Letters to the Editor

‘Who Pays for Israel’s Orthodox?’Hillel Halkin in his column of December 21, 2004, takes the Israeli Orthodox community to task for taking government subsidies to help support its seminaries and poor, and the Jewish State to task for providing the same [“Who Pays for Israel’s Orthodox?” Opinion]. The fuse that set the columnist off was apparently a solicitation for charity from “Sarah,” an impoverished Orthodox woman whose father and fiance are Torah scholars.Mr. Halkin is entitled to his view, and to his resentment of his tax payments going in part to support the study and practice of Judaism in Israel. Others share his feelings, and there is even a political party, Shinui, which exists entirely to end support for things religious. But many Israelis – and not just beneficiaries of government support of religious scholars – endorse Israeli government aid to religious institutions and scholars, regarding them much as many Americans regard universities and humanities scholars.What is more, even Americans who favor welfare reform do not generally balk at our own government’s providing basic safety-net services for the inner-city underclass, whose poverty often stems from adult activities considerably less sublime than dedication to study and religious piety. I don’t know if Mr. Halkin pays taxes in America, but if he does, and does not object to underwriting food and shelter assistance for impoverished American children and their single parents, he is, at very least, inconsistent. As to his disdain of the entreaty of “Sarah,” the young woman needn’t fear. There are many other Jews, Orthodox and otherwise, who will welcome the opportunity to assist another in need.RABBI AVI SHAFRANDirector of Public AffairsAgudath Israel of AmericaManhattanSchools and Juvenile DetentionAn article in The New York Sun criticized education in the city’s Juvenile Detention Centers [“Schools Failing Juveniles in Detention,” Julia, Levy, New York, December 9, 2004]. I worked for six years as director of public affairs at the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice; and while I do think the management of the department is poor at best, the schools at the detention centers are not the problem.When I began in 1996, the school at the city’s sole detention center – Carter G. Woodson Academy – did not even provide school credit at city schools. In 1999, after the opening of Crossroads and Horizon Juvenile Centers, the educational system was transferred to the Board of Education, where the residents could get credit for their work and for the first time, work toward a General Equivalency Diploma.While the article criticized DJJ for promoting the GED program, it failed to mention (a) the challenges of education in detention and (b) the population and how huge a step this is for these youth. First of all, approximately 10% to 15% of these children bounce from one foster home to another. Life in detention for them at least gives them food, shelter, and consistency.Second, more than half the children in detention have some kind of learning disability. Third, two-thirds of the youths who enter detention are in and out in 10 days and don’t even attend the school. Fourth, DJJ has failed to provide a library system for the youths, al though these were budgeted for when the facilities were built.And, finally, finding teachers to work in the detention environment is a challenge. Pencils have to be handed out and counted and then collected.Fights can break out at any time. Science experiments cannot be conducted due to security issues. Books can be used as weapons by the youth.And while it is a shame that we have to push these youths toward a GED and cannot offer them Regents courses, it is a credit to the Board of Education that some of these children will have a GED, the basic requirement to get into college.SARINA ROFFEBrooklyn‘The Soros Factor’I find it interesting that the billionaire George Soros spent $27 million to defeat President George W. Bush in the last election and “smaller” sums on local races in New York State [“The Soros Factor,” William F. Hammond Jr., Opinion, December 20, 2004].Mr. Soros can spend his money as he wishes and back whatever political causes he likes. However, I have to ask if Mr. Soros’s activities suggest the existence of a “left-wing conspiracy” that sought to destroy George W. Bush’s presidency and undermine democracy.After all, a few years ago, many liberals alleged that Richard Mellon Scaife’s lavish financial support for conservative and anti-Clinton groups were part of a sinister “right-wing conspiracy” in America. Apparently, some billionaires and their pet political causes are more equal than others.DIMITRI CAVALLIBronxPlease address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

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