More readers than usual jumped in to answer last week's question, which was "How many concentration camps are currently operating in Communist China?" But for the most part these were wild guesses; the problem is that the news media gives too little attention to this problem, so most people have no idea of the answer. Of all the contest entries, the closest answer was 3000 from SG of New York City, this week's winner. How many actual concentration camps are there? Because of the police state dictatorship, no one but the Communists themselves knows for sure. However, the most current and meticulous estimate has been published by noted Chinese "dissident" Hongda Harry Wu in his book Laogai: The Chinese Gulag. Wu estimates a total of about 4000–6000 concentration camps, although by his own admission, many prison camps in Communist China he does not even include in this total, and also he has a tendency to downplay the atrocities of the murderous Communist regime. Furthermore, Wu does not identify how many of these are designated death camps, although certainly the death rate is quite high in most of the camps.

Now for this week's question:

Be sure to e-mail your answer, name, and location to [address withheld] by Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, 12pm (noon) PST.

This week's example: Rabbi Mendy Paltiel, Chabad of Central Orange County, Costa Mesa, CA

In December 2002, in response to the terrorist attacks in Israel, we drafted a proclamation to be signed by rabbis and other Jewish leaders calling on all Jews to fulfill their obligation of saving lives—in this case, by joining our campaign to cut off U.S. funding of the PLO. One would suppose that every orthodox rabbi would know of his fundamental obligation to support this campaign, and especially Chabad rabbis, since the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke out so often and so clearly on the need to save lives in Israel. Therefore, when we sent a copy of this proclamation and our campaign materials to Rabbi Paltiel, who received it on 01/17/03 at 2:31pm (after two previous attempts in which the packets mysteriously "disappeared" in the postal system, an impossible "coincidence" that the postal manager himself could find no explanation other than that the postal carrier may have been bribed to suppress the record of delivery), we had every reason to expect that Rabbi Paltiel would enthusiastically sign on. Astonishingly, however, to this very day (two years later), he still adamantly refuses to endorse this obvious cause.

Could the concerns of fundraising be interfering with Rabbi Paltiel's proper response? Twenty-five years ago, the Rebbe openly attacked many of the rabbis in Israel as participants in the murder of Jews for precisely this—namely, allowing financial considerations to interfere with speaking out against the appeasement of Israel's enemies.

What do you think? We would love to print comments from all perspectives, so please send your thoughts to [address withheld].

[On the subject of U.S. aid to the PLO] "Terminate this aid but have Israel, as a mitzvah, "make the deserts bloom" and rebuild infrastructure in areas troubled by terrorism. Sooner or later, when the old generation of evil, fanatical die-hard Jew-Haters die out, perhaps the younger Palestinians will be grateful to Israel for its un-asked for, un-deserved beneficence toward them, just as Israel remains ever grateful to the Blessed Holy One for His continuing, un-asked for, undeserved beneficence toward Israel."—CG

"I have what seem like a simple question. Can Noachide's, Hassidic Gentiles wear a kippah through out the day as a reminder that HaShem is above us at all times?"—TL

Our response: While there is certainly no explicit obligation under the Noahide Laws for gentiles to cover their head out of the fear of G-d, nor do we know of any sources even suggesting such a thing, we also know of no prohibition against it. It has been informally suggested that it might at least be a good idea for non-Jews to cover their heads during prayer and Torah study, the times in which it is also most crucial for Jews. Certainly we can think of nothing wrong with a gentile also choosing to wear some head covering throughout the rest of the day. However, it is very important to remember that non-Jews should not allow themselves to be confused with Jews, particularly since they will frequently be going places and engaging in activities forbidden to Jews, and this could cause a disgrace to Hashem's Name. Therefore, we strongly urge that any non-Jew wearing a head covering should avoid wearing one publicly identified with Jews (unless perhaps the gentile is attending a synagogue or other Jewish event).

Please send your submissions to [address withheld].

Be sure to visit our Web site, Noahide.com.