Zagnoev’s letter: Use of ‘colloquial’ and ‘booted’ not appropriate

Victor Gordon

Without wishing to comment on the merits or otherwise of the spat between Rabbi Julia Margolis and the SAJBD, I take issue with the editor’s defence of what she refers to as the “colloquial language” 

The common definition of “colloquial” in most dictionaries is “characteristic of informal conversation”, which indeed applies to modern trends on social media. But that is not the issue.

In stating that in a shocking development Rabbi Margolis was “booted” off the Board of Deputies’ committee, the editor has unnecessarily chosen to conjure up an image more aligned to an extreme, demeaning and even violent act rather than what could have been clearly explained in more refined and accurate terms.

Would the word “suspended or removed” not have been more suitable and conveyed the same message? Not all readers of Jewish Report Online belong to the younger colloquial-speaking generation and neither do we have to be dumbed down in order to effectively communicate.

Those of us who monitor events in Israel through the general media are all too aware of the manipulation that occurs via “doctored” headlines and content designed to cast aspersions against Israel. Care should be taken by the Jewish Report not to succumb to similar acts.

I would respectfully suggest that the editor simply apologise for this error of judgement and admit that she is not always correct.

Victor Gordon

Pretoria