Marlboro rabbi takes offense to mention in resident’s letter

In the News Transcript of June 26, Mark Grill made an incomprehensible — and offensive — reference to me. In the letter, he grouped me with Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and Yasser Arafat, apparently as people one might consult to learn about traveling to Israel.

I spoke to Mr. Grill after his letter to the editor appeared and he expressed no reservation about his letter. He said that he had heard me speak about the dangers facing Israel right now, and so feels I am an appropriate source of information, along with the others he listed. When I asked him if he felt it was appropriate to list me along with murderers, he said I was reading it incorrectly.

In his letter, Mr. Grill identifies himself as Jewish, then goes on ask, "Why can’t we be just average folks, without any religious affiliation?"

I cannot begin to understand Mr. Grill’s animosity toward religion, especially when he claims to be so proud to be an American — a country founded by religious people on the principle of religious freedom. But to include me in a list — any list — along with those who murder children, blow up Passover seders and work to overthrow the only democracy in the Middle East is horribly offensive to me and to my family.

In the letter, Mr. Grill takes former Marlboro Mayor Saul Hornik to task for daring to write an article about traveling to Israel, and actually suggests that Mr. Hornik should leave the Unites States if he feels as he says. Yet Mr. Grill apparently has no qualms about using my name in an article which attacks everything I hold dear — freedom, peace, Judaism and Israel.

I ask your readers to understand that I had no part in the writing of that letter and I find its contents reprehensible.

Rabbi Donald A. Weber

Temple Rodeph Torah

of Western Monmouth

Marlboro