Support for State Rep

For those of us who live in Olivette, University City and Overland, Tuesday, Nov. 8 is an important election day, even though there’s only one contest on the ballot: an election for the next State Representative in the 83rd District.

Tracy McCreery, a progressive Democrat, is running as an Independent (there are no primaries in special elections). In my opinion, she’s the best choice for the job, and I’m not alone: Tracy has received many endorsements including Planned Parenthood, Missouri Votes Conservation and PROMO (LGBT equality advocacy). Her many years of experience working for Sen. Joan Bray and Gov. Bob Holden add up to a finely tuned understanding of how to get results in Jefferson City.

I urge everyone in our district to cast your ballot for Tracy McCreery.

Vivian Zwick

University City

Merger and kashrut

Mazal tov to RJA and SSDS on their merger. As a former adminstrator, faculty member, and parent I hope that this new school grows and flourishes for many years into the future.

I must say though how disappointed I was to read the complete and total exclusion of any kind of a kashrut policy from the new school. Although they affirmed every family’s right to observe Judaism in their own way, the specific statement that there will be no dietary policy means that classmates cannot share birthday treats or provide culinary experiences for one another should the curriculum call for it.

In an article on the iTorah section of the UAHC.org website, Becky Gimbel firmly endorses keeping kosher as a way of serving Klal Yisrael, making sure that every Jew who comes to your home (or I would guess school) can feel comfortable. She even suggests that Reform Jews try keeping kosher. The new school’s policy against kashrut is inflexible and could be seen as exclusionary.

Again, I think this is fantastic news and I know that this new school will be an important institution in St. Louis. However, my concern is that this policy may ultimately prove divisive, which goes against the entire merger rationale.

B’shalom,

Michael S. Raileanu

West Hills, Calif.