Letters to the Editor

Our country finds itself at a crossroads. The past months have uncovered an animosity that is growing within our politics. At a time when we need steady courage in Congress, extremism finds a way to blot out any movement toward bipartisanship. Still, like President Obama, I believe we are… Read more »

There has always been an anti-Israel presence in the American left, but it’s previously mostly been on the fringe. Now it seems that it may be becoming mainstream among liberal millennials (people reaching young adulthood around 2000). I recently experienced this at the All Souls Procession, one of the… Read more »

I very much enjoyed the special supplement about past, present and future perspectives from members of our Southern Arizona Jewish community in the Sept. 12 edition. All were interesting, but more importantly, reassuring about our community’s future. However, my favorite was Roberta Bracker’s story. Much has to do with… Read more »

Regarding “Tucsonans of many faiths join in prayers for Mideast peace at Temple Emanu-El” (AJP 8/15/14), I, too was stunned by the imam’s tirade. Had I been there, I would have also walked out in protest. Calling Gaza a concentration camp before people who knew a lot better than… Read more »

Regarding “Tucsonans of many faiths join in prayers for Mideast peace at Temple Emanu-El” (AJP, 8/15/14), I read with attention this important article, and Oshrat Barel’s feelings of empathy and compassion toward all victims, and her statement about “blind hatred.” I wrote the following: Anguish. I just feel anguish.… Read more »

There is much craziness revolving around the war between Israel and Hamas. It appears that one of the key strategic objectives of Hamas is to grow anti-Semitism worldwide … and they are succeeding. And it is a shame as more and more wrongly informed Americans, as well as citizens… Read more »

On a recent Sunday morning, the Tucson Holocaust Survivors were invited by CUFI to join them at their church for a special prayer service in support of the State of Israel. A full morning was spent in prayers, psalms, lectures, personal testaments, and immersion in the glorious voices of… Read more »

     I was horrified to read the article in the Arizona Daily Star on Jan. 16 regarding SB1062. This is a bill being pushed by State Sen. Steve Yarbrough (R-Chandler). According to the Star, SB1062 “would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and potentially women and Jews, as long… Read more »

What a delight to be present when Eileen Warshaw received the well-deserved Margie Fenton Award at the Jewish Community Relations Council annual meeting on Jan. 5. It was also wonderful to see so many young people there in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition.… Read more »

I am Jewish and among my passions are peace and social justice. I went to Washington, D.C. Feb. 3-4 as a member of a delegation supporting diplomacy with Iran. I don’t want any Americans to ever have to say they are veterans of the Iran War. I have seen… Read more »

The Friedman-Paul Post 201 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America has been active in Tucson since 1950. The JWV was founded in 1896 and is the oldest active veterans organization in the USA. Our mission is to make it known that Jews served in… Read more »

Have you said the Mi Sheberach for a friend or family member? Have you been ill and had a Mi Sheberach said for you? Are there other ways in which Jewish rituals, texts, traditions or communities helped you through an illness or a difficult time? I am currently working… Read more »

I am the chairman of the Jewish community of Turku, Finland. We received a donation of four books by an author who was a Jewish resident of Tucson. The books were donated to our community library in memory of the late Richard Parrish. The donation was made by his… Read more »

The Lappin Foundation is planning a study of our Youth to Israel Adventure’s impact on Jewish identity. To help us contact at least 75 percent of Y2I alumni from 1971 to 2007, please send names and email addresses to [email protected] or 978-740-4410. Y2I was also known as LGI. We… Read more »

In reference to Rabbi Stephanie Aaron’s article on the Gettysburg Address (“My line, and Mitch’s, in the Gettysburg Address,” AJP 10/25/13), I feel a statistical correction is warranted. The 50,000 figure of men lost in the battle should more accurately refer to the total casualties estimates, which include all… Read more »

This is in response to David E. Steinberg’s letter, “WWII end near before bombs dropped on Japan” (AJP, 7/12/13). I’m a World War II Navy veteran. In late spring 1945, my unit (all 10 of us) was awaiting deployment orders in San Bruno, Calif., when unexpectedly we were transferred… Read more »

In your June 14 issue you feature an interview with the WWII veteran Nathan Shapiro (“Nathan Shapiro: Boy cantor at 10, active senior and ‘lucky guy’ at 95”). Mr. Shapiro is quoted as saying that the U.S. “would have lost hundreds of thousands of men” more in the war… Read more »

I have just read the Shout Out column written by Michaela Davenport (“For Tucson teen, March of the Living trip is heartwrenching, empowering,” AJP 6/28/13) and was incredibly moved. I had to re-read the brief notice about Michaela as I found it hard to believe that she is only… Read more »

I read with interest the article on Tucsonans bound for the Maccabiah Games (AJP, 6/14/13) and thought you might be interested in the fact that my son Jimmy Grabb, a native Tucsonan and former professional tennis player, is going to be inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of… Read more »

On June 17, I attended a performance of Tzofim Israeli Scouts at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, an event celebrating the group’s 40th anniversary. The pleasure I had taken in previous performances of Tzofim, and which I might have taken in this event, was marred by the over-the-top volume… Read more »