Puzzled By The City’s Recycling Logic
Dear Editor:
On Yom Kippur, my three-year-old son, a very curious child, wanted to watch the recycling truck up close while we were on our way to the synagogue. As we observed the truck collecting recycled materials, I was surprised to see that the items we diligently separate – paper and cardboard in one bin, and plastic, glass, and metal in another – were all being dumped into the same compartment and crushed together.
I am puzzled by the city’s approach. Residents are forced to purchase specific bins and separate recyclable items, yet if a glass bottle accidentally ends up in the wrong bin, we risk being fined. But if everything ultimately gets crushed in the same place, what is the logic behind all these rules?
Additionally, I’m curious whether the newly mandated bins are truly part of improving the recycling process, or if they’re simply another indirect tax on already overtaxed citizens. My current bins are perfectly fine and perform as designed, so why are we required to buy new ones?
As concerned residents, we should demand explanations from the city regarding both the rationale behind this recycling process and the need for these new bins. We want to support sustainable practices, but we deserve to understand how our efforts are being used and why these extra steps are necessary.
Sincerely,
David Simkha
Dear Editor:
With the election only weeks away, I feel compelled to write my thoughts regarding this monumental election of 2024. As somebody who tried to run for the Baltimore County school board back in 2022, I know that it is very difficult to break into politics in this town if you are not a Democrat and if you are somebody with conservative values. You would think that this would not be an issue in the Orthodox community, since our Torah espouses conservative values, but unfortunately it is.
The Democratic Party of today is not your grandmother’s party. It has strayed way off the center, and it’s not just when it comes to Israel. While I strongly believe supporting Israel is important, we must not forget everything else the Democrats are promoting these days. They are a party that is promoting anti-G-d and anti-Torah values when it comes to transgenderism and abortion without limits. Today, in government-run schools in many states, schools must allow you to participate in sports teams and P.E. classes that best match your gender identity. The same holds for bathrooms and locker rooms. In addition, many school districts are prohibiting teachers and staff from disclosing to a student’s parent or guardian that their child is exhibiting a desire to change genders. The medical establishment’s promotion of gender-changing surgery and puberty blockers for minors under the guise of “gender-affirming care” is also outrageous and very dangerous.
Safety is also a big issue, and crime is heavily impacting our communities, as well. Efraim Gordon, a young Jewish man visiting Baltimore for a relative’s wedding, was murdered several years ago, and his family has been vocal in saying that safety must be restored to our streets. Rachel Morin is another woman who was brutally murdered last year as a result of Maryland being a sanctuary state. Gangs, fentanyl, and human trafficking are major problems, as well. Schools are overcrowded and poorly run, criminals are not held accountable, and inflation is out of control. While I grew up in New York and have been living in Baltimore for the past 40 years, I know these issues are impacting New York as well as the rest of the nation, especially states under Democratic control.
The current administration and the media have done a “Goebbels” number on the population and has convinced part of the country that Trump is the enemy. They demonize him at every turn and have weaponized the justice system to go after him on trumped up charges. I have never seen anything like this. Trump Derangement Syndrome is a real thing that has been caused by a major propaganda movement and is very dangerous, with two recent assassination attempts on our former President. When I speak to people, there are those who say they won’t vote for him because they don’t like his personality or mean tweets.
Remember that you are not voting for the person; you are voting for an ideology, and as Orthodox Jews, our values line up much more closely with the conservative movement, especially these days. I believe our nation is in crisis right now and we need a leader who can unite us and bring back common sense to our country. During the past four years, we have seen medical tyranny, with people being threatened with losing their jobs if they don’t take an experimental vaccine; we have seen 325,000 children disappear while being trafficked over the border, we have seen 330,000 men, women, and children die from fentanyl, we have seen a defunding of the police movement like no other with a rise in lawlessness and entitlement, we have seen crime escalate, we have seen government-run schools failing our kids, we have seen the middle class being decimated, we have seen mortgage rates go up from 2.75% to over 7 %, we have seen out-of-control inflation and wars, and out-of-control open borders, and of course we have seen a massive rise in anti-Semitism.
Trump and other conservative candidates want to fix this and make America affordable, safe, and healthy again. Even if you, for whatever reason, don’t like his personality, as a frum Jew it is imperative that you vote for him and other conservative candidates. This is more than just a simple election; it is a spiritual and cultural war, and we need to get back on the side of G-d. Pray for peace, and I hope you will do the right thing when you walk into that voting booth next month.
Rebecca Chesner
I, Too, Say ‘Don’t!’
Dear Editor:
My message is the same as Biden’s: “DON’T!” Don’t listen to President Biden! Don’t vote for Kamala Harris! Don’t let disliking Trump’s personality interfere with your common sense as to who is better for our country, for Israel, and for the Jews. Don’t vote Democratic without realizing that the Democratic Party is no longer the Democratic Party of the past but rather is a liberal, woke party with power-hungry leaders more interested in appeasing Iran than protecting the continued existence of the State of Israel and the security of America and its sovereignty.
How dare they call for a ceasefire? How dare they tell Israel they can go after Iran’s oil wells but don’t touch their nuclear plants? Why don’t they realize that a leopard doesn’t change its spots? They foolishly think that if we don’t touch the nuclear facilities, the Iranians will not pursue their nuclear program. Meanwhile, there is already evidence that the Iranians are testing and advancing their nuclear capabilities. With nuclear capabilities, Iran, being unafraid of destruction, will threaten the free world without reservation or fear of reprisal.
How dare Kamala and Biden ask Israel to continue living under a constant threat of attack? Right from the beginning, Kamala and Biden should have been pressuring and threatening Iran, the aggressor, rather than threatening and pressuring Israel, the victim. Now, Biden and Kamala are offering Israel a compensation package if it refrains from hitting major targets rather than punishing and bringing every asset, military and financial, to bear against Iran. And in America, why didn’t the Democrats set a tone of “Don’t you dare abuse Jewish people,” rather than emphasizing that “We must stop Islamophobia.”
Don’t Harris and Biden think Netanyahu wants a ceasefire? Don’t they think his heart breaks for the innocent, tortured hostages and their grieving families and that he desperately wants to get the hostages back? Wouldn’t Netanyahu love to send all the beautiful, precious, dedicated, valiant soldiers home? But Pirkei Avos says, Who is wise?” He who sees the consequences of his actions.” A ceasefire without victory will give Israel temporary peace and perhaps the return of a few, hopefully, living hostages, but it will lead to endless future attacks, massacres, hostage-taking, missiles, and, G-d forbid, bombings.
The Jews, who are constantly the target of anti-Semitism, have one Jewish state. (The Muslims have 56 non-democratic states.) We must protect and defend our state. At the same time, everyone should appreciate that Israel is sacrificing their children to defend Western values. According to Iran, “Israel is the Little Satan. America is the Great Satan.”
It is pathetic that many Jews still don’t understand that Kamala pays lip service to the Jews in order to obtain our votes, but her heart lies with the Palestinians. At least Biden has a long, deep relationship with Israel. Kamala never has and never will! She cannot be counted on to stand by Israel unless it is on her terms!
Israel must destroy Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and, most of all, Iran’s nuclear capabilities. America must stop funding Iran, reinstitute sanctions, and give Israel the weapons it needs to once and for all destroy the power of Iran and its proxies. Trump has vowed to do this.
Don’t underestimate the importance of this election. Don’t be taken in by all the lies and the less consequential issues. Vote for the man who will make America great again, who will be respected as a world leader, and who will stand by Israel.
Ruki Renov
Dear Editor:
Mr. Hecht’s analysis of October 7 is one that I believe everyone shares. My only contention is that the current administration is handicapping Israel by constantly threatening aid if it goes on the offensive and slow-walking the arms it is supposed to send. But for one to have such a viewpoint, how can one vote for Kamala Harris?
Harris had an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” last week and boy are they all in for her to win. They violated journalistic ethics and shredded any credibility they had by playing live a different answer to a question than the one they sent out as a promotion to view the interview to cover for her since they did not like the feedback they were getting from the clip that was disseminated. When asked if Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is an ally, she pivoted and spoke about the relationship with Israel. She hates him and it was clear for all to see. Meanwhile, Bibi’s favorability has never been greater – he’s not going anywhere. So, if Kamala Harris is elected, G-d forbid, and she has contempt for the sitting Prime Minister of Israel, Israel and the Jewish people are in big trouble.
CBS also gave a platform for a rabid anti-Semite, Ta-Nehisi Coates, who came out with a new book that compares Gaza to Jim Crow South and refers to it as an “open air prison.” He also said that if he was a 20-year-old living there, he would have joined in the October 7 massacre! When pushed back on certain things laid out in the book during an interview, it was the interviewer, Tony Dokoupil, who was scolded by coworkers at CBS and not the Jew-hater! The mainstream media is not on our side.
Shalom Markowitz
