Powerful words deserve attention

While the Jewish Light publicized the Holocaust Museum’s 20th Anniversary event, only briefly mentioned in its printed edition was the meaningful speech by Gloria Feldman. Ms. Feldman is a member of our community whose deeds generally speak louder than her words because she shuns publicity.  She had to be convinced to speak and accept an award which was not listed in the program or given advance publicity.

Every member of our community from secular to Haredi could learn something by watching and listening to her speech on the Light’s website this Rosh Hashanah (online at stljewishlight.com/hmlc20). If you don’t have time to listen to the entire speech, start at the seven-minute mark. If you don’t have time to listen to it at all, I hope she will forgive me if I excerpt a few of her words.

“During the difficult time all I wanted was a pair of shoes to get me through the winters and the heavy snow. What I now want is to make a difference. It is not what you have, but what you give.”

Gloria and her late husband Rubin Feldman have made a difference, but several weeks ago her words spoke louder than even those fine deeds.

Norman Pressman, Crystal Lake Park

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Refugee Crisis

Today I read the following in the Post Dispatch (a syndicated story from the Los Angeles Times): “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday rejected a call to host refugees from Syria and elsewhere, saying that while Israel is ‘not indifferent to the human tragedy of the refugees,’ it is not in a position to take them in.”

I am so saddened that the Jewish people, of all people, seem to have forgotten so much. That a government borne out of rejection should take such actions in eyes of the world and in the face of the principles of tikkun olam. 

This is a year to consider the rest of the world with wisdom—not political rhetoric. I wish a brighter and more giving New Year for all of us.

Richard Lincoff, Ladue