Lost in Jerusalem - NYTimes.com Lost in Jerusalem To the Editor: I read Travel to learn about appealing destinations and useful travel tips. I am completely uninterested in the psychological baggage and identity conflicts of Matt Gross ("Lost in Jerusalem," Jan. 15). Furthermore, I found it offensive that he would rather visit any place on earth than Israel, because to him "Israel has always felt less like a country than a politically iffy burden." I would expect a Travel article on Israel to report on experiences in the country unadulterated by biased personal opinion. I dare you to show me an article on any other country where your correspondent stated such an antagonism to, or disrespect for, the place he was visiting. Alex Pustilnik New York To the Editor: I don't understand all the vitriol directed toward Matt Gross in describing, so candidly, his ambivalence toward his religion and toward visiting Israel. Those very same haranguing voices are probably the reason he abstained from visiting in the first place. Having visited Israel and lived there, I think he truly captured the feeling one can get of being loved by a total stranger as well as feeling uncomfortably alien. As a religious Jewish woman, I've felt both emotions in this country and do believe Mr. Gross was very brave both in visiting the country and being open to this new, yet close-to-home experience. Aviva Najman Spring Valley, N.Y.