To the editor: I’m fairly incredulous over the truth that, with all of the horrendous occasions which have befallen the Jewish individuals and the state of Israel this previous yr — the brutal killing of practically 1,200 individuals Israel on Oct. 7, 2023; assaults by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran towards Israel; the rise of antisemitism and protests on our school campuses — Rabbi Jacob Siegel’s main concern on Yom Kippur is divestment from fossil gas. (“On Yom Kippur, a Jewish case for fossil gas divestment,” column, Oct. 10)
Yom Kippur is a particular time to replicate on the previous yr in a religious setting the place we will concentrate on our Jewish religion and household, and on the continuity of our individuals.
The Union of Reform Judaism, which Rabbi Siegel’s local weather activist group pushed to divest from fossil gas corporations, will certainly see a decline of their membership if it continues to concentrate on a number of controversial points within the information.
Janet Polak, Beverly Hills
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To the editor: Not talked about in columnist Sammy Roth’s wonderful piece on Jewish divestment from fossil gas is that Jewish of us who purchase gasoline improve the demand for oil, which helps nations that promote fossil fuels.
Earlier this week, a “swarm of drones” was launched towards Israeli army bases, considered one of them killing 4 troopers and wounding many extra. The place did the cash come from to purchase these drones? Iran’s oil income actually helped cowl the fee.
It’s not sufficient to make a “symbolic assertion” by divesting from fossil gas corporations. You must make an actual assertion and cease shopping for gasoline.
Vladimir Putin couldn’t afford to wage conflict towards Ukraine with out Russia’s oil earnings. Saudi Arabia couldn’t homicide journalists with impunity with out its oil income. Autocratic presidential candidates couldn’t have an opportunity of being elected with out an oil business spending lavishly on political campaigns.
It’s time for individuals who purchase gasoline to attach these dots and perceive that they personal a bit of all of the hurt carried out by oil.
Paul Scott, Santa Monica
The author is co-founder of the electrical car advocacy group Plug in America.
