I'ago 4 - IheCanaJian Jewish News. I rid;^y. MaiVlv («. l'>70
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VOL. XI; NO. 10, 581
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— HEBREW (ALHNPAR Friday, March 6th 1970 - 28th day of Adarl, 57M) Portion of the week: Va.pkhcl Candlclighting: Toronto 5:55; Montreal (vO.^
THE mAmmi
■ KNS fcat«rrtf
QUI-STION: '
Miiy one indulge in hobbies, such as coin or stamp collecting, on Sabbatli?What hobbies, if any, are permitted?
ANSWER
Jews played many games intheMiddIc Ages(scc Israel Abrahams, "Je:Wish Life in tlie Middle Ages", chapters 21-22). The problem was widely discussed at that time which games can be played on the Sabbath and there are a number of references to these in the sources. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach
Chayiin 33H,5) mentions gaines, which inay be pjayed on tlie Sabbath, including chess, provided these are not played for money. It is even Said that if "women and children" do play for gain one should not stop them for "it is better that they should offend unwittingly rather than intentionally". Coin collecting would seem to be "out" since the coins are muktza (i.e., must not be touched), unless one argues that since the coins arc not used as currency the muktza rules do not apply. There is no objection
Good fidings
IMPkESSIONS OF A MEETING WITH TORONTO ARABS
KREISKY
The evolution towards racial tolerance and coexistance among diverse ethnic groups and races in Central Europe is becoming increasingly noticeable.
First, there is the victory of Willy Brandt in West Germany, where bigots agitating against the "exile" and anti-Nazi refugee could not arouse the new German generation against its most progressive leader.
Now a similar occurrence of historic importance has been recorded in Austria where a Jew, Bruno Kreisky, also maligned during the election campaign by racists, has
made it.
It seems that all theories of
antisemitism and prejudice about "traditional" countries belong to the past as the "classic" Viennese antisemitism is gone forever.
Kreisky was a Jewish refugee from Nazism in Sweden during World War II. He returned to his homeland after the defeat of Hitler and worked tirelessly towards the revival of democracy in his native country.
Thus the era of Kreisky renews in our minds the Vienna of Schni-tzler and Peter Altenberg - the Vienna of Gemuetlichkeit.
What a pity Fritz Adier and Stefan Zweig are not alive to see this day!
Torontonians were treated last week to their first look at AI Fatah at the Yorkmin-ister Baptist Church.
The occasion was a panel discussion sponsored by several Christian dfenomina-tions. The main speaker was Dr. Douglas Young of the Holy Land Bible Institute.
At the close of the formal part of the meeting. Reverend Roland de Corneille asked
for written questions from the audience.
At this point an Arab student, rose and for a period of at -least five full minutes shrieked abuse at de Corneille and the members of his panel. Appeals for quiet were to no avail.
Arab shidents seated strategically througliout the aud^ ience, in groups of two and three, joined In the haraneue
demanding that they be given an opportunity to speak.
In true Maoist fashion these Fatah agents (they i-dentified themselves as such voluntarily) rose one after the other from widely separated points in the hall in an obvious attempt to suggest that opposition to the panel was spontaneous, popular and widespread.
One young Fatah supporter finally agreed to put his remarks on paper and delivered it personally to Dr. YQung. The note read: "Fatah will get you when you get back to Jerusalem." Dr. Young replied that he had heard that threat before.
Another Arab supporter, a professor, ran to the dais and tried to wrest the mi-
crophone from the panelists. He almost succeeded but was thwarted when Reverend de Corneille called upon his diocesan bishop to address the audience.
After forty-five minutes of some very ugly exchanges, moderator de Corneille finally called in the police. Their arrival cooled down the more dangerous gestures but did not dampen Fatah's zeal.
to playing card games, scrabble, etc., and to going for long walks.
* • ■
OULSTION:
What is the cjbjection to playing football on Sabbath' Is it permitted on festivals'.'
ANSWLR: o
The basic question is whet her the ball is considered muktza. In medieval France it was evidently the practice to play ball on the festivals (see Tosafists to Betza 12a) but this was forbidden in other communities. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayyim 308. 45) rules that R. Moses Isserles in his note quotes the contrary opinion and observes that it is the custom (i.e., in his native Poland) to permit it. The only difference between Sabbath and the festivals in this connection is that on Sabbath it is forbidden to play ball games outside the prisate domain (otherwise there is "carrying") but on festivals even this is permitted.
The lighter side of Israel
by Ephraim Kishon
ALL CAIMADIAN RIGHTS RESERVED
THE LONGEST NIGHT
Arabs and French Canada
DANGER
Any student of the Canadian French press will agree that with few exceptions the voice of Israel and her friends is barely audible in its columns.
Now, because of the effort made by the French news services to propagate the Paris anti-Israeli view in all French speaking countries, this situation has become very critical. We are deeply disturbed when we read some of the inter-pi-etations of Israel, especially in relation to the Arab terrorist groups, in French language newspapers.
It seems that some Arab propaganda agents here have succeeded in inducing a few French Canadian journalists to visit Jordan for some kind of "Palestine Week", when they would meet the leaders of the Fedayeen.
Those alert to the isituation in
French universities and who follow the activities of the New Left know that many "students" from North African countries are agitating their French Canadian colleagues against Jews and Israel. Efforts are made to convince this important segmeiit of French Canadian youth that there is some connection or affinity between the desire on the part of French Canadians to be recognized as a cultural entity and the "anti-colonialist" AI Fatah terrorists.
While our public relations on behalf of Israel, in Canada in general, can be described as not too effective — and certainly not professional, — the situation in French Canada is deplorable. It is business-as-usual without a sincere effort to devise both the approach and the means for a better understanding of Israel's position.
The official opening of •'Unfair toGoliath" was over by 9:30, The show took 15 minutes less than planned because the critics did not applaud, only the claque of relatives and friends massed in the rear stalls. We too, the spiritual parent of "Goliath" clapped surreptiously, but the group of reviewers got up at once and left in a gaggle. They were headed by Clive Barnes of the "New York Times," struggling into his winter coat. Joe, our producer, claims that he saw hini smile once in the first act, but Dick, my director, thinks that he was just picking his teeth. In any case, Barnes left much too fast. A cold wind blew down the aisles: Jerry Tallmer, the prestigious reviewer of the New York "Post", had left 20 minutes before the end, his stupid face livid with rage.
I was. beyond caring. Back in'the intermission, when we hadn't dared move out of our seat lest we provoke the gods' ire, I had made up my mind to take the first plane back home and ask the Government for asylum. It is said the airlines always reserve a few seats for refugees from Broadway first nights. I have a severe case of butterflies and can't catch any of them. Joe is the calmest.
Rabbi Quesfioned
Dear Editor:
In the February 20th edition of the Canadian Jewish News, Rabbi Pappenheim is quoted in reference to the militant Jewish student groups, "There is no need for us to go down on our knees just because some of these youngsters have found their wiy back to the Jewish commimity."
Firsfj we,are not asking anyone to go down on his knees. Second^ 1 would suggest that l)efore he endeavours to criticize us; he should do a little investigation into the backgrounds of those being criticized and be a little more helpful in his criticism. What T mean is this: Many of us have been in the mainstrearn of the Jewish community for many years (BBYO, USY,: Young Jujea, NFTY, etc.). It is this experience with the Jewish community structures which' how prompts us to criticize the -'Jewish Establishment"
"Why the Jewish Establishment?" We do thi^ because we love Judaism and
at this stage and they have been abandoned.)
"They (the students) have got to learn something about Kavod Torah (respect for Torah). Part of Jewish tradition teaches us that you don't engage in filth", he was quoted as saying. . . He is probably right? So let us take another look at our "Jewish tra;dition" and see what 'it teaches us about Tzedakah. Does the UJA conduct its affairs totally in keeping with those principles taught by our sages? Or is it often more concerned with just raising the funds and disregarding the principles of Tzedakah?
I coiild, go on and on with exartiples to show the hypocrisy of the "Jewish Establishment", But that is unnecessary now. Let it suf-. fice to say that though we Students may be guilty of bresdcing with some of the revered: traditions and teach-.ings of Qur faith, you of the.^ older- generation are just as guilty of such. Howiver, wtien you from your pbsitions of leadership act like hypo-lsrael;and we see many things crites, you alienate many of
Thanks from ADL
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Anti-Defamation L^iague of B'nai B'rith, its Boards, Committees, and volunteers, 1 wish to thank you for the ex-^ cellent coverage which ycrti provided on our Family of Man Award dinner in Montreal last February 8th. Your coverage of the dinner a;id of Prime Minister Trudeau's speech was excellent.
We also appreciate the editorial cornment you made on Mr. Trudeau's address, as weU as the praise which you generously gave to the Anti-Defamation League.
Please let Us know if we can be of assistance to you at any time.
Sol I Liftman, National Director, Ant i-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, Canada
only he can't close his lelt eye and it blinks,in the darkness like a phosphorescent button.
We hug the actors, not unlike the early Christions stepping into the arena. We have only tiiree-quarters of an hour left to love each other: the first TV reviews will then -arrive and we will sink into limbo filled with primeval hatred. We all know the fateful ratio: out of ten New York shows, eight closed down on the morrow of the premiere, one agonizes for a few weeks, and one. , . maybe.. .
Jerry Tallmor ha^' left before the end.
The time is 10:30. ..e sit in the office of Bernstein, the public relations man, in front of the TV set, without speaking a word. Present: Joe and his wife, Dick, myself, Menahem (the young Israeli composer) and the' seven actors. The announcer prattles some nonsense about Nixoi. and Vietnam and other quite marginal things. lam slightly botheredby the rush-. ing noise in my ears, my heart throbs like a jungle drum. Actually, I am here only in the technical sense, my tortured soul has long since been playing at home with Amir and Ra'anana, From time to time 1 mumble a prayer, that's all.
10:45, We stop breathing,. Dick lies motionless, his hair starts greying at the temples. Only Bernstein puffs contentedly on his cigar (he is a habitue at funerals). In his'hands he holds a small tape recorder to record the station announcers for quotable quotes. At long last he appears: Stuart Klein of CBS.
"Sharp. , .self-knocking humour. . .pointed fun,.."
Joe jumps up from his chair and lets go with a succession of guttural yells. We all clap hands. This is how the Jews must have feltwhen Moses struck the rock and water gushed out. Hdwever, Moses had letter chances. Out of ten strikes, at least three are bound to succeed. We embrace^ hop around the room ind I send Amir and
purpose in the civilization of mankind. He is simply killing us. He knows only too well that we are sitting hypnotized around the set, so he drags out the passing of sentence. One frown from him and we close down tomorrow. As lie comes to the end, we are more dead than alive.
"Altogether," Newman pontificates with sadistic relish, "it was a pleasant evening.. ."
End of the broadcast. Joe collapses. Dick rushes out to fetch some water and fails to return. The actors fan their faces. We managed TV and are still alive. Now it is the turn of the three large dailies: The "Times", the "Daily Post" and the'^Daily News." Should even one be con, we close. (We don't mention it, but Jerry Tallmer didleave early). Silence. Bernstein is trying to establish contact with spies planted in the newspaper offices. "Daily News" is the first to respond. A nervous and muffled voice quickly reads into the receiver the marvellous, repeat marvellous, review of Mr. Silver, may he go from strength to strength. We are good na-tured, witty, perceptive, fantastic.-^.:.. ■ - -i-,Joe clasps me in his arms! "Genius," he breathes in my ear, "you're a once-in-a-century genius..."
I believe him, he is the expert. The producer has a quick pow-wow with his pals. They intend to adopt me as their son. Why not, one could talk it over. Dick takes a piece of paper and inashak-ing hand, figures out how much the swimming pool would cost in the villa he is going to build soon. Joe buys up theEmpire State Building, a fleet of taiikers, and even pays back some of his debts. I ^transfer my gains into the custody of the collector of "Internal Revenues within the frarnework of a package deal which leaves me with mixed feelings...
12:15. The teleplione rings. The ' 'Times spy reports. He has got the first two'
Beaulieu
Ra'anana packing. Menahem columns filched at danger of levitates. Klein spoke well his life, from the proof read-
Dear. Editor:
The sensational statement last week by Quebec's Min-, ister of Finance, Mario Beaulieu. — that unless Prime Minister Trudeau . changes his attitude towards Quebec this province will have to m<,ke the decision to
versus independence in Canada's French language proviiice^should be treated on a higher level- than one using; the issue as a means to extract more funds frbni the federal government.
A mc-vement for national-independence mast be based
separate — in our opinion is-- upon aprofound belief shared
that are done by our community's leaders and organ-. izatibns that are hurting Judaism and Israel^ and have perhaps already helped to alienate the vast tnajority of the Jewish youth. ^-
It is our goal to show the alienated Jewish yoiith that support of Israel, and
study aism
the ydung people. (I am riot trying to justify the 'raison; d'etre' of that; I am merely stating a fact). And that very iniich hurts Jewish survival.
We are not asking Rabbi Pappenheim to "respect them'', (ie: the "Progressive Students for Israel", print-. ers, of "Masada").Resp3ct
and practice of Jud- is something to be earned, hot' is ' " - - ■ -
not; "passe \' -square", or ' "reaction^ ary''. If we have to use some "filth" as he called it, "tnerely emphatic language" as', some young people may call it, then so be it (However, 1 am .not trying to justify the use of unconventional words; in his terminology it cannot.fje justified. I am m»^rely painting oiit the rationale for its usage.,. Nonetheless, ' such . tactics W'jf: found to be w'.-ong and
demanded or granted as a rnatter of fact. Rather, we are only asking, for cooperation and a critical look at the : synagogue, the Jewish-edii-cational system, the Jewish philanthropies, B'hai B'ritli, etc. What can be done to change these structuria^ so tiiat tfjey will help to ensure , Jewish survival and winhack /our alienated young (and old!). pefjple? ■ ■ ; \ ^: -
Gene Colman, \. " Editor-Masada
that of a politician, hot a statesman.
Time and again we stated here pur view: the future of Quebec, whether it remains part of Canada or develops into independence, wilL be ; itlade in a democratic nian-mir r by the people .of Quebec themselves, by no one else.
But we consider suchdec-lations disrespectful of. the inlelligencer^f MrV^ Beau- • lieu'S ownioristiluenqy. For the problem .of federalism
by a group or society: that . its interests, cultural_-and economic, as well as its very survival as a distinct nationality, are. dependent upon self-governmeirit. .
In this respect', ho matter what one's opinion, state-mentis as that by Beaulieu ^ ^ can be exploited only_i>y those dissemiiiatihg ^ear among Quebec minorities as towhat will hapipen next, -c.^ Milton Cohen
. Montreal ■ i ■
KEEP SMILING
^GOOD ACCENTv
Concerning the father of the late George^G^rshwih/
. the composer: the old^rman, who liad a iirdnotinced Jewish accent, escaped getting a
traffic ticket one day when he told the officer he was George Gershwin's father, i
The policeman tliougtit hd had said "Judge Gershwin!"
of us, Klein loves us, Klein is great,
"A hit!" Joe yells. "We have got a hit! A hit. . ."
He embraces miv warmly and whispeirs in my ear: "I -knew why L brought you over from Israel. , .1 knew what I was doing.. ." .
I love himTnyself, because. he is a good man. His wife proposesjhat I settle down in New York and that we open together a department store. But for the fact that the actors are Gentiles, we would by now be doing the hora, 1 can see in their eyes that they are seriously considering conversion, Sliould the NBC praise us as well nothing may stop them from running to the nearest Rabbi.. .
11:30. Edwin Newman, the granddad of all panners, appears on the screen. Burning eyes are gliied to his ill-boding pate. We are thirsty for praise, siVi lotsofpraisej with lots and lots of adjectives,, . , ' . "Quiet!" Berstein roars, "lam recording!".
Newman works according to tlie Chinese tortuf emethod. He, wastes most of the minute he is on the.aiir>on--philosophical tiiouglits, ohtiio meaning of Inimoiir. and its
head. These four words have brought down our victory arch around our heads. True, Barnes added about a dozen compliments on my great humanity and things like that, but this is no longer the Song of Songs, this is simply an excellent review and that is not enough for survival on Broadway. Menahem utters strange sighs, Joe's wife bursts into tears. Dick's white hair starts falling out And these are just the first two columns of the "Times" and Jerry Tallmer left before the. ..
The actors get up quietly and leave the room without saying another word. They are. contacting their .agents right away for new jobs. I feel terribly lonely. Amir and Ra'anana are back in my arms. Dick goes on suffer^ ing in a corner, Joe stares at me out of his wide open left eye:
"They warned me," he barks, "they warned me against Israeli directors.,."
His wife motions to me to beat it ttefore they lose their tempers. I go to pieces, turn into salvage. Menahem whispers to me in Hebrew: '^The main thing is health." Stupid sabra. I, hate Menahem with a burning hatred. I hate Dick as well. He also hates me. And Bernstein. The PR man records the end of the "Times'" phone call.
"Excellent performance," the reviewer surprises iis. "A very talented cast very pleasant atmosphere. . ."
Things start looking up. Joe collects his limbs scattered aH over the room and gets up. His wife comes over to me and strokes my hair. The time is 1:30. May the Lord have pity on us. It all depends on Barnes' ending.
"1 enjoyed a lot of it," the great Barnes ends.
"No!" Joe jumps up shouting hoarsely and drives his fist against the wall, "No!"
"What happened?"
DR. MILDWIDS^
Observers of the Middle East scene have hoted on several occasions the irrationality of Arab acts. . Events of the past couple of Weeks have reinforced this assertion. The AI Fatah ter-
"If he had said, 'I enjoyed it a lot', we would have been a smashing hit right away!"
Bernstein also opines that this little difference in wording could well cost us a million dollars.
We sprawl out, spent, on the carpets, when a special service delivery man brings us -- against an exhorbitant fee — the proofs from the "Post". Nobody dares to read them. In front of our eyes there again appears the receding figure of Jerry Tallmer. . .
Berstein lifts the slip of paper with a limp hand and looks at it with knitted brows.
"Well," a voice out of the
grave asks, "what is he writing?"
"This," Bernstein says, "is simply a rave review."
Fireflies dance in front of our eyes, and I distinctly hear ttie choir from Beethoven's 9th. What a man, what a reviewer, this Jerry Tallmer! Others, those pygmies, have got to sit until the end of a show but an intellectual of his calibre knows at once what is good and what is bad,
"My nose never fools me," Joe whispers, "I knew you would pull it off...!"
Little Goliath has won, but his Daddy will never be the same person again.
ers' desk. We are recording, the pulse beat is 103: This is Clive Barnes, folks, the
^^^{.n*'^ .u"^*®^^*?^ ror organization, despite its self .6P other reviewers. ..^-pubUc. relations image as
-This IS a nice little show, "liberators" has wrecked
pleasant and heartwarm- n,ore death and destruction
.• • ,^ L • i among its Arab brothers than
These were the happiest • ^^,^^1 ismeUs.
three seconds; in our, whole lives.; A miracle, that was the general feeling, an almost incredible Biblical miracle was taking place in front of our eyes, the Lord has chosen us to rule over, the nations. There must be something in us which disarms critics, radio-active anti-panning iKxiies. My associates are building air-conditioned castles in Spain, complete with swimming pools. Only the experienced Bernstein is grim-faced: he didn't like the word "little", he knows why. ..
And then something ter-. rible happened, r"-- ,
"But," the intelligence a-gent mumbles into the receiver at the. end of those three happy seconds, "this show lacks panache and is too long,.." :
"Lacks. , .panache. . .too , . .long.. ."
My heart stopped l)oating. , Joe blanch(>s and grips hia
among Israelis.
News reports emanating from Gaza indicate that in the past two weeks Arab terrorists have killed or wounded scores of their own people in the occupied territories. The usual method of killing consists of the wanton throwing of grenades against buses or in market crowds.
In the wake of the Swissair disaster comes anotherstory , now about the irrationality of Arab terrorism.
One of the forty-six victims of this latest act of insanity was Dr. Hanoch Mildwidsky. This eminent Israeli surgeon had pioneered open heart operations in Israel and had received world wide acclaim for his skill. :
Wiiat is even more significant is that Dr. Mildwidsky is creditiHl with having saved the lives of more than 150 Arabs who had lieen suffering from what was considered inoperable heart disease.
Sermon for the weefc MAN AND SOCIETY
It was after the promulgation of the Ten Commandments and the ordinances of Sinai that Moses ascended the mountain to comniune with God and to reflect on the whole purpose^ of the law. This was not to be the dictate of: the autocrat nor its end the subjection of the individual to its authority. Divine Law was given for the preservation of human society. Moses had his problems as a guide of his people and because of his perplexity he sought clarification amidst the solitude of the mountain. "And Moses went into the cloud and ascended up into the mountain." It is the deep thinker who beholds the cloud and who seeks intellectually to emerge from the mist of confusion. The shallow person sees nothing but the sun.
The overwhelming problem of Moses was the task of creating individuals out of a mass of lives almost shattered by the physical bondage of Egypt The worst feature of Egyptian servitude was the herding of the slaves into mass labqur formations . so that individuality was suppressed and almost obliterated. The individual who is conscious of his own unique personality is a source of danger to the totalitarian regime. Modern tyrants have copied from the pages of Egypt's ancient history.
What was to be the, effect of the Law? Would not these laws resume the pattern of bondage in bending the will of the individual, to the rule of law? How could Moses elicit the rich gift of individuality from each of his followers and yet this freedom, should be consistent with the welfare of society? One needed law to safeguard society and yet this selfsamie law restricted individual freedom.
The first of the Ten Commandments declared the existence of a supreme Being who released Israel from bondage. Here law from the outset was interwoven with freedom. The first ordinance after the Ten Commandments enjoins man to respect the free-dom of his neighbour. Thus the whole of law aims to secure ultimately the freedom of the individual through the proscription of wro.ng which another might wish to do against him. God gave the Ten Commandments in the singular. In the words pfPhilo: "The Ten Commandments are addressed in the singular, for each single person, when he obeys God and the I'Law, equals in worth a whole nation, even the world". Thus law as a necessity was there to give full expression to the individuality of man. 2 ---The Tabernacle l)ecame not only the centre for public worship butthe means for encouraging indivir dual generosity. "Of every man whose heartimiielleth him you shall take my offering." The individual was to be given a further opporttinity to fulfil his particularity. The offering of the individual totheTabernacle is called "terumch." Some explain this word as de-. rived from a root which means "that which is taken off or separated from this private property of the individual." It might,' however, be derived from a root Which means "to be exalted.'"This voluntary offering of the individual was more than the medium of amassing materials for the erection of the Tabernacle. It served the purpose of awakening the consciousness of the individual, so that he was elevated from i>eihg just one of the masses to the status of his own unique personality.
Moses Wis aware that this emphasis on individuality might breed selfishness and self-aggrandisement. He . wished to foster within.' the individual a sense of 16nging'fcH::,and Ibyailtj^ to theCommuh assembled all the congregation of the ohildreh of Israel;^*. The word "assemblo<iv in Hebrew is con-, neoted with the word "Kehillah". Just as law trained a mi»n to take his place Jin civilized society so generosity was to educate a man to become a niomlvr of the KelilUali. The Kihallah has kept o:ir jvoplo alivo. ■'The Conuiiiinitjrjsjsraers^^ said R^iWn >
Siniooti B, l.akish. Tt iremains our. jvoplo's chief last ion.
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