Synagogue Flap

Lord deliver me from people who say “some of my best friends are Jewish” or in this case “ . . . my husband has a Jewish doctor,” (“Synagogue Vote in Georgia Stirs Anti-Semitism Debate,” Aug. 22, Part I) and try to persuade me they are not anti-Semitic. Is it possible that in these enlightened times someone would actually mouth those words and not realize how offensive they are? Still, maybe the ones who speak out are doing us a favor--at least we know where they stand.

The plans to build a synagogue in Gwinnett County, Ga. certainly brought out all the usual cliches--”property values will drop, . . . Jews are clannish . . . creators of ghettos.” and even a new one, “They’re hostile to other people.”

However, all is not lost--reason prevailed and the county commissioners by a 5-0 vote approved the planned construction. So why do I still not feel good about it? It might just be a case of that old French aphorism, “The more things change, the more they are the same.” I doubt we’ve heard the end of it.

ANNETTE RYNE

Culver City