SNL, Anti-Semitism & Cheap Laughs

Dear Editor:

In its latest show, NBC’s Saturday Night Live exploited a vicious stereotype about Jews just to get a laugh.

Its “news anchor” stated that Israel has already vaccinated half of its population. The anchor then snidely remarked, “I’m going to guess it’s the Jewish half.”

Had Lorne Michaels, founder and producer of Saturday Night Live checked, he would have found that Israel has already vaccinated 70% of its Arab population over 60 years old, directly resulting in a delay for many of its Jewish citizens within Israel. In addition, had Mr. Michaels checked, he would have found that Israel offered the vaccine to Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Arab Authority, who refused the vaccine, placing his hatred of Israel above concern for his own Muslim constituents.

The producers of Saturday Night Live decided they would sacrifice the truth and demonize the Jewish State for the sake of a cheap laugh or, worse, enable an age old blood libel accusing Jews of manufacturing and spreading plagues while being indifferent to others. Surely Mr. Michaels knows of the heroic efforts Israel has made in creating vaccines, medicines, and state-of-the art medical equipment to alleviate not only the coronavirus but also every type of disease found across the globe.

The Saturday Night Live crew would do best to educate themselves on how Israel, matched only by the United States, has sent its transportable medical units immediately to every part of the globe facing a meteorological or medical catastrophe.

The Saturday Night Live crew would never be this callous, nor stereotype a Muslim or LTGBQ group. They know that in today’s culture, such demonization would get them cancelled and removed from media outlets.

The demands for perfection made by left-leaning media outlets are directed mostly against the United States and Israel. Why are there never demands that Muslim countries and organizations step up to the plate and help others, as is continually demanded of Israel, the United States, Jews and Christians?”

Sincerely
                        Rabbi Aryeh Spero

Rabbi Spero is president of Conference of Jewish Affairs author of Push Back: The Battle to Save Our American Judeo-Christian Heritage, and an advisor to public office holder

 

LI Town Thanks HealthCare Workers

Dear Editor:

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board invite residents to help recognize Healthcare Heroes by writing Thank You letters that will be distributed during National Public Health Week, which runs from April 5th to April 11th. During National Public Health Week, thousands of Thank You letters will be distributed from residents to frontline healthcare workers who, over the past year, have bravely battled the COVID-19 pandemic at hospitals, healthcare centers, and nursing homes.

“This past year has been one of the toughest ones as the war against the global coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on. No one group has seen the devastating effects of COVID-19 more than our frontline Healthcare Heroes, who have bravely battled day in and day out at our hospitals, healthcare centers, and nursing homes, in an effort to help as many people as possible,” Supervisor Saladino said. “Together, we will let our courageous doctors, nurses, and healthcare heroes know that they and their sacrifices have not been forgotten – in the midst of the most challenging public health crisis of our lifetime. I invite all residents to participate in this program, and help let our healthcare heroes know what an incredible difference they are making in so many lives.”

To participate in this rewarding experience, residents are asked to either create Thank You cards or use the form found on www.oysterbaytown.com/healthcarehero. Letters should be returned by Friday, March 19th, to ensure their proper distribution. Letters may be mailed directly to Town Hall North, located at 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771 or dropped off weekdays from 9:00am to 4:45pm at the following locations:

• Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay
• Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa
• Ice Skating Center, 1001 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage
• Hicksville Athletic Center, 167 S. Broadway, Hicksville
• Department of Public Works, 150 Miller Place, Syosset

For more information and additional details, please contact Esther Alter at (516) 624-6380 or ealter@oysterbay-ny.gov.

Sincerely
                        Marta Kane

 

The Road to Prosperity Begins

Dear Editor:

Three years after the hunger strike, work began Sunday in Judea and Samaria on a road to bypass the town of Hawara.

The effort was led by Samaria Regional Council Chief Yossi Dagan, along with then-heads Avi Naim and Malachi Levinger and several bereaved families.

This is one of the most expensive and strategic projects in Judea and Samaria and its cost is estimated at ILS 260 million. The road is intended to connect the center of the country to the localities of Gav HaHar, Yitzhar, Itamar, Elon Moreh and Har Bracha, and will provide a safe trip for residents and passengers to these areas.

Yossi Dagan stated, “This is a groundbreaking, historic moment for Samaria and the entire settlement effort. In about two years, the mountain settlements will become accessible to the center of the country. The road is expected to make traveling in the area safer for both Arabs and Jews, it is hoped that paving the road will lead to prosperity in the area.”

On many AFSI Chizuk MIssions we have driven through Hawara. It will certainly be a tremendous help to the communities in Samaria to have this road built. Talks about it have been on the table for years. Completing this project will make travel to and from the Shomron so much safer. We applaud this long overdue measure.

Sincerely
            AFSI Staff – Americans for a Safe Israel