It was extremely disturbing to read Rabbi Joshua Hammerman’s Opinion column, “And The World Shall Go Forth From Tel Aviv” (Sept. 17).
Jerusalem’s Judaism is not “corrupted, forbidding and vindictive,” as Rabbi Hammerman stated. Quite on the contrary, it is Torah true genuine Judaism that will perpetuate undiluted Yiddishkeit for generations to come.
Rabbi Hammerman was delighted to see a Kabbalat Shabbat service with mixed seating, female prayer leaders, men not wearing kipot, and with exotic musical instruments being played, publicly desecrating the Sabbath. Perhaps, he would not be so delighted if he were to consider how many of these people’s grandchildren, God forbid, will intermarry in the future. Perhaps Rabbi Hammerman will recognize that the Torah can never be renewed in Tel Aviv but will forever be sprouting forth from Zion, Jerusalem.
I wish him only the best.
New City, N.Y.
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