Page 12-The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, December 16,1993
ishLife
Beit Halochem Canada Thanks Supporters
Alex Eisen, Chairman of Fundraising for Beit Halochem Canada, Aid to Disabled Veterans of Israel, makes a presentation of donor recognition to the Tefillin Charitable Organization. Their donation, in honour of Cantor Martin and Marilyn Rosenblum, wiirhelp equip the new Rehabilitation Centre now under construction in Jerusalem. (!• to r.) Mike Rogow, Ken Bodenstein, Alex Eisen, Marilyn Rosenblum and Cantor Martin Rosenblum.
JUSTICE FOR JONATHAN
Network
Presents
To Speak at
The Sheraton Centre Toronto
123 Queen Street West
Wednesday, December 22,1993
8:30 p.m.
Gall 416 - 783-1165 For Details & Tickets
Suggested Donation of $15.00 - Assigned Seating * $7.00 Minimum Ehdorsed By: Elaine Zeitz, Canadian Spokesperson for J.P. and
Citizens for J.P. Canada *(noone will be turned away for lack of funds) '
A WEEK OF TEXT STUDY ON SPlRIWALny AND FAITH SPONSORED BY
KOLEL: A CENTRE FOR LIBERAL JEWISH LEARNING
OPENING PROGRAMME
Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
^^^^^^ «
RebZalmahis tht leading teacher of the Jewish Renewal Movement. This workshop wiliinspire and rnoveyouto explore your tnner connection to Jewish spirituality'and the Divine while encountering ancient sacred texts to guide you. This is a unique opportunity tc) study'^wilh a true master.
Sunday, January 9^1994, 2:00-5:00 p.m./Zionist ^^^^ By prcrcgistration.(call 660-3154): $20/At the W . -Childcarc is available at $5 per child, by prercgistration only .
All clasaea b&gin promptly 6:00-7:45 p;m. 8:00r9:45 p.m.
MONDAY
January 10 Leo Baeck Day School RmJKl 34 Kenton Dr. ' Docs God Exist? Rabbi Michael Stroh TrmpteHarZicn . Arguing with God Rabbi Daniel Komito-Gottlieb Cariadutn Council for Rtfcrm JuJaum ' . .
TUESDAY
January j 1. N.Toronto Gommunity Centre 200 ERiinton West . God After Auschwirz : Rabbr Dow Marmur JiolyBloacmTrmpte Created in God's Image: Interpretations and Jmplications Rabbi Sheryl Nosan . Trmpk HarZtori
WEDNESDAY
January 12 Barbara Frum Library 20 Covington Road (Bathurst & IjWrcncc) God and the . : . Problem of Evil Rabbi Michael Dolgin. Temple Sinai A Feminist Response to Traditional Theology . Rabbi Nanty "X^echsler ' ■ TrmpUKol Ami
THURSDAY
January 13 OISE 'Room2-2I 1 . ^ 252 Bioor SiVWcst Jacob's Ladder: Biblical Spirituality Rabbi Sharon Sobel \j ■' :Htly BleisotnTemflf . The Mystical Connection , Rabbi Jerry Steinberg ^ hprhatherapiit
. $5 per class, payable at the door ' - ■ ."^ NO PRERECISTRATIONNECBSARY FOR ^XT.EKpAV CUSSES ' For more information or to register (or the opening programme, rail KOLEL at (905) 660-3154—
By RABBI LAWRENCE PERLMAN
This week's Torah portion contains one of the great scenes of human reconciliation in ail of history. Joseph, who has risen to power in Egypt next to the King, stands on the stage of history as his brothers, who sold him into slavery, appeal to him for help. No longer able to conceal his identity, Joseph breaks down info such loud sobs, even the Kings hears him, and Joseph finally tells them who he is.
Amidst the great tension and expectation, there are two people who recede into the background — one
because he is not there and_the other because his silence is dramatically overplayed. And the Torah, in its unique way, presents the action as if ^ it is insignificant to these two people. The truth is just the. opposite.
Who are in the background to heighten the tension? Jacob and Benjamin aren't ftilly present. The father and the youngest son, though absent from the immediate action are really at the centre of it. How? They are the reason for the meeting. The brothers, afraid to return to'their father without Benjamin, plead for his release. Has Benjamin done anything to deserve this end? The Torah goes to some length to make it obvious that he was framed; So, who was responsible? Jacob!
What we are viewing here is the Torah's unique way of cornmunicat-ing the plan of God's judgement. Jacob, the youngest son, steals the birthright from his brother Esau and deceives his father, Isaac. He is hardly an acceptable moral leader. To be forgiven for his sin, the actions he set in motion must come full circle-Jacob, younger than Esau, has to know firsthand the pain of losing his youngest — the one the Torah tells us is dearest to his heart."
The Torah tells us of Benjamin: "And there is a child of his old age, the youngest: his full brother is dead;.
so that he alone is left of his mother, and his father dotes on him ... The boy cannot Jeave his father, if he were to leave him, his father would die." In other words, the flill significance of Jacob's misdeeds has to be made known to him before he can rightfully claim the moral status that we expect of our forefathers.
Divine justice, not only in the lives of our forefathers but in our lives as well, is richly woven into the fabric of what we do. The things we do that we regret, or should regret get played out in our lives in ways we hardly expect. Without the ability to change and to redeem ourselves, the psychological and moral forces that exist in our lives come back to play roles that we would never choose.
We have so much to learn from our fathers. If wis would only stop seeing them as ideal's but rather as real people who have to go through all of life's trials and tribulations like us, then we would genuinely learn something from their lives. You can't claim someone as your forefathei" until you know whait they have gone through. And you can't know what you are going through until you understand the deeds of those who preceded you.
Rabbi Lawrence Perlman is the spiritual leader of Shdare Zion Congregation in Montreal.
in
By VIVIENNE MUHLING
ADDIS ABABA - The first night of Chanukah 5754 was one of.the most memorable that I have ever celebrated.
I am visiting my brodier and his wife, Ben and Denise Barden in Addis Ababa, where, under the aegis of the European Ecphomic Community, Ben is assisting Ethiopia to widen its export horizons.
I had the good fortune of accompanying them to the home of Mr. Kanzan, an Ethiopian businessman who was this year's Chanukah party host.. He is a member of the Adenite community who emigrated during that country's political upheaval in the .fifties.' ; ,
There were many children among the approximately fifty people who gathered in a kind of succah in Mr. Kanzan's compound. We ranged in age from babes in arms to the 98-year-old father of cur host. Israelis predominated the gathering of Jews from many different backgrounds. :
Among the North Americans were Delia Dash of San Francisco, who is a UNICEF health worker, and Dr.
Rick Hodes of Long Island, who has been in Ethiopia for more than five years under the auspices of the American Jewish Joint Distribution committee. He first worked with the native Ethiopian Jews, the Falashas, most of whom are now in Israel. He now cares for the Falas Mora, Who claim to be Falashas,coerced into embracing Christianity. They have, gathered in Addi-s Ababa in the hope of making aliyah.
I also met an accountant from Djix)uti. a small rispublic on the Gulf of Aden, and two brothers from As-mera who belong to the Adenite community of Eritrea, a country that recently gained autonomy from Ethiopia.
Among the many Israelis was Ron Barak who, is a United Nations employee working with the Economic Commission for Africa.
The Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, his Excellency, the Honorable Ori Noy lit the first candle in the five-foot high menorah that dominated the scene. Then the diverse group joined him in a rousing rendition of Ma'oz Tsur, after which the Israelis led us in a singsong of several popular
Chanukah songs.
The lavish buffet dinner included . delicacies from many different Jewish cultures. Platters of crisp potaito latkes were side by side with injera and doro wat. Injera, a kind of large leavened pancake, is the staple food of Ethiopia; Doro wat is a festive chicken stew with hard boiled eggs. There was pasta with a rich Italian sauce: middle Eastern style lamb with' rice, and vegetable dishes" in varying traditions.
It was hard to find room for the desserts that followed. There U'ere sufganibt (traditional Israeli Chanukah doughnuts), creme ; caramel and tiny, crisply fried Yemenite doughballs dipped in honey.
It was a special honor tO have shared in this Chanukah celebration in a country that lays claim to one of the world;'s oldest Jewish communities, one which came into being dur^ ing biblical days and can now be considered a part of the Israeli mosaic.
It was particularly moving that so many of iis in this diverse gathering were Israelis dedicated to the well-being of others throughout the world.
By /yvVgvflM LANmu