PagQ 6-The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, April 13r 1989
M-T
Jewish Congress Plenary Asse
mv
By..;-,:. ■■; JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL -
Delegates to the Canadian Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly next month will consider a resolution callilig upon the Canadian
government to "refrain from taking any steps that might reasonably • be perceived to legitimize the PLO's threat of the destruction of Israel and its people."
The resolution states that Israel has the right to deter-
mine the conditions under which it would enter into peace negotiations with the Palestinians and its Arab-neighbors — ''free of un- , due pressure by Canadian Jewry."
The resolution drawn up before External
was'''^
In his first official act as president of the Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion Univeristy, Rabbi Jordan Pearlson (centre) presents the university';? Beh-Gurion Medal to immediate past president Harold Livergant (left) in appreciation of his efforts in the post. Looking on is BGU president Chaim Elata. [Michael Mar-■ kowich photo] ■
■■■ ,:Bv ■ : ^ ^ BEN ROSE
TORONTO -
Ben-Gurion University in the Negev is the closest to his vision of Israel. Rabbi Jordan Pearlson of Temple Sinai declared as ho was installed as president of the Canadian Asscx-iales of the university recently.'
His vision of Israel lets Jews be Jews, accepting while disagreeing, Rabbi Pearlson said. "At BGU an eighth generation Jerusalem rabbi and his able and scholarly rebbitzin build bridges of common concern, of shared insights and wisdom, with •liberal and secular Jews without in any waiv compromising the integrities of their own traditionalist commitments;"
Pearlson recalled people saying the rabbinate is ho place for a Jewish boy and he added that to be a president of a university in Israel facing deep budget cuts one needs to be a masochist.
The rabbi paid'tribute 10 the work of Harold Livergant; his predecessor in the post/from 1985 to 1989 . who was battling illness, during .his term. He presented a medal from BGIJ to Livergant.
On behalf of: Temple Sinai, Valerie Ross, president, presented a check for a donation to BGU in honor of the: rabbi's hew post. •■ .V
Prof. Chaiiii Elata, president of BGU, installed F'earlson as president and said one of Israel's accomplishments lis that it is a place where
Jews from different parts of the world get along. He recalled leading a convoy of trucks frbnii Beersheba to Elat, a trip which took 72 hours when there were no settlements in the Negev which makes up half the land mass of Israel. ' " /
A completely new and unheard of fruit has,been doveioped by the university ''and desert countries around the world are benefitting from it. President Elata said.
The Canadian Jewish 'community has played a vital role in the building of Israel and of pioneering efforts in the Negev, he said.
Universities more
Pearlson was honored by his congregants and the community at large in 1980, which led to thf establishment of the School for Continuing Education at BGU. From a modest beginning in 1981 when 295 students registered for nine courses,, the school now offers 75 Courses each semester in humanities and social sciences, natural sciences; healtjv sciences and engineering science, with 9(X) students enrolled.
A istatement from Livergant said that to maintain the standards of excellence essential for Israel's security, economic health and social well-being and to provide for
a growing student body, the country's universities require increased outside fmancial assistance. The Canadian Associates of BGU are determined to help the university continue its nation-building mission, he .said.
Most of BGU's 6,000 students are from , the Negev, Livergant's statement added. ;
While rain forests in South America are being decimated, BGU is turning the Negev desert green. Rabbi Pearlson.said.
Reuben Croll, senior vice-president. was ■ chairman.
Others taking office were; ■
Immediate 'past president: Harold Livergant; past presidents; Melvin Zwaig; Gordon .Echen-berg; Eric Flanders; senior v ice-president; Reuben Croll;: vice - presidents: Austin Beutei; Michael Herling; Jack Israeli; Martin Levine; Ronald Ocl-baum; Barry Rose;. Sidney Spivak. Secretary: Thomas Hecht; assistant secretary: Terry Bensimoh; legal counsel; Barry Lipson; treasurer; Ed Vickar and assistant treasurer; Miriam Roland.
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A flairs Minister Joe Clark's announcement that Canada would upgrade its contacts with the PLO. Plenary staff coordinator Barbara Roberts said the resolution will stand as it is "because the deadline has passed, but amendments may be made or "emergency" resolutions introduced at the assembly May 7-9.
Thie' resolution says CJC should launch a major educational effort to explain to Canadians "the centraiity of Israel to living Judaism" and, with the Canada^Israel Committee, set up a resource and information centre containing up-to-date material on Israel and the Middle East which would be available to the Jewish community.
Another resolution calls on the Canadian government to "acknowledge and provide an appropriate expression of regret" for the exclusioniiry immigration policy" against Jews, many of them refugees from the Holocaust, in the 1930s.
Canada is also asked to. move more quickly on the findings of the Deschenes commission of inquiry into N^zi war criminals.
One resolution expresses a wish for "more humane" refugee determination.system and increased immigration today, while another asks the government to bar migrants likely to incite hatred against any racial, religious or national group.
Elsewhere, several of the 35 resolutions which delegates will consider .seek changes in Canadian legislation, among them;
•The repeal of the "notwithstanding clause" of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. The resolution also says the Meech Lake Accord should be amended in order that"the distinct identity" of Quebec be promoted by the federal government -as well as the Quebec government, and that all pri>vihccs promote bilingual ism.
• As a solution to the get problem, an amendment to . the Divorce Act that would require each spouse to "remove all barriers within his or her control" that would prevent the other spou.se"s remarriage in his or her faith, before any divorce • proceeding begins or settlement is granted. Provincial
governments should iTT' , troduce .similar legislation, if they don't have it
already.
• Any level of government legislation on Sunday business hours should provide the broadest allowances for those who do not observe that day of rest.
■ • Laws prohibiting anti-semitic activity should be tougher, and encompass anti-semitism in the guise of anti-Zionism. Hate propaganda prohibitions sh6uld be expanded to include that spread, by the mail, radio, television and importation, as well as the telephone. Racially motivated crimes should receive a .stiffer sentence.
: The Soviet Jewry resolution urges Canada not to attend the proposed 1991 human rights conference in Moscow and asks the government to increa.se its spoasorship of Soviet Jewish immigrants to Canada.
the resolution also supports the creation of more Jewish culturalcentres in the .Soviet Union and urges the Canadian Jewish community to provide them with materials and other assistance:
Other resolutions enyi-sion the establishment of a National Education Committee, under CJC auspices, which would
cobrjdinate joint activities among national and local organizations involved in
Jewish education and bring together professional and lay education offi-cals; a Declaration of Communal Rights of Disabled Jewish Persons in Canada, aimed at ensuring equal opportunity for the handicapped, including in educatjon; a national committee on the needs of Jewish senior citizens; and non-profit child care centres in Jewish communal buildings througout the country.
A resolutionon Jewish religious pluralism de-pkires any exclusion of a Jewish person or group from the use of Jewish community facilities .or from participation in Jewish community activities, alluding to the barring last year of the non-Orthodox from a tnikyah in Toronto.
CJC should support the . struggle of other ethnic communities against disV crimination, another resolution states.
Other resolutions ad-■ dress a variety of current topics including the environment, domestic violence and AIDS. The latter says CJC should promote awareness of the AIDS issue in the Jewish community and that communal institutions should meet the needs of Jewish persons with AIDS or infected with the HIV virus.
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