Letters to the Editor

A price too high To the Editor: I have been attending Penn Hillel High Holiday Services for 30 years. They have been my Jewish place of worship, my linkage to organized Jewish life, through school at Penn, family religious events and many a soulful search. What a wonderful sight and sound to see more than a 1,000 Jews, from all ages and walks of life, singing in prayer. The communal feeling was great and part of the inspiring awe. And it was free to worship. For years, I would host my family and friends, some Jewish, and many not. Yes, there was always the request for donation. As my financial status improved, so did my contribution. So you can imagine my shock and outrage when the Web site for this year's High Holiday Service demanded a ticket price of $180 per individual and $360 per family! Gone is the tradition and spirit of a donating Jewish community-friendly service that accepts all who want to worship. Thank you Penn Hillel for all the years of allowing me, my family and loved ones, to be closer to Hashem, from the spirit in our hearts. Too bad spending money breaks this tradition. What one gains in exclusivity, one loses from the community of humankind.

Neil Schecker 1987 Medicine alumnus

Ridiculous protest To the Editor: "A rally to end all rallies" is not a simple protest to bring humor to the campus; it's a travesty of youth uprisings that are only possible in free nations. Try holding a rally in Mexico, for example, and you'll be jailed. It's disgraceful and shortsighted of this small group of students, who probably don't know they are doing anything wrong. America needs a minority voice, it needs protest, and it needs dissent. People who don't like the status quo should not be kept from expressing their viewpoint. You don't have to agree with any particular cause to get behind the principle: America needs protests; we have plenty of humor.

James Schneider 2004 College alumnus The author served as a film editor at 34th Street Magazine

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