectful to whatever extent one chooses to follow their own, as long as no harm is inflicted on others, and I always have chosen to support anyone that needs assistance. I have raised my children with such a philosophy and encouraged them to do the same.

As a long-time admirer of both Rabbi Boteach and Mr. Flatow, I must agree with the latter that the commercial was not overtly disparaging, and in fact portrayed a sweet and kind message of unity that our world still needs.

Martin H. Basner
Paramus

AIPAC’s error

While I have never championed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, I have always admired its support of Israel’s military and political needs. Over decades, AIPAC has made a significant difference in enabling Israel, America’s strongest Middle East ally, to defend itself against those who would seek to destroy her.

My support for and deep love for Israel remains as strong as ever. But AIPAC has lost its credibility. Its arrogant intervention in the NJ-11 Democratic primary to fill the congressional seat of Gov. Mikie Sherrill has backfired.  AIPAC has managed, with $2.3 million in grossly misleading attack ads, to bring about the nomination of an avowed anti-Zionist and the defeat of Tom Malinowski, a seasoned diplomat and former congressman, whose record of support for Israel is beyond question. Is that what most AIPAC supporters seek? Is that in the interests of the United States and the American Jewish community?  Hardly.

AIPAC has placed the voters of NJ-11 who support Israel and want Democrats to retake the House in November in an impossible quandary. We must avoid giving Trump another vote in Congress, return a Democratic majority to the House, and save American democracy.

AIPAC should at the least terminate the staff that advocated this policy, despite warnings from friends,  acknowledge its mistake, and not replicate this grievous error across the country.

Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff
Westfield