In the same letter in the last JTNews (August 18), Robert Kaufman managed to tar both Rabbi Ted Falcon and Jamal Rahman � two people whom I admire for their spirituality and their interfaith work. Jamal Rahman reaches out to Jews more than any other Muslim I�m aware of in our vicinity. Rabbi Falcon and Rahman are among the people we need today if we�re going to get beyond the narrowly militaristic, geopolitical calculations that underlie many world conflicts.

For the record, here�s another view of Jamal Rahman�s alleged �re-writing� of the history of India: Rahman should know that history better than most of us, since he comes from the Indian sub-continent. The non-violent Gandhian movement was not the only movement fighting for independence in India. Violence also was afoot (e.g., the so-called �Indian National Army� under Subhash Chandra Bose). Gandhi himself was ultimately a victim of violence.

People like Rabbi Falcon and Jamal Rahman who attempt to bridge great divides should be honored, not reviled.

Edna Oberman

Seattle