Kosher food progmm is created
TORONTO
Hden j[Mrs. Mark) Gross has announced a consumers prc^am on kosher food to be carried on on behalf of the Canadian Jewish congress. , More than 20 women met at h a a r e i S b o m a~y i m
- ^rnagogue, representing the. sisterlKwds of a wide number of Orthodox and Conservative synagogues sdad one Reform Temple (Beth Tlkvah, Adath Israd, Beth Emeth Bais Ydiuda, Beth T^ec, B'nai Israei Beth. Pavid, Beth Toi'ah, Shaarei Shomayim^ Shaarei Tefillah, Beth Jacob V'Anshe Driltz, Shomrei aabboth/ Tem[de Sinai). Also represented were the regional sections of the Orthodox and Conservative national women's synagogue - organizations.
Three special subcommittees were set up to deal with the problem of kosher food and prices. Edith Hochman was named spokesman for the subcommittee on rel igious ritual slaughter to examine* the relationship between schechita procedure and the price of kosher meat. Acting with her are Sara Janowski' . and Linda Levenstein. : Rhod<a Kirshin is
. spokesman for the sub-! committee oh establishing ia
.. survey whidi will examine procedure for gathering factual data: Workilig with her aire Lynette Cepler, 'Cynthia Gasner, Deibbie Gollom, Bea Hoschathder and Rose Ydleck.
Spokesman for the subcommittee on- priorities is Myra Fddman who will work vnthMina Hirsch, Ruth Kelman and Ena Paul.
ITie group was addressed by Miss Judy istrang of the Ontario Food Council.
Convened at the invitation of David Satok, chairman of Cariadian Jewish Congress in Ontario, the group has no preconceived ideias, according to Mrs. Gross, "We not know whether the price of koshar meat has diot up higher and faster than that of non-kodier meat. However, we do aim to find out if it has or hasn't.: In the course of our investigations, we hope what will come out . will be of benefit to the consumer."
The group expects to report back to the Congress aixl the public at the end of its sunvey.
dian
news
16 Pages
Friday/ February 15,1974 Shevat 23,5734
15c
Move arouses criticism
No choice, Bonds say about doing away
with $100 purchase
This was the scene last weekend at Toronto international Airport as the Ontario. United Israel Appeal ^Mission got rfeady to depart for the Holy Land, Most of the mission members not Only carried their 6wn luggage but duffle-
HNIIIIlllUillllll
bags of items for the wounded in Isael. The 35-member mission is led by Joseph Luncinfeld, UIa Ontario Region Chairman, While in-Israel, the group will visit the southern frpiit, the Golan Heights and the wounded.
priorities
NEW YORK -
Concern that Diaspora Jewish life not be sacrificed by '-almost exclusive" concern with Israel has led to the formation of Breira, a New York-based group,
'There is growing concern about priorities in Jewish community life here,"
Robert Loeb. a member of the movement's volunteer 10-m'an. working committee told The Canadian Jewish News."This has led to the question of whether an almost exclusive concern with Israel has caused a withering away of Jewish life in the Diaspora."
' A statement issued by the group goes further:"As American Jews, we are saddened by the extoit to which American Jewish life has come to consist almost exclusively - of vicarious participation in the life of the state of Israel. SuRwrt of
Large-scale investment needed
Israelis look to future with hope, Bonds chairman says after visit
TORONTO —
T h e mi 1 it a r y disengagement may be on in : Israel but economic struggles are still raging, according to Jack Israeli. 1974 general campaign diairman for State of Israel Bonds in Toronto, who just returned from the Prime Minister's International Bond Conference in Jerusalem.
There were 27 ddegates from Toronto among the 500 who attended from the United States and Canada. George Cohon of Toronto headed the entire Canadian contingent.
The inrimary aim of the conference, convened by Prime Minister Golda Meir and Finance Minister Pinhas Sajwr; was to launch the unprecedented $l-Billion Israel Bond Issue to finance, reconstruction and "development in Israd, and to .restore the momentum.ofthe country's economic growth-interrupted by- the Yom KiK)urJVar. _ The adverse effects of the war on Jhe economy cannot be quickly overcome due to the fact that a large section of the country's labor force remains in uniform months after the cessation of hostilities^ Isradi rqwrted.
"Israel needs large^cale investment resources this year to promote/ihe growth' of industries that will in^ crease the country's export trade, particularly in the chemical industry; Improvement in the export trade will help make Israel less financially dependent on out^de help M the jljears to oon^e,-' he expla
Israeli and the Toronto delegation participated in a series of unusual events and meetings which brought them into direct contact with Israel's foremost leaders as well as the soldiers guarding lonely outposts and civilians all over the country.
A highlight of the week-long conferfence was the induction by Prime Minister Meir of the international charter members of the Prune Minister's Club, for purchasers of $25,000 or more in Israel Bonds. George Cohon of Toronto,
president of the Canada-Israel Prime Minister's Club, participated in the very moving ceremony of induction, and also served as chairman of a special luncheon session for delegates with forma- ambassador to the U.S., Yitzhak Rabin.
Summing up his im--pressions of Israel, Toronto Campaign Chairman Jack Isradi asserted:
"Despite the sombre shadows and post-war doubts, one can not help feeling uplifted and dated by the hope, faith and
"The Kissingers
dedication of the people. I visited hospitals and not even the wounded com-{dained. They looked to the p-omise of the future. A dominant imp .ssion was Israel's determination to reach a lasting peace, reconstruct • the ' war-dislocated economy and move forward. Wherever I went, I was thanked for aid to Israd through the Israd Bond program. I. returned home with a greatly strengthened resolve to do mca-e than ever b^ore, for I witnessed Israd's deep and uiiparallded needs.
Tale of two cousins
By ROYSTON ALLEN cjn Israel Correspondent
TEL AVIV — _
While U.S. Secretary of State Henry JCissinger is busy flying back and -forth attempting to brin^ peace to the Middle Elast, his cousin Ernst is; busy sewing and cutting suits in a downtown Td Aviv store, just as he has been doing for the past 39 years.
While Henry's forebears were teadiers, Ernst's were tailoris, back in the old ooimtry in a different era, Ernst came as a 20-year-dd to Israd from Germany with his family in . 1934. Carrying mi the tradition he opened iqp a taUor's shop <m Nahlat Binyamin Street, a thriving commerdal centre in pre-World War II days.
-■-''I have been in this building ever since," Ernst Kissinger told The Canadian Jewish-News. "Perhaps it's not so nice these days, but I am'accustomed to.it and so are my customers." •.
While the outside world changes, Ernst's little 2V^ room showroom and workshop appears to have withstood the mardi of time.
Everything is as predse and exact as Ernst Kissinger's German accent. A potted plant stands between two windows and bolts of doth .are stacked in a cupboard, angled with' "yeckishe" predsion:
Asked whether he thinks of his famous rdative, Ernst replied: "I think atMUt him probably a little bit more than other people. Adually I
only saw him once because when I left Germany he was a litUe boy of 11. When Henry visited Israd in 1964 we md but that was the first and last time. Athough I have contact with his parents and family with him I have no direct connection."
Ernst Kissinger is a very quiet man, slimmer than his younger cousin and perhaps more withdrawn. He w6s somewhat rductant to talk about Henry but ErosX did mention that his cousin'came
from a very religious family. "He does not forget his rdigious background and, in my opinion, this may affect ("Ms thoughts. He is probably trying his best to bring peace to this troubled )area."
Israd has so captured the energies of American Jews that many have abandoned hopes for the development of vigorous and - creative Jewish communities in the Diaspora."
Although named Brdra, Hebrew for alternative, Loeb insists they are not advocating substituting concern for Israd with concern for Diaspora communities. Among the men on its adr visory committee are Rabbi Joadiim Prinz, diairman, World Jewish Congress geverning council and Rabbi Eugene Borowitz, editor of Sh'ma.
■ Instead, they wish to legitimate and promote open discussion of issues . connected with Israd and its relationship ' with the Diaspora. Sudi discussion, they fefeli has been akin to "heresy" in the eyes of many for too long.
"We don't wish to limit the concern with Israd but td focus it on the realities of the state^'' said Loeb, employed as a staff member of the Committee on New Alternatives in the Middle East. "An oversimplified notion of these problems has t)een encouraged by many Jewish organizations because it is a big drawing card for fund-raising," he said.
Already the 10 and its advisory committee of six, all ' 'active in a wide spectrum of 'Jewish sdiolarly, educational,, rdigious and communal life in the United States," have received overwhelming^ :r_esponse,i including ' some from Canada. ''It has been very positive" and muA larger than expected," said Loeb.
from a strong conviction that, especially due to the Yom Kippur War. the present ]time is critical because for the first time the question, of Israel's and the Diaspora's security has seriously arisen.
-By publishing educaticHial material, providing speakers and arranging public, meetings^ it is Breira'shgpe that their "project of concern in Diaspora-Israel rdations''. will provide the open discussion "Jewish survival demands'-
By D. LIGHTSTONE
mo'ntreal — —
The Isfadi government-s decisiwi to abdish sale of the $100 la-ad Bond as of Feb. 1, 1974, repladng it with a minimum $250 Bond; was not the uncaring move some surprised and dismayed members of the Jewish community might sunwse.
On the contrary — according to the Montreal Bond Office, the $250 minimum is only one of a series of steps in a new expanded Billion Dollar Bond Campaign intended to hdp save Israel from the threat of economic collapse;
An explanatory letter sait last week to all synagogues, president of Bonds drives and various Bond functions committees, stated that the reason for the directive received froni Israeli Finance Ministo' Pinchas Sapir was the overwhelming cost of the Yom Kippur War. TTwse desperale three! weeks of fightii^ incurred a defidt estirnated at $5-biiii0n, a sum comparable to Israd's Gross National Product.
The Montreal branch of Canada-Israel Securities Ltd. told The Canadian Jewish Niews that Canadian; Jewry is ,bdng asked . to purchase; Bonds equal to $100TOiilion in 1974, 10 per cent of the billion dollar total the Isradi leader^p hopes will bebought by Jews in the free world.
The goal of the 1974 Bond Program in Canada is to double the all-time record achieved during 1973, when $48-nriillipri worth of Bonds' were bought. In the words of a B<H)ds bffidal: "Amazing as the sum was, it is still totally disproportionate to the devastating loss Israel suffered during the October war." ■ ■■
As for who will be affected most by the new regulation, for the poorer Diaspora Jew anxious to help Israd, the former $100 Bond meant a . realistic goar toward which he could scrimp and; savcy thus becoming a partner in building the state; for generous friends the $100 Bond was a meaningful Bar Mitzvah, wedding or anniversary gift; in still other cases^ youngsters, housewives and senior citizens belonged to "Hundred Dollar Bond Qubs" to which they sub-
scribed" monthly^ until the coveted Bond was-paid for;
Those are the areas that will be hit' 'hardest. Moreover; critics of the
. directive feel it represents ,an ditist approach which will fordbly exdude the non-affluent sections of the
.Jewish community and will frustrate their desire to share, even if on a small Scale, Israel's financial burdens. ,
However, while the letter expressed regret at the change, at the same time it indicated that the raise is a matter of "dn brdra" (no choice).
"We will have to Jive with it. , . we must face the hard fact over here that it is still a blood and guts situation over there. Now is just as critical. a time as during the war . . for instance, I'm sur^e Israeli mothers don't recognize that the war is over," a Bond official said.
The offidial elaborated 6n the thinking behind the raise. First, while the cost of a $100 Bond niay mean mudi to a
low-income purchaser^ with tod a y' s ^^ i n f 1 at ion a ry pressures "and spir-alling costs, $.100 doesn't go anywhere as far as it used to. Then too, the Israeli government apparently feds the average Jewish family ' can afford to give at least $250 a year.
But even with .that assumption, the decision was not an easy one. Sapir, who admitted that it was made after much ddiberation and evaluation, commented: "I am very much a Jew, and I do not endorse this change to the detriment of Israd or to the embarrassment of even the humblest supporter of •Israd."
In addition to the $250 Bond, the 1974 campaign will . ihtrbduce a;"Shomrei Israel" ("Guardians of Israd") category for the individual or faniily that buys Bonds to the value of $1,000 or more. Shomrd Israd wiU be awarded a certificate of recognition as well as special privileges when;they visit Israel.'■
honored in Misuiii
TORONTO —
Mrs. Ben (Vera) Walker, well-khown community leader in Toronto, wasi honored at a continent-wide gathering of womeii leaders in Miami Beach on Feb. 12 td liaunch the 1974 Wornen's division State of Israd Bond (Campaign for the United Stales and Canada.
Mrs. Wz'ker was chosoi to represent Toronto as one of the 10 communities which raised more than $10^nillion in Israd bonds during the 1973 campaign. The occasion was the international premiere of the all-Isradi fashion show at the Fon-tainebleau Hotel in conjunction with the Israel Bonds Inaugural Conferojce being held in Miami this month.
Recognition was paid to the leading women's divisions throughout North ;America among wWch Toronto is in a top position not only for the concentrated Bond efforts of Toronto women in the community, but equaUy so
Vera Walker ,
for the high level purchases made, in their own right in unprecedented numt)ers.
Mrs. Walko* has been an outstanding leader in the Israel Bond women's division since its inception 2p years ago, and has served on the executive board of Hadassah, as president of the; Sinai Ser\ice Group and numerous other communal endeavors.
Despite mutual dislike, newcomer, Mrs. Meir, share much in common
(Neverthdess, the United States situation doesn't , ^ . ,
apply here, according to Ben Po^^ical standards.
By NECHEMIA MEYERS CJN . Israel Correspondent JERUSALEM—
The fact that 40 out of the 120 members in the eighth Knesset are newcomers has made itsdf felt in the initial debates, which seemed fresher and sharper than those in the seventh Knessd. Novice MKs, apparently unwilling to sit quidly and gain' experience before.' opening their mouths, have actually "starred" on several occasions during the -past few weeks;
This arp pe ali ng lAenomenon may wdl stem -in -part from a simple biological factor: the 40 who entered are mudi younger— -andpresumablybrasher— than the 40 who departed. Indeed, half the new MKs_ are in their 20s, 30s and 40s,':' veritable children by Isradi
^Shulamit Aloni, leader of the Civil Rights List out of the campaign if thdr women; in fad,; 15 per cent
Kayfetz, executive-direptor, Canadian Jewish Congress; Central R^on..
Kayfetz told The CJN that in the U.S. "the situation has arisen where -Jewish education is not subsidized by wdfare funds and this has created a lot of dissent within the community . . . here, wdfare funds were created with education in mind.")
The impetus for Brdra's formation and positive response, Loeb said, derives
However, in one respect, nothing has changed. Women are still woefully underrepresented, with only 10 female MKs as against 110 males. Their representation has adually dropped from the days of the first Knesset in 1949, at which time 12 women hdd seats.
When Israd's/ politicians drew up their lists of candidates in September, women party members forcefully demanded a fair share of places, in so— instances threatening to
interests were overlooked. Tova Sanhedrai, a National Religious Party MK in the seventh Knessd, evoi went so far as to organize her own list of Orthodox women, only to back down when she was given a '»safe" place on the
were. Other parties made no promises and scarcely nominated any women.
Nevertheless, as was already evident in the first debates, two women will certainly leave thdr mark on the dghth Knessd, 76-
^slate (wWchtutnedout-^year-old Prime Minister not safe enough/to get Ker/ Golda Mdr and 44-year-oId into the dghthKne^d under , newcomer Shulamit Aloni. farads system df proper- Ms. Aloni represented the
tional rq;)resentation). Tlie women of the,Labor Alignment were the most successful in thdr struggle forr^equality. . The party promised that 25 per cent of its candidates would be
Labor Party in the sixth Knesset« but her sharp tongue and independent views soon made her persona non grata to Ms. Mdr and the party machine, and 80 she was not renominated.
After unsuccessfully trying to battle the machine from within, Ms; Aloni decided, only a day before registration for dections to the eighth Knesset was dosed, to set up her own party. She quickly gathered under her banner a hderogeneous colledi(Hi. of ' do-gooders, including environmentalists and partisans of dectoral reform, defenders of the consumer and opponents of rdigious coercion, soft rspokeri professors and stridently liberated women, • -
Seasoned -observers predicted thai Shulamit " Aloni'sl€ivil Rights List — Tlacking money, organization and experience — would end up without a single seat. How wrong they were!-Shulamit's do-gooders, -joined by disgruntled sup^ porters of the Labor Party; won three' seats -
While Ms. Aloni's Civil Rights List will support Alignment moderates on fordgn policy issues and may,; in concert with the Independent Liberals, even join the coalition, shehersdf is unlikdy to sit in a cabinet headed by Golda Mdr. Ms. Meir wouldn't want Ms; Aloni and Ms. Alcmi daims there is no point being in a Golda-led cabinet, whose members, she diarges, are treated like kindergarten children.