5/6/87

Re: A Word In Your Ear

ORIGIN OF WORDS

    In his fine review of four word books (May 22), Sam Orbaum mentions that, according to one explanation, the English word “copacetic” is of Hebrew origin [“hakol b’tzedek”]. This explanation, as erroneous as is it widespread, can have no claim to consideration. Nor is the word from Yiddish, as has often been claimed.

David Gold, Co-editor, Jewish Language Review, Haifa

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12/10/89

Re: Pickled Pugilists

MAX BAER
     In his review of The Jewish Boxers' Hall of Fame by Ken Blady, Sam Orbaum writes: "Virtually every weight class has had its Jewish world champions - except the heavyweights."
    This is not correct. Max Baer, one of the hardest right-hand punchers in boxing history, always fought with the Magen David on his shorts. On June 14, 1934, he knocked out the Italian giant Primo Carnera to become world heavyweight boxing champion.

N. J. MENDELSOHN, Haifa.

Sam Orbaum comments:
    Max Baer did fight with a Magen David emblazoned on his trunks. His father was Jewish, but not his mother. In any case, Blady writes that "trainer Ray Arcel, who used to take showers with Max, assures me that he wasn't Jewish."

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10/11/92

Re: The day they raced and people raged

THE JERUSALEM MARATHON
     While sympathizing entirely with the difficult and uncomfortable situations that Sam Orbaum's family and many other Jerusalemites found themselves in because of the Jerusalem Marathon ("The day they raced and people raged," November 1), one still might expect an experienced member of The Jerusalem Post editorial staff to see if his assumptions fit the facts before baselessly attacking the municipality.
    Orbaum's central contention is that not only did Jerusalem residents suffer from the marathon, they also had to pay for it. In fact, not one agora of municipal funds, not a single shekel of taxpayers' money, was spent on the marathon. It was produced and funded by an independent organization. The lines painted in the streets, which bothered the writer enormously when compared with the city's real traffic safety needs, were painted by the organizers using their own materials and will be removed at their expense.
    Nor can we accept his unsubstantiated allegation that "city councillors would have sailed through the policy cordons that cut off the rest of us from our homes and offices." Fortunately or unfortunately, they suffered from delay and inconvenience no less than the people who elected them to office.
    Where we do agree with Orbaum is that considerable rethinking needs to be invested in the route of any future marathon. As opposed to this year when the route was decided between the organizers and the police, the municipality will insist on participating in that decision.

MENACHEM RABOY, Municipal Spokesman, Jerusalem.

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11/11/92

Re: The day they raced and people raged

THE JERUSALEM MARATHON
    As one who has participated in hundreds of international track and marathon events, including Jerusalem's First Golden Marathon, I am responding to Bill Hutman's article of October 29 "Race was a failure - marathon's last run," to the negative remarks of Elli Wohlgelernter of October 30, "Jerusalem the Golden - but not for marathoners," and Sam Orbaum's "The day they raced and people raged" (November 1).
    The first international Jerusalem marathon was a brilliant success. Thousands of runners in the three events, coming from over 16 countries, brought smiles to many spectators. It made many important statements and perhaps among the most noteworthy were - life goes on and normal, peaceful and healthy citywide activities can and will be celebrated in our nation's capital.
    Mr. Amirav, who holds the transport portfolio at city hall, must have received an abundance of justified complaints from irate drivers who were inconvenienced by the closure of many the city's main streets and intersections. He blames the organizers for the "failure" of the event and the marathon's future demise. He admits that his municipality was "partly" at fault for not effectively publicizing the event but he then goes on to say that he was only given a "week's notice" on the route of the race. It only takes a few minutes to contact the newspapers to publish the course's route, and two days at most to print and place posterss which would have alerted the public to traffic problems and which would have brought out a larger crowd to enjoy the event.
    It was not a "follow the crowd" race as Mr. Wohlgelernter claims. There was an abundance of volunteers and police pointing the way at every turn.
    Mr. Orbaum asks what Jerusalem gained from this marathon. Increased tourism, an event encouraging healthy activities, and a city united in a peaceful cause which grabbed positive headlines around the world. Mr. Orbaum says the marathons draw as many as 25,000 runners and that Jerusalem's marathon had an embarrassingly low turn-out. Well, I ran in the first New York City Marathon in 1970 with 200 other runners. Today after years of experience, New York has 25,000 runners sprinting and jogging along the busiest streets and bridges.
    Mr. Orbaum describes the course as "uncommonly grueling." Yes, it was challenging but it was not a killer course; it was very well planned.
    If New York, Rome and London (to name just three out of hundreds of cities) can successfully promote and execute citywide marathons, is Jerusalem less qualified? I think not. The traffic and logistical problems were normal growing pains. Let us learn from this first marathon so that both tourists and Israelis may enjoy what will become one of the world's most prestigious, challenging and fun-filled sporting events.

YOEL LEYDEN, President, Israel Road Runners' Club, Ramat Gan.

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25/12/94

Re: Tabloid finds Scrabble players 'guilty' of snobbery

VIVA VERDI!

    I refer to Sam Orbaum's contribution to Eye on the Media of November 25, "Tabloid finds Scrabble players 'guilty' of snobbery." I would remind Orbaum that Giuseppe Verdi, who was no snob even though he went to the opera, shrugged off gossip, believing that sooner or later the truth would out and it was unnecessary aggravation to run after wagging tongues.
    Personal grief caused by biased or malicious reportage is the theme of Janet Malcolm's latest book, The Silent Woman. Miss Malcolm was herself sued by Jeffrey Masson for presenting paraphrased remarks as quotations in In the Freud Archives. In my opinion, she did him a favor, but the US Supreme Court decided for the plaintiff. Masson vs. Malcolm et al. did, indeed, drag on for years and it cost a bundle even before damages were fixed, but it suggests that members of the Scrabble Club could sue Ari Folman and Ha'ir.
    If I were Orbaum et al., I would be less upset about the article (which I haven't seen) and more distressed by what I learned about acquaintances who read such papers and believe everything they see. From the passage cited by Mr. Orbaum, it seems that Mr. Folman is extremely crass and totally humorless.
    The Hebrew press is essentially sensationalist. Every day, every page cries out scandal and disaster, which means, first, that readers ostensibly outraged really don't care, because their senses are dulled. I suspect they read the papers in search of cheap thrills; and second, what excites them today is soon forgotten, because every issue is filled with similar garbage.
    Ten years ago, I started to work at a large private institution and soon had a reporter from the in-house organ at my door to interview "the new male secretary." It was a fiasco, but I didn't call the editor to block it - common sense told me there was no material for a piece. I was right, and wrong. It appeared, and it was really stupid. Asked about it, I could only shrug - but I never read that paper again.
    Several years later a reporter from a magazine came to interview someone else. While waiting for his subject to arrive, he tried to chat me up. I was wary of reporters. I had no authorization from public relations. I had no answers to his questions. I told him nothing, but he copied my name from the door and attached it to some shocking "scoop" of his own invention. When I arrived at work the day his expose came out, I was warned to lie low: the higher-ups were in an uproar. By 10 o'clock, the whole affair was forgotten.
    Viva Verdi!

D. S. REISS, Givat Ze'ev.

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22/12/94

Re: Tabloid finds Scrabble players 'guilty' of snobbery

A LICENSING BOARD FOR JOURNALISTS

    I have just read about Sam Orbaum's plight and his treatment at the hands of local so-called journalists ("Tabloid finds Scrabble players 'guilty' of snobbery," Eye on the Media of November 25).
Anybody who wants to be a journalist can study how to be one by enrolling at college or university, but to practice, all one has to do is to find a newspaper willing to provide a job. No examinations and no license are needed.
    On the other hand, if you want to practice a trade, or be a public accountant, or a tourist guide, and so on, you will have to pass examinations and get a license before you are allowed to serve the public. No plumber can do the damage done to poor Sam.
    If there were an authority issuing licenses to journalists and if people complained to it and the authority found them justified, the journalist's license would be revoked, and even the most irresponsible journalist would think twice before lying, cheating or fabricating a story.
    So why don't we have a journalists' licensing board?

MICHAEL PAGGY, Petah Tikva.

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27/6/95

Re: No Hate in Bait Safafa

BEIT SAFAFA PLAYGROUND

    I can endorse much of what Sam Orbaum says in his article of June 18, "No hate in Beit Safafa," about the forbearance of the inhabitants of Beit Safafa. But he is misinformed as to why there is not a playground in the village.
    The Jerusalem Foundation was approached by the mukhtar to find a donor for a playground some time ago. We took on the project, as we agreed there is a real need for this facility, and we found a donor willing to pay for it. We agreed on sites and drew up plans but after months of delay, we were told that objections had come from local people laying claim to the land.
    Our donor remains ready to give a playground to Beit Safafa. We are waiting to be told where.

RUTH CHESHIN, The Jerusalem Foundation, Jerusalem.

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5/1/96

PM JUST MISSED A 'GUINNESS' RECORD

Byline: GREER FAY CASHMAN / Column: GRAPEVINE
    Besides the friends, colleagues and members of the Jerusalem Scrabble Club who helped celebrate the triumph over cancer by Jerusalem Post features editor Sam Orbaum, a British peer and his lady showed up as well. The Right Honorable Professor the Lord Robert Winston of Hammersmith the Borough of Fulham, his wife and son, were among the scores of well-wishers greeted by Orbaum and his wife Wendy at an open house reception in their Jerusalem home.
    Lord Winston, one of the very few peers who wears a kippa, was inducted last month. A world acclaimed expert in fertility, he is tipped by the British press as the man who will revamp the National Health Service if Labor gets into government.
    Scrabble players were in the majority; Sam founded their club, after all. If they'd taken time out to play, the favorite seven-letter word for the evening would have been HEALTHY.

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23/7/96

Re: Only France

HEDGING STANCE

    Hats off and congratulations to Sam Orbaum for his introspective column of July 15, "Only France." He had the courage of his convictions to tell it as it is, and you thought enough of it to publish it. Yet you distance yourself and The Jerusalem Post from his astute observations regarding France and its unabashed attitude toward Israel. In one breath you seem to embrace Sam Orbaum for his courage by proudly stating that "The writer is a member of The Jerusalem Post editorial staff." Then you distance yourself from him, disavowing any responsibility for France's hurt feelings by adding, "The views expressed are not necessarily those of the paper."

STANLEY KIMMEL, Neve Ilan.

    To avoid confusion as to the paper's views, all opinion pieces written by individual Jerusalem Post staff members carry the rider Mr. Kimmel mentions. - Ed. J.P.

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26/7/96

BOOK OF SAM
    I wanted to let you know that your paper is read and enjoyed in Guatemala.
    I particularly like Sam Orbaum's articles. I would enjoy it very much if a compilation of his work were published as a book, because keeping all these clippings is impractical.
    Keep up the good work!

Andrea Batreschac, Guatemala City

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27/9/96

Re: Montreal and Toronto: A Whale of Two Cities

KEEP 'EM COMING
    I have just finished reading Sam Orbaum's article about Montreal ("Montreal and Toronto: A Whale of Two Cities," September 13).
    As did his previous piece about Montreal winters, this article hit the nail on the head. The descriptions are both accurate and extremely insightful. Keep 'em coming.

Sima Goldfarb-Rivlin, Katzrin

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7/11/96

Re: The 'Kacha Zeh' Syndrome

SATISFIED PATIENT

    I disagree entirely with Sam Orbaum's article of November 1, "The 'Kacha zeh' syndrome."
After almost five years of regular visits (including hospitalization) at the Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital, I have only praise and compliments for the dedication, professionalism and hard work of all members of its staff.
The bureaucratic process is more efficient than most institutions I know, and the only delays I have encountered have been due to their giving priority to emergencies.
    Mr. Orbaum should thank the staff of Hadassah Hospital for saving his life as they did mine, rather than complaining that a couple of hours have been wasted.

BRIAN ZLETMAN, Jerusalem.

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8/11/96

Re: The 'Kacha Zeh' Syndrome

HADASSAH'S RECORD

    I sadly read journalist Sam Orbaum's description of his experiences as a patient at the Hadassah Medical Center ("The 'Kacha zeh' syndrome," November 1). It is very difficult to respond to a patient on the active list, for very obvious reasons.
    Unfortunately, however, it is those people suffering from certain illnesses who are in need of much compassion who come to Hadassah seeking their medical care and also a human caress.
    We are indeed sorry that Mr. Orbaum had to wait about four hours for treatment. This was brought to management's attention and was taken up with the parties concerned. Hadassah's policy is that the patient is always right. During the past four years, we have been dealing very intensely with the issue of improvement of patient services and even won two prestigious prizes -- the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence and Quality, and the Israel Labor Productivity Prize for Quality -- for our endeavors. This does not mean that we solved all the problems or that we are completely satisfied. Our main problem is that we are working at more than 100 percent capacity -- and frequently decide to overload, thus risking faulty throughput, but not refusing to admit, or treat or turning people away.
    However, having said all this, I feel that Mr. Orbaum wrote his article with a feeling of great hatred (why?), thereby doing a great injustice to many of Hadassah's employees. I also noted that Mr. Orbaum was very careful not to "punch" the physicians and the nurses although it seems that he felt quite free to "punch" the general simple staffers, who he regards as "working in miserable jobs."
    With all due respect, this is indeed a rather paternalistic approach to 5,000 devoted employees and is both incorrect and does them undue injustice.
    Upon reading the article, I felt that the saying "hatred blinds" was quite relevant in this case and it comes out quite clearly when he writes about hospitals cheating the health funds (a fact which is not true). This matter has been discussed and been discussed on the national level, and such vacation days are never paid for, and have not been paid for by anyone for a long time. And as to patients being turned away from the emergency room because of lack of identity cards, it would have been better had he checked among the more than 100,000 patients who receive treatment in Hadassah's two emergency rooms who do not have an identity card with them.
    Not long ago, Mr. Orbaum shared with his readers the fact that Hadassah saved his life (The Jerusalem Post, January 12). Does that not count for something?
    However, as I have stated earlier, a person should not be judged at his time of grief. A patient is always right, even when he is completely wrong, and we will do our utmost to keep on improving our services and compassion to our patients. Although our occupancy rates are excessive, indicating some satisfaction out there, even one unhappy patient should banish complacency forever from any one of our employees.

PROFESSOR SHMUEL PENCHAS, Director General, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem.

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14/11/96

Re: The 'Kacha Zeh' Syndrome

NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT

    I sadly read the response of Hadassah Medical Organization Director-General Prof. Shmuel Penchas to your recent opinion piece by Sam Orbaum (Letters, November 8). Mr. Orbaum clearly and lucidly stated many of the problems encountered by numerous patients of the Hadassah Medical Center and their families. There was absolutely no evidence of a “feeling of great hatred” in the article. Sadly, this statement by Prof. Penchas seems to be his way of explaining away, rather than suitably addressing, the management deficiencies so ably noted by Mr. Orbaum.

    In addition, it was unnecessary for him to note in his letter that Hadassah medical care had saved Mr. Orbaum’s life; Mr. Orbaum clearly stated the same in his article. Should this fact keep Mr. Orbaum from exposing the problems he encountered? I personally am proud and grateful that an institution of such world-renowned medical quality is located in our midst and would gladly “kiss the hands” of the Hadassah doctor whom I credit with saving my husband’s life. However, that does not stop me from expressing my condemnation of the same doctor for his inexcusable behavior toward a patient who had dared to consult another physician.

    One of my Hadassah experiences concerns the day my husband was admitted to the emergency room in the early morning because of an extremely low blood count. At about 5:30 p.m., when my daughter arrived after finishing her own day’s work, he was still sitting there (no bed yet). As a doctor and graduate of Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical School, my daughter not only knew her father’s condition might cause him to faint or fall at any moment, but she also knew the ropes. A short time later, he was in bed and steps were under way to have him admitted to the appropriate ward. The reason given by the emergency room staff for not dealing with him sooner was that he “looked” alright.

    Words cannot express how thankful I am to have had the support of a doctor daughter at that very critical moment. Yet it is horrifying to think of the suffering that others must endure because they might not have the right “protektzia” at the right time.

    Prof. Penchas, your management system definitely needs improvement. Mr. Orbaum, thank you for addressing the issue.

Talya Dagan, Jerusalem

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22/12/96

Re: The 'Kacha Zeh' Syndrome

THE CLIENT IS THE ENEMY

(This is the ending of an opinion piece in The Post, referring to “The ‘Kacha Zeh’ Syndrome” article):

    Two months ago, on these pages, a journalist told of his experience at Hadassah Hospital.

    He was grateful for the hospital’s good work in saving his life; but he deplored some procedures and attitudes that demeaned and made him and many patients angry and upset.

    He wanted Hadassah improved. In a published letter the hospital head responded by insinuating that the critic hated the hospital and had therefore defamed its hardworking staff, but that he was forgiven – how magnanimous! – because he was a sick man. It’s outrageous.

    With denials like that, the hospital will surely not improve. And you know the funny thing? Most parents teach their children: “When you make a mistake, admit it. Fix it. Learn from it. Do better next time.”

    All of us, particularly those who occupy senior positions in corporate and governmental life, ought to remember that.

PROF. DOV BURT LEVY

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15/8/97

Re: Ask Any Canadian

DONE IT AGAIN

    Sam Orbaum has done it again! His recollection of Paul Henderson's dramatic goal of the 1972 Canada-USSR hockey tournament (Sept. 12) is another gem to add to the long list of outstanding articles. Even if you weren't there, you could feel the excitement of the series, the emotional ups and downs, and the moment of sport history in the making.

    No one tells it like Sam, whether about the Canadian winter, hockey night in Metulla, or the secrets of life in Israel. Bravo!

MOSHE TOREM, Kibbutz Sde Eliahu

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1/2/98

MAKE MY DAY

    Would you please be good enough to pass on a message to two of your journalists who make my day when I read their articles: Thomas O'Dwyer and Sam Orbaum.

    I am a great admirer of these two gentlemen - and I appreciate their thoughts.

GERTRUDE COHEN, Ra'anana.

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24/12/99

Re: Los Angeles Codgers

BASEBALL - ISRAELI STYLE

    I read Sam Orbaum's piece 'Los Angeles Codgers' (December 10) about his dream-fulfilling week at Dodgers Baseball Fantasy Camp with great enjoyment. Mr. Orbaum mentions that many who attended the camp kept asking him - the first Israeli ever to participate in the annual camp - about the state of baseball in the Jewish State.

    Since he never really answered that question for your readers, I thought that I would.

    The Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and developing baseball in Israel. Since its inception in 1986, the IAB has created an infrastructure for baseball, mainly through teaching youth baseball.

    Our leagues are grouped into five regions around the country, starting with eight-year-olds and going through all youth ages, although some regions begin with tee-ball at age six.

    Our new adult (senior) league is a natural outgrowth of all these years of activity. Among our goals is introducing the wonderful sport of baseball to all Israelis. And now that baseball has become an Olympic sport, our ultimate goal is to help train players so that Israel can field her own national baseball team at the upcoming Olympic Games.

    Dan Rothem, a home-grown ballplayer, currently plays First Division NCAA Baseball in the US, the first Israeli to do so.

    We are affiliated with the Confederation of European Baseball and have sent numerous national teams abroad for international competitions.

    The IAB offers baseball clinics by professional instructors and coaches from abroad who visit Israel to instill a love of the game and teach the skills necessary to make good ballplayers great.

    Our coach's training program is in coordination with the Wingate Institute, resulting in an Instructor of Baseball Certificate, and we are currently developing an umpire certification course.

    In summary, baseball is 'happening' in Israel and will continue to grow and catch on with more and more Israelis in the years to come.

Marcia Katz

Regional Director
Israel Association of Baseball Jerusalem

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9/2/00

Re: Truth Be Our Torch

    The email by Moshe Kohn regarding the dismal situation of the journalists at The Jerusalem Post has been passed on to me by a friend.

    I am a longtime reader of the Post and I have especially enjoyed reading your columns. I have had so many good laughs and I would hate to be deprived of the pleasure to continue reading your articles and columns!

    I think you are a good journalist, an excellent humorist and you have the special "human touch" that is able to move the readers. Maybe because you know what it is like to be really ill and miserable...

    Of course, I especially liked your article on Gustav Scheller, because I happened to be one of those crazy people who came to the conference in the Holyland hotel at the eve of the Gulf War.

    I want to express my moral support for you in this very difficult situation.

Please don't let them discourage you in any way.

Jasna Crossan, Switzerland

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19/6/01

    I always look forward to your articles. you have a gift for

satire and tongue-in-cheek humor that I enjoy very much - it's almost like the

article that came out after the Six Day War - "Sorry for Winning."

    Thank you for many years of enjoying your work. I lived in Israel from 1977-78, and in four more years, after my daughter finishes college, I'll be reading you in the daily paper.

Irwin Blank, DeWitt, NY

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2/7/01

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    Both of us have now read this remarkable piece of work. We only wish that the book were easily available here, so that people can understand just a little of what Israel is all about, rather than the crap on the BBC, CBC and CNN.

    You made us laugh and you made us cry!

Judy and Don Carr, Toronto

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4/7/01

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    Just read the review of your new book. Congratulations. I suspect

I was too envious to ever tell you, but I'll tell you now -- I've always thought Not Page One is absolutely terrific. It occurs to me too that it does little good to tell the writer without telling the editor, so I'm copying this to Jeff Barak.

    I think But Seriously is good but I'm not sure about it, since I lost my sense of humor when I left Israel. But I am sure NPO is first-class and of lasting quality. Glad it's between covers - it deserves it.

    Congratulations again and don't let these remarks go to your bald head.

Matt Nesvisky, Pennsylvania

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13/8/01

Re: “Eskimos of Jerusalem” (the book)

    I recently acquired a copy of your book, “Eskimos of Jerusalem.” I greatly enjoyed the humor and eccentricity in many of the articles – kol hakavod!

    Thank you for including the article you wrote about me. I was intrigued to see that, instead of being “too good to be true,” I am now heaven sent!

Zeev Bielski, Mayor, Ra’anana

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23/8/01

Re: “Eskimos of Jerusalem” (the book)

    We very much enjoy your column in JPost and your book. We only wish your column was a weekly feature. Tell the editor!

    My wife, who teaches English as a second language to high school girls, hopes to get permission to include the book on her reading list (she'll just have to explain "dunno" to a group of teens whose command of English slang is a lot more racy).

    Your writing is TRULY a work of art.

Reuven and Batia Macales, Shavei Shomron

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3/9/01

Re: Mordecai Richler obit

    We have been swamped with Richler obits. All the sports, political, literary, and cultural columnists and commentators for all the newspapers, magazines, and radio and TV networks felt they had a personal stake in his death, if not in his life. The blather went on and on.

    Of all of the obits-reminiscences, I thought yours was the best: genuinely personal, indeed family; appreciative of the various roles the man assumed throughout his life, and his strengths and failings as a man and writer. You mention in it the interview you did, in which you caught him in the contradiction between his advocacy of the Palestinians and his ridicule of the separatists. I would enjoy reading it if it is handy.

John Robert Colombo, Toronto

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17/10/01

    I really enjoy your column on the Internet. I have been a regular reader for 3-4 years now. Your photo at the top of your column is that of a dolefuly sad person.

Not even a smirk. I thought your previous photo, the one with the kids all over you, was much better.

    So, I guess I am saying, either up-curl the corners of your mouth, perhaps show a tooth or two - or go back to your previous photo.

    In either case, I will continue to read you.

Seymour Cleff

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24/10/01

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    I live in the middle of nowhere Alaska and have a book by you - I read the JP on line and can never find your column. Where are you? I need a humor fix and only Jewish will do.

Janet Mitchell, Alaska

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7/11/01

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    I found your book in the Mevasseret Mall this past June when I was visiting my daughter, who lives in Mevasseret. I LOVE IT. It has made me cry and laugh. It is just great. I always read your articles when I'm there but it's nice taking your writings home with me.

    I'm two-thirds finshed and am going to buy another copy to lend to all my friends that want to read it.

    You have met and known such wonderful, fascinating, amazing people. Each story is a wonder. I look forward to reading your stories each night.

    Thanks a million for your book!

Ann Eskayo, Phoenix

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12/11/01

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    OOOOPS! I'm in trouble. My hubby walked in last night and saw what I was reading. "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT??" he demanded. It seems he was intending to buy me your book for a present and now I've gone and spoiled his best-laid plans!

    I'm not the easiest person to please, and apparently he thought your book was his best bet!

    I'm thoroughly enjoying dipping in and reading about all the interesting people there are around us.

Jeanne Klempner

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20/11/01

    When I was living in Israel and struggling, your articles always cheered me up. Keep up the good work!

Zak Mazur, Assistant Editor, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

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29/11/01

    I'm a big fan of years and I've been so for years. That just puts me in the same category as all the other Angles, Saxons and Jutes in this country.

    Why am I writing? What matter of earth-shattering importance do I have to share? None at all. I just figured I'd write to thank you for the humor.

    Oh, and when you go off on the Arabs and some folks get upset, the hell with them!

Moshe Rudner

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21/1/02

Re: Eskimos of Jerusalem (the book)

    I have almost finished your book and it was simply wonderful. I especially identified with the Diplomat Hotel in Jerusalem because my husband worked for Chaim Schiff for six years. Schiff owed him six months salary and refused to give it

to him because he said he was bankrupt (when was he ever bankrupt? I even saw Dubi Schiff in London going into all different banks probably placing you-know-what there).

    I used to go and humble myself once a month to the Diplomat in Tel Aviv (my husband refused to talk to him) and beg him for my husband's salary. That little squirt used to look up at me and just laugh!

    In the end we had to take a lawyer who finally got my husband's salary (without interest) and promptly took 30% of it for himself!

Stella, Modiin

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12/4/02

    Could you please answer a question. The date on your newspaper says:

30 Nisan 5762...

    From where do you start counting?

    What event happened 5,762 years ago?

    Please help!

    A friend of Israel,

Novak Greenlee

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