Allred’s Criticism of ‘Never Forget’

I was very disturbed to read Gloria Allred’s puzzling commentary (Counterpunch, April 15) on the recent movie “Never Forget,” the story of Holocaust survivor Mel Mermelstein’s lawsuit against the revisionist Institute for Historical Review, which claimed the Holocaust never occurred.

Allred suggests that the film intentionally distorted the historical record about the role the Jewish community played in winning the case by portraying Jewish organizations as unhelpful or even hostile to Mermelstein’s case. Her ultimate conclusion is that the “film’s message appears to be that if a Jewish person needs help he will have to get it outside of his own community because the Jewish community is insensitive to, or will not help, its own people.”

I couldn’t disagree more. The movie describes in very believable terms the risks that Mermelstein took in filing his lawsuit. The decision of several Jewish organizations not to represent him was presented as a reasoned and appropriate decision. The movie makes clear the critically important work these organizations do in fighting anti-Semitism, helping individual Jews and teaching about the dangers of all forms of prejudice.

“Never Again” is not meant to be a movie about the Jewish community. It is rather a powerful movie about survival and triumph, about one person’s struggle against hate, bigotry and racism. Its message is clear: Individuals can make a difference.

RABBI LAURA GELLER

Executive Director

American Jewish Congress

Los Angeles