October 19, 2024 at 3:00 a.m. Pacific Time
To the Editor: I am in quite a state of disbelief at all the horrific events that have befallen the Jewish people and the state of Israel this past year, namely the fact that on October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 people were murdered in Israel. . attacks on Israel by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran; Rising anti-Semitism and protests on college campuses — Rabbi Jacob Siegel’s main concern on Yom Kippur is divestment from fossil fuels. (“Jewish lawsuit over fossil fuel sales, Yom Kippur” column, October 10)
Yom Kippur is a special time to reflect on the past year in a spiritual setting where we can focus on our Jewish faith, family, and Jewish continuity.
The Union for Reform Judaism, whose climate activist group led by Rabbi Siegel has pushed to divest from fossil fuel companies, is sure to see its membership decline if it continues to focus on controversial issues in the news.
Janet Pollack, Beverly Hills
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To the Editor: Not mentioned in columnist Sammy Ross’s excellent article on Jewish divestment from fossil fuels, Jewish purchases of gasoline increase demand for oil, which increases the demand for fossil fuels. It will help countries that sell fuel.
Earlier this week, a “swarm of drones” was fired at an Israeli military base, with one of them killing four soldiers and wounding many more. Where did the money to buy those drones come from? Iran’s oil profits certainly helped cover the costs.
It is not enough to make a “symbolic statement” by divesting from fossil fuel companies. We need to tell the truth and stop buying gas.
President Vladimir Putin could not afford to go to war against Ukraine without Russia’s oil revenues. Without oil revenue, Saudi Arabia could not kill journalists with impunity. Without the oil industry’s lavish spending on political activities, an authoritarian presidential candidate would have no chance of winning.
It’s time for people who buy gas to connect those dots and understand that they own a piece of all the harm caused by oil.
Paul Scott, Santa Monica
The author is a co-founder of the electric vehicle advocacy group Plug in America.
