1997

18/4/97

Re: Corridors of Courage

TOUCHING COLUMN

          The article by Sam Orbaum, 'Corridors of courage,' in his column Not Page One of April 10, is touching in every way. Not only can he make you laugh, but he can also make you cry.

          One's heart goes out to each and every one on the third floor, whether in the Hadassah Mother and Child Care Center in Jerusalem, or similar centers in any other hospital. May their continued strength and courage by all those involved be rewarded with restored good health for the courageous little patients.

      And a special star to Sam Orbaum for his very human story.

ESTHER KATZ, Herzliya.

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1/6/97

WELCOME COLUMN

          At a time when the news is downright depressing, reading Sam Orbaum's mid-week column in the Post is especially welcome and appreciated. His intelligent wit and satire ease the tensions which follow the 'heavy stuff' and help put things into perspective.

          Thank you, Sam Orbaum and the Post, for brightening the days his column appears.

ELAINE KALLET, Jerusalem.

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3/6/97

Re: Half the Fun is Flying There

SMOKING ON PLANES

          Nice, cozy and friendly article ('Half the fun is flying there,' May 22) - and I gather Sam Orbaum does not fly El Al regular class. That means that when you are placed in a non-smoking section two rows away from the smoking section, on a trip from the US to Israel, you spend 10 hours of miserable smoke inhalation. Very friendly indeed!

          Having just returned from the US under this condition on a night flight, it was impossible to breathe or sleep. There were many of us in these 'non-smoking' rows who suffered the same way.

          I have spoken to others who traveled on different airlines around the same time period and was told frankly that this is the only reason they don't fly El Al.
          Other overseas airlines do not permit smoking at all.

SHULAMITH LIEBMAN, Karmiel.

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4/6/97

Re: The ReCon Reckoning

RELIGIOUS PLURALISM

          In his article on the dilemma facing Reform and Conservative Jews in Israel ('The ReCon reckoning,' May 14), Sam Orbaum suggests that there are two ways to give their congregations a significantly more prominent profile in the Israeli scene: (a) that Reform and Conservative Jews in North America send huge amounts of money to support their congregations in Israel, or (b) that these same individuals make aliya on a mass basis.

          There is a (c) alternative. The large majority of Israeli Jews who consider themselves 'traditional' in religious observance, but who are not haredim nor backers of religious political parties, can become more actively involved in promoting the ReCon position in Israel. They could do this in a number of ways: (1) by massively demonstrating in support of Jewish religious pluralism, e.g. against the changes to the conversion law, in favor of the Women at the Wall, for opening up religious councils to a democratic process; (2) by applying political pressure to reduce the budgets to haredi schools and communities and equalize the funding to all school and community programs now subsidized by religious councils and various government departments.

          Israelis who are often described as secular are usually not. But they are frozen out of their Jewish heritage by the political power of the religious parties. They could take back the synagogues, customs, texts and holidays of Judaism from the extremists by supporting Reform and Conservative movements in Israel.

DAVID M. MAGDER, Toronto.

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19/6/97

Re: How Green Was My Rehovot

CONCRETE JUNGLE

          Sam Orbaum's fine article of June 1, 'How green was my Rehovot,' is not only right on target, but the situation sadly is far worse in our town since Mayor Jacob Sandler's administration has been running the Municipality.

          We pay the highest municipal taxes in the country and probably get less city services than any other community. Our street lights are old and outdated and frequently are not on at all. Herzl Street, the main drag in town, has not been resurfaced in over 25 years. Most inner-city sidewalks are full of dangerous potholes. In fact, the mayor's mother sued the city when she fell and was hurt.

          We have fewer cultural and entertainment facilities than any other town of our size. Until three years ago, we had an English-language theater, The Rehovot English Players, which was supported by City Hall. It was forced to disband when the municipality demanded that REP pay it rent for a bomb shelter used by the group for rehearsals and making sets. For reasons only known to the mayor, the city government has stopped any and all support for the large English-speaking community.

          While a growing community obviously needs to expand, develop and build, it needs a plan. When we settled in Rehovot nearly a quarter of a century ago, it was a small community of middle- and upper-middle-class people who enjoyed living in this small suburban town, surrounded by a beautiful landscape and country-like greenery. Today, we have become a city of nearly 100,000 inhabitants, surrounded by many high-rise dwellings, shopping malls and office building, but without parks, grass, trees or flowers - just a mass of mortar, cement and steel.

DAVID FROEHLICH, Rehovot.

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30/6/97

NOT PAGE ONE

          One of the best things that happened to The Jerusalem Post in recent years is Not Page One - beautifully written by Sam Orbaum.

          For a long time, I have admired Sam Orbaum's gentle wit and keen observation of human foibles in But Seriously as they appear in the Magazine - but even so, his talent for finding and then presenting the beautiful stories that would, indeed, not make page one, is admirable and renders it worth the while of the reader to turn to page seven and search for a story with real importance. I myself do so before reading about the wars in the world, the fights in the Knesset and the corruption in our society, appearing on page one.

ANNA LEVIN, Jerusalem.

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30/6/97

Re: An American Jewish Hero

PAGE ONE

          A few words of appreciation for the Not Page One essays by Sam Orbaum. His skills as a writer and eclectic range of subjects are impressive and refreshing.

          The piece about Aaron Feuerstein (June 19), the 'An American Jewish hero,' is an antidote to the accounts of scandal, malfeasance and ineptitude that usually appear on page one.

          May I respectfully suggest that Orbaum indeed be on page one, to free us from the aforementioned stuff, which should be put on the sports pages, like boxing and wrestling, or under condolence notices - to the nation.

MOSHE BERLIN, Jerusalem.

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2/9/97

Re: Hockey Night in – Metulla

CAME TO WIN

          I am writing in reaction to some of the gratuitous remarks made by Sam Orbaum (July 22), regarding Canada's participation in the Maccabiah hockey events.

          Of course Canada came to win. It's our national sport and anything less would signify a lack of respect for the premise of the Maccabiah games - to send our best to a world competition of Jewish athletes. Some of our hockey players are professionals. It is only reasonable that support for the players reflects this - including, if possible, professional coaches and trainers. Although neither Jacques Demers nor the trainers were motivated by Jewishness, their participation, as that of Jean Beliveau, was motivated by friendship for the Jewish people. As such their efforts should have come in for special praise.

I particularly resent the aspersions cast on the Jewishness of the hockey players because of their preference for the beach over the Kotel. Had a poll been taken of male members of the other teams in the same age group, the beaches of Tel-Aviv would have proven just as popular. In fact even young Israelis overwhelmingly prefer the beach to the Kotel.

          The Canadian team was exemplary in the thorough and professional manner in which they participated; as were the Canadian fans who cheered for all the Jewish athletes on the ice. Mark Routtenberg the manager, should be congratulated for his efforts. Had the Israelis approached their commitment to the Maccabiah games in similar fashion, Jewish families would not have been sitting Shiva in Australia during Maccabiah week.

TED QUINT , Hampstead, Quebec.

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10/9/97

Re: God’s Diner

A HEARTY LAUGH

          Sam Orbaum's 'God's diner or Heaven's kitchen' (Not Page One, July 29) was one of the most entertaining pieces of writing my husband and I have enjoyed in a long time.

          I read the article aloud to him and our sharing was interrupted many times by the heartiest laughs we have had in a long time. And with or hearts so heavy about the stalled peace talks and the bombings, the soldiers' deaths and injuries and the slaughter on our highways...

          Well, a hearty laugh is a rare and blessed event.

HAROLD and CELIA SCHWARTZ, Jerusalem

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6/11/97

Re: A Roll In Bed

HUMOROUS AND ENTERTAINING

          I wanted to say that Sam Orbaum's column 'A roll in bed' (October 13) (WHAT! Now he's writing about condoms!), was one of the funniest articles he's written. I often wondered where he gets his ideas for all the columns he has to write. I finally figured it out. He sees (and hears) the same things as everyone else, but he has the talent to put them into humorous and entertaining (and sometimes serious) words.

ELAINE KALLET, Jerusalem.

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 1997      1998      1999      2000     2001

1998


7/1/98

Re: column on Bridges for Peace

          I just wanted to write and thank you for the wonderful article you did about Bridges for Peace. It was a “fun” article and everyone enjoyed it. I received numerous phone calls from Jewish and Christian friends in Jerusalem who were excited to see a positive spin on Christian activities to assist aliya and Zionism.

          I am enclosing a copy of a letter I received from Teddy Kollek, which also mentions your article. I thought you would enjoy knowing that he, too, is a fan of both our works.

Clarence Wagner, Jr., International Director, Bridges for Peace, Jerusalem

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(Teddy Kollek’s letter; only the relevant paragraph is cited.)

          I read with great pleasure Sam Orbaum’s column in The Jerusalem Post, which brought the important contribution and good work of Bridges For Peace to the attention of the whole country.

Teddy Kollek, Jerusalem

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29/1/98

Re: Pushing For a Kinder Israel

CANNOT WAIT

          Sam Orbaum aptly defines Israelis who can't wait their turn as rude, 'national menaces,' in 'Pushing for a kinder Israel' (January 5). They incite verbal violence and highway fatalities by breaking into queues or driving thoughtlessly. He notes that rowdy, irresponsible political talk-shows and Knesset members' behavior act to reinforce such ugly conduct.

          But Orbaum neglected to mention the blatant violation of democratic rules we have witnessed from the Labor Party during the past year. Their elitist members, under the illusion that governing Israel is inherited by divine right, also cannot await their proper turn. Unable to digest the public will's expression in a duly democratic election, they have stopped at nothing to topple their government of free choice.      This theater of the absurd - playing loudly to a world-wide gallery - is the epitome of a 'disloyal opposition.' History will record their unique role as national and international menaces to Israel's future.

DR. JEROME KHARASCH, M.D., Rishon Lezion.

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8/3/98

Re: Through Shimon’s Eyes

GRACE AND BEAUTY

          Kol Hakavod to Sam Orbaum for enabling us to see 'Through Shimon's Eyes' (Feb. 23) and becoming acquainted with a hero of the Jewish people - not 'only' for his incredible bravery and his sacrifice - but also, for the grace and beauty of his character.

          May Shimon, his wife and their children have nahat from all their achievements, and may we be inspired to be as beautiful as they are.

MOSHE BERLIN, Jerusalem

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17/3/98

Re: Too Good to be True (Ra’anana’s mayor)

OUTSTANDING

          I recently found myself in Ra'anana for the first time. What a pleasure and a delight to see spotless streets, a city worker sweeping and picking up papers from sidewalks, the freshly painted buildings and shops, the overall cleanliness of the city; the dignified and respectful manner in which the people presented themselves and conducted themselves.

          It was like walking into... civilization. In Israel! Wow!

          Thanks to Sam Orbaum ('Not Page One,' March 2), I know why. The people have elected an outstanding mayor and his decency and leadership (along with their good taste and discernment) is reflected in the grace and charm of this city.

RENEE HADAR, Rishon Lezion.

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22/3/98

Re: Born With a Spolden Goon

YANK SOU THAM

          Sam Orbaum's delightful column on Spoonerisms 'Born with a spolden goon,' (March 16th) takes me back many years to my late father, who loved them.

          I remember at 18 running a very self-important poetry group at my home in Melbourne, full of wannabe intellectuals, that my father thought hilarious. We had just begun reading our deathless verse one evening when in waltzed Dad, carrying a bunch of gum leaves from the eucalypt tree in our garden.

          Bowing to everyone, he announced: 'Enter the Fairy Queen, with a wonderful gunch of bums.'

DVORA WAYSMAN, Jerusalem.

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31/3/98

Re: Too Good to be True (Ra’anana’s mayor)

THANK YOU, MR. OLMERT

          Recently my wife made me read Sam Orbaum's interesting article 'Too good to be true?' (March 2) about the efficient mayor of Ra'anana whose activities made us envious of the residents of that city.

          I had rung the municipality helpline four times about a hole in the road directly in front of our garage to no avail. During the intermission of the Daniel Barenboim concert at the Jerusalem Theater, I found myself next to our mayor, Ehud Olmert.

          With the article in mind I introduced myself and told him the problem. Neither of us had a pen or paper but he said he would look into it. Needless to say, the following morning the job was done. We too have a mayor that cares.

          Thank you, Ehud Olmert.

DR. CHAIM HEITNER, Jerusalem.

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20/7/98

Re: Dances With Dolphins

HOPE FOR AUTISTICS

          I have just read Sam Orbaum's 'Dances with dolphins' (July 13) and I feel impelled to write to tell all people with autistic children that there is hope for them. They should read a book called ‘Son-Rise, the Miracle Continues' by Barry Neil Kaufman, published by H. J. Kramer Inc. at Tiburon, California, and/or get in touch with The Option Institute and Fellowship, POB 1180-SR, 2080 South Undermountain Rd., Sheffield, MA 01257.

          The book chronicles the work the author and his wife did with their autistic child and the program they devised that has been used by many people with success with their autistic children. They refused to accept the prognosis of the medical establishment for their child and the horrors of the behavioral therapy that was being used in the 1970s.

          By the way, the foreword of the book was written by their son who was studying at university at the time.

ROSALY EVNINE, Jerusalem.

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30/7/98

Re: Laughing All the Way to the ...

BANK ROBBERY

          Sam Orbaum's column ('Not Page One,' July 20) was very much to the point: The banks know how to fleece their (small) customers and they are all the same without exception.

          The First International Bank deducted monthly management fees totalling NIS 48.60 over six months.

          Bank Hapoalim took $2.50 for changing a $100 bill into five $20 bills!

          Perhaps keeping your money under the floor tiles is not such a bad idea after all!

B. OUDKERK , Haifa.

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9/8/98

Re: No Pain, No Gain

COMFORT, NOT DREAD

          I take issue with Sam Orbaum in his article 'No pain, no gain' (July 27) in which he describes various procedures he underwent during treatment of cancer.

          What were his objectives in describing these scans and procedures in such terrifying detail?

          While I grant that he tried to inject some humor into the article the end result for anyone waiting to undergo chemotherapy must be a feeling of terror and dread, where comfort, reassurance and, above all, hope are needed.

          After all, what the patient needs most is to know that he has the chance to completely recover from his illness and to achieve that, he is prepared to undergo some discomfort along the way.

          I wish Mr. Orbaum a very speedy recovery.

BLOSSOM STEINHART, Ra'anana.

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10/9/98

Re: Poor Ol’ Us

FAIR WARNING

          In 'Making Israel home - despite everything' (August 7) MK Naomi Blumenthal bemoans the fact that the Jewish Anglo-Saxon communities are not making aliya. Why should they?

          What incentive would they have? Would they be provided with a good political system, great economic prospects or harmonious racial and religious relations?

          In my opinion, as an Anglo-Saxon oleh, the sacrifice is too great. One who makes this transition at retirement and even earlier is a masochist, a hero or just plain crazy.

          I considered I had the background to work for a land that I felt was my own as a politically motivated individual in my former country. Unfortunately I observe an absurd political system masquerading as a democracy. An electoral system that permits minority parties to have a voice and power disproportionate to their numbers. It has no constituency representation or a constitution. It is a system manipulated by a few with nepotism and cronyism to the detriment of the majority of the community. There is no separation between religion, the state and military. This type of system encourages mediocrity. I believe it will ultimately lead to disaster if continued.

          It is apparent no one in this country wants advice from newcomers even if they have lifelong experience and particularly if you are not fluent in the language.          

          This is portrayed by Sam Orbaum in his recent article called 'Poor Ol Us' (August 17).

          I have experienced a deteriorating quality of life since making aliya. There is a lack of facilities including town planning, rubbish collection, street cleaning, the environment, traffic and parking which is not accepted in any civilized society.

Any Anglo-Saxon intending to make aliya should carefully do their homework by considering various aspects, including the political and economic system, the polarization of ethnic and religious implications of migrating to Israel.

Jack Davis, Jerusalem

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1/10/98

Re: Dear Jonny...

DEAR JONNY

          Like most Jerusalemites, I met 'Yonni' on various occasions and gave him money. Now, after learning his story ('Not Page One,' Sept. 14), I wish I had given him more - not just money, but kindness and sympathy.

          It is too late now, but I wish he could know that his life was not in vain, that in addition to his father, he has touched us all.

DVORA WAYSMAN, Jerusalem..

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 1997      1998      1999      2000     2001

1999

9/2/99

Re: The King and I

SENSITIVE TRIBUTE

          Having just read Sam Orbaum's column 'The king and I' in yesterday's paper, I would like to express my thanks for a wonderful piece. Combining his personal struggle with the king's was one of the most sensitive tributes I've read.

          His article brought to the forefront what all cancer patients go through and I only hope that Sam stays healthy and strong for many, many years.

MARK FELDMAN, Jerusalem.

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10/2/99

Re: The King and I

SAM'S COURAGE

          The courage underlying every word of Sam Orbaum's 'The King and I' (February 8) brought tears to my eyes. The poignancy of his honesty and his humility touched my heart.

          Sam, may your fantastic sense of humor, your strength and your grace, provide you with the power to beat your illness. Refuah Shlemah.

TAMARA TENENBAUM, Jerusalem.

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11/2/99

Re: Driven to the Brink

FULL OF HATE

          In Sam Orbaum's article 'Driven to the Brink' (February 9), I think the word 'Arabs' should be substituted for 'haredim.' Imagine that Sam had been driving on the Ramallah bypass road and an Arab mob converged on his car.

          Chances are it would be more than garbage raining down on him! Now imagine Sam writing in you newspaper, 'I had never liked Arabs. Now I hated them.' I don't think he would write it and I don't think The Jerusalem Post would print it.

          Not only has Orbaum given himself an excuse to hate and even mention thinking about killing haredim, but, he has blamed antisemitism on them as well.

          'I had never understood how the goyim could possibly hate us. Now I did.' The actions of the haredim were absolutely indefensible, but, saying that they are the cause of non-Jewish hatred is absurd and painfully familiar.

          Now that Orbaum has given himself an excuse to go to town on an entire segment of the population because of the abhorrent actions of a few, maybe it's time for some serious soul searching on his part.

          Before Orbaum mentions civil war between secularists and haredim, perhaps he should think about what his own contribution towards such a tragic occurrence by writing such a hateful, inciteful article.

SANDIE FREISHAT, Jerusalem.

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12/2/99

Re: Driven to the Brink

SHAME ON SAM

          Shame on you Sam Orbaum for being 'Driven to the brink' (February 16), but you were the provoker and not the provoked!

          For the future, how about a different route to reach your Christian friends on Shabbat?

          We, who were your fans and appreciated your sensitive witty style, are deeply disappointed that you have stooped to such a low level of journalism.

 JUDITH and ARNOLD FELSENSTEIN, Jerusalem.

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19/2/99

Re: Helping the Haredim Out

JEWS AND FAITH

          Regarding the column by Sam Orbaum, 'Helping the haredim out,' (JP, February 16), regarding those Jews who have lost their faith and are looking for answers, being cared for by concerned Hillel members, may I make a few comments to them. He quotes from a few people who ate on Yom Kippur and spoke on the phone and the house didn't fall on them, while another ate a cheese and meat sandwich and didn't choke on it, and were convinced that there is no God otherwise he would have killed them for their transgressions.

          Sometimes I wonder what got into Mr. Orbaum. I started reading his columns about two years ago and found them to be amusing. Recently, he started bashing the haredim by writing about driving down Bar Ilan Street on Shabbat where he was allegedly attacked by some haredim, learning from them why the world hates Jews. Did it ever occur to him that his driving on this street while hundreds of Jews are going to synagogue on what is supposed to be a holy Sabbath would be just as inciting as yelling fire in a crowded theater? Wasn't there another way he could have chosen without creating a confrontation? What are the secular Jews trying to prove by shoving in the face of the haredim that they do not believe in the Torah's teaching. Is anyone really interested in what they do?

          In the February 16 article, Sam found still another way of proving that there is no basis to belief in God since he cites two examples of profound transgressions which were not punished, which proves beyond a question of a doubt that God doesn't care or isn't capable of punishing those who don't follow His teachings blindly.

          Few religions can compare to the Jewish tradition and those who study the Torah which is the basis for Judaism and grow up in faith stand a good chance of living an honorable life and do not have to be ashamed in finding their place in the world. Sam, it's time you returned to your original upbringing and started to enjoy being a proud and happy Jew.

RABBI URI AUERBACH, Netanya

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8/3/99

Re: “1 + 1 = ?”

          You do very good work and on frequent occasions I have thought – fleetingly – of writing to express my appreciation; but I don’t habitually write such letters.

          However, I have just read your column in today’s Post concerning Professor Gelbart, and the impulse to write is overwhelming. The column is a gem – beautiful, tender, insightful, and most felicitally (??) phrased from headline to the last word.

          Thank you for writing it.

Michael Elkins, Columnist, The Jerusalem Report, Jerusalem

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2/4/99

Re: Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky

A TORAH LEGACY

          Sam Orbaum ends his 'Not Page One' (March 2)... 'he may only reach hundreds at a time instead of millions, but Dovid Orlofsky is content. This is his legacy.'

          If Dovid Orlofsky's Torah words were able to reach Sam Orbaum, he should be content. He has his legacy.

N. SHENKER, Jerusalem

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24/5/99

Re: To Go In Peace

LET HER LIVE

          Sam Orbaum describes in a very unfunny column 'To go in peace' (May 4), the legal battles of 'Benny,' whose 91-year old mother is institutionalized in Beit Rivka after a stroke suffered seven years ago, and who, in his words, is in a 'brain-dead, vegetative' state. She breathes on her own but is fed by a tube.

          Benny obtained a declarative judgment by the District Court to allow the doctors to disconnect her tube and starve her to death. Since, he says, she 'wouldn't feel hunger' according to the doctors, this is a dignified end which she would have wanted. The attending doctor refused the court permission saying, as reported in Ma'ariv: 'I am not a hangman.'

          Benny, supported and publicized by advocate Y. Hoshen, Israel's Mr. 'Right-to-Die,' has now asked the Supreme Court to order the doctor starve his mom to death.

          Strange. Since she is supposedly unfeeling, why the struggle? She couldn't care less, right? Maybe the enormous monthly care costs are pressing? Or is this a golden opportunity to enact active euthanasia in Israel?

          Brain-dead means a flat EEG; such a patient is used for organ donations before being buried. Mom breathes on her own. She can't be brain-dead. Persistent Vegetative State (PVS) means alternating periods of eyes-open wakefulness and eyes-closed sleep, but with no apparent physical response to the surroundings or to pain stimuli.