Page 4-The Canadian^J^ News^Thufsday, March 27,1980
Bfational News
M-T
(Janice Arnold photo)
Tbese grade 11 students ■ will soon be the first graduates from St. Laurent Herziliah who took their grade seven and eight Hebrew studies in the schoors Judaica program. From left: Sor>-l Nay mark, head of general studies; Rabbi Jay Brayennan, United Talmud Torahs edncational director; Mitchell Rosenberg, Cheryl Goldman, Danielle Ronmi, Sliarl Schwartz, Cindy Hershon iand Shmuel Isackson, principal of Hebrew studies. Seated at front iore students Natalie Levine and Oriy Buzelan,
First pupils happily graduate
from St Laurent Judaica
By JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL -
. What hiajppens to the. Jewish child who has gone through Hebrew afternoon school and then, having reached high school age. wants to switch from the public to the Jewish day school ■ systerh?
With rare exception, there is nothing he can do. Students from the afternoon schools simply do not have enough grounding in Hebrew to enter a Jewish day school at the high school level in Montreal. Students in Jewish high schools are graduates of Jewish elementary schools. That has been the general rule ^ until recently.
Five years ago. the St. Laurent branch of Herzr liah High School decided to give these children a second chance.
Its unique "Judaica program" enables especially motivated' children fromtheafternoon schools to enter the regular general studies program in Secondary I (grade seven).
\n intensive two-year ulpan-type Hebrew program prepares them to enter the regular Hebrew studies classes by grade nine.
The program was initiated five years ago. and this June seven students from that first year will graduate from St. Laurent Herzliah. Only a couple of the students in the program's first year were not able to complete it (they were re-directed to public high schools), and since that time ah encouraging average of about 75% of those who begin the two-year program are able to complete it and go on successfully to the regular Hebrew classes.
Most of the students in the first year came from Dollard des Ormeaux, which had no elementary day school when they were that age but did have a fine afternoon school at the Beth Tikvah synagogue. The program was created to accornm.odate . the wishes of many Dollard , parents who wanted their children, to continue their Jewish education. St. Lau-
hold parley in Florida
HOLLYWOOD^ Fla. —
, Motivated to learn, to listen and to socialize, 350 members of Canadian Ha-dassah-WIZO vacationing in sunny Florida gathered at the Diplomat. Hotel recently for the second national southern regional conference.
Speakers included Mi-rial Small, newly installed national Hadassah-WIZO president; Dr. Bernard Cherrick, vice president, Hebrew. University, Jeru-. salem; Evelyn Sommer, WLZO representative at the ECOSOC. United Nations, and Lily Frank, national executive vice president of Canadian Hadassah-WIZO.
Mirial Small spoke of the mostpositive impact of her childhood — her par-ents'sZionist home-where pride in Jewish traditions and heritiage : were .emphasized. She related the dire needs of the numerous WIZO projects-day care centres, schools, Youth Aliyahcentres,Tec-\ reational women's clubs for Arab and Jewish women, hospital facilities, and others— all of which have been affected by soaring inflation. i
Bernard Cherrick, vice president of the Hebrew University, stressed that the strength . of Jewish history throughout the ages was faith and action, and that with the advent of the 80s, challenging problems had to be faced, such as those of the West Bank, Gaza, Jerusalem and the PLO. He thanked Cana-
dian Hadassah-WIZO for having recently undertaken a vital new project of providing much needed textbooks for underprivileged students.'
Evelyn Sommer. WLZO representative at the ECOSOC, United Nations, told of some of her travels to remote areas of the world, where the name of WIZO has an. almost magic connotation. She stressed the importance of . the power.of women, and the value of. their accomplishments, especially in the field of human betterment.
Lily Frank, national vice president, summarized the highlights of the recent national convention held in Vancouver in January,— commencing with the overflow attendance at the opening session when 1,400 men and women participated.
rent Herzliah was the closest Jewish high school to Dollard. The eight-year-old school now. has 300 students.
Since then the students enrolling in the program have come from many areas of the city. For the most part, they are the children of parents who "saw the light, so to speak, a little late." according to Rabbi Jay Bra-verman, educational director of United Talmud Torahs of Mbntreal.'
"I think the commiinity must provide for these children; I would even say that the 60% of Jewish children in Montreal who have no Jewish education whatsoever should have a chance at attending a Jewish high school . . . the community must develop this potential." There are an estimated 1.900 Jewish children now attending afternoon schools in the Montreal, area.
Although the afteriioon school background of the students who have gone through the program varies from a couple of years to a full complement, applicants must know, the basics of the Hebrew language.
Motivation is the key t.o succeeding in the Judaica program, says Shmuel Isackson. principal of Hebrew studies. The program concentrates on improving the students speaking fluency in Hebrew.The focus of the program is on language, and less on subject matter.
The: "Judaicas," as they are affectionately known as by the other students, take 13'/2 hours of Hebrew studies a week but seven periods are spent on language instead , of the regular five. Five teachers, specially trained for the intensive teaching of Hebrew, are attached to the program and modern videotape methods and textbooks are used.
The program is completely subsidized by Herzliah and fees are the same as for regular students. A varying minimum of students is required each year, however, for the program to be economically feasible. Last year there was no program offered.
A group of parents, headed by Charlotte Fel-. sky and Phyllis Hier of Dollard. are trying to
EGYPT
KOSHER TOURS
ISRAEL
Extensions Available PlusLow Low
"2 Countries for the Price of 1"
AIRFARE
trip:: masters
11 JO Bfcadway N Y (2i2i 589-7600
Call Collect
1VU3 UN")!
Jewish Heritage —Tours^f
SPAIN
SUMMER 80 strictly Kosher
fesduring
■ Granada
■ Seville
■ Toledo
■ Malaga
■ Mijas
■ Madrid
■ Cprdc^a
Tou^ will bi: based at the deluxe Al AiWlalus Hotel on Costa del Sk>l and the Plaza Hotel in Na Arid.
make sure the program becomes a permanent feature at the St. Laurent Herzliah. Both women have children who completed the program and are hoping their younger ones will be able to do the same.
According to Braver-man, the Judaicas are the "yeast in the dough'\in school activities. "The students are more than fully integrated into ischool life —they are the catalytic agents, the spirit of the school." Shari Schwartz and Natalie Levine. two grade 11 students who were in the program the first year, are co-editors of the school yearbook.
Perhaps the best testimony to the Judaica program's worth comes from the students themselves.
"We were worried at .first wheri we started the regular Hebrew studies program if we would be prepared enough but-we did as well if hot better," remembers Cindy Hershon, now in Grade 11. She attended Westpark elementary school in Dollard .and the afternoon school at Beth Tikvah synagogue-Cheryl Goldman, also a: grade 11 student, is proof that determination is the k^y to getting through the program. She spent her elementar>- years at the French Catholic private school, Notre-Dame de Sion. and had only one year of afternoon school at United Talmud Torahs. Today she is fluent in Hebrew: .
All seven from the first year of the program, who are now in Grade 11, say they want to tour the afternoon schools in the city to encourage the children to consider the Judaica program. .
"We want to show them that where there's a will, there's a way. We succeeded and so can they if they really want a Jewish education," say the students.
By JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL —
Most pfepple pass the storybook house on Queen Mary Roadr next door to the private French girls' school College Marie de France, without giving it too much thought; They_ may admire, the quaint stone house with the bright green 'shutters flanking scrubbed-white windows, but never learn who lives beyond the white-columned door.
This is Centre Mi-Ca-El. the home and sanctu-ar>' of a remarkable Catholic nun. Sister Marie-Noelle, who has singularly devoted her life to the betterment of relations between Jews and Christians. Since coming to C^nada 21 years ago,she has become one of the most respected figures in this difficult field.
On the 25th anniversary of her services to ecumenism four years ago, Canadian Jewish Congress wrote ''the Jewish community is indeed fortunate to have such a firm friend in its midst and one whose comprehension and compassion have moved / us all."
Born in France about 75 years ago (she prefers not to give an exact age). Sister Marie-Noelle is a small, frail woman who was left partially crippled early in life and walks today with difficulty, even with the aid of a cane. Nevertheless, she is still often seen at many community events. She wears no traditional nun's habit, her order having abandoned the traditional dress in the mid-60s. Only a simple wooden cr6ss on a cord around her neck identifies her.
J Hers has hot beeri an eaisy mission. especially, for one so modest and pure of intent. Ecumenism has not been met with the enthusiasm that Sister Marie-Noelle feels is needed. Christian-lewish dialogue groups in Montreal have come and gradually faded over the years..
Although no less convinced of the value of inteifaith dialogue. Sister Marie-Noelle expressed herdisJappointmentori the prpgfess of Jewish-Christian communication in Canada, as compared to the United States and Europe, "I have received anti-semitic letters from Catholics, some of them priests, saying 1 was trying to Judaize the Christian people," she said.
Catholics and Protestants are "still full of prejudice,'' she continued, preventing real advancement. "There is a lack of interest in looking at the Judaic oi^igins of Christianity and the benefits of mutual understanding."
The villification of Israel on the international level has not helped Jewish-Christian relations, which Sister Marie-Noelle says have been"very painful" for her. In 1968, 1972 and 1976 she spent time in Israel.
How Sister Marie-Noelle embarked on her unusual mission surprises even her. Born Marie-Antionette de Baillehache to a middle-class Norman family in Paris, she did not enter a convent until she
SAFRA'S KOSHER
ALL YEAR
An-NeH
HOTEL
M5 " DAILY
IVbr.7-31
MEALS
DAILY _
Per Person. 2 in a Rporn
Passover from $230
. BINGO • MOVIES .'
■synagogue;
OUTDOOR PATIOS '8EACH CHAIRS '
Tel: (305) 531-1191 700 EUCLID AVE. lyifAMr BEACH ' ■ FLORIDA 33139
CANADA PARK
PLANT rKLKS AND KKtP ISRAFL GRKLN
Call Our Tree Number Toront6....;.781-5S15 HamUton„:.527-738S Wiiidsor..:...969-8733 Montreal.....9 34-0313 Halifax....... 422-7491
REGINA JEWISH COMMUNITY
is seeking applicants for the foUovnng positions
effective July 15, 1980. : .
RABBI
To serve as Spiritual Leader and act as principal of evening school. (Present Rabbi leaving due to family health problems.)
QUALIFIED TEACHER
For evening school, Grades 1 to 5 inclusive.
Replyto: President -
Beth Jacob Synagogue 1640 Victoria Avenue Regina, Saskatchewan... S4P 0P7
State qualifications, experience and provide references.
London Jewish Gommunity GoiincO/Centre
seeks a full-time
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Please forward resumes^ in confidence, to DR. RALPH I. BROOKE President, London Jewish Community Council c/o 532 Huron Street, London, Ont. N5Y 4J5 •
The position is director of the Jewish Community Centre, and some Federation duties;
•rjLET"
Canadian Hadassah - WIZO
We salute Israel for its achievements in human development, in the sciences and in the arts, and for.its contributions to the advancement of human freedom.^,'' - .
We express our solidarity with Israel.and the Jewish People,.and hope for peace in Israel and throughout the world.
To all our members, and to the entire Jewish community, we wish a very happy and meaningful Passover.
Le'shannah Haba'ah Bi'yerushalayim!
Mrs. Mirial SmaU Natidiial Eresideiit
. (Howard Kay photo) Sister Marie-Noelle
was ^2. Her background had not been particularly religious and she had been studying chemistiy at the Sorbonne.
Soon after her entry into the convent, she became seriously ill and was confined to a bed and later a wheelchair for eight years. It was nearly another five years before she began walking again.
"It (her sickness) opened a whole new hori-
zon to me. When 1 started living life again everything changed for me. It was a rebirth," sbe tried to explain, struggling for words where none could aclequately express th< depth of her experience.-
"Now 1 had true compassion and feelings for those who suffer morally or physicallyan any part of the /world because of my' owii suffering. My sickness was a kind of school for understanding the hopes and frustrations of all people."
Between 1934 and 1959. Sister Marie-Noelle taught pastrology. the study of ancient Israel, as weH as. mathematics and • physics at one of the schools run by her convent. Because of her flair for linguistics, she spent five years studying Hebrew, Most of the books needed for her studies were printed in Israel. Through them she became acquainted with the life in Israel and Zionism. And, as fate would
have it, this was also around the time when the state of Israel was created.
Along with a handful of other sisters she stiidied Jewish history, becomiiig familiar with the Talmud ^-.other judaic litera-tui
In f^9 she was sent to MontreU^as mistress of loo novic^. The experiment to introduce French nuns into Quebec Catholicism failed but Sister Marie-Noc'lle remained in her new home. The same year the late Pope John XXIII called the Second
Vatican Council which for the first time in the history of the Church expressed a desire for ecumenical, rather than missionary, relations with noh-Cathplics, including Jews.
Sister Marie-Noelle's order, NotreJDame de Sion, took a special interest in theSecbndCouncil's instructions — the order was founded by two French Jewish converts in the mid-19th century and was one of the pioneers when it officially adopted eciimenism in 1964.
gjiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiniiniiiiiniiiiininumimiiiiiiiiliiiiitiiiiiiiiiHiiinnuiiinnii^
f In a report of Shmnel Tamtr's speech at the CZF . = convention in last weel(^s Issue, he waJs qnoted as I saybig that the nujority of people hi Jerusalem are § Palestinians. This was a misquote. The sentence I should have read "the minority of people hi i Jordim...*' We regret the error. ;
.fiiiiii.....iiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiNiiiiMiiiiiiiiniNiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiMiiiuiiuiiiul
Executive Director
(Eastern Region)
National Jewish Women's Community Service Organization
The Challenge:
To.provide the direction and effective leadership required by the Eastern Region of the Canadian arm of a major Jewish International Service. Organization. This professional is responsible to the Executive Committee for the development and implementation of the programs and policies of the organization by effective use of his/her personnel, and the relsource's availablie to the organization..The director serves as a consultant to the membership through its structures-as well as a liaison to other.professionals in the various sectors of the entire organization.
The Executive:
Will be a creative, mature and diplomatic university graduate who has a proven record of achievement in a similar or related position. Preferably bilingual and highly skilled in both : written-and verbal communication, this executive hriust possess an .intimate knovyledge of Jewish life and.values and be able to translate the needs of wornen infO'dynamic prograrns. The selected candidate must have.the human skills required to establish and maintain excellent rapport with Community leaders, professionals and the membership at large. .
Location: Toronto. Starting date Aug. Tst, 1980. Forward, curriculum vitae; in. detail to Ted Greenfield,.C.;A:., quoting.file nuniber 3119.
erc^soces
... \ conseJiere en adfncnislration. . managenientconsuilanis ■.
USO: rut Cny Counokn. MorWJI (Qu«(»c) KJA 2E«
I
The first night's on us!
If you're planning a trip to Israel, has Goliger's got a deal for you!
Stay a nnininnum of 11 nights in any of our range of first class or deluxe hotels, and we'll chip in one night - absolutely free!
the only restriction is that you must purchase your airfare and . hotel accommodation through , Goliger's,
Call your nearest branch for further details ...
serving travellers:since 1955
Toronto ,593-6168 : 188 University.Avenue
Montreal
849--3571 ' , 550 Sherbrooke West .
Kirkland (West Island) 694-3087 St. Charles Shopping Centre
YIDDISH MUSICAL THEATRE COMES TO MONTREAL & TORONTO!
DIRECT FROM NEW YORK! THE SMASH HIT!
"Sparkling ... stylishly done and with removable freshness ... a l'chayimtoall" _,N>/;MfS "a hitthe leading lady shines in everything she does"
-ItWISH rORWARD
the Sensational Yiddish Musical Star
MARYSOREANU
and
YANKELEALPERIN
^ in
The RAbbi's DauqIiter
A YIDDISH MUSICAL COMEDY (With English Narration)
WITH
reizlbozyk
DAVID CAREYl
-AND
shifra lerer
davidellin
MONTREAL
Three Peris! Sat, Apr. 12, 8:30 p.m. Sun., Apr. 13, 230 p.m. & 8 p.m. SALLE ClAUDE CHAMPAGNE
2020 VINCENT VINDY
ALL SEATS RESERVED Sat. & Sun. eves^$12.00;$JJ0:00& $7.00 Sun. 2:3r$9.00T$7rdO & $^5.00 /Tickets available at ^
Rodal's
Bookstore, 4689 Van Hbrne
GROUP RATES & INFORMATION
{51|4) 733-9314
TORONTO
One Perf! Wed, Apr. 16,8 p.m. BEnfEMETH BAIS YEHUDAH SYNAGOGUE
100 ELDER ST, DOWNSVIEW
ALL SEATS RESERVED Orchestra $10.00; Baloon/ $7.50; Balcony Side $5.00 Tickets available at Synagogue office (416) 633<3838; Negev Bookstore, Bathurst St. (416) 781-0071, Mail Orders; Make cheques payable to "Rebecca", mail to Synagogue office. GROUP RATES & INFORMATION: (416) 633-3838