Affecting positive change
As I check on my sleeping children each night before heading to bed, I remind myself of the often-times dangerous and scary world that they are growing up in. One of school shootings, bullying, social media nastiness that I hope to protect them from, and the list of negativity goes on and on. The June 3 editorial, “Mass murder continues,” is just another example on a long list of shattered dreams and senseless violence.
During an age when the noise and negativity is simply overwhelming, many people are asking themselves what they can do to affect change. As such, I am so proud of my shul Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim for rolling out a Civility Pledge. Just a few weeks ago, members were asked to commit to a pledge of using social media for good, to commit to acts of kindness for others around us, to practice business with the highest standards in a fair way and to speak to friends and family in a kinder and more gentler way. This pledge will hopefully be the beginning of something very special. Imagine what we can do as a community with this.
In a few weeks, I will observe the fourth yartzheit of my mother Ellen Saposnik. She was a lifelong champion of positivity. She was a lion when it came to character traits, of helping the other, of being kinder. And I hope that in her merit I can too try to live up to that legacy.
Noah Saposnik
Pikesville
Death penalty always wrong
I agree with Tim Eckstein (“Using cyanide gas in executions is an affront to Jewish values,” June 10). The article was excellently written.
The article did not mention whether Eckstein favors or opposes the death penalty. The death penalty is arbitrary, capricious, racist and cannot be made fair. It is permanently broken and can be regarded as cruel and unusual punishment. Whether execution is by hanging, gassing, firing squad, lethal injection or the electric chair, all create extreme pain and suffering. We, in this country, should join the rest of the civilized world in abolishing the death penalty. There is no “humane” method of execution.
Gerald Ben Shargel
Pikesville
