Cost of being Jewish

In response to Leslee Komaiko’s “It’s too expensive to be Jewish” (Comment & Features, August 6): in the US, yes; in Israel, no. For Jews searching for a significant and meaningful way to incorporate religion into their life, living in Israel is the answer.

I am a secular Jew, formerly from the States, who has lived in Israel for over 40 years. Our sons had wonderful bar mitzva ceremonies in our local synagogue, with coaching by a young religious student from a nearby college and an older Jewish scholar from our community. The fees they charged were symbolic. Preparing a boy for this day was a mitzva to these teachers.

All Israeli students learn Bible in school. Celebrating the Jewish holidays, speaking Hebrew – all of these allow even a secular Jew to be a part of the most vibrant Jewish community in the world. In addition, we don’t “pay to pray” here – participation in Shabbat and High Holy Day services is free. DONNA TZINAMON Aseret

I read Leslee Komaiko’s opinion piece with amazement, not because I disagree with her statement that living an observant Jewish lifestyle is expensive, but because of her total lack of prioritizing Judaism in her life.

She only seems to have considered the need for preparation for a bar mitzva for her son. The prices she mentions for tutoring appear excessive, but she did not seem to examine other possibilities, such as college students or Chabad, even if not recommended in her affordable Taekwondo classes.

Just how positive an experience can a one-hour-a-week session provide about Jewish life and culture in addition to teaching one to read Hebrew in preparation for an important ceremony?

I hope Ms. Komaiko can fit her son’s religious training in among the affordable baseball and summer camp experiences so that he can move on in life with some Jewish foundation that his parents did not think he needed until now.

This piece reflects the sad state of the unaffiliated Jew in America.

DAVID MASLOW Jerusalem