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KVETCH ’N’ KVELL
Thanks to the Exponent
I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE to you and the entire staff for
continuing to publish and print the Exponent each week. I know there are other
Jewish weeklies that have ceased operation or become online only, and it is a real
tribute to you that you are continuing the tradition in Philly.

I was born in Philadelphia and have been a lifelong resident of South Jersey,
since my parents moved to New Jersey when I was 3 months old (I am now 66) —
and they continued to subscribe even when they moved to New Jersey and now I
and my wife continue to subscribe to the Exponent. I can’t imagine not having it.

May you continue to keep the Exponent a source of news and information for
the Jewish community!
Alvin Stern | Cherry Hill, New Jersey
to provide opportunities for our most vulnerable citizens, which Panzer’s words
beautifully and skillfully emphasize.

When I was privileged to be a counselor at Jewish Family and Children’s
Service and director of its family life education, Sadie Ginns, of blessed memory,
a devoted social worker, worked 24/7 with those who arrived in Philadelphia
from countries all over the world, in order to assist in employment, locate homes
and schools for their children and, of course, synagogues to welcome them.

Those in my profession stand on the shoulders of the tireless professionals
who introduced couples and family therapy, sex therapy, group therapy, family
life ed, short-term interactive therapy, and surely, if not founded, co-founded
social and public policy.

Again, thank you for Panzer’s wonderful, informative, uplifting tribute to
Kahn, and the proud, historic profession of social work.

Sarakay Smullens | Philadelphia
Message from the Archbishop
Greetings to all of my brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith tradition as you
celebrate the beautiful Festival of Lights. Please accept my prayerful best wishes,
along with those of the clergy, religious and faithful of the Archdiocese of
Philadelphia. As you light the menorah and recall the glory of the Temple’s rededication,
may you be illuminated by the brightness of joy and hope amidst the darkness
of these challenging times.

Shalom Aleichem!
Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez | Archbishop of Philadelphia
A Couple of Issues With Word Choice
In the Dec. 3 Newsbriefs article about Walter Mosley, I was taken back by the
reference to his “Jewish mother,” with the implication that it would be assumed
that she would be a white person and a “Black father” with the implication that
he would be assumed to be non-Jewish. That seems to play into stereotypes.

The explanation of the term “yenta” as being a “busybody and gossip” (“Lil’
Yentas Serves Jewish Vegan Comfort Food,” Dec. 3) is similar to giving a
definition of the word “john” as meaning “toilet.” It may be slang for that, but
nevertheless it is a name, just as Yenta is a name. I happen to know a few women
who happen to be named Yenta.

Sandy Falcone | Broomall
Social Work Justly Acknowledged
It was marvelous to read Sophie Panzer’s superb page one tribute to the commit-
ments and mission of Dorothy C. Kahn (“Great Depression Social Work Story
Has Lessons for Today,” Nov. 26) — to the profession of social work in general
and to Jewish social work in particular.

While my social work programs at Catholic University and the University of
Pennsylvania offered excellent clinical grounding, both schools emphasized that
a grad degree in social work was a promise to work tirelessly throughout our lives
A NOTICE TO OUR READERS
There will be no print edition of the Jewish Exponent
the week of Dec. 31. That week, please visit us online at
jewishexponent.com, where the paper will be available
in digital form.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM Life After 75 Is Worth Living
Ezekiel Emmanuel (“UPenn Doctor to Serve on COVID Task Force,” Nov. 19)
does not belong on a health care task force because he has written that living to
75 years is quite sufficient and these people should be denied health care to detect
and treat cancer and other life threatening illnesses.

He said post-75-year-olds are faltering and declining. Verdi was 79 when he wrote
Falstaff. I am 75 years old and play golf three times a week, walking the course; I
teach advanced music appreciation; I sing and lead Shabbat services at shul.

My career was as an academic neurologist and drug developer. I taught
neurology at Penn and taught medical ethics at Medical College of Pennsylvania.

I would treat all patients with dignity and would not patronize the elderly. I
treated disease regardless of age. If a person was unable to recover and had
serious illness that impacted mental capacity, I would encourage less aggressive
treatment but age was not the sole criterion.

I can only hope that Dr. Emmanuel will not try to deny a COVID vaccine
or COVID treatment to the elderly. Denying treatment based on age is against
medical ethics.

Neil Sussman | Philadelphia
There’s More to Shabbat Than Going Without Tech
Olivia Sher, in her opinion piece (“Shabbat Transformed, Reinvigorated,” Nov.

19), should have focused her work on the fact that she and her friends were more
interested in the results of the presidential election than of being an Orthodox
Jew observing Shabbos.

It is unfortunate for her that her understanding of traditional Shabbos obser-
vance means only going without technology for 25 hours. This is only partly so.

To truly envelop oneself in the Shabbos experience, one must take a “vacation”
from all things in the outside world; to rest creatively, physically and spiritually.

Nowhere in her article did I find her ability to “let go” of the rest of the week
and focus on Shabbos. She may have (almost) followed the letter of the law, but
totally missed the spirit of it.

I truly hope that one day Sher will come to a greater understanding of how
Shabbos was meant to be observed in its traditional sense. Whoever the presi-
dent would be, nothing would change that in those 25 hours. Each Shabbos is
precious — no more than any other including the one that fell on Nov. 7. l
Susan Yitzhak | Philadelphiai
STATEMENT FROM THE PUBLISHER
We are a diverse community. The views expressed in the signed opinion columns and letters to the editor published in the Jewish
Exponent are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Publishing
Group, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia or the Jewish Exponent. Send letters to letters@jewishexponent.com
or fax to 215-569-3389. Letters should be a maximum of 200 words and may be edited for clarity and brevity. Unsigned
letters will not be published.

JEWISH EXPONENT
DECEMBER 10, 2020
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