on of hi
'0, A-
0 13
By FRANK MICHAELS
Jesus Christ Superstar, filmed in the: Negev, is a wanton distortion of history, an ignorant and men-' dacious attacks on Jews and Judaism, an abuse of Israel's, hospitality,' and the most regressive rer. ligiOus film of the post-war era.
Admittedly, these are serious charges.
FRANK MICHAELS CJN Film Critic
5ut;- then, \ Superstar surpasses the fri- • yoloiis . insensitiyity of a: Bridget Lbves jBernie, and even the sick self-hatred of a Pprtnoy's Complaint, in terms of impact and social consequience. In a social context of aggressive revivalism, pietistif J;esus-freaking, aiid mounting intolerance for religious pluralism. Superstar spotlights the central core of Christian mythology.
In itself, this is a legitimate exercise. Far from illuminating that central core, however, Superstar throws a lurid, sectarian glare on the most primitive, sensational focus of the Christian myth— the Jewish scapegoat. In so doing;. Super-
star reverts to the same dynamic at work in the medieval crucifixion plays and related folklore obsessed with fictional Jewish blood-ritual. Host-desecration, and Christ-killing The passion and hysteria engendered this powerful dynamic invariably achieved its catharsis in a purge of Jews in the real world rather than a purge of emotions in a theatrical setting.
How can a director of jewison's ista-ture portray the ancestors of Anatevka's warm, humorous, endearing inhabitants as sinister refugees from the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari? How can he prevert the menorah into a symbol of satanic intrigue, violence,   and oppression?  How trace ttie
source of Tevye's proud^ humane tradi-. tioh to a contemptible, corrupt cabal?'
Th'e answer rests partly with Jewison's failure to find anything positive, pattern^ ed, or even plausible about Jesus and the original Jesus movement in the stage version itself. The Christian component of Superstar consists almost exclusively of cheap charisniia, groovy clothing, Coke-coinmercial choreography, and mindless energy. Villificatioh of the Jews supplies the focus Superstar's Christian material sorely lacks.      >■ .
To a greater degree, Jewison's dramatic about-face and Superstar's severe'anti-lewish bias can be attributed to an aby-
smal ignorance of Jewish and eirly Christian history. Unfortunately, this ignorance: characterizes much of popular Christian mythology, which is in dire need of fe-. vision, arid is shared by many Jews as well. Nothing makes me nibre despondeint than talking with Jews whohave seen Superstar and succumbed to unwarranted fuilt, unnecessary confusion.
Althoiigh it is not my ptirpose here to elaborate the history iii question (for this, see Max Dimont's Jews, God and History), certain facts must be reiterated to counter Superstar's distortions.
The central presence in Judea, absent
in Jewison's film, was. the Roman army of occupation. The Jfewish.community, contrary to Superstar's vicious caricature,
encbmpkssed three major religious tendencies — Pharisee, ' Saduccee, and Essene—and a political spectrum ranging from hawks to doves. In addition; some 24 minor sects, with as many prophets and "messiahs," co-existed within Judaism's framework. Jesus, an Essene who founded the "Christian" sect, was a Jew, taught observance of Mosaic law, and had nothing to fear from the complex community Superstar brands as the bogeyman bf "the Jews."
Cont'd on Page 10
Ndfrow
economtc
urges
gap. Mrs. Meir
.JERUSALEM (JCNS)-
Calling for the narrowing of the economic gap between different sections of the Israeli society. Prime Minister Meir said here that '■•poverty in Israel is not so great that it cannot be overcome." '
The prime minister was addressing 300 delegates of the Moetzet Hapoalot Pioneer Women's Organization of Israel and the Diaspora assembled in Jerusalem to mark the state's 25th anniversary.
Mrs. Meir asked for a "re-examination of values handed down in every Israeli home" arid also referred to the startling feature on Israeli TV recently in the wake of a report by a commission on underprivileged youth.
The prime minister is believed to have been upset by the tone of the TV program depicting the circumstances of two large Jerusalem families, with the children shown as suffering from malnutrition, Some quarters allege that it is a mishand-. ling of affairs rather than insufficient means which is the core of the problem faced by these families. However, a ministry of social welfare investigation of the families' situations undertaken after the television program revealed that the program was substantially correct,
Mrs; Meir told the Knes^ set that apart from security there was no more urgent
topic demanding the government's attention than that of socially deprived sections of the population. She was replying to a series of opposition motions calling for an open debate »•. the Knesset on the situation of underprivileged children. The motions were rejected by 32 votes to 21;
Friday, July 20,1973       20 Tammuz Pinchas 5733
Tal Brodie, Israel basketball star, and immigrant frona the U.S., holds the Maccabiah flame running around the RamatGan Stadium at the opening
ceremonies of the ninth annual games. Behind him is Esther Shahamorov and Israel Ladani. Canada only had moderate success in competition.
Newly-elected president of Canadian DIA calls for greater regional
From our Quebec Bureau MONTREAL-
The newly elected president of the United Israel Appeal of Canada marked the start of his leadership term by calling for greater decentralization, with the regions represented in the nation-wide fund drive assuming increased autonomy.
"Since Canada is so large you have distinct regional
differences, and local problems must be solved at that level. The central aspect of leadership should act as a catalyst or trigger mechanism to elicit local pride and involvement," said Thomas Hecht,
He empahsized this is a gradual process which begins by giving regions a greater degree of autonomy in running their affairs and
by involving more people throughout Canada in the fund raising effort.
This delegation of authority implies that regional heads are not expected to refer back to the national level in the decision making process — permitting each region to act as a unit.
The structure of the UlA has also evolved in the direction of decentralization
by including the new post of deputy president, which was recently occupied by Arnold Portugal of Winnipeg.
The new president succeeds. Gordon Brown, who steps down after two years in office. Brown will remain active in UlA affairs as chairman of the board of directors.
Hecht brings the top post ia new brand of statesman-
ship, an urbane confidence and sophistication that makes him the most promising leader to follow in the difficult footsteps of Brown. A former Combined Jewish Appeal chairman, Hecht served on the executive committee of Allied Jewish Community Services as weU as on the budget, fund raising, and leadership development Cont'd on Page 12
Israel and Russians may be improving
By a Special JCNS Correspondent
NEW YORK (JCNS)-
There are a number of indications that relations between Israel and the Soviet Union, broken off at the time of the Six Day War, may be improving. There are even some hopes, though no firm expectations, that the way is-being prepared for a resumption of diplomatic relations.
A top diplomat at the United Nations told a JCNS special correspondent: "We have noticed a considerable change in the Russian atti-
tude. There are a number of small events, which singly would not be of any particular significance but taken together do seem to reveal a certain Russian trend towards better relations with Israel.
The visit Qf the Russian journalist Victor Louis is one such indication. Louis is not merely a journalist: he is clearly employed by some Russian government agency, possibly the KGB (security police). He has visited Israel before without affecting Russian - Israeli relations, but his recent vi-
inmi
iiiiiiiuiuinii^
rolycjows ?
By THOMAS SCHNURMACHER 1
MONTREAL- |
Almost 3,000 Olim are leaving Montreal for |
Israel. They are all females and most of them §
are under three months old. Is Aliyah hitting |
the nursery set? Not really. These olim are female |
dairy heifers, S
Moshe Palmon, livestock expert for the Settle- s
.,,ment (Agriculture)Departmentpfthe Jewish Agency i
explained: "There is a big shortage of dairy cattle 1
in IsraeL We produce 400,000,000 litres of milk I
annually and we need an additional 100,000,000. |
Though Israel does import some powdered milk =
and butter, we don't really like to settle for s
second best. For fresh dairy products, we need |,
fresh milk. p
The Holstein-Frisian heifers are being trans- 1
ported to Israel by KLM and Air Canada direct 1
from Dorval airport to Lod airport. The ship- 1
ments will continue until the beginning of August. 1
Palmon is very pleased with the Canadian pur- =
^^hase. 5
"Our first shipment was sent to the heart of s
the Negev where the temperature is between 100 1
degrees, and 115 degrees with a humidity of 35 =
per cent. Despite these extreme conditions, the =
heifers are faring very well and their mortality =
rate is an astoundingly low 1/2 of one per cent." 5
The heifers being exported come from St. Julie 1
and St. Pie, Quebec. Palmon says: "We are deal- 1
ing with a Mr. Trudeau and a Mr. Bernard and 1
they are both really wonderful They are .excellent §
farmers and exporters and we hope to do more s
business with them next year." 5
Next year in Jerusalem. Even for the cows. 1
iiraimininnniiminuHiiniiitimHniiiimiiiiiinuiiiiiuiHinmmiiiniiiiiiiiiiiil
sit might well have a different outcome.
"It was noticeable at the recent security council de^ bate on the Middle East that Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet foreign minister, was comparatively moderate in his language. For the most part he used far fewer extreme and bitter expressions about Israel than has been his wont. Moreover, he allowed himself to be seen chatting amicably with Yosef Tekoah, Israel's UN representative, with whom he has had some vigorous, and occasionally embittered encounters. This was the more surprising because the Egyptians were known to be particularly fur^ ious with Tekoah following his success in outmanoeuvring their foreign minister, Dr. Mohammed Zayyat. and embroiling him with the Jordanian delegate.'"
During the recent talks between President Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, the Soviet leader, the Russians did not .press the Arab,case with the vigor that Cairo would have liked. I also learned that a top Soviet diplomat suggested to Jacob Stein, president of the Conference of President's of Major Jewish Organizations, that they should keep in touch on questions of Russian Jewry.
"Such moves by the Russians are never done accidentally. They are the result of careful initiatives from miich higher sources in Moscow. They certainly indicate a new trend: I cannot say yet whether this will mean a  resumption of relations
with Israel. Only the Kremlin knows," my diplomatic informant told me. These indications come at a time, when Russia's relations with the radical Arab states have slumped badly. President Sadat is dissatisfied with the lack of support from the Kremlin and has sent his experienced emissary, Hafez Ismail, to Moscow.
By MARK MEDICOFF CJN Quebec Bureau Chief Third of four parts MONTREAL-
In Quebec the work of the Federation of Arab Canadian Societies is assisted, in a subtle mariner, by.the provincial government's natural desire for economic growth. The province has made moves in recent months to attract Arab financial investments in order"to tap their black gold.''    — -
The province has opened its doors to immigrants coming from the Middle East, and at the present time, over half of the Canadian -
: Arab community resides in Montreal
An article which appeared in the French-language daily
. La Presse reported that '*it is only certain'■ that Quebec will open a bureau in Beirut, and its role, for the meantime, will be focused in the immigration domain.
Denis Vaganais, director of the international relations service oHhe department of inter-goVernmental affairs, said that if the results are positive, ''Quebec couldpro-
. fit from the immense reservoir of capital... in the countries of the black gold."
One highly-placed source revealed that negotiations are presently taking place between the Quebec govern-
Open
ts
ment and one Middle East . government to invest in oil refineries in Eastern Montreal.
In Montreal, the two local groups are the federation and the Quebec-Palestine Association, but other, smaller committees operate on the campuses, notably the Palestine Association of Montreal. Headed by student Jean Paqmn, the group is active at the University of Montreal.
Such groups as the Solidarity with Indo-Chinese People^ the Iranian Students Association of McGill University, and theJ'rogressive Ethiopian Students' Front, and other ineffective Maoist groups are closely aligned in spirit to the objectives of the federation.
The work of the smaller groups IS limited to information distribution, art exhibitions, and cultural soirees. Demonstrations have rarely attracted a sizeable group.
Rezeq Fara], the profesr attached
structured as a "charitable" institution.
His duties include acting as a central communication link between the various groups on the island, and to help organize their activi-ties. He also stated that the organization tries to raise
funds for the medical and financial support of the Palestinian refugee, and to present the media with the "real truth" in the Middle East debate.
Faraj denies any connection of the Quebec-Palestine Association with the Pales-
tine Liberation Organization, although he admits that the associa:tion is in close contact with the PLO's Re-. search Centre.. An external affairs department spokesman in Ottawa told The Canadian Jewish News that there is no PLO office in Canada,
aind that no application has been received to open one up.
Although Faraj has worked with other Palestinian groups in Europe, Kuwait; and Canada, he says that he plays a "minor role" h6re. He doesn't consider himself
B'nai B'rith says outside intervention needed
if Jews in Iraq and Syria are to be rescued
LAUSANNE (JTA)-
The international president of B'nal B'rith, the worldwide Jewish service 0rgamzation, expressed concern here over the increasingly desperate plight of Jews in Iraq and Syria and called for the massive interventio.n'rbf world lead-ers. ^■)^^'v^')-::';■.■'^
David Blumberg of Knox-viller^-Tenn., addressing the   COPENHAGEN (JCNS)-annual' meeting of the (In- )   Denmark's Jewish com-
barbaric anti-Jewish policies of these governments stand m clear violation of the provisions of article two of the UN Genocide Convention, which defined genocide as acts committed with them-tent to destroy in whole or
in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group." Blumberg made an urgent appeal to UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim and "all friendly, governments" to intercede immediately on behalf   of the Jews in these
countries. —
About 50 delegates, representing 40 countries, attended the two-and-a-half-day session. It was the first time in nearly a decade th4t the council has met on the European continent.
The rabbi came by subway-on Shabbat
b/
that
m Israel had told him if a travel warrant was
that there are some 2^00     is}only a question of time members in Montreal. '(But^beft^e both of these belea-only a few hundred are active," he points out. Faraj
guered communities ~ hos--
says that his salary is supported by the membership, and that the organization is
tages of the Middle Easfcon-. flict--disappear. .'
"TBere is incontestable evidence,''. he said}■ 'that the
cob Garfmkel, 26, travelled by underground train to conduct a Sabbath service in a synagogue in Copenhagen. When asked to explain his infpngement of the Sabbath laws, he replied that a rab-
gogue
Rabbi Garfinkel came from the United States soon after Rabbi, Melchior succeeded his late father, Rab-br Mar^cus Melchior; as chief rabbi in January 1970.. <^
In April this year Rabbi Garfinkel and his wife moved from their flat near the synagogue in Copenhagen to a house situated about an houi^v.^ walking distance awayi He>as seen coming
out, of thfe underground station near the synagogue on the first^Saturday after moving
a revolutionary because "a revolutionary would fight." He would, however, like to live in China, ''where there is no exploitation."
Faraj is also editor of Fedayin, a riionthly periodical initiated last March, which is published by the Quebec - Palestine Association. In that organization he IS president.
•The periodical IS financed by. the Montreal Council of the. Confederation of National Trade Unions whereMichel 1 Chartrand holds the office of president.
Chartrand has grown m- : creasingly more sympathetic to the Arab cause in the Middle East, particularly after his visit last year. He now displays his concern for the Arab cause by. having the Quebec trade union organization help support the Apab movement in Quebec iociety. ./ The Montreal Council of ) the CNTU also absorbs the rental costs of the association's third floor offices^ in downtown Montreal. The building is rented by the CNTU. Fara]_ says he has a staff of 60 coming to the office, and who rotate their workr on, a volunteer basis.
The Fedayin-newspaper is Maoist - Marxist oriented^ and IS designed to ^ppeal:. tathe trade union movement.
•»..... ' : "
Most observers are quick to point out, with some>eason, that workers are, in the final analysis, least concerned with a foreign problem several thousand miles away. Bread.and butter issues are
their real concern.
Faraj may also, agree with this assertion, for as he states, "although we are the most active group (in Canada), our membership is the least of them."
ESTINE
NOT BACKWARD TO SETTLEMENT
A poster exhorting Arabs to accept 00 peace/setUement is widely distributed by the Federation of Arab Canadian Societies which has its headquarters in Montreal.
V,