THE JEWISH QUESTION

Help me understand this: Rabbi Bentzion Kravitz, director of the “anti-missionary” (whatever that means) group Jews for Judaism, has been sending “alerts” to Jewish congregations warning that the producers of the play “Mendel & Moses,” in which Jesus isn’t mentioned, “are doing something deceptive” (like what?) because they are Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah (Theater Notes, Aug. 3). Would he be as upset if he found out they were atheists?

Others appear to be concerned that a character in the play is a literal devil. After Hitler et al, someone still doubts there’s a devil on the loose?

Finally, producer Jeremiah Ginsberg (funny, he sounds Jewish) and his crew seem to have upset a Jewish actress because some of them dared to share their beliefs with her and “surrounded her in a prayer circle” (whatever that means) after she had a minor car accident.

I guess Jews who believe in the Messiah Jesus, a literal devil and who pray in a circle deserve critical press. How about those who believe God is nonexistent, the devil is a myth and who don’t even pray in straight rows? What gives?BILL FARIS

Coto de Caza

I would like to thank Don Shirley for his fairness in reporting the controversy over our musical “Mendel & Moses.”

For the record, I’d like to say that I am Jewish and I am for biblical Judaism, and that is exactly why I wrote “Mendel & Moses,” as a love letter from God to our people. I love Israel with a passion and through this musical I can remind them of the promise of God regarding their chosenness and regarding the land of Israel, which God gave to them as an everlasting possession.

Also, there is nothing un-Jewish about using the identity of the devil as a dramatic device to portray the biblical conflict between good and evil that is still relevant today. Witness the continual bloodshed taking place in Israel against God’s people.

It is a shame that Mr. Kravitz has not seen our show, which so many Jewish people have seen and loved. Why would he try to destroy a beautiful musical? There is no truth to his accusations. “Mendel & Moses” is about Passover, the Exodus and Moses--what could be more Jewish than that?

JEREMIAH GINSBERG

Beverly Hills