Article stirs fond memories of ‘The Valley’

I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the article written by David Wrubel about the Jewish community of the lower Naugatuck Valley (“Almost Gone: The Jewish Community of the Lower Naugatuck Valley,” May 15, 2015).

My parents had many relatives who lived there and had businesses, most notably the Gans family and Rogol family. I also was employed at Griffin Hospital from 1959-1985.

Many memories were brought back and it gave me much pleasure to remind me of the past history.

Kenneth Burack
Orange

Ledger’s “hostile” critique of Israel’s new government disappoints

The Jewish Ledger editorial, “Netanyahu’s coalition: Here today…gone tomorrow” (May 15, 2015), is unbecoming a publication which, until its recent change of ownership and editorial board, had a long and rich history of service to the Jewish community. While one could challenge the editorial point-by-point, the real problem is the overall tone of the editorial and the hostility which it manifests.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. It held a free election this year with more than 70 percent participation. It has a highly informed electorate that is capable of making reasoned decisions about the governance of the Jewish state. At the same time, no country demonstrates a higher degree of allegiance and friendship to the United States and the American people than does Israel, notwithstanding any occasional disagreements between their respective leaders.

It is against this backdrop that the Jewish Ledger published its snide editorial, almost rooting for Israel’s new government to fail. This is not what Israel and world Jewry need. In these times of existential danger to Israel and, in turn, to all of the Jewish people, whether in France, Argentina or here at home, our homeland and its legitimate government need support, not derision.

I hope that the Ledger will return to its previous longstanding role as a friend and supporter of the Jewish people and the State of Israel, thereby again placing itself in line with the sentiment of the overwhelming majority of its readership.

Mark I. Fishman, Esq.,
President of PRIMER-Connecticut
(Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting)
Fairfield