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The Canadian Jewish Newsvlliursday/November 20,1986-Page 9
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Cites cotnmunity's record of opposing apartheid
African JeMis^^^
(Editor's note: Harry Schwarz is chairman of the international relations committee of the South African Jewish Board of Dejputies and ia member of the South African parliament. In a letter sent to the editor of The Canadian Jewish News, he takes issue with statements made in a panel discussion in Toronto earlier this year in which South African Jewry and its instltutionsT were criticized.)
...-'^V        "By ■.■.v■^■•
HARRY SCHWARZ
I have had the opportunity of reading a report in the issue of your p^per dated April 17, on a panel discussion at the Holy Blossom temple on South Africa, and in particular what are stated to be ''the hwstsiartling comments . "'frorn a former director of the Zionist Federation of^ South Africa (Walter Hess, currently executive director of the United Israel Appeal of Canada)!
One regards,as complimentar>' arid welcome his recognition that South African Jewr\-"is one of the strongest and finest in the Diaspora"' '■and. intensely:ioyal to Israel," '
Your, report says"He then went.on to severely criticize the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the chief communal organization in the country for its lack of leadership and its refusal until recently to take a clear moral stance in the current struggle the country faces Over apartheid."
1 think it is only fair to put the.other side of the picture; let me first statemy credentials. 1 have only served on theexecutive of the Jewish Board of Deputies since the middle, of 1985.1 however, participated in Jewish communal life long before that. I have, however, participated actively. in politics in South Africa for many
■ years'.- V '
I opposed the laws which are now beingrepeal-ed when they w'ere enacted. My opposition to apartheid goes back to the days when it; was not so popular abroad to condemn apartheid as it is now/ '
Also I believe 1 can speak as a South African. ais a Jew. and as an opponent of. apartheid with some knowledge and credibility on the attitude and action: of individual Jews and the Jewish Board of Deputies towards apartheid.
I think it is beyond argument thilt ever since the National Party came into power, Jews as individuals have overwhelmingly voted against the candidates of that party. One needs only look at the areas where the Jewish vote is con- ■ centratedl to see for whom thev vote.
Individual-Jews have actively oppx)sed apartheid, not only since 1948, but long before this. The list of names in politics, trade unions and other organizations is lengthy and speaks for ■'itself.
The records of the Jewish Board of Deputies show that while there were in the past differerices on approach, the principle which was adhered to throughout was that discfiminatipn is not a con-tept which accords with Jewish values..
Resolutions urging Jews to promote anti-: discriminatory concepts and Jewish value standards calling for solutions based on justice and dignity of the individual were passed at the board's congresses in 1963, 1965, 1967, 1970
■ and. 1972-. ' ■•■•
In 1974 the issue was taken further when the chairman of the board's public relations committee called upon the commiunity.to" restore the-moral values of ebmpassion and justice and so help reactivate the conscience of mankind."
The board resolved to cair on the community to -'share; in the great challenge and Opportunity involved in establishing a just, stable and peaceful relationship beween aU races and groups in South Africa."
In 1976 the board's vice-chairman confronted Prime Minister Vorstef at a banquet, saying, that '■attitudes and practices, the heritage of the past bearing upon the relations between our various racial groups are no longer acceptable . , ..We must move away as quickly and effectively as it is practicable from discrimination based on race
■ or color ■
Remernber, that was 10 years ago. Times were different then. It took some courage to face Mr. Vorster with these and other statements;
The same year, the board again passed a resolution calling for change to an equitable society and for all Jews to work for the elimination of unjust discrimination based on race, creed or color.
In 1977, the then chairman called upon the comniuniiy to continue by word and deed to piit into effect change to create ah equitable and acceptable society.
The 1980 congress of thie board called for more significant social, economic and politkal change to avoid violence and bloodshed and polarization and instejad create: a united and just society. The liberal, now defunct, Rand-Daily MaiTnevrepaper hailed this as a "unique voice which had special significance and
demanded special attention."
So resolution after resolution was pdssed; eviction of squatters was condemned, so was deten-' tion without trial, the board's objeetion to quotas for Blacks at universities was publicly stated.
There have been statements on freehold property for all. on the infamous Section 16 of the immorality Act and the Mixed Marriages Act. ,
The list can go on. The board has made its position on discrimination and apartheid clear. I do not list all the work done in comniunication, trying to build bridges, and tryirig to help where help is wanted and needed.
■ It is not a perfect recoi^d — rio organization can lay claim to such qualities^ nor can any individual .
but all in all. I think the criticism should be reassessed in the light of actual facts.
The statement that "there is no system of local or regional say in policy-making for the community at large" is not understsood.
It is in conflict wjth the facts, the board has executive committees regioiially elected on the Witwatersrand, Pretoria, Western Cape ails' Orange Freie State. These organizatiohfs act and control their own local offices, They all have representation on the national executive, where policy for the whole country is made.
To .say. as is reported. ■ "There is no indigenous organizational structure in the local cornmunity *is a major, major (repeated) weakness,' " I find puzzling, to say the least:
A statement made by another person participating (Thea Abramson. president of the South African Jewish Association of Canada) as to the choice facing increasing numbers of families being painfully obvious: "Choose life with one's children overseas, or a life of ease and comfort in the country of one's birth, but which comes at a high moral price," is one I would like to
debate.
Firstly, in ourcomrnunity there are many who _do not havea "life of ease and comfort." There _are many who have serious economic troubles, many have to receive help. Certainly there are many who are well off but there are many who have anything but a life of ease and comfort.
The statement that the life of ease and comfort comes at a "high moral price." What is the high moral pricie if one actively oppoises apartheid, actively caiinpaigns for change in South Africa?
Staying or leaving South Aifrica is a personal choice, but is it fair to Say of those of us who have for decades opposed apartheid and sought to uphold human rights, have paid a high moral price?
Even the South African synagogiie came in for criticism. It was said (by Prof. Elaine Newton of York University) that^there was '.'.too little social and.comniunity support being done by the . country's synagogues'" aiid there was"a lack of strong rabbinical-leadership in:the country; :
'"There is hardly any social, culturail or educational programming of the kind which most Canadian Jews take for granted . ; ."
Well, if Canadian Jews .have, better, social.' cultural arid educational institutions than w'C have 1 am very pleased, but then.they must be pretty. ; ;gpod.' v.- -
The lady who made the statement about half a year in Cape Town, which institution did she visit? Sea Point Congregation with its regular.programs in the very fields she mentioned? the Hcrzlia Schools?'
We have only 120,000 soiils in pur community, but 15,000 children received Jewish educa^ tion at nursery schools, Talmud Torah and Jewish day schools. We have day schools in
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Sandton, Benoi, Port Elizabeth, Durham and Cape Town. We have a network of Jewish organizations which cater for our aged, our handicapped, we have synagogues. Welfare bodies. ^ !
Our people render community service not only to our Own people, but also to other people irrespective of race, color or creed. We have an active Zionist organization, and per capita rieed take Second place to no one in our contribution ■ to Israel. .■■
It sounds as if I am proud of my fellow Jews. Yes, ypii are right.'! am..
There is a dispute in some sections about the nature of rabbinical leadership. Some believe rabbis should attend to their communities and attend to theii-spirituar needs. Others believe that they . should also speak out on national issues.. We have those who do both and somcAvho do not. I think that our rabbis can stand on the same level as those elsewhere in the Diaspora. .That when South Africa is in the limelight Jews in Canada should discuss Jews in South Africa is not ortlyunderstantlable but welcome. It shows they have not only interest but perhaps ailso conciern, and one is appreciative' of this.\;^
But I hope you can see.us as we really are — as it is said, warts and all! We do not pretend
; or claim that we are better than Jews anyv^'here, else in the world, but I.doubt if we are very much
-■ .worse. -■■ . ■
When a community is under stress and lives in difficult times and circumstances, it often brings out the best in it. I hope it will do so in our case and I also hope that in this, wc will have the understanding and support of JewS in Canada, including those Jews who were once pkrt of our community,
Everyday life in Israel fascinates
By •■:■:■ CARL ALPERT
JERUSALEM -
The fascinating face of Israel at home, beyond the politics and the headlines — the human side of Israel, as reflected in the little tales of everyday life: ■
Employment opportunities: An office has been opened in Jerusalem for registration of , Cohens and Levis. Considering that the Messiah is expected soon and the Temple will be rebuilt, there will be need for trained jjersonnel to perform the traditional fiinctioris of the Temple, and bona fide Cohens and Levis are called upon to sign up.
No claimants: The periodic sale of unclaimed lost articles, held by the Tel Aviv police department put up for auction, among other items, a pair of wooden human legs, a homeless donkey and a student identification card dated 1937.
A nosey toiir: Thanks were expressed in the public press to the Egged bus company which conducted a "sightseeing" tour for blind people — to the fragrant Rothschild gardens in Zichrbn Yaakov when the blossoms were at their aromatic best; .•
; The resting place: Kibbutz Gaash; near Herzlia, accepts for burial in it.s cemetery deceased persons who may have made some contribution to the Zionist caiise, but are not accepted as bona fide Jews by the rabbinate, and hence not eligible for burial in the regular cemeteries. Provision is also made for burial of Jews who want to lie alongside their non-Jewish spouses.
Wants her money back: A 3l-year-6ld single girl frorti Tel Aviv saved up to go on a week-long singles cruise, only to find that the -passengers comprised families with lots of children, forty single giris, and one available male. ■.' V,    . ■
Jerusalem DC: Christian friends of Israel are urging that the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish life and history should be constantly emphasized by referring to the city as David's Capital, or in short, Jerusalem, DC.
The Prime Minister's mail: Victor Shabbat advertises in the press (with his picture) that he has an invention Which can save the Jives of millions who are afflicted with asthma, bronchitis and shortness of breath. "I shall reveal the secret only to the Israel Prime Minister, and hereby request a reply and a private meeting with him." thie secret is not for sale, he adds.
Demographic solution: For those who worry about population growth, the Central Bureairof Statistics reports that Jewish women sijttled in the West Bank have a birth rate of 42 per thousand, as cpmpared to 36 per thousand for Moslem
women there. ■ ■•'
A useful strike: About a dozen officials in the ministry of commerce and industry went on strike for some reason or other. During their absence it was observed that the functions they had per-, formed were unnecessai7, and the posts were dispensed with.
Sounds familiar: The cla.sh between religious zealots and secularists took an ugly turn during a physicalbrawl, and 15 from both sides were arrested for rioting. The confrontation took place in the Moslem town of Kafr Kassem, and all the participants were townspeople.
A life term: Yihia Ben Avraham has been in an Israel prison for 26 years because he refuses to grant a divorce to his wife, as ordered by the rabbinate. Yihia claims he still loves his wife.
and will never sign the divorce papers.
The mormon menace: Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek claims that during the 17 years that the Mormons have been operating in his city, three Arabs and one Jew converted to the Mormon faith, as against 21 Mormons who became Jews;
Awaiting later statistics: In the month prior to the election of Austria's new president, tourism from Austria to Israel declined by 26%. whereas Israeli visits to Austria increased by 6%.
The world's oldest profession: Lexicographer Reuven Sivan seeks to correct a popular misapprehension. He notes that according to the book of Genesis, Adam "gave names to all cattle and to the fowl of the air and to every beast of the field." Hence, the world's oldest profession is linguistics, v
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PEACE PRAYERS
I Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff of Rome greets Pope John Paul II during recent World Day |
5 of Prayer for Peace attended by 200 representatives of 12j!ugor faith groups. [Reli- 5
E gious News Service photo] ; E
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