My sincere thanks for your coverage and the editorial on the interfaith effort now underway with Habitat for Humanity. The meaning of this effort goes beyond just building a house, but to the very nature of “home” and “family.”
We were reminded of these connections at the “blessing service” by the presence of so many folks from different backgrounds and congregations, and also by the words of Rabbi Steven G. Sager of Beth El Synagogue on Watts Street in Durham. Speaking to “A Jewish Perspective on Service, “ Rabbi Sager reminded those present that the first use of the word for “service” in the Hebrew scriptures occurs around the issue of building a house.
In that case, it was God’s house (the Temple). In the present circumstance it is a house through which human effort in partnership with others is a proclamation to all that God’s Holy Name is blessed.
Although not mentioned in either the article or the editorial, special thanks are due to Rabbi Sager and the congregation at Beth El, for without them and their tangible support, this project could not have begun.
THE REV. ROBERT K. KAYNOR
Durham
Insurance will rise
Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation recently answered a request by Rep. Joe Courtney for an analysis of the proposed 40 percent excise tax on “Cadillac” health care plans, saying it expects that insurers would pass along the cost of the tax to consumers by increasing the cost of that plan by the amount of the tax, so that a $25,000 plan, which exceeds the exemption amount by $4,000, would be taxed $1,600, and the insurer would add that amount to the premiums, raising its price to $26,600.
Of course, unless the insurers are dumb as doorknobs, they’ll decrease the cost of that plan to $21,000 and raise the cost of someone else’s lower-priced plan by not $1,600 but the $4,000 they’re giving up to avoid paying any tax.
PAUL BONNER
Durham
Nobel deserved
I’ve sat back reading all the negative statements about President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize and I just had to comment. Does everyone have amnesia or do I need to remind people of what former President George Bush did to our country for the past eight years?
Obama won the prize because he’s actually making an attempt to do something positive for our country, something our previous president severely messed up on. I’d tell you what award George Bush deserves but I’m sure I’d get censored and I can assure you it has nothing to do with peace.
STEPHEN LYNN
Cedar Grove
