Community Magazine April 2013

SPIRITUAL RENEWAL Rabbi Mansour’s contemporary lesson on the spiritual renewal that is possible during the springtime month of Nissan [in the March 2013 issue] was very enlightening. But I think that it’s important for people to realize that bringing more meaning into their lives is not an all or nothing proposition. The article’s example of serving a filet mignon on a clean plate was a helpful analogy (especially with the coincidental placement of a delicious looking steak that was featured in the Glatt Ala Carte ad at the top of the page), but I don’t think we need to be thoroughly pure in order to start to bring Gd into our lives. Baby steps are commendable and sometimes even the preferred method to renewal. Sometimes, after moments of inspiration some people attempt to completely purge themselves of all their bad habits all at once. But these attempts don’t usually last when the inspiration wears off and old routines become hard to resist. That’s why I like to encourage baby steps. And is there any better visual of “back to the future” renewal than a baby taking her first steps? A. Dweck A TIME FOR JUSTICE Unlike some of the other recent cases of Files of the Bet Din, the case [in the March 2013 issue] of the $9,000 luxury watch does not involve an accidental mishap which one party may be liable for, but rather an intentional theft. Of course, the litigants in the case, who were noble enough to have their claims heard by the Bet Din, were innocent of such a crime. But “Stan,” the third party in the case who sold the stolen watch, seems (according to the story) to have gotten away with committing a despicable act. Of course, this is in no way the fault of the Bet Din. But as a community, we need to collectively realize that the time has come to start dealing with the dreadful dishonesty that regularly occurs in our midst. It starts with better education of our kids – not only in the schools, but in our homes, as well, with parents serving as role models for honest and upright behavior. Most of all, perhaps, we need a powerful, trusted Bet Din in our own community that can dispense justice quickly, fairly and emphatically. David Tawil NOT FOR MEN ONLY It was so nice to see articles geared towards women for a change. I always liked your publication, but I always felt that Community was a magazine for men. After reading last month’s issue, my opinion has changed. The range of topics was very interesting, from the Victoria Dwek interview about her new book to interior decorating, from Sito’s advice to new Pesach recipes. I especially enjoyed the fascinating interview with Kineret. I’m not saying I do not also enjoy reading the educational material, but it is good to know that there will be articles, stories, and interviews for women, too. It’s great to see that Community is not for men only anymore. Sari S. THE PROFESSOR REALLY DOES KNOW IT ALL Dear Editor, In your last issue, a reader asked Professor Noe Ital why the colors green, red, and blue are called primary colors. The Professor gave a very nice answer, but there was only one problem – GREEN is not a primary color! The third primary color is yellow – not green! I think the professor should change his name to Professor Doesn’t Noe Ital. Maurice B. EDITOR’S NOTE We received quite a few letters from our readers that shared the same opinion as Maurice, however, after further investigation, the Professor is indeed correct. The color green is an additive primary color. Additive primary colors are the primary color elements that make up white light. These colors are called additives because you must add the colors together to create white . The additive primary colors are red, green, and blue (commonly called RGB) and they are the primary color elements. Additive primary colors are the primary colors of pigment that different systems apply to the colors that we see on computer screens and the colors that we see in printed media and photographs. Two colors that produce white when added together are called complementary. The color complementary to a primary color is called a secondary color. The complementary or secondary colors for red, green, and blue are cyan, magenta, and yellow. These three colors are often referred to as the subtractive primary colors. When the three are combined in subtractive color mixing , they produce black. So, although the color yellow is a subtractive primary color, the color green is an additive primary color. CORRECTION: In the article on Isaac “Zaki” Marcus on page 42 of the March 2013 issue, the names of Mr. Marcus’ sisters should read Fortune Nefoussi, Denise Zami, and Vivian Salem. LETTERS TELL US WHAT YOU REALLY THINK! WRITE US A LETTER MOBILE: Scan the Quick Response (QR) code here with your tablet, smart phone or other mobile device. EMAIL: letters@Community M .com WEB: www. Community M .com FAX: 718-504-4246 POST: Community Magazine 1616 Ocean Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11223 Letters submitted become the property of Community Magazine and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Letters may be edited and revised for length, style and grammar before publication. All submissions are considered for publication unless otherwise requested. Preferential consideration is given to brief comments and insights that relate directly to published content. Anonymous letters are generally not reviewed or considered for publication. 14 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE