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Sir: Your entirely unfounded allegation [Oct. 14] that I "recently got around the traditional Orthodox opposition to birth control by ruling that . . . women are free to use contraceptive devices" must appear strangely inconsistent with your statement only seven weeks ago [Aug. 26] in announcing my nomination as Chief Rabbi of the British Commonwealth: "An expert on medical ethics, he frowns on contraception, points to the low birth rale among Jews, and fears that Judaism may some day vanish entirely." Both statements are wide of the mark and grossly misleading, written without consulting me or carefully reading my writings on the subject. In fact, Jewish law sanctions recourse to contraceptive devices only for grave medical reasons in individual cases, and I have never ruled differently.
(RABBI) IMMANUEL JAKOBOVITS Fifth Avenue Synagogue New York City
Sir: You write that "the Conservatives can drive on the Sabbath." The Conservative movement does not give a blanket endorsement to riding on the Sabbath. Doing so is permitted only when attendance at services would otherwise be unreasonably difficult or impossible. It is believed that the positive value of participation in public prayer outweighs the negative value of not riding. For other purposes, riding on the Sabbath destroys the serenity and sanctity appropriate to that day.
(RABBI) ALVIN KASS Editor
United Synagogue Review New York City
Sir: The way to distinguish adherents of all three branches of Judaism, according to Jewish humorists, is to ask a Jew whether he fasts on Yom Kippur. If he says yes, he's Orthodox; if he says no, he's Conservative; if he asks "What's Yom Kippur?" he's Reform.
MAURICE H. SCHY Chicago
Mixing It Up
Sir: TIME'S discourse on the growing popularity of vodka [Oct. 14] reminds me of the Air Force general who admonished his Martini-drinking Pentagon staff to lay off the stuff. "Drink whisky at lunchtime," he told them. "I'd rather have people know you're drunk than think you're stupid."
Here in Los Angeles vodka has been run over by a contraption known as a Mexican Edsel—half tequila, half V8. (Wow! It sure doesn't taste like tomato juice.)
JACK BAILEY Los Angeles
Sir: I'm glad to see the businessman's switch to lighter drinks at lunch; it may lead to a return of business in the afternoon, and who knows what this may do to the economy.
It may be "un Kir" in Paris, but dry white wine with crème de cassis is an old Burgundian pick-me-up known as rinse cochon, pig rinse. As Mayor of Dijon the good Canon Kir must know the drink's real name. I wonder if he finds it flattering?
HENRI FLUCHÉRE Irvington, N.Y.
Sir: In Montreal recently, two fellow drinkers and I invented the Rose Between Two Thorns: vodka (one thorn). Dubonnet (the rose) and gin (the other thorn) on the rocks with a twist of lemon.
ALBERT A. LEWIS New York City
Sir: A favorite in my home is the cranberry: two ounces of rum, the juice of one quarter of a large lime, and cranberry juice and ice to fill the glass.
GEORGE T. F. RAHILLY, M.D. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.