Defending columnist’s credentialsIn his Aug. 28 letter to the editor, Norman Pressman questions the qualifications of J. Martin Rochester who has authored a number of commentaries on behalf of the Jewish Light. The tone of  the letter suggests Pressman...

A political view from JerusalemSecretary of State John Kerry has been traveling the world proclaiming that if or when the Israeli-Palestinian issue is solved, there will be peace in the Middle East. How absurd: A look at recent news included an explosion...

School transfers Op-EdRarely has the Jewish Light published as insensitive a column as Professor J. Martin Rochester’s Aug. 7 column, “The school transfer controversy and the limits of tikkun olam.”The core problem is that the professor does not...

Responses to school transfers Op-EdIt is truly unfortunate that Professor J. Martin Rochester “became house-poor” in order to buy into the Clayton School District (Aug. 7 Op-Ed, “The school transfer controversy and the limits of tikkun olam”)....

Helen Thomas’ legacyRegarding Editor Ellen Futterman’s July 24 “News & Schmooze” column on Helen Thomas: I am a physician and a Holocaust survivor. Nine members of my family were killed in Auschwitz. I, too, have heard the infamous video of...

Local resources for students seeking gap year’ programsWe enjoyed reading the articles in the July 24 edition on “gap year” programs in Israel and initiatives in California integrating Israel education into curriculums. We thought your readers would...

Weighing risk and rewardFrom the July 17 Op-Ed, “Jewish leaders should be vocal in backing Kerry’s mission,” it appears its authors, Ephraim Sneh and Robert K Lifton, learned nothing in the 20 years since Israel signed the Oslo accords in 1993. Space...

Remembering Bill KahnFor those of us who worked with and for Bill Kahn, he was not only the consummate professional, but a true mensch in every sense of the word.  No one ever showed more loyalty and respect to his co-workers, and it was my true pleasure...

Israel in filmRepps Hudson has written a very comprehensive and excellent review of films  “Reeling in the years” (June 12) by Israeli filmmakers that cover the broad spectrum of events that have taken place in that country since 1948: the founding...

Author’s note A quick word of thanks for your thoughtful review in the Jewish Light (May 22 review, “Amos Oz, daughter explore Jewish love affair with words”). Let me assure you that the name of our book is, and always was, “Jews and Words.”...

As a Verizon SubscriberFor all I know, my phone number and call log may have been netted by the National Security Agency.  Established more than half a century ago, the Agency serves two purposes:“The Information Assurance mission confronts the formidable...

State of the American Jewish CongressYour review of the malaise that has befallen the American Jewish Congress (May 15 commentary by Gary Rosenblatt of the New York Jewish Week, “AJCongress:  Jack Rosen’s one-man show?”) unfortunately, is actually...