The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, April 25, d975 *P«ge 7
Organizations and Peopte
Dr. Joffre attributes his longevity to a blessing for life aiding oHiers
'Poppa Joffre' - Dr. Joseph Joffre, still enjoys arm wrestling despite his 100 years. Last year, the native of Latvia participated m Montreal's March to Jerusalem, He was a champion wrestler m the 1900's. (H. Kay)
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Qy PATRICIA RUCKER TORONTO-
Rabbi Dr. Walter Wurz-burger of Far Rockawky. N.Y.. rabbi of Shaarei Shomayim Congregation for over a decade, returned to Torontolast .Sunday night to speak to an audience at the second annual dinner of the Ye-shivat B'nei Akiva Or Chaim — Ulpanot Orbt Girls' School.
The 450 members of Toronto's Orthodox community who came to the Torah Emeth Jewish Centre were obviously proud of the estiablishment of the first Bnei Akiva schools in ' HDrth,^\4w*<^^- Thejj, were.
equally proud to invite an old friend and distinguished rabbi to join in their celebration of twp years of successful operation.
Dr. Wurzburger, professor of philosophy at Yeshiva University and editor of Tradition, spoke of the importance to Jewish survival of Torah study. He recounted the story of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. who obtained permission to start the first yeshiva at Yavneh from Titus, the Roman general who razed Jerusalem.
"Titus' arch in Rome was inscribed 'Judaea is conqijered,'  Today the
Roman Empire is in ruins and we say "Am Yisroel chai!" he said.
"You are not merely building a yeshiva, you are creating here a vibrant and dynamic spiritual JForce. This is not a time for retreat for Torah. Today there is an opportunity for us to spread the light."
Dr. Wurzburger was interrupted by applause as he referred to "the light of life or chaim," the name of the Toronto yeshiva. The applause culminated in a standing ovation as he concluded, "We must show our concern and our love for our feliow Jews. Go out and share the
light —the light of lifel" But the most striking statement of the religious significance of the return to Israel and the founding of the state came from Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yehuda Felix. "We are now witnessing the beginning of the Redemption."
Rabbi Felix will return to Israel this summer. He will take with him a plaque from the school which tells of his "selfless dedication and devotion."
He will also have the company of six of the yeshiva's nine grade 13 graduates who are contir nuing their studies in Israel.
By JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL —
Dr. Joseph Joffre challenges anyone to an arm wrestling match. "I'm healthy, that's all there is to it, I'm the strongest man in the world. It's God's blessing," declares tjie doctor.
Dr. Joffre turned 100 this year.
*Papa Joffre', a regular and a favorite with everyone at the Golden Age Association of AJCS, has ho secrets for longevity.
"My guiding principle has been to mankind. All my life I've helped other people. That's what keeps me alive. If someone is in distress 1 help ,them. If I have a couple of pennies I givie it to the poor."
He never smokes or drinks. And asfor diet. Dr. Joffre is no food faddist. "1 eat what my daughter gives me and before that I ate what my wife gave me. 1 never ordered anything."
Dr. Joffre walks nearly everyday from his daughter's home to the Golden Age Association, a disr tance of several blocks. "With the money 1 save on bus or taxi fare, 1 give to the poor."
Last year, he was the oldest participant in the March to Jerusalem, a 25-Kilometre hike through thestreet of Montreal. He plans to join the marchers again this year on May 4th.
All this vigorous activity has kept Dr. Joffre a remarkably solid and healthy person. He claims to have "never been sick a day in his life," excrept for an appendix operation in 1945.
Still husky with hands like those of a lumberjack's. Dr. Joffre has all his own teeth today. Perr haps his only regret is that he lost his hair and jokes about photograpers
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"never getting his part on the right side."
Dr. Joffre's fondest memories go back to .around the turn of the century when his athletic days were at their pieak. He remembei^ tangling with some of the strongest men of the day, including the likes of Louis Cyr.
A champion wrestler, he nevertheless "took an awful beating sometimes" and still proudly bears the scars that attest to it.
The life story of Dr.-Joffre has all the makings of a best-seller. He was born in Lebow, Latvia on March 2. 1875. Says: Dr. Joffre, "It was a terrible time* we sometimes starved. If I wasn't so strong I wouldn't'be alive today."
But young Joffre did survive, and earned degrees in chemistry and medicine at universities in
Europe. He became conversant in 14 languages.
"I had to woric for everything...doing everything at school — washing floors, cleaning."
In 1893, after considerable travel. Dr. Joffre came to Canada, and joined the staff of Jeanne d'Arc Hospital in Montreal .
When World War - I broke out. - Dr. Joffre served in the medical corps of the Canadian Army. Despite wounds, he carried on.
He married, and he and his late wife had six children and cared for nine orphans. "There were ialways hundreds of children around our home."
Dr. Joffre has lost count of how may grand and great-grandchildren he has.
He retired only seven
years ago and at the age of 97 joined the Golden Age Association where most of his activity centres today. He has remained a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a Mason.
He readis the newspaper everyday, is known to play ■a good game of chess, and is reputed to be a great -dancer. _
But as a real gentleman in the old tradition, he "has nothing to do with women. One womian was all that I had."
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Pioneer Women have Golden Jubilee
TORONTO —
Pioneer Women's Organization of Canada has proclaimed the month of April to celebrate International Women's Year with a series of events highlighting the "Year of the Woman." This will coincide with the launching of an intensive national membership Campaign.
Pioneer Women's Organization, founded in 1925 together with branches in 13 countries, is this "year celebrating its Golden Jubilee. Since 1930. the organization has been celebrating International Women's Day here on an annual basis each year concentrating on a particular phase of women's achievements and her progress, and her fight to take on more responsibilities and obligations.
Among the events plan-
ned for International Women's Year are: Toronto — Jewish Women in Transition — speaker, Michele Lansberg, Associate Editor, Chatelaine Magazine: Montreal — Women's Rights — Fact or Fiction — speaker. Marc Lalonde. minister of health & welfare & status . of women; Doris Anderson, editor Chatelaine Magazine; Windsor — A Cosmopolitxm Evening — hosted by members from Tripoli. Israel. Australia, Wales. London and the United States; Winnipeg — Women's Rights Aroond the World — A panel representing an Iron Curtain country, an Afro-Carribean, Indian, Phil-lipines. Israel and Canada; Ottawa — An evening honouring ah outstanding Canadian woman in public life.
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