Rabbi Richard Rubenstein may be an intelligent man deserving of honor and respect, but like the Jews in the desert, he will not be the one to “cross over” and engage the Muslim community in dialogue (“No Islamic Mea Culpas” Oct. 8).
He comes with too much “baggage” to be a bridge to the Muslim community. Neal Rosenberg’s disappointment that the general public was largely absent from the conference underscores the disparity between the opinions represented and those of the new emerging generation. While there is always recognition of anti-Semitism around the world, young adults today do not need to define their Judaism in reaction to the hatred of others. Nor should they feel or be compelled to condemn an entire religious community for the actions of those on its fringe.
Our focus should be to create a society that respects each individual’s path to spirituality. To achieve that goal, dialogue is an absolute necessity.
Commack, L.I.
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