To the editor: I’m slightly incredulous over the truth that, with all of the horrendous occasions which have befallen the Jewish folks and the state of Israel this previous yr — the brutal killing of almost 1,200 folks Israel on Oct. 7, 2023; assaults by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran towards Israel; the rise of antisemitism and protests on our faculty campuses — Rabbi Jacob Siegel’s main concern on Yom Kippur is divestment from fossil gasoline. (“On Yom Kippur, a Jewish case for fossil fuel divestment,” column, Oct. 10)
Yom Kippur is a particular time to replicate on the previous yr in a non secular setting the place we will give attention to our Jewish religion and household, and on the continuity of our folks.
The Union of Reform Judaism, which Rabbi Siegel’s local weather activist group pushed to divest from fossil gasoline firms, will certainly see a decline of their membership if it continues to give attention to a bunch of controversial points within the information.
Janet Polak, Beverly Hills
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To the editor: Not talked about in columnist Sammy Roth’s glorious piece on Jewish divestment from fossil gasoline is that Jewish of us who purchase gasoline improve the demand for oil, which helps international locations that promote fossil fuels.
Earlier this week, a “swarm of drones” was launched against Israeli military bases, certainly one of them killing 4 troopers and wounding many extra. The place did the cash come from to purchase these drones? Iran’s oil income actually helped cowl the associated fee.
It’s not sufficient to make a “symbolic assertion” by divesting from fossil gasoline firms. You must make an actual assertion and cease shopping for fuel.
Vladimir Putin couldn’t afford to wage conflict towards Ukraine with out Russia’s oil revenue. Saudi Arabia couldn’t homicide journalists with impunity with out its oil income. Autocratic presidential candidates couldn’t have an opportunity of being elected with out an oil business spending lavishly on political campaigns.
It’s time for individuals who purchase fuel to attach these dots and perceive that they personal a bit of all of the hurt completed by oil.
Paul Scott, Santa Monica
The author is co-founder of the electrical automobile advocacy group Plug in America.