Orthodox Jews and Israeli Government

I am sure most non-Orthodox Jews would disagree with much of the Feb. 18 commentary on Israel (“High Court Puts the Very Nature of Israel at Risk”). As a democracy, Israel has many religiously imposed restrictions on secular Jews who represent the majority. Though the ultra-Orthodox live in self-imposed ghettos, they impose restrictions on how others may live, especially on the Sabbath. “Blue laws,” as they were known in the U.S., were religiously imposed restrictions that we overturned many years ago.

If Israel is to remain a democracy, it has to resist the attempts to create a theocracy or become like many of its neighbors with regard to state and religion. By putting more ultra-Orthodox representatives in the courts or legislature, the concept of democracy should still prevail.

SOL TAYLOR

Sherman Oaks

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Re “Don’t Lose U.S. Jewish Support,” by David A. Harris, Commentary, Feb. 16: I consider myself a Conservative Jew. I believe that there would be no Jewish religion and/or group of Jews if throughout the last 2,000 years there were not a substantial number of Orthodox Jews. Instead of confrontation, Reform and Conservative Jews should seek to aid and support Orthodox Jews and Israel, which was formed as a “Jewish state.” This could be implemented if such Reform and Conservative Jews would adhere to the principle stated by a wise non-Orthodox Jew: “We may not follow the tradition, but in Europe we learned to preserve it.”

ALEX GOLDBERG

Los Angeles