Jack Daniels is not a bourbon

DRINK LOCALLY

Being a whisky fan, I have to comment on the “Adult Hamantashen” recipe (Letters, March 11). It’s a shame I don’t know how to bake, as I love the idea. But, I have to point out some facts about the whisky mentioned and make a suggestion to Barry Newman.

Only Knob Creek is defiantly aged over eight years. Wild Turkey could be, but not guaranteed. Jack Daniels is not a bourbon.

There is a very good new Israeli bourbon-style whisky distillery here, Legends distillery, and their whisky is called Sling Shot – give it a try and support locally. ANDY SELBY

Eilat

OPEN PRESENCE

I was flabbergasted by Aharon E. Wexler’s essay about the Book of Esther (“On Purim,” March 18). His thesis seems to be that since there are no more open miracles, the Jews survive by means of politics and statecraft, with a hefty dose of comedy and laughter. I hope that’s a joke, but even jokes need to be elucidated to the clueless.

Megillat Esther (Scroll of Esther), derives from the words for revealing what is hidden. God’s name is hidden, but His presence is revealed throughout the story.

Why was Queen Vashti eliminated?

Why was Mordechai in the right place at the right time to overhear the plot against the king?

Why did the king’s book of chronicles open precisely to the page recounting the unrewarded loyalty of Mordechai?

Why did Haman happen to fall onto Esther’s bed at just the right moment?

Why did Harbonah appear in the palace in the middle of the night to tell the king about the tree on which to hang Haman?

Amalek would have us believe it was all by chance and not by the hand of God.

Though diplomacy is necessary, as is any effort expended in making a living, keeping healthy, and so on, the result depends on the grace of God. The Jews were saved through their fasting and repentance, and not through politics or humor.

That is the message the sages wanted to transmit when they included Megillat Esther in the canon.

BRENDA BRONNER Jerusalem

MIND THEIR BUSINESS

Regarding “Speak to your kids so they will listen” (Psych Talk, March 18):

In the book Childhood Disrupted, it’s written that even “well-meaning and loving parents can unintentionally do harm to a child, if they are not well informed about human development” (pg. 24).

Being free nations, society cannot prevent anyone from bearing children. Society can, however, educate all young people for the most important job ever, through child-development science curriculum. If nothing else, such an education could offer students an idea and clue as to whether they’re emotionally suited for the immense responsibility and strains of parenthood.

The health of all children – and not just whining over what other parents’ children might or will cost us as future criminals or costly cases of government care, and so on – needs to be of real importance to us all, regardless of how well our own children are developing.

A physically and mentally sound future should be every child’s fundamental right, along with air, water, food and shelter – especially considering the very troubled world into which they never asked to enter. Mindlessly minding our own business on such matters has too often proven humanly devastating.

FRANK STERLE JR. British Columbia, Canada

REFUGEE RECOGNITION

Regarding “Should the Jews be helping Ukraine?” (March 11), I agree with Stewart Weiss that Israel should be encouraging Ukrainians of Jewish backgrounds, seeking refuge in Israel during the current crisis, to stay in the nation-state of the Jews. And, as director of the Jewish Outreach Center of Ra’anana, Weiss must be aware of the problems that many of the refugees will face in being fully integrated into Israeli life.

It is highly likely that many of the refugees are not Jewish according to Halacha and also highly likely that even the refugees who were born of Jewish mothers have very limited knowledge of Judaism.

Israel needs to maintain its Jewish majority. The government should be facilitating the establishment of places that will provide classes for the new olim and working with the rabbinate to provide an easy path to conversion for those olim who wish to be fully recognized as Jews. TOBY F. BLOCK Atlanta, Georgia