Letters to the Editor | May 6, 2025

The emoluments clause is a provision in the U.S. Constitution that prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts, emoluments, offices, or titles from foreign states without the consent of Congress. It was designed to prevent foreign influence and corruption in the U.S. government. With all the money the president is making while in office by selling his sneakers and bitcoins, should not this clause apply to Donald Trump?

James R. Phillips, Cherry Hill

After reading The Inquirer article about the controversy surrounding the current owners of New York Bagels, I felt compelled to stop by and support them. As a Jewish woman, I feel a deep obligation to stand with my community, especially in the wake of the pain and fear following Oct. 7. But I also believe in standing with those who serve our community with kindness — regardless of background. The owners were nothing short of lovely. I shared that I’m Jewish, thanked them for their respectful service to our community, and expressed sorrow that they’ve been pulled into a situation they didn’t create. Owner Rayyan Kayyali’s brother thanked me for the support, and I left feeling a sense of connection and the most perfect bagels I’ve had in a long time: fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Maybe, just maybe, bagels can remind us that shared daily rituals — like breaking bread — can bring people together. In a world so quick to divide, let’s not miss chances to connect.

Hannah Bookbinder, Philadelphia

The Israeli government has realized that no country will stop it from slaughtering and starving the Palestinians in Gaza. Much like the Nazis realized that no country would stop them from the extermination of the European Jews. This is not the moral and ethical Judaism that many American Jews know and value. This is blunt hatred and military power. The Israeli government has chosen this path. As American Jews, we must condemn them. Silence is complicity.

Richard Metz, Philadelphia

I was shocked and dismayed recently when I was asked if I was a citizen when I registered for pre-op testing at Temple Hospital. As a retired nurse, I tried to give the best care possible to all my patients from all walks of life. Whether a patient was a citizen was never raised because it was not relevant to the provision of care to that person. As a white person born in Wisconsin in 1953, I have nothing to fear from such a question. However, for those who are living in constant fear of being detained, separated from their family, and possibly being sent back to where they had faced hardship and even life-threatening circumstances, such a question could cause them to not get the healthcare that they need.

As a nurse, I can’t help but think that people will die because of the inclusion of that question to the registration process at Temple Hospital. I decided to cancel my surgery at Temple because of the citizenship question. Jefferson Hospital has no such question in their registration paperwork. Perhaps I will give them my business.

Pamela Albright, Melrose Park

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