I am offended and bewildered by the words of guest columnist Sarena Neyman, who says she is “losing her tribe over Gaza.” [“Losing my tribe over Gaza,” Gazette, Jan. 20]. While I want to hasten to say I too have come to a position that a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel is a necessary step toward justice for the Palestinian people, I have not lost my (Jewish) tribe because “my tribe” has not voiced a shared position over the Israel-Hamas war. I am Jewish, and my Judaism includes many of the things that the writer has discarded — synagogue attendance among them. The Jewish community has many voices, all of which I want to hear. I am delighted Neyman is able to retain a Jewish identity through her committment to “make the world a better place “(TikkunOlam) — an essential component of Jewish practice – but perhaps if she wants emotional access to her tribe again she might actually try going to synagogue, and praying with her tribe, and acting with her tribe, for a better world.

Randi Stein

Amherst