Page 4 - The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, May 17,1984
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So near and yet so far
won
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RABBI MOSES J. BURAK
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Qaestion: Which mltzvah calls for the most i: altruism?'
^ It is generally accepted that those who II engage in chessed shel emeth are serving the ^* cause of altruism.
Here is the way it is given in our Torah sources. When Jacob felt the approach of death he called his son Joseph, according to Genesis 47:29, and said to him: "Deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, ih Egypt." Rashi explains this passage in this way: "The kind- „ tutn i, ness which is shown Rabbi Barak to those whp are dead is a true kindness, for one does not look forward to the payment of a recompense." ^
As one reads these words, one may question whether they apply in our times. The kindness shown to the dead is paid for quite hand-^ somely. The gravediggers are well paid. § Morticians do Well. All too often^ those who |i attend a funeral have hopes of gain, li When a rich man dies, his funeral is well li attended, thanks to a host of people who did i business with him and his company, and who Irhope.td continue having a fruitful relationship i with those who continue the business. Should' you doubt the truth of this statement, attend! the funeral of a pauper and see what a struggle there is to have a quorum of 10 men at tile obsequies. So, where is the chessed shel emeth? It is fdund, today, fai a little known aspect of the dmeial —' in the woric of the chevra kadisha. Hiis Is a labor of love and devotion in which the rich and the poor receive the same treatment when they have left the world of the living* It Is the washing and cleansing, the anointing and consecrating of the body of the deceased; and all ^s is done with accompanying prayers, imssageis fin hbly wilt chanted with reverence.
The members of this sacred society clotlie the niftar in Us shroads and again chant the holy words of oar faith as they do It. HIstoricafly, there has always been a male chevra, and a female chevra.
There is some speculation about the origin of the name chevra kadisha. The answers are not too satisfactory. Td nie, it seems to stem from an appreciation of those who first practiced these rites. We read, in Exodus 13:19, that when the Israelites left Egypt, " Mbshe took the bones of Joseph with him." The Sages state that this was an indication of the quality of Moshe Rabbenu, "that at the time when everyone was busy-taking the booty from Egypt, he occupied himself with the bones of
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Since the Sages tell us that some men were called "bnon shel kedoshim" and that this was because they knew not and cared nothing about money, it follows that those who Ifeave all considerations of money out of their thinking and spend many hours in this kind of work for no repayment are indeed a chevra kadisha.
In Toronto, the ladies' chevra kadisha is an outstanding group of 45 women who do this II holy Work, spend endless hours^ it, and do it ^ free of charge. Theseladies are the finest in the
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g city, and carry their great names with honor, jii Mrs. Jettie Schochet is the coordinator of this
holy society. There are 10 team leaders, and they are: Yocheved Horowitz, Bea Hos-II chander, Faye Grafstem. Basia Kerzner. Carol * Kravetzky, Miriam Nussbaum, Lillian Robins,
i Razel Silver, Sylvia Spiegel, andJoy Zigelman. P Under such leaders tiiereshould be even more ;i members. There is a need for more recruits.
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Readings from Zebha-riah continue this week, beginning with chapter 9 on Thursday, May 17.
The portion of the week, read on Friday, is Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34), and the haf-torah — for Shabbat—is Jeremiah 16:19-17:14.
Sunday, May 20, Is Lag B'Omer — a semi-hi9Uday celebrating the deliverance from plague, 19 centuries ago, of the
students of Rabbi Aldva. It is frequently cele-brated with picnics, and In Israel, bonfires In the fields.
Those taking their Bibles along on the picnic should read the
By
JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL-
Members of the Federation of Teachers of Jewish Schools, by a vote of over 90%, decided to stick it out together and not accept a situation where two of the four day schools affected by a lopkout agreed to a back-to-work proposal and the others didnbt.
' 'We went into thiis ais four schools and we will come out of it as four schools,'' said federa;-tiori president Mona Nadel. About 365 teach^ ers are locked out.
Negotiations to end the deadlock took a rollercoaster ride last week as it seemed both sides were ready to get the schools back in operation, only.to have a new
wrinkle enter the picture.
As of press time, the boards of United Tahnnd Torahs and Jewish People's and Peretz Schools had agreed to put all points fai the dispote that have been raised since negotiations began In September before conciliation. They would have then reopened the schools within 24 hoars of the federation's notifying them of Its agreement.,. ■
No new issues were to have entered the talks. Conciliation with the provinical labor department's Jacques Beige Was to continue until May 25, and all points not settled by that date woiuld then be put to binding arbifration with his decision to be made known by the end of June. .
JERUSALEM lUPIl ^
Syria has agreed to allow the International Red Cross to visit three Israelis captured by Syrian trdops in northern Lebanon early this month, but chances of their early release appeared dim, diplomatic sources said last week.
The sources declined to say whether the visit is under way, but said a Red Cross representative was standing by in Damascus to make the visit.
Israeli radio quoted a commentator on Syrian radio saying that the three captives will not be released unless Israel leaves Lebanon.
The Israeli government discussed what was termed as efforts
in its capacity, as a security ministerial committee whose deliberations are never made public.
The three captives, described as low-level officials of the liaison office, were caught traveling south of Tripoli in northern Lebanon. They were captured between a Lebanese army roadblock and a Syrian military outpost on a road straddling Lebanon's northern Mediterranean seashore.
Israel's foreign ministry charged that the three were handed over to the Syrians by a Lebanese army unit. The ministry's director-general , David Kimche, described the three captives as "young boys who lost their way during
being made to secure the an innocent private trip release of tiie three men, north of Beirut."
who served at a liaison office north of Beirut.
Cabinet secretary Dan Meridorsaid the government held the> discussion
Syria accused them of being members of a ''sabotage squad" but later said it Would freat them as prisoners of war.
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VOWS
to oust
BEIRUT [UPI] —
ShIIte Moslem leader Nabih Berri, who assumes responsIbUIty for southern Lebanon In the country's recently-appointed cabinet, vows to end Israeli (occupation of the region with force, if necessary.
"We should use all means, and-Jf political means don't woric, then
i> t. . force should be used*
opening verse of chapter wLl^'
10 in Zechanah qu;etiy — it begins "Ask ye of
the L-rd rain...."
Finish the week with a chapter each day from Zechariah.
^Berrl said last week. Berri called for the "Uberatlon'' of south Lebanon, occupied by
troops neariy two years after Israellnvaded Lebanon to drive Palestinian guerrillas away fimm Israel's border.
"We will back resistance," he said, referring to continued hit-and-nm attacks agahist Israelis by troops drawn from south Lebanon's huge Shlite population.
A statement by Berri's Amal militia said: "It is everyone's duty to head to south Li^banon and save each ballet for the war of liberation and reconstmctlon."
The main issues are an increase in the time the teachers are required to put in the classroom and the teachers' demand for more say in the decisionmaking process within the schools.
The wrinkle was that at the last minute Hebrew Academy and Solomon Schechter apparently changed their minds. The former has offered to come up with its own revised back-to-work proposal and the latter did not put forth a counter-proposal as of the end of last week, but
has appointed its own negotiator.
Nadel said that If Solomon Schechter and Hebrew Academy had accepted the proposal the teachers would have accepted It too. Another meeting with the conciliator was expected to have taken place on Monday.
Earlier last week, the teachers had given the union a strike mandate by an 89% majority when it appeared the schools might be reopened unilaterally by the boards before this
later proposal worked out. ■ ■'.
Meanwhile, UTT Executive Director Zave Ettinger said the boards have received assurance from the department of education that students having to write matriculation exams this year willnol suffer. However, he was not able to elaborate.
. The 4,000 students affected have not been in school since April 12, the day before the Passover vacation began. The lockout went into force over April 25 and 26.
PARIS [JTAl —
Olivier Stim, who was a minister in the government of former President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, is urging France and all Western European governments to transfer their embassies in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. . Stim heads an opposition minority list, supported by an ecological splinter faction, which is running for election to the Parliament of Europe. The elections will be held July 23. He said that once his faction is seated in the Parliament, he would "tirelessly press" for the move.
"Jersualem must be recognized by all of Western Europe as Israel's capital," he said. He did not expect any Arab opposition.
He predicted that "an Arab Palestinian state will come into existence one of these days but such a development is not connected in any way with the future status of Jerusalem."
Neither the government nor the major opposition parties have commented on Sticn's proposal. Unofficial spokesmen said the former minister was making an open bid for Jewish votes.
Election to the European Parliament is by proportional representation in each country, a system that favors the smaller parties.
Stim returned recently from a visit to Israel sponsored by Sione, an organization of North African Jews. The group consisted of 47 members of the French Parliament representing all parties except the Communists. Thiey toured Israel, the West Bank and the Lebanese border. They also met with Premier Yitzhak Shamir, Deputy Premier David Levy arid Defence Minister Moshe Arens.
POSITION AVAILABLE FOR
G>-Ordinator of Cultural Acliv^ And Consultant to Jewish Schools
Previous experience of a supervisory nature in Jewish educa^ tion is essential. iVI.S.W. or M. Ed. an asset.
Send resume to: Personnel Dept./CJC, 4600 Bathurst St., Wlllowdale, Ont. M2R 3V2.
UNITED ISRAEL APPEAL OF CANADA INC. UNITED JEWISH APPEAL OF CANADA INC,
Notice lis hereby given that the
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS
of the above corporations HAVE BEEN POSTPONED ' and will now take place on
Sunday, August 26, 4:30 p.m. Allied Community Services Building 5151 Cote St. Catharine Road, Montreal, Que.
/ * Morton Browmtein,
National President
about 10,000 Israeli
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Applications are now being accepted for the new
"London Jewish Community Village'
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a new active living apartment complex for the London Jewish community.
Begin to take advantage of closer friendships and security of apartment living without sacrificing the independence and privacy you deserve. The London Jewish Community Village . . . the plan that fits your changmg life style today and tomorrow.
One and Two bedroom apartment homes group around a lounge on each floor. Designed and built for your enjoyment, your convenience, your safety and your security. When you live in the London Jewish Community Village growing order will not be synonymous with slowing down.
For more information write . . . .. London Jewish Comnriunity Village, 536 Huron Street, London, Ontario N5Y 4J5 (519) 432-6337.
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