There was a letter in today's Birmingham News responding to the incorrectly drawn swastika and other anti-Jewish graffiti painted recently outside the Vestavia Hills home of a Jewish family. The writer, Jim McDade of Vestavia Hills, was responding to an op-ed piece on the incident by Jewish community member Michael Staggs that appeared in the News on Sunday. (See below link.)

Meanwhile, the investigation is continuing and The Birmingham Jewish Federation, in coordination with the affected family, remains in touch with investigators and the Anti-Defamation League. Below is the text of the letter that appears today:

I concur with Michael Staggs' vigilant stance against bullies and bigots ("Swastika incident no childish prank," Sunday). There is indeed a "serious lack of education and understanding of minorities" everywhere, not just in Vestavia Hills.

However, I wish Staggs had provided some more specific details to accompany his incendiary allegation that he had heard from "others who were unfortunate enough to have had Jewish children attend the Vestavia public school system." Instead, Staggs' comments come across as the same kind of artfully devised propaganda campaign that has been used to incite emotions against groups of people down through history.

I am sure there are a few residents in every community in America who hold views that 95 percent or more of their neighbors would find repugnant, but that 95 percent-plus certainly do not want to be lumped into the same category which appropriately describes their hateful neighbor. The amount of damage that can be done to the reputation of a community or an organization by one idiot (or a few idiots) is astounding.

Did the majority of University of Alabama supporters feel comity with the low-brow poisoner of the Toomer's Corner trees or the fraternity dolt who hurled racial insults at African-American students who dared to walk in front of his frat house? It is a certainty that a tiny minority of Bama fans do, but at least 95 percent don't. It would be unfair to paint the Crimson nation with the same brush we use to label a few idiots.

Likewise, let's not jump on the entire city of Vestavia Hills just because one moron, or a small group of morons, thought it would be cool to paint an incorrectly drawn swastika. Let's learn and discuss the more specific facts, rather than incendiary rumors and innuendo, before we declare war on an entire community.

BJF volunteer campaign leaders Dave and Randi Landy, from left, and BJF president Jimmy Filler celebrate the conclusion of our 2011 BJF Campaign last June. The Landys are chairing the 2012 campaign which will be highlighted by Operation Grassroots.

By Richard Friedman, Executive Director

There's a feeling that sets in during the last week of the year at The Birmingham Jewish Federation. It's a great feeling; one that I've enjoyed throughout my career. It's a combination of serenity and excitement -- that good feeling that comes from knowing that we've had a good year and the excitement of also knowing the new things that are just around the corner.

This year, in particular, it's a great feeling. We've done well, met our goals, lived within our means, introduced new ideas, engaged even more young people and expanded the reach and impact of The BJF.

At the same time, we already know that 2012 is going to provide The BJF with a LIFT -- as we embark on Leadership Initiatives For Tomorrow, a new BJF strategy.

More imminently, we'll officially kick off Operation Grassroots at 12:01 AM on Jan. 1. You know us! We don't like to let the grass -- or in this case Grassroots -- grow under our feet.

UNPRECEDENTED EFFORT

Operation Grassroots will be an unprecedented effort to raise 1000 new gifts or increases of at least $100 to obtain a $100,000 challenge grant. That means for less than $2 a week, a donor can help The BJF raise $100,000!

You'll see lots of coverage in Update about this historic effort accompanied by our Operation Grassroots logo. It's cute, spiffy and homegrown. BJF staffer Tiffany Hyche, a terrific creative talent, has been working on it and it's almost finished.

We believe that Operation Grassroots will create widespread enthusiasm and participation. In fact, upon learning about it from Update and word of mouth, donors running the gamut from University of Alabama president Bob Witt to three young NE Miles Jewish Day School siblings stepped forward voluntarily to make new gifts of $100.

Operation Grassroots success won't come easy. We already know that. It will be a significant challenge for our small Jewish community. However, it has the potential to permanently change our Federation by creating a much broader and much more diversified donor base.

Moreover, if someone makes a new gift or increases beyond $100, we can match the additional amount as well thanks to matching money we've received from the Sirote Fund of The Birmingham Jewish Foundation and a group of longstanding donors.

VERY EXCITED

As kickoff nears, our 2012 campaign chairs Randi and Dave Landy and I, and other BJF leaders and staff, are very excited about the coming campaign and especially Operation Grassroots. I'm one of the folks who accepted the $100,000 challenge made to us by one of our most generous donors, and I'm one of the folks charged with making it happen. I think it will happen. In fact, I know it will!

How do I know? Because I can guarantee you we're going to work at it -- and keep working at it -- everyday in so many ways until we've secured that one thousandth new gift or increase. I don't know who it will be and don't know when it will come. But I do know it will come. I have faith in the generosity of our community.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking, 2011 is winding down and we at The BJF can't wait til Operation Grassroots begins. On behalf of The BJF, we wish an early Happy New Year to all!