In defense of recent letter to editor

In the Sept. 6 edition, several writers objected to Galit Lev-Harir’s Aug. 23 letter to the editor, “No historical equivalent” regarding the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum co-sponsoring (with the Jewish Community Relations Council) a program called “The American Dream Deferred: One Family’s Incarceration During WWII + Holocaust Museum Tour.”

Their criticism missed the mark. The original letter’s objection wasn’t what the descendant of an incarcerated Japanese American family would or did say. Lev-Harir’s objection was to the perception of equivalency created by the Holocaust Museum sponsoring the program. Like it or not, perception is reality: The vast majority of the Jewish community of St. Louis and others not in attendance read of two events grouped together as one; the incarceration of Japanese Americans, and the systematic murder of six million Jews, around two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population.

As children of Holocaust survivors, we and many others in our community were hurt and offended by the ill-advised connection of these two events that created a perception that seemed disrespectful to the memory of the six million martyrs, including many or most of our families. Moving forward, we respectfully request the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum to display greater focus not only on the programs they choose to sponsor but on its mission statement:
“ …. preserving the legacy of the Holocaust, educating about its causes and illustrating how what happened during this tragic period relates to our lives today.”

Mimi Fiszel, Tobie Dobin and Sandy Schwartzburt
St. Louis

Antisemitism, threat of violence is continuing concern 

Regarding “How congregations are protecting themselves from swatting and bomb threats during High Holiday services” (published on the Light’s website Sept. 12): This declaration in itself makes me furious. Why must we Jews have to go through this year after year? Are we Jews ever going to be able to practice our religion without the threat of intimidation and life-threatening violence perpetrated by people who hate Jews?

Unfortunately, the answer is incontrovertibly “no.” Antisemitism is a fact of life and will never be eliminated no matter how many precautionary and preventive measures are undertaken.

Fortunately, many temples and synagogues have now hired a police presence during the High Holidays and at other times during the year to protect its congregants, and although this is not a foolproof measure, no doubt, a police presence, will certainly mitigate such violence.

Although our First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, it cannot guarantee the safety of those who are intent on practicing their respective religions.

As one who is a fierce defender of law and order, I propose that anyone who makes threats, or commits violence against those who choose to practice their respective religions, be given a mandatory life sentence without parole if tried and convicted for such crimes.

Such hate crimes should never be allowed to flourish and persevere.

Gene Carton
Clayton