Shidduchim and the Covid-19 Vax
Dear Editor:
Thank you, QJL, for continuing to publish letters to the editor on a host of interesting topics. Of all the local papers, QJL has the most robust letters to the editor section by far.
Last week, Jason Stark focused on the relationship between the rabbis and the doctors and subsequent fallout from some of the ill-fated decisions that were made. One angle that has not been explored has been the effect of the Covid-19 vax on shidduchim. I am a member of a WhatsApp shidduch group, and I have seen a trend recently. More and more families that resisted the pressure to get the Covid vax are insisting that the prospective shidduch for their son/daughter be unvaccinated as well!
Talk about an about-face from three years ago! We went from the pro-vaxxers enjoying the dominance to socially ostracize the unvaccinated in shuls, shaming them in print, and firing them from their jobs, to now, where those who resisted the Covid vax are insisting on a marriage partner who has not been “tainted” with the Covid vax. I’m not opining on this practice, only to let everyone know that shidduchim are already fraught with complications, and this has made it even more difficult to pair people up.
Meira Berger
Dear Editor:
I would like to congratulate Yaakov Serle and the entire staff at QJL on their 13th year of publication. However, I must correct something from last week’s paper, which stated that when Yaakov started the QJL, “there were Jewish publications in other areas, but never a Queens Jewish publication.”
Actually, there was a Jewish publication in Queens during the 1980s. The Voice of Mid-Queens was the local Jewish paper, with Mr. Sam Brach as its first publisher and Rabbi Avraham Schechter as the Editor-in-Chief. Later, Akiva Teitz and Shimi Pelman each served as publisher, while I assisted Rabbi Schechter. I remember cutting and pasting the printed pages into columns by hand on large newsprint sheets and then taking them to the Queens Tribune for printing. We had a talented team of writers, and I have fond memories of that venture.
Wishing the QJL continued success!
Sincerely,
Chanita Teitz
Comments on ‘Lessons from January 6’
Dear Editor:
As a lifelong Republican who cares deeply about our country, democracy, and the rule of law, I am in agreement with Warren Hecht’s assessment of Donald Trump’s actions in January 2021 (QJL, Jan 16). Trump attempted to steal the election from the winner, Joe Biden (of whom I am no fan). He made several attempts to get certain swing states to alter the votes indicating which candidate won their respective states, his call to Raffensburger in Georgia being proof of this. It is a stain on America that he will get away with this crime, scot-free, in addition to others such as the “documents” case. The Senate made a huge error in not voting to convict him following his 2020 impeachment.
Republicans had a choice in the 2024 primaries, but for some inexplicable reason, those in the early primary states chose Trump over far superior, saner choices (DeSantis and Haley). By the time of the New York primary, he had already won the nomination. The only reason Trump was able to win the general election was that his opponent was the feckless Kamala Harris.
There is little doubt that soon he will be back up to his old, twisted ways, shortly into his second term. He has already bullied Republicans in Congress to go along with his agenda under threat of being primaried, including supporting his cabinet choices, most of whose sole requirement is loyalty to him. Choosing RFK Jr. to be Secretary of Health is the height of insanity.
If we make it through the next four years, it will only be with G-d’s help.
Sincerely,
Arlene Ross
Forest Hills, New York
Dear Editor:
I remember when Moshe Hill used to take Democrats to task for rushing to politicize the aftermath of mass shootings. If you ever took him at face value, you might be surprised that he reacted to the devastating California fires by immediately looking to blame Democrats like Governor Newsom. But of course, he and many other conservatives are just following the lead of President Trump. I would venture to say that any previous president would initially react to such a tragedy with empathy for the victims and vows to help. But Trump is incapable of such leadership, so he just turned to his default of insults and score settling, using his usual mix of half-truths and outright lies, even while the fires were still raging. And Republicans just followed suit to the extent that they’re threatening to hold relief funds hostage in an attempt to get California to change its policies. Can you imagine the outcry if Democrats ever attempted to do that to a red state?
I do have to give Mr. Hill credit for being enough of an expert on fire prevention to know that there were things that could have been done to prevent the fires. Never mind the bone-dry conditions, and the insane winds that were carrying the fires. You can find plenty of knowledgeable people who have been saying that this was a perfect storm that couldn’t be stopped by policy. But conservatives are positive it could have been prevented or largely mitigated. It’s of course quite possible that California could have done things better. But, would it have made a material difference? And can you tie it to liberal policy goals like Mr. Hill clumsily tries to do? It’s rather obvious when people are just throwing whatever they can at the wall and hoping that something sticks.
But I was surprised that he had the nerve to buck the trend in conservative media and to even mention that maybe, just maybe, climate change might have played a role in the intensity of the fires. But you might have noticed a difference with how he treats that topic. While he is eager to discuss Newsom’s mistakes, he sees no reason to look at the past when it comes to climate change. Have decades of inaction and harmful policies from Republicans, who have been bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry, contributed to getting us to the point that we are at today? That’s pointless to contemplate, even if we would benefit from them reversing course. Look, there are Democrats to blame! It has long been a joke that once climate change becomes too obvious and severe to ignore, conservatives will suddenly switch from denial to saying that it’s too late to do anything, without a moment of reflection. Sadly, it might be more than a joke.
And worse, many of them are still at the stage of denial. And now we have a president who, when he even acknowledges it, thinks that at worst it means a slight rise in ocean levels. We’re now looking at four years wasted with previous gains being reversed as well as new actively harmful policies.
Regards,
Yaakov Ribner
Hypocrisy Is Thy Name
Dear Editor:
The confirmation of the eminently qualified Pete Hegseth was in the bag before Congress held the hearings this week. This was due to the behind-the-scenes work of the Trump administration getting the RINOs in line with threats of being primaried in the future if they do not vote to confirm Trump’s picks. While in most instances, political intimidation is unseemly, in this instance it’s justified given the binary choice: Does President Trump, who clearly has a mandate, get to pick his cabinet, or should RINO representatives in purple states dictate who should be appointed?
With the appointment of Hegseth all but assured, irrespective of the Democratic vote, the only remaining suspense left was to see how crazy the Democrat-led Clown show/Congressional hearings would get. The clown show did not disappoint.
Senator Dick Blumenthal questioned Hegseth about his military experience. So, we have a guy who pretended to be a Vietnam veteran for decades until he was outed as a fraud questioning an actual veteran about his qualifications. Not to be outdone, Senator Adam Schiff, the main purveyor of the three-year-long Russia hoax, questioned Hegseth on integrity issues. Then Elizabeth “Pocahontas” Warren questioned Hegseth about some previous positions and statements he made. This from a white woman who’s pulled off one of the great schemes of our time in landing a tenured position at Harvard Law School by lying on her application and pretending to be a Native American.
Perhaps the most galling attack on Hegseth came from Senator Tim Kaine, who repeatedly badgered Hegseth about his past infidelities. Getting on his moral high horse, perhaps, would be more appropriate but for the fact that Kaine was the running mate of Hillary Clinton, whose husband Bill is a serial philanderer and has credible rape allegations against him. Hillary, of course, played a huge role covering up Bill’s predatory behavior by threatening to ruin the victims if they came forward. Kaine, who never had an issue with any of this, somehow put on an Emmy Award performance on how troubled he was by the allegations against Hegseth.
There’s a reason why Congress’ approval rating is in the teens and this past week’s performance showed us exactly why.
Doniel Behar
Some relevance...please!
Dear Editor:
Warren Hecht expends nearly 800 words last week on January 6, a topic that’s as relevant as the Y2K debate. Since Mr. Hecht seems obsessed with taking a retrospective look at a political topic, how about writing about all the great things his favored candidate Joe Biden accomplished during the last four years and how much better he has left this country? I guarantee it won’t take 800 words!
Jonathan Goldgrab
Dear Editor:
Joe Biden sealed his fate as the most corrupt President ever! His last-minute pardons of his family members and January 6 committee members, as well as Dr. Fauci and General Mark Milley prove this. Accepting the pardons, these individuals will now be considered as being guilty of crimes that should still be investigated.
No president has issued as many pardons as Joe Biden has. While he has the constitutional authority to do it, he clearly abused it. Hard to believe he got the most votes in history. Seems like an orchestrated plan to get him to be President so all these people could be let off the hook.
Trump didn’t pardon a single family member leaving office after the first term because they didn’t need one. History will not judge Biden too kindly. Good riddance.
Daniel Grossman
Dear Editor:
Former State Senator Seymour Lachman was a dear friend and one of my mentors who encouraged me to run for office. His dedication to public service and his integrity were exemplary. When I was elected president of my local Democratic club in Southern Brooklyn at the age of 21, then-State Senator Seymour Lachman – also a distinguished educator – reached out and invited me for coffee. He told me that public service is an honorable profession, requiring one hundred percent hard work, honesty, and integrity in the service of others. He believed in me before many others did and supported my successful 2013 run for City Council.
His steadfast values, shaped by a deep love of faith, family, and community, will continue to guide us all. From the Senate chamber in Albany to the classrooms where he taught, his positive influence will resonate for generations. His dedication to public service and unshakable integrity were exemplary.
His positive impact will be felt for generations. May his memory always be a blessing. Thank you for sharing his impact with your readership.
Hon. Mark Treyger
CEO, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
Former NYC Council Member, District 47
Lessons in Humility
Dear Editor:
I served as Senator Lachman’s legislative counsel for the final five years of his State Senate career. Thank you for sharing his legacy with the greater Jewish community. On a personal note, I distinctly recall how Dr. Lachman disliked being called Senator, always urging people to call him by his first name – Seymour. The legislator earned the well-deserved nickname “the Education Senator,” as an honorable homage to his presidency at the New York City Board of Education and his tenure as a CUNY dean. May his legacy be for a blessing.
David Reich
Kew Gardens Hills, New York
