' The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, October 12^ 1973 ^ Page 5
Opinion
Yak study shows
By NECHEMIA MEYERS CJN Israel Correspondent
REHOVdT-
Israel plays in the major leagues of science, with for example, more inter-hationally recognized scientists than all Latin America together. This fact, spelled out in a 1969 study by Derek J. de SoUa Price of Yale, reflects the achievements of many people, a surprisingly large number of them Americans and Canadians.
In the first instance. Israeli science emanates from the country's institutions of higher learning, not a few of which were shaped by North Americans; The Weizmann Institute of Science, for example, is primarily the creation of New-Yorker Meyer W. Weisgal. U.S.-educated George Wise played a similar role vis-avis Tel Aviv University. To a lesser but still significant extent, the Hebrew Uni-, versify is the handiwork of Manhattan Reform Rabbi Judah L. Magnes.
In the laboratories themselves, hundreds of Americans and Canadians are working today, and there are hundreds more who, over the past two or three decades, have contributed significantly
to the development of Israeli science. Patently it is impossible to list them all but a few exainples hint at the scope and diversity of their contribution.
It is certainly approjpriate that electronic computers should have been brought to Israel by Americans, more specifically by Prof. Chaim L,. Pekeris, until very recently dean of mathematics and head of the applied mathematics department at the Weiztnann Institute of Science. Prof. Pekeris came to Rehovot in 1948, at Dr. Chaim Weizmann's personal invitation, from the Instutute for Advanced Study at' Princeton, where he worked with computer pioneer Prof. John von Neumann. In 1954, he initiated the construction of WEIZAC, Israel's first "home-made" computer, which was designed and built largely thanks to the on-the-spot assistance of yet another U.S. mathematician, UCLA Prof. Gerald Estrin. WEIZAC was followed 10 years later by GON^EM A and this year by GOLEM B (again constructed by a predominantly American team, led by Weizmann Institute Prof. Smil Ruhman).
Among the best knownof Israel'scancer researchers is Prof. Jack Gross, a former Canadian now affiliated with the Hebrew
The Golem computers are built at IsnePs Weizmannrlnstitute of Science by North American mathematicians and engineers. Israel's scientists rank in the major leagues, says a study.
Pleasure gained by seeing human growth, integration reason JIAS head remams
By SUSAN LAZARUS
MONTREAL -
During the summer of 1947, Joseph Kage, newly graduated from the McGill School of Social Work and a student unit supervisor at the school, was asked by the president of the Jewish Immigrant Aid Service to leave his job for three months in order to co-ordinate the reception ol Jewish orphans arriving in Canada from warrtorn Europe.
Some 26 summers later Kage, whenever returned to McGill and is now national director of JIAS, still remembers that first difficult assignment.
"Meeting the first group of immigrants was a terrific emotional experience for me," Kage says. "As 1 flew to Halifax, where the youngsters were arriving, I didn't know what 1 would say to them. The whole 2,000 years of Jewish history culminating in the Holoca.ust kept flashing through my mind. When I finally did meet them all I said was 'Boruch Habah' . welcome. It was the right thing to say." ,
Kage estimates that since 1947, JIAS staff have said 'boruch habah' to some 100,000 immigrants from all over the world, including Europe, the Communist countries, the Arab countries, as well as the United States.
The fact that Kage is himself an immi-g:rant has undoubtedly contributed to his understanding and empathy of the problems a new immigrant faces in a new and sometimes unsympathetic cotintry, although be does not like to emphasize it as hisprimt motivation for staying with JIAS.
■'Tlie fact that Imysetlfamahiinmigrant has not influenced me that much, although I cannot deny it must have an effect. The most important thing in working vHth im-liiigrants is to understand their frustra--iibns. When you are albne.in a new country, you are insecure; It is my job to make a' new immigi-ant realize that he is not alone, that I am available, as an equal to talk to or even to vent his frustrations." ■
Since coining to JIAS, Kage has helped it develop froin a strictly, immigration-oriehted organization toiar full filled social^ agency: concerned with the itmni-^ gration, integratiOQ, a^tk^
of the individual arriving in Canada.
His wife Miriam is also much involved with JIAS.
"I met Miriam when she was working with the Children's Aid Society here iii Montreal. We were very short staffed at that time, and since she also has a masters in social work 1 begged Children's Aid to let me have her for six months. That was over 20 years ago. She's been here ever since."
There are obviously many frustrations in Heading an immigrant aid society. The attitude of the Montreal Jewish community is one of the biggest.
"The Jewish community hais always been very generous with its money. That is not the problem. No Jewish immigrant has ever been allowed to go hungry or without a place to live. . ,
"But, immigrants are not glamorous problems. The community may be generous moneywise, but it has paid lip service to the social and cultural needs of the immigrant. I would like to see a greater emphasis by the community'to help the immigrant adapt socially into its midst."
Kage admits that he has had many job offers for better money. It also frustrates him that he does not have the time to do all the writing he would like.
Why then has he stayed with JIAS for 26 years and has given no sei*ious thought to leaving? The answer is uncomplicated;.
"Watching human growth and integration gives meiiachus. That is the main reason 1 stay."
Univei'sity-Hadassah Medical School. He and his colleagues in Jerusalem have discovered that cancer patients exhibit a characteristic change in the level of cytotoxic antjbodies in their sera. In collaboration with the school*s Department of Surgery, Prof. Gross' energetic team has screened a large number of cancer patients --and is currently studying-the nature and specificity of these substances.
Although Jack Gross tackles basic scientific problems, he is in no way an "ivory tower man." Since 1967, he has served as scientific adviser to the ministry of comnierce and industry, dealing in particular with the promotion of science-based industry.
American and Canadian researchers in Israel come from every section of the Jewish community, from the non-religious to the very Orthodox; Bar llan University naturally holds special attraction for the Orthodox, since it allows them to pursue scientific studies in the special atmosphere of a religiously-oriented institution.
Prof. Harold Basch, a member of Bar Ilan's chemistry department who is studying methods of predicting physical and chemical reactions, frankly admits he came to Israel because of his religious background. Prof. Nathan Aviezer.headof the University's physics department and another newcomer drawn by Bar Han's unique character, recently hit the headlines when he and a colleague reportedly refuted a basic law of solid state physics, in regard to the electrical riesistivity of metal at very low temperatures.
Even those who are not quite so traditional may discover a specificaHy Jewish angle to their work. Prof. Gdalayah Wiseman of the Technion, an immigrant from Canada, was called upon recently to deal with the weakening of the Southern Wall of Temple Mount in Jerusalem as a result of archaeological excavations. His solution - which apparently works - was the construction of giant concrete buttresses to prop the wall up.
In a certain sense, the majority of Is-. raeli scientists can be considered "Americans and Canadians," since they are products of a U.S. or Canadian scientific education. To take just one example, almost all the young men and women who receive Ph.D. degrees from the Weizmann Institute's Feinberg Graduate School each year - about 80 in aU - go on for several years of post-doctoral studies in the U.S. or Canada, and in the course of their scientific careers, go back again and again to North America for seminars, conferences and sabbaticals.
This link - meaningful as it is^- does not, of course, mean that Israeli science is a poor stepchild of the American and Canadian muse. By dint of their own achievements, Israeli scientists have more than earned the right to play in the major leagues - as, iiideed. they do.
ft: " '
Journalist Annabelle King takes a break from her duties as Home Planning and Projects Editor at Chatelaine Magazine. (Brian Wilier)
Ifs been a long trek for Annahelle,
Meyer Weisgal
By ESTHER MEHR
TORONTO-
Walking past the old house on Nassau Street, or rajher where the old house once stood - it was torn down to make way for a dairy - the mind fills with memories of childhood days and the •familiar odors of pre-Sabbath cooking wafting from the Jewish kitchens all down the street.
For Annabelle King it's been a long trek from Nassau Street totheMaclean-Hunte-r conglomerate at University and Dundas where she is presently Home Planning and Projects editor of Chatelaine, Canada's top women's magazine.
Born somewhere in the middle of a family of six children, her parents, Harry and Sarah Eisehberg, managed throughout the Depression to run an open house. Like everyone else in the neighborhood, money was scarce in the Eisenberg household and material possessions were few, but for as long as she can remember, that house was the centre for all family gatherings - and it wafe a big family.
There was always'anabiindance of food oh the table and conversation was lively. No one, friiend, relative or stranger was
ever turned aWay at meal time. Sarah Eisenberg was the embodiment of the Jewish mother, in the best sense of that much-maligned term.
Growing up in a family of strong individual personalities wasn't easy for an introverted little girl';* Even as a youngster Annabelle was different from her brothers . and sisters. ".1 guess you could say I was the non-conformist of the family,"shere-called in a recent interview. "Inever lived my life by whatothers thought I should do."
Annabelle's women's lib inclination manifested itself at an early age. One of her first jobs after leaving Central High School of Commerce was copy girl at The Toronto Star, the first female to hold that distinctive title at the newspaper.
"lloved that job," she said,-'but 1 can still see those male editors looking right at me and barking 'get this copy, boy.' "
Then, as now, there could be no mistaking Annabelle King's sex. She is a shapely, petite and a very pretty female, which apparently proves male chauvinism was alive and flourishing in the Star's city room.
: Her creative talents began to take shape and (she branched out into related writing areas from that modest beginning into the
loaephKife
By J.B. SALSBERG
— As the largest single se'gment of world Jewry - those living; in the At- . lantic and Eastern Standard time zbne-awoke this Yom Kippur day of the year 5734 (li973) the radios traiismitted, what was to its nnind and heart^eiectrifying-news: Israel -was being/^$ttacked Egyptian and Syrian air arid land forces and, despite the traditional salcredness of the day, isfael was fighting back and had brdei-ed complete mobilizatipn of all its defence forces. /
It is safe to state that whether assembled in places of worship or in pri-, vate meditation -^in.Buenos Aires or \>iew York, Toronto or, Sydney N.S. -the millions of Jews otthis area of,the globe.yWhether ardS^^^ shared with fellow Jews around the world the most intense emotional involvement with Israef as the running reports of the (lates^ military attempt to', destroy the Jewish state which was reborn a quarter century ago* ;:
Throughout the day snatches of news were passed along from mouth to mouth r more often than not in whisper during
_ services -; to. eager ears and beating . . hearts. It will be no sacrilege to sug- ^ gest that on this Yom Kippur more Jewish mental antennas were attuned to the radio transmitters than to where they are nbrmlly assumed to be at-tiined on this day . . . ^ . : ■
; When these lines are written (early evening after Yom Kippur) the hews reports from the Middle East and UN ' , headquarters are still inconclusive but . we are confident that the final and oyer- ., all results of today's defensive actions of Israel's armed forces will not de-; viate from the, glorious pattern they established until now. It is on tlie basis of this confidence that I feel justified t in returning to my continuing review of the three major issues that will, iii my opinion, confront world'.Jewry in' the coniing year and to deal with the last of those issues; the relationship ber tween the state of Israel and the Jewish communities, in other lands.
What today's trying experience will prove once again is that when the security and existence of Israel is threatened; the Jewish people the world
over rally, almost instinctively\ to the defence of the Jewish state and to the renewal-of their resolution to guaran- ; tee the safety and continuity' of that state. At: all such fateful mom ents the . Jewish state and the Jewish people be- :. come as;one. • r ' "'l ' \ But does such unqualified unity exist in times of tranquility? Can it, indeed, be reasonably expecti^d to prevail, ■ in ■historic terms, indefinitely into the future after the achieveinent of lasting . peace? These questions ' may • sound soinewhat academic in the light of the military confrontation that is underway at this mbinent but tliei fact is that since \: the Six bay War in 1967 differences between Israel and the diaspora - es-:: peCially the larger Jewish communities; - have increased in number the further away we got from that date.
Differences also developed between organizations in the'Diaspora who subscribe tbitlje "centrallty'of Israel'' thesis and their respective, Israel-based, "world leaderships." The past year has witnessed a further delineation of^^he disimilarity of views- between Jeru^alem,^ and/say, the Jewish lead-
ership of P'aris or London. ";
The areas Of disagreement are not, as some people assume, restricted to fund raising and its subsidiary issues. Differences extend into educational, cultural and political areas. The wiiole . question of mutually agreed guidelines for the future, long term relationship between' Israel and the Diaspora - especially the larger Jewish communities Whether the differences that ernerged since the 1967 war will be frozen in the coming year or whetiier they will be accelerated will, it seems now, be entirely determined by the outcome of the present war between Israel and its
I perfidious, enemies - a war which ap-piears to have become far more serious than it was. thought to be when this column was begun, a fetw hours ago.
; In the;face bf such developments all differences disappear and a unified world J^ewry must and assuredly will,. stand shqulder-to-shoulder with the
.state;of Israel viihose present struggle is really a struggle for the right to exist and to endure'." At this crucial moment only one thing matters - victory for Israel. -^^ ■ ""^sl-;':--;-;^-.--.:'-..■;-
world of journalism. After some stints as a copywriter, she moved to the' United States and eventually found herself working as a reporter and feature writer oh a Detroit daily.
While there she decided to expand her knowledge in the field of women's interests and took one of the best interior decorating courses available in the UnitedStates. She has since given a unique series of interior decorating lectures to women of modest means through the auspices of several leading Detroit department stores (
But newspapers were not the only media' in which Annabelle dabbled. She ventured into radio and television, hosting and producing talk shows, interviewing visiting celebrities from the world of entertainment, letters and politics.
By any standards Ms. King was a success. She had it made! Why give it all up and return to Canada after an absence of 20 years? .
"1 lived through three assassinations and watched Detroit become the crime capital of the United States," she explained. "I reluctantly thought about leaving for some time. It was hard to think of cutting off long-standing friendships and 1 knew the financial sacrifice would bie considerable.
"What really decided me," she continued, "was the morning I awoke during the riots, looked out the window and saw tanks and soldiers armed with tommy guns lining the street. The best career in the world couldn't make up for that."
While yisitihg relatives in London, Ont. during the summer of .1968, she came across an ad for the Chatelaine position. She applied, got the job and hasn't looked back since. ,
As a repatriated Canadian, Annabelle revels in .the cleanliness and liveability of Toronto. "Torontonians take the city ; for granted, they don't realize how lucky they are,", she stated emphatically. "This . is still a people city and its pockets of . ethnic communities make it all the more V fascinating."
' But even after 20 years some,things don't change. "The WASP influence is still strong, and it tends to spill over into' ; the social structure as well. And since ; I've been back, I've become aware of a-'-small clique that pretty well controls • the arts and media." ; .; ':-v^'^~-^ Not looking like the stereotyped image of; a Jew can also have its drawbacks. This has put. her on her guard for any ^ snide anti-Semitic remarks she gets from . time to time from ^'polite" non-Jews. . ''For,tunately, 1 'ye run across very little of thjs- type-pf thing at Chatelaine," shet commented. ' 'V /
/6ne of the joys of coming home, she/ . says, it catching up on what's been happening to old acquaintances and renewing friendships; And, of course, walking f-through the old haunts oh Nassau, Kensington and Spadina. There have been a lot of changes, but nostalgia is sweet and strong; . . ', ■'■■•„,