Conrad’s Cartoon on Israeli Spies

Conrad’s use of the Star of David to mark his displeasure with Israeli actions and policy is an outrage and an extremely dangerous device.

For centuries the Star of David has been a cherished and revered symbol to Jews throughout the world, not only in Israel. To the more pious, it is sacred; to the less religious, an important symbol of a common cultural bond with fellow Jews everywhere. It marks Jewish houses of worship and the Holy Scriptures therein. It also marks thousands of graves of the fallen in military cemeteries all over the world along with the crosses of their fallen brothers.

Conrad’s persistent use of that symbol as he does, suggests to many, not that Israel has transgressed but that Jews in general are guilty.

Many of us in the Jewish community are appalled at recent revelations of the idiotic blunders of the Israeli bureaucracy but we are no less appalled by Conrad’s use of the Star of David to suggest collective guilt.

Doesn’t he realize what ammunition he provides to those in our society who would dearly love to see that star sewn to the clothing of all Jews to make them identifiable when their vision of “Kristallnacht” is realized? Sadly I have the queasy feeling that perhaps he does.

R. W. WEINSHENKER

Beverly Hills