Dear Rabbi:

I read with great interest the account of your sermon on “Exploitation” in Sunday’s Times. My reaction to you that follows:

First of all, I doubt very much if you are engendering any good will, so much needed, between Christians and Jews. Kaufman displayed bad taste again. Do you know his reputation? He is not much admired for his personal conduct. On TV, his “shows” was one of the first magazines and you, in your judgement, are helping to move to a ghetto life! Do you think I am joking? Test yourself.

You will get many letters pro and con. Separate the Christian ones from the Jewish. Count them fairly. Be honest. You will see that this is a Jewish viewpoint and a Christian one. Don’t be a “Bleeding Heart” for these Christians if they have their proper representatives, who can speak out for them. They always have and will again.

As a Jew you would more understand the Christian mind (nor can Christians understand the Jewish mind) in regard to personal relationship to God. Jews, the Christians have their Messiah — so their religion is complete and fulfilled. Jews are still waiting and frustrated.

Christmas is celebrated over centuries because of love. Jews worry much to it. We love to hear again and again the beautiful hymns and carols. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition — it’s all so wonderful — a pity you are not important enough to do this. Do they get any more? But no Jewish program is on the radio or TV. It is that way. This is a Christian country and our customs are Christian — and be glad this. Remember this too, that this Christian country which you make your living made Israel possible. Be grateful. You can’t eat your cake and still have it.

Let us imagine, for the sake of argument, that we are in Palestine. Let us imagine that some very important holiday is being celebrated for a week or so. Let us suppose that a hymn like “Eli Eli” is sung or played and it is repeated, repeated, repeated on all the TV stations, on all the radios. Let us suppose that I (a gentile) say on a program: “Well folks — here is one program you’re not going to hear ‘Eli Eli’!” Sounds mean, Rabbi? You can’t eat your cake and still have it.

You are calling for a revolution. Yes, I think you are. If you think I have sounded angry with you for what you said, you are right. All my family is angry and so are my friends that showed me the Times.

Sincerely yours,
Arthur Hazelbower