Middle East Program

I take issue with several statements made by Fran Mentch in the April 10 issue of the Heights Observer.

One is her reference to Fred Taub as a single member of the community making demands on the library. Mr. Taub took the initiative and acted as a spokesman for many others.

Within the first minute of the video in question, I took note of the distortions of the situation. The video is objectionable because it serves to promote the concept that terrorists are victims and that the Israelis are equal perpetrators of violence and injustice. The video itself shuts off free speech because it imbues the minds of the untutored with falsehood. I am aware that people are uncomfortable with the label of anti-Semitism, yet that is exactly what it is, and we had better wake up and recognize it. Centuries ago, Jews were persecuted for being Christ-killers, then accused of being usurers and for the libel of using Christian blood for matzos. More recently they have been described as having big noses, speaking with odd accents and having odd names. Israel-bashing is simply the new face of the old hatred. View the increase in attacks against Jews, synagogues and Jewish cemeteries over the past fifteen years -ever since Israel decided to make concessions for the sake of peace.

Yes, a program such as this one does need to be balanced as it can easily serve to incite hatred against Jewish members of our community. The right of free speech does not entitle citizens to become hate-mongers, and if a library shows such a video, it does not deserve the respect it now enjoys.

Chaya Tabak, Cleveland Heights