I'i
lewisnnews
16 Pages
Friday, October 24,1975 Cheshi
#1
Cheshvan 19,5736
25^
SWEET MUSIC OF SUCCESS!
Leon Weinstein oh violin (centre, standing), joins four of his friends iii a Max Rasminsky, Maurice Solway, Sam Shopsowitz and Oscar Shainhouse. few moments of musical merriment during his Israel Bonds tribute dinner At podium is Phil Goldman and women at head table are Susan Cohon (sec-at Holy Blossom Temple last week. Other instrumentalists are (from left) ond from right) and Anne Vfeiiistein. See other photo on ^ge 3. (Hausman)
Eloquence
By LEWIS LEVENDEL CJN Associate Editor
TORONTO -
Abba Eban's appearance in*Toronfo last week helped bring in $1.07 million worth of Israel Bonds purchases. The renowned orator put his golden tones to work twice in the same evening at Holy Blossom Temple.
Former Israel foreign minister and ex-ambassador to the U.S. and the UN. Eban attracted 1.200 to a Freedom Rally in the synagogue sanctuary (minimum, purchase of a $250 bond) and 460 to a testimonial dinner downstairs for Leon Weinstein, one of Toronto's most celebrated sons (minimum purchase of $1,500 in bonds).
The Israeli drew standing ovations for his two 40-min-ute speeches delivered back to back with only about a 15-minute rest interval. Disappointing to some ill the audiences ^yas that the first half of both addresses was practically a word-for-word repeat of what he had said to 450 people attending a gala dinner sponsored by the Canadian Friends of Haifa University in March at the Four Seasons Sheraton.
Nevertheless, Bonds officials were overjoyed with the results of the evening which produced a significant number of new purchases. Campaign chairman Herb Green termed the response of the community to Eban's appearance as "electrifying."
He reported to the Weinstein dinner that so far this__ year, there has been $13, million in pledges (about the same as last year), but that the -present cash position of $7 million was up $2'/4 million from the same time in 1974.
Eban spent nearly, half of his address dealing with the ramifieationvof the Egypt-Israel accord. He stressed his country had a choice between this agreement and the consequences of no agreement at all. He admitted to having doubt and hesitations about it, but is now certain it Was the right move.
Regarding future peace negotiations, Eban asserted: "1 am convinced that the theme of Israel's discourse with its friends in North America and elsewhere is how we can reach a consensus on those boundary changes in mbkh there are ail coiTcUtions
essiential for our; security and survival. It is the absence of such a consensus between Israel and America, between Israel and the European community that ciasts its retroactive shadow upon all aspects of our international relations."
He urged the necessity of other agreemients in the Mideast and warned against any relaxation. A new agreement would allow Egypt to stand fast against radical Arab forces. Jie added.
There are three misconceptions being disseminated by the news media regardingthe ,
interim agreement, he charged. The U.S. technicians are not coming to the Sinai to help one party fight, but to prevent battling, he emphasized.
The diplomat found offensive placing a price tag oii the agreement. Arms aid to Israel has nothing to do with the agreements he stressed. It's part of the continuing balance of power objective by the U.S.
He talked of the illusion that $2.3 billion is going to the Israel economy. Pointing out. that today's weapons cost millions, he said the agree-
ment allows Israel a supply line of credit at various factories.
Eban continued:
"We have learned the Arabs can lose a war without any defeat and Israel can win any war and yet. victory forbids celebration. Nothing for the Arabs succeeds more than defeat... I doubt if there can be. another phase (of negotiations) except in context of the discussion of the whole drama of peace in the Mideast in broader concepts."
He said the transition of Egypt, with a population and
influence greater than all Arab countries put together, from exclusive dependence on the Soviet Union to an increasingly intimate relationship with the U.S., and through it with the Western world, is a major change in , the world's power map. The veteran diplomat and Columbia University professor discussed some of the recent good portents regarding the Mideast. He noted Canada's refusal "tohavethe ridiculous and grotesque paradox of the terrorists attending a conference Cont'd on Page 14
Kashmth seminar bland affair
By SHELDON KIRSHNER ; ^CJN Staff Reporter
T0R0NT6 —
Comparative shopping may be the only way to beat the high cost of kosher\meat, a federal consumer consultant told a Canadian Jewish Congress kashruth seminar here last week.
Diana Bums, of the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, declared: "If yoii don't like the price, you can shop at anothier store. This is the free enterprise system. If you want a special cut of meat, you have to pay for it. It's as simple as that."
Mrs. Burns''advice to the overflow audience of 250 at Shaarei Shomayim Congregd-tion was supported by Helen Gross, chairman of CJC's Consumer Panel on Kosher Food, and Sydney ^bino-vitch, a Steinberg's meat buyer.
Other members of the paiiel were^ Rabbi Gedalia Felder, chairman of the Rabbinical Vaad Hakashruth and Esther Schwartz, a kosher cooking consultant. The moderator was Cynthia Gasner, who h£^dles information and public relations for the Vaad.
Seated at the head table as well were Milton Harris, chairman of CJC's Central Region, Saul Sigler, chairman of tfie Orthodox Division and Nachman Shemen, executive director of the Orthodox '\ Division.
The seminar, which is said by the Orthodox IMyision to have been planned last
winter, was not marked by the controversy which erupted following the release last June of the report of the Consumer Panel on Kosher Food.
The report, which had been preceded by an earlier report disclosing "blatantly fraudulent practices" regarding the price of kosher meat products in the city, pointed out the widespread extent of , fluctuating prices on similar cuts of kosher meat and poultry.
In the wake of the Consumer Panel's second report, Milton Harris chided the Vaad and CJC's Orthodoi^ Division for having "been secretive over the Vears in
communicating with the Community." In a subsequent interview. Nachman Shemen denied that his organization had been close-mouthed in hs dealings with the Jewish community.
Further dissension on the role of the Vaad — and the Consumer Panel — came to light last July when Helen Goldenberg resigned from the panel. She accused Congress of not fulfilling its role as '"spokesman, protector and guardian of kashruth" for the community.
Mrs. Goldenberg, who was not at the meeting, said the Vaad Hakashruth failed to
respond to allegations of fraudulent practices, and criticized Congress for failing to apply pressure on kosher butchers to reduce prices.
Last week's kashruth seminar, billed as "one further vehicle for reachj.ng those members of our community who would like to know more about kashruth...", did not offer much solace to worried buyers, judging by the remarks of the panelists.
Mrs. Gross, explaining that high prices were due to stringent standards and market conditions, said the Consu-
Cont'donPagv 14
It was Standing room only at the Kashnith seminar at Shaarei Shonuj^ Cbtis^ last week. The event was^onsored by Canadian leydsh Congress; Centtal Rci^. (Hoz)
By LEWIS LEVENIDEL CJN Associate Editor
TORONTO —
The United Synagogue of America, _the 825-congrega-tion body of the Conservative movement in North America, has voted to suspend the troubled Beth Tzedec Congregation.
In a letter sent to congregation President Dr. Fred Weinberg and other Beth Tzedec board members, USA President A r t h u r Levine wrote: "Rather than take disaffiliation action at this time, which would be tantamount to complete expulsion from the Conservative movement, our board voted to suspend Beth Tzedec for a period of 60 days (from Oct. 5) in the hope thiat in the interim you will reconsider your position."
Under suspension, the congregation is ineligible for any rights or privileges in the Conservative movement, including educational a nd youth services i and participation in conferences and conventions.
Asked for his reaction. Dr. Weinberg said the matter will
Threatened with expulsion
IS sus
pay
cause we hate to lose any synagogue from the Conservative movement. We wanted to make sure the rest of the board is aware of what might happen."
Some Beth Tzedec leaders have long expressed their disenchantment with USA which they say is doing things from which Canadian congregations derive no benefit.
Last year, Beth Tzedec's current rabbi. J.B. Fried-berg, was expelled from the Rabbinical Assembly, the North American body of Conservative rabbis. The RA had declared the Beth Tzedec pulpit vacated until the congregation and Rabbi Rosenberg settled their differences.
Meanwhile, it has been learned that the congregation ' has appeared before Ontario Chief Justice Wilfred Estey asking that the cases regard-
be discussed by his board. He refused to answer ainy other questions.
The decision by about 70 members of the USA board at the meeting was unanimous. Levine in -his letter said the action by the USA board was taken "most reluctantly and only after a thorough review of our correspondence with ""Beth Tzedec over the past several years, from whidi it became abundantly clear that you have no interest in the congregation's continued affiliation with United Synagogue-,
...quite apart from
our differences with Beth Tzedec on the matter of the: congregation's ongoing dispute with Rabbi Rosenberg, the congregation has an overriding obligation to remit its dues to the United Synagogue, an obligation which you consistently chose to ignore despite our repeated pleas."
In New York, a spokesman for the USA told The Canadian Jewish News the' unusual step of sending copies of the letter to Dr. Weinberg and to all Beth Tzedec board members was taken "be-
ing it and Rabbi Rosenberg be heard in the order that the writs were issued. TTie diief justice has reserved judgment.
The first case regarding die suit by Rabbi Rosenberg against Dr. Wemberg, Albert Gellman, Greta Girefsman, Max Milstone and Marvin Miller for defamation of character has been set Cor Nov. 17 in the Ontario Supreme Court- However, the synagogue has asked that the case regauding the cM>bi's contract \e heard first.
A source said the synagogue had made the request because tfiey are seeking a , delay. "They are nowhere ready to go on that one (the contract case) because they need up to a year to prepare," explained the source.
"Absolutely no comment whatsoever'' was the reaction of Dr. Weinberg, when' contacted by Hie CJN.
'SODIBilllll
continues
msm actum
By TOBA KORENBLUM CJN Staff Reporter
TORONTO —
The student newspaper, Masada will continue to publish under its own steam despite the withdrawal of funds from its co-sponsors — B'nai B'rith Hillel at the University of Toronto and YoriC" University's^ -Jewish Student Federation.
In separate meetings held earlier this month, both Hillel and JSF decided to withhold its $4,200 in annual support. for the publication, following a long-standing disagreement with the newspaper's editorship. Masada eiditor Norman Doidge says he and his 30-member volunteer staff will continue to print the free paper with backing from students and private community sources.
TTie most recent irritant and stimuljiis to the final break between the publication and its financiers was a controversial article in Masa^ da's first issue of the school season criticizing Federal Housing Minister Barney Dahson. The piece, labelled as potentially libelous and disgraceful by B'nai B'rith National Vice-President Don Jubas. called Danson a cynical and self-serving Jew, insensitive to the issue of the PLO and the UN Crime Conference, ultimately shifted from Toronto to Geneva.
Spurred by the offensive article, 15 laymen, faculty and students at an Oct. 1 meeting of the advisory board of JSF, voted unanimously in favor of temporarily withdrawing funds. Because thfe Masada issue rose spontaneously at that session, none of the newspaper's staff was represented.
Tempers flared at a Hillel meeting. Oct. 7, where a vote of 18-14 supported funding the paper and allowing it complete editorial freedom. Hillel director Ben Mayer, claiming the meeting was "packed" by a group of outsiders, overrode the vote. He had consulted with United Jewish Welfare Fund spokes-meii and Leslie Kert, the new chairman of B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation, before the decision to part company with Miasada was finalized.
The banson article sparked the culmination of T •/» years of discord between Masada and its financial backers. Masada claims its pro-Zionist, ant i-*establishment' critiques have urked its sponsors, and it cries for editorial freedom.
' Hillel and JSFdirectors call for greater responsibility, integrity and wider input into a magazine that has become the domain of a privileged few. ~
"The Jewish community b not mature enough to bear cotidsm." editor Doid^ said. "We criticize them for not being Jewish enough politically, for- not being
proud and assertive of their Jewishness. The Jewish bureacracy was uncomfortable with our aggressive Zionist stance."
Doidge's criticism of Hillel does not centre solely on its dealings w-ith the paper, but on the organization's, "failure" to rally Jewish students. , "Hillel has felt obliged to water down its Jewishness in order to attract people," he said. On no occasion has it taken the initiative to battle "the bombardment of Arab propaganda on campus," he added, accusing; Hillel of being complacent to the anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism existing at the university.
"The Masada people are using the Zionist issue in a distorted way ais a vendetta against Hillel for pulling their funding," Mayer charged. "Their agenda is one of attack, coupled with an infatiiation with themselves and what they have produced."
In a letter to Doidge, Mayer called the DanSon article "a n g r i I y. adolpscently, smart-mouthed" and the entire allegedly offensive issue as "little more than a cheap Zionist rag and glib flag-waving propaganda attempt."
Regarding Doidge's attack on Hillel as passive in the face of political events on campus, Mayer called the accusations "spurious." Anti- Semitic and Israeli sentiment at the university, although not completely stifled, is limited to a leftist "lunatic fringe," he added.
Of prime concern to Mayer is not Masada's body of criticism nor its assertive Zionism, but the "smugness
Dayof I Israel is target of Arab hatred
By MURRAY ZUCkOFF JTA News Editor
UNITED NATIONS-
Oct. 17 will be recalled as a day of infamy at the United Nations. It is the day when a cabal of Arab, Communist and Third World states succeeded in formalizing a hatred of Zionism in Israel by , adopting a draft resolution in which Zionism was -equated with racism.
It was a day of infamy because the 70 countries which voted for the resolution in the General Assembly Third Committee were aided and abetted, intentionally or unintentionally, by the 27 states that abstained in the vote and by the 16 states that were absent.
It was a day of infamy because the draft now provides many of these states with a legal and ethical veneer, a rationale for continued action against Israel and, possibly, for action against Zionists and Zionist organizations within those countries where a Zionist group may now be functioning. *
The draft resolution now provides, in the guise of flghting racism, an onslaught against international liberation movements of the Jewish people and the embodiment of this movement in the state of Israel. "
It was a day of infamy because the draft encpr-porates a Nazi technique of the big lie.
It was also a day of perversity in that the draft resolution and vote took place in the social, humanitarian and cultural committee. The vote and the draft is evidence that this committee is neither social, nor humanitarian, nor cultural..
The Arab sponsored draft resolution was denounced by Israeli Ambassador Chaim Herzogwho told the Third Committee that the draft has "degraded" the UN by "introducing this anti-Semitic element into the world today and in so doing you will destroy it ultimately."
Leonard Garment* a member of the UJS. delegation to the UN, speaking before the vote, called the draft resolution "obscene," a "supreme act of deceit" and "one of the most grievous errors in the 30-year existence of the UN."
(See Editorial on Page 4)
The Canadian Zionist Federation is planning a rally in Toronto for next Tuesday evening at Sliaarei Shomayim Synagogue. The slogan is ''An attack on Zionism is an attack on Jews." A, similar rally is also planned for Montreal under CZF auspices.
s
Cont'd on Page 14 imniunini
Bonds testimonial dinner
TORONTO—
Concerted action on behalf of economic support for Israel has been given impetus as a result of a 'dinner honoring Toronto sportsman, humanitarian and,business executive Sam Shefsky to take place Sunday. Nov. 2, at the Royal York Hotel.
The occasion.is the Sports Celebrity Interfoith Testuno-nial Dinner on behalf of State of Israel Bonds which in- ' volves the participation of leaders in Ciuiada's political, sports, business and community life, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Shefsky will be the recipient of the Canada-Israel Fnendship' Award, presented in past years to such outstanding dignitaries as the late Govemor-Generid Vincent Massey, actor Edward G. Robinsqn, and singer-actor Harry Belafbote.
As a ^ult of a number df
SamShdEricy
advance receptions held in Shefsky's honor by piond-nent personalities In the cpmmunity, hundreds of thousands of loan dotlais have already been subscribed
in Israel Bonds, the majority by individuals and business corporations not pr6viousfy
involved in the Toronto bond effort.
^ Members of the dinner committee mclude prominent Toronto lawyer, and Rred-dent of the CNE. Julian Porter, who wiU serve ■«« dinner chairman; Caries Ai. Cadieux. King Quu^ and Douglas Bassett. asisbdate diatrmen: Gerald Shefi^. tribute committee diaitmin:^ EmieLieberman and HetbiHt Solway. assojciate chairmen; 'John Murray, table host chairman; WilUam R. Alkn. James P. M*dce^, Trviog Ungetman, associate duUt? men; Mrs. Geocg^ A; Coli^ lamuDgements: ^ cihairiMn;
jpttblidty chaitniu; "Bed" Foster. libnqeii| puUii^ chainnaa,^;
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