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Page 2 - The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, December 16, 1977
M-T
World News
Dry Bones
OF IT (SoiiOG
Begin promises conference on poverty, social inequality
NEW YORK [JTAl —
Nessjm Gaon, president of the World Sephardi Federation (WSF). says that as a result of the federation's intervention with Premier Menachem Begin, the Israeli leader gave his "commitment to convene, during the year 1978. a world Jewish conference to deal specifically with the problems of poverty and social inequalit\' in Israel."
Gaon, of Geneva, addressed the opening session of the three-day meeting of the federation's presidium at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel here.
Addressing some 150 leaders of Sephardi communities from Israel, Europe. Latin America j|nd the U.S., Gaon urged the Israeli government, in the event that the Geneva conference should resume, to include on its negotiating team "diplomats or specialists who have lived in Arab lands and who can serve as a bridge to a more fruitful dialogue among the nations of the Near East."
Citing alarming statistics of what he termed "de-Judaization" in the
Diaspora, Gaon called for "concerted Sephardi efforts to build more Jewish schools, especially in France, and to have Hebrew universally adopted as a second language among all Jews, in addition "to bringing our young people closer to the sacred principles of our Jewish fauh."
While praising the improvement of the Sephardi status in Israel since the Begin government came to office. Gaon was sharply critical of the World Zionist Organization, claiming that "it is not normal that we should be represented on the Zionist executive by only one out of 22 people." He called for special effort daring the forthcoming World Zionist Congress to have Sephardim assigned to key positions in the youth and education departments.
In her introductory remarks, Liliane Levy-Winri, president of the American Sephardi Federation (ASF). ^ emphasized the significance of having this conference in the U.S. "in order to rally the political and economic
powerof the U.S. Jewr\- to our cause."
She blamed the Sephardim for being remiss "in allowing the American Jewish community to remain oblivious to the Sephardi role in the rebirth of Israel, to Sephardi needs in Israel and to the fractionalization of the social and economic fabric of the Jewish state."
In a similar vein, Gaon told a fund-raisers' luncheon meeting that ending the social gap in Israel must not be underestimated. He warned that if the gap is allowed to continue, it will result in a "highly polarized soci-ety." . ,
He stressed to the audience of UJA-Jbint Campaign officers and New York Sephardi leaders that "this polarity would constitute a grave threat to Israel's very existence. We cannot, must not, sit back and allow the problem to grow."
Gaon said some 500,000 people in Israel are living in substandard conditions.
"These people are un-.derprivileged socially, economically and educationally," he said.
to
Cont'd from Page 1
With the Soviet Jewish immigrant the case worker is faced with the ^sk of reeducation — that is, unlearning what has become ingrained from years of living behind the Iron Curtain, said Kage. This is a much more subtle process than simple education of the immigrant to the ways of the land.
"The response to the conference is significant . . .money and material goods are not the only things the immigrant requires. ^ye cannot only be the provider of food, rent and clothing; there has to be an open door for the immigrant to come in and talk to someone," he added. ■
"The emotional needs of the immigrant are vitally important. We must establish contacts in the areas where the new immigrants are going to see that they remain members of the Jewish community." : •
Kage thinks that the school of thought espoused by Sol Granek, director general of the United Israel Appeial in Israel, and others that the Jewish community perhaps should reconsider aiding the Soviet Jewish dropout is "slightly dangerous."
"If we say 'let my people go' how can we-turn away a Jew who is given his freedom. If someone comes to me for aid I don't ask htm if he is from Toronto or Moscow; I look at him only in terms of his needs.
* 'Immigration and aliya are not opposites. None of us wants to do harm to Israel, but we liye in a time
of great mobility and people will move."
Not theleast of the other reasons for calling the conference was to familiarize the communitj- workers with the new immigration regulations of Bill C-24, passed in July by the House of Commons and to come into effect possibly as early as February.
The removal of the "nominated catejgory" of relatives — that is, married and unmarried children over 21; brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces. Uncles, aunts and grandchildren — has caused Kage some concern.
The definition of "family' ' for sponsorship is now-confined to husband, wife, minor children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren under 18, and orphaned brothers, sisters.
nephews, and nieces.
Provision is also made that where a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant has no relatives within the allowed categories, he may sponsor any relative regardless of age or relationship.
Kage questions how the natural desire to be reunited with relatives in the abolished category, such a crucial factcr to immigrant groups, can be overlooked.
"We trust that the new immigration regulations will take this into account and that Quebec (which will have a strong say in how the regulations are administered) will also reconsider its views towards a greater generosity and understanding of this issue."^ . ■
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JERUSALEM —
Her stationery reads Mrs. Justice Miriam Ben Porat. She is the first woman ever to become a Supreme Court Justice in the common law world.
To outsiders her appointment-may not seem surprising in a country which has already been led by an outstanding woman — Golda Meir. But Israel has, in fact, very few women in high positions.
Mrs. Justice Ben Por-
at's appointment this year overcame a certain resistance to the idea of feminine representation in one of the most distinguished institutions of the state of Israel.
Mrs. Ben Porat, however, does not consider herself a representative or leader in women's causes. "For women to gain recognition -in different fields of work and life — not just in Israel, but in other countries,*-^ she
says, "they must first believe themselves capable, and develop their tdents. Then they will be accepted, given positions accordingly and treated as equals. Such a process which is already in motion, will of course take time."
The lady justice sits calmly and correctly in the upholstered chair of her modest chambers in a section of Jerusalem known as the Russian Compound, the seat of the Supreme
CBC progrwm biased: CIC
Cont'd from Page 1
The CIC's concern with the CBC, specifically, centres on the size of the corporation, its larger volume of foreign news coverage, the popularity of its current affairs programing, and its public mandate.
The "quality of its public" is also a factor, said Simmonds, since the shows often attract the attention of "people who have a role to play in the political process and foreign policy."
His French counterpart in Montreal's CIC office. Leon Benbaruk, found Radio Canada's radio and television coverage of the Sadat visit to be "relatively balanced."
In fact, the CIC, a month before the.trip, suggested a commentator for the coverage in the person of Lazar Prajs. an Israeli who teaches in the Jewish studies program at the
University of Montreal.
As well as Prajs, the television coverage included two Egyptian Arabs — one, a U of M professor, who viewed the visit favorably and another, a CEGEP bstruct-orf, who didn't.
In his presentation to CBC management last month, Simmonds listed a number of examples to support his contention of unfair reportage, including:
—CBC television's "Round-Up" feature on 1976 failed to include any reference to the Entebbe rescue;
— As It Happens, in June of this year, carried a lead story on the alleged torture of Arab detainees in Israeli-occupied territory with the introduction: "There is now conclusive evidence that Israel is guilty of torturing Arab prisoners," in. what Simmonds calls "a bold state-
ment of opinion disguised as fact," with no Israeli rebuttal;
—As It Havens' use of Michael Adams, "a leading figure in an organization known as The Council for the Advancement of Arab British Understanding", only identifying him as a "British journalist". Adams was reporting on a conference on Zionism sponsored by the Iraqi government in Baghdad, with CBC as the only Canadian media outiet carrying the "propaganda exercise," and
— Sonday Morning's use of Uri Avneri. incorrectly identified as a former "member of the Likud", who is left-wing" editor of Haolam Hazeh. an Israeli weekly.
CBC Radio News, he noted, "has recentiy been scrupulous in ensuring that both sides of an issue are presented — either on the same or following day."
Mediation for activist
Cont'd from Page 1
In part, he was referring to the 57 MPs from all political parties who sent a telegram to Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev demanding the dissident's release, as well as to the letter from 12 prominent Ontario citizens who asked Trudeau to request his release.
But, ultimately, he stressed, it was the hunger strike which precipitated Saturday's meeting with Cafik and the government's subsequent decision to discuss the Schar-ansky case with the Soviet ambassador. .
"Nothing had happened for nine months before this. Scharansky was back-page news. Now he's front-page news. Without our effort, all the work exerted by other organizations for the last nine months would have gone for naught."
He added: "Canada hasn't changed its policy. It was always involved in monitoring and caring. But the government needed a needle in the back ... to act." Garber expressed the hope that Scharansky would be in Canada by the new year.
He said seven out of 16 students fasted for all 11 days. They were: Rebecca Rotenberg, Rachel Roten-berg, Ralph Rubenstein, Danny Eisen, Victor Frad-kin, Dave Gotfrid and Randy Robinson. Ms. Robinson is assistant executive director of the Jewish
Student Federation.
Earlier last week, prior to the latest' developments, Prime Minister Trudeau, responding to repeated cables ftoim the strikers, sent the following telegram: "I have heai^s your message of conofem for Anatoly Scharansky. Please be assured that the government has been closely monitoring ; his
case from the beginning ..."
Trudeau noted that Canada advocated the principle guaranteeing rights of emigration and family reunion.
At the start of then-himger strike, the students had charged that Canada was neutral and "wishy-washy "toward the plight of Soviet dissidents.
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Court. A black robe, well worn, hangs near the door and Mrs. Ben Porat; in a small sports dress, speaks about being a woman justice.
"When I was appointed public prosecutor in 1948, 1 felt that as a woman I n^ded more courage than men; I knew I had to try harder. The number of women in the legal profession in those days was still scarce and my first homicide case was quite a sensation. Gradually things changed.
"Experience made me
Ex-PM, Sartre plea
By EDWIN EYTAN
PARIS (JTA] —
Two prominent French personalities, former premier Pierre Mendes-France and philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, have appealed to Israel to recognize the Palestinian people.
Mendes-France, who was in Israel last month during the visit of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, said in an interview with the Socialist weekly. Le Nouvel Observateur. that Israel should grant the Palestinian people the same rights Israel has.
The French Jewish elder statesman urged Israel not only to make concessions but. to "make them fast." He said this was necessary to enable Sadat to tell other Arab countries, "I am advancing. I am obtaining something."
more self-confident and the number of women joining the legal profession was increasing. Eventually women representing the state in serious criminal cases became a normal phenomenon.
On the question of not having a constitution Justice Ben Porat has the following to say: "It is no requisite, I should say. We must build it gradually, piece by piece. Occasionally we pass what are called 'basic laws.' These are laws of a special standing which can be repeated or altered only by a special majority. In time the 'basic laws' will form our constitution. It is better to go step by step, as people say — slowly, but
surely. So far the main functions of the Supreme Court of Israel are as the -Highest Court of Appeal and as a High Court of Justice."
Regarding the lack of a jury system, Mrs. Ben Porat feels that Israel, as a small country, is better off without juries. "It is difficult to select a jury," she says, "in a country where either everyone knows everyone or is likely to be related to someone in the case. It has worked very well to leave the facts to the judge. I think that dejnocracy has not suffered becauseof it.If a judge feels even remotely that he is not absolutely impartial, he disqualifies himself."
Miriam Ben Porat was bom in Russia in 1918, brought up in Lithuania and immigrated to what was then Palestine in 1936. She studied at the Hebrew Gymnasium in Kovna, Lithuania and took her law degree at Jerusalem's Hebrew University. After she served as first deputy to the District Court in 1958 and appointed its president in 1975. She is a member of tiie faculty of law at the Hebrew University, where she has lectured since 1964.
Mrs. Ben Porat has one grown daughter' and a grandson. Her husband Joseph is a writer and a poet.
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