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CANADA',S NATIONAL-JEWISH NEWSPAPER
Our Livine Community • Toronto Responds Wifh Enthusiasm to VJA Call
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Authorix« ment, Of.
ETHNIC PRESS SE:CTPOM
NEWS
THdoV^blOry 17, 1967 fTH fUfOF AD>*T5727 SIDRAH: TETZAVE
• «. t  •  f  • *  t .• .
CANDLE LIGHTING Torbnto: 5:32 Montrsal: 5:06 a
• LARGEST CIRCULATI6N 0|F ANY JEWISH NEWSPAPER IN CANADA •
FRIDAY/FEBRUARY 17th, 1967.
Israel Faces
(net Crisis
REPORT ESHKOL
SOON
Vienna (JCNS) - Cardinal Franz Koenig, the Archbishop of Vienna, has giveii 20,000 shillings (about $15,-000) to Dr. Anton Winter, the president (rfKeren Haye-sod in Austria, as a contribution of the Catholic Church
in the country to immigrant settlement in Israel.
Dr. Koenigemphasised that the gift was a token of: esteem for Israel's efforts to rebuild the country and help homeless people to start a new life of hope.
• Commentary •
By M.J. Nurenberger
HOW NOT TO HELP THE RUSSIAN JEWS
I don't accept at face value Secretary of State Rusk's rejection, of the cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam for, frankly, I do not believe we are being told the facts of negotiation and diplohiatic contacts behind the scene. I fully endorse a statement made before a congressional committee by Harrison Salisbury in which he said that the road to peace in Vietnam is not through public proclamations. "If there are negotiations, it is not my business to know about them".
Not only do 1 share this very diplomatic approach toward the promotion of peace in Asia but I should like to paraphrase this statement regarding public Jewish activities in defense of thfe rights of Soviet Jewry.
In my opinion, the only way to reach any tangible result in the rapport with Soviet authorities on the Jewish question in the USSR is by very secret meetings without any publicity to the organizations or committees involved. I emphasize, the only successful contact with Moscow on this issue would, be contraT7 to what Jewish organizations are doing now.
*****
The latest example of this unfortunate movement for public demonstrations against the Soviet Union's perseverence in the non-recognition of Jewish minority rights is the conduct of the British Board of Jewish Deputies.
Weeks before Mr. Alexei N. Kosygin, the Soviet premier, arrived in London as what is considered a historic visit, Jewish organizations began publicizing plans for discussing the Russian Jewish situation with the Soviet premier. Every member of parliament wais asked to sign a petition to Kosygin. Immediately every newspaper the world over carried that information.
At the same time, another organization proclaimed a day of prayer for Soviet Jewry.
AH this was done in a manner which only could have irritated the Soviet leader. For the purpose of his visit — which was successful — had been to strengthen ties between England and Russia.
Not only was Kosygin embarrassed for had he 1-efused to answer questions on Jews at his press conference, not only did he refuse to receive a Jewish delegation — which also was announced by the publicity machine of the Jewish establishment with fanfare — but the British government obviously did not relish this campaign. In fact, Richard Cross-man, leader of the House of Commons and one of the proven friends .of; the Jewish people, refused to arrange a debate in the House on this issue for which Sir Barnett Janner, presideht of the Board of Jewish Deputies, had been pressing.
Said Mr. Crbssman with typically British sense of humor after he was informed that more than 250 members of the House had signed a petition oh behalf of Soviet Jewry:
"I think that the motion has more names of Honorable Members than any other single motion, r should have thought that that yi'as sufficient for the moment."
if     'tf.   if. ■  if' : a '
What actually happened was: because of this poor public relations, the glorious Jewish community of Great Britain was pushed iiito the saime corner where emigre organizations from Eastern Europe had protested against Kosygin while the majority of the British people, including the Jews, welcomed him cordially not as a Communist leader but as a friend of their country.
Many iquestibn:: Why was it necessary to publicize the document signed by 250 Members of Parliament before it had been handed to England's guest? Why was it necessary to tell every Tom, Dick and Harry that the Board of Deputies would see Mr. Kosygin when there waS no assurancie that the Premier would receive the delegation? Isn't it logical to assume that Mn Kosygin might have agreed to receive the delegation had there been no publicity?
Of course, the president of the Board of Deputies and others would not have received the' propei^spo High t. However the cause of the RussiahJev^s whose situation demands a serious demarche might have been more advanced.'V:-:
In Toronto
ili.
'This  is  »   very nice rtceiver Harold give me . I don't like to hear this of America'
Sunday Te/egrqph
radio . but Voice
After Kosygin
Visit
NO MENTION OF sop
London, (JCNS) - When Soviet premier A.N. Kosygin spoke to journalists at the Dorchester Hotel here, he also answered several writ-: ten questions on the- world situation and a few others directed to him from the floor. But although some journalists had prepared questions abciut Soviet Jewr ry, they did not reach him before the function ended and he made no conuients upon this important issue.
He did, however, reiterate the Russian view about the rise (rf the National Democratic Party in West Germany and Stressed theSoyiet Goyernment's determ.ination that fascism should not be allowed to rise again in Germany.
He did not know, he said, how many supporters there were in West Germany of the N.D.P. but the Russians did see that movement progressing from day to day and gaining ground. He remembered that in Munich in the old days the first group of Nazis in the beer-halls numbered only 50, yet the Nazis came to power and plunged . the whole world into casta-strophe.
"We have no wish to see a repetition of. this kind arid we shall do otir utmost to fight the resurgence of fascism in West Germaf\y. Such a resurgence would be a violation of ,.' the Potsda n agreements, and all the allies should do their best to fight this resurgence".
Hundreds of Jewish Students at the University of Toronto hope this year for more consideration for their loyalty to Jewish tradition, especially for makii^ it possible for many to observe the most festive holiday of the year^- Passover.
Passover starts this year on April 24th and continues for an entire week. The Sedorim are on April 24th and 25th.
These students for whom the celebration of Passover is of utmost importance would like to be in a position of adhering to their religious precepts and, at the same time, not lose the opportunity to continue their studies. H
This newspaper was informed that, despite individual approach by several students, the administration of Toronto^s largest university, alma mater of many hundreds ot Jewish students, never takes into consideration the dates of the most important Jewish holidays. ,
This year Passover coincides with the most strenuous examination period. All Jewish students, whether Reform, Conservative or Orthodox, would like to spend the Seder evenings with their families. .
A spokesman for these students told The Canadian Jewish News: ■
"Whenever an important Jewish holiday coincides with examinations, Judaism loses students formerly attached tg* observance of tradition".
While true that the University grants these students an OK>ortunity to take the exams in the summer, for many such procedure imposes hardship and creates problems. Tlius students of only nuirginal loyalty to tradition acquire the habit of abandoning observance, affecting their religious practices in future.
Others also loyal to tradition, when faced by this dilemma, feel they must abandonthis hallowed, religious custom otherwise they possibly could not make the grade. Thus unwittingly and unconsciously they compromise with religious practice and i^-e lost to o^^ Judaisniliy brea^ing.Arell-giotn tradition*        '■' '
"Why should the administration of the University fail to realize that to Jewish students, irrespective of denomination, Passover and the Seder are just as important as Christmas is to others?" .
Toronto's Jewish students are disconcerted with leadership in the Torwito Jewish community, lay and spiritual, which fails to intervene at the highest level on their behalf. They say that each year such a situation develops we lose students otherwise observing Jewish customs.
In many Jewish families this problem creates unhappi-ness and heated discussion about what is more important. Jewish students feel that the time has come when the rabbis and the community miust intercede with university authorities.
This entire issue is riiore pertinent, the students contend, than many political activities which have no direct bearing on our Jewish way of living.
In Frontal Attack
ainst
HIS GOVERNMENT REPORTED IN TROUBLE -
The honorable Levi Eshhol, Israel's Prime Minister.
Bonn Suspends Captain Accused
By
Hamburg (special to The Canadian Jewish News). -The West (Jerman news agency DPA reports thai the West Germanauthorities temporarily suspended Capt. Paul Eggert, master of the Germain tanker, St. Michae-lis. As this newspaper reported lastweekj Israeli circles accused Eggert.of ignoring the S.O.S. from the Israeli ship Hashlosha when
CRISIS IN JERUSALEM UNIYERSnY
London (JCNS) - News of serious financial mismanagement and wa§te at Jerusalem's Hebrew University will come as a shock to its many well-wishers in this country. However, the cognoscenti, particularly Israelis, will not be surprised. It has long been known that the administrative andfinancial structure of the university left much to be desired. Administrative over-staffing at all levels has always been considered a serious prob-. lem and has grown from year . to year in an alarming mariner.
The main causes of this unhappy state of affairs are well known. In the first place, the Hebrew University could hardly be e^Qiected to be immune from the ills which af-feet most of the country. Pressures to employ, and stronger pressures not to dismiss, affected the university as they did the Government, Jewish Agency arid other ■ Institutions, and
impinged on its administrative side rather than its academic. The institution of the Histadrut-run "emplcyees council", heavily weighted by manual arid clerical staffs, which exerted considerable influence over hiring, firing and pay structures of all grades, helped to intensify these unheaIthy developments.
The Hebrew University draws a large' part of. its income from abroad, supple-riiented by grants from the Israeli Government. In the allocation of Government funds it has always been treated more favourably than other Israeli institutions of higher learning for sentimental and political reasons,
: though deveiopnjent of university facilities in Tel Aviv
: af e in many senses more urgently needed from the standjpoint of the national interest. It is a constant of human nature that money which
flows in without being earned
and without prefer checks is
morelikeiy to be wasted than money which is hard-earned or supervised by the donors. The decisionof the American Friends of tlie Hebrew University to insist on the appointment of a competent financial advisor is, therefore, most welcome.
Assurances that the university's income will be rationally allocated and that administration will become the handmaiden of academic activity instead of an equal or even dominant partner would do much to help to raise the morale of the academic staff, whose present discontent and pessimism: COTStitute one reason for the alarmingly high level of "brain drain". There is lit-tie point in Mr. Eshkol and other Israeli leaders appealing for Western immigration when : the country's own shortcom ings lead to a large-scale exodus of its own academically trained citizens. Israel must make greater efforts to set its own house in
by the CJN diplomatic correspondent
Reports emanating from Jerusalem, Paris and Washington indicate that Premier Levi Eshkol of Israel may be replaced soon. Although very few doubt that David Ben Gurion will accept again the premiership because of aige, the new cabinet will be "Bengurionist".
Israel's strongest party, the alignment of Mapai and Ahdut Avoda, now is negotiating seriously with different groups and factions represented in the Knesset for a possible change. There are persistent rumors that Ben Gurion's new splinter faction, Rafi, may join a new cabinet and that Ben Gurion himself would welcome the participation of some Herut leaders in a new national administration.
Levi Eshkol, many admit, is doing his best. But $ome of his closest friends even say that under the circumstances and due to the extreme pressure of international problems the best is not sufficient. Also Mr. Eshkol is being blamed — unjustly probably — for lack of determined leadership in solving the economic crisis. There even are those among the present PM's opponents within his own party who would not hesitate to make him the scapegoat for Israel's present ills.
Last week an agreenient was reached oh the wage freeze issue following a strong intervention by the Minister of Finance Pinchas Sapir. The leftist Mapam party approved it after it was aereed that wage earners who do not realize more than $200 a month Would receive half the cost of living allowance promised by the unions.
Sapir was unhappy about this concession to Mapam and two coalition partners, the National Religious Party and the Independent Liberals, both attacked the government for its "weakness" in surrendering to "Mapam demagogues".
Moshe Shapira, leader of the National Religious Party and Minister of Interior, publicly stated that the government's economic policy now was doomed to failure "because of this compromise". A similar statement was made by the New accusations are being president of the Association of Manufacturers, made against some obser- The manufacturers, including some managers of
Histadrut concerns, say openly they will not abide by this decision.
Diplomatic observers state that Israel's political problem is that of too many parties and the lack of an Opposition party to step in for a change of government. Even the government party cannot rule without small factions in a coalition as it is a minority group — the largest.
Mr. Ben Gurion indicated that he would not consider supporting or heading a government unless he were assured that the government
she was sinking in a storm two weeks ago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Eigiiteen crewmen and two passengers lost their lives m this tragedy.
The German government is investigating the circumstances of thiis sea disaster.
vers in Naples.
order before laying down the
law to Westei'n Jews, whose solicitude for Israel's interests has been proved be-beyond question ,      -     , ..
Ideas have been mooted for majority in the Knesset would vote a new, election establishing a Negev insti- law which would eUminate splinter parties and
make Israel a two-party country modeled on the United States system.
Now it seems that only the General Zionists who are aligned with Herut would support Ben Gurion's Rafi on this issue. Herut itself is not united on such a change.
The problem of reorganization of the government will wait, according to our informants, till Mr. Ben Gurion's return from North America. The former Prime Minister will visit Miami and Montreal as guest of the State of Israel Bonds Organization next month.
DAVID BEN GURION, Founding Father SALUTE TO BEN GURION of the State of Israel, will visit Canada during the second half of March. To mark this august occasion, THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS will publish a special supple-ment dedicated to David Ben Gurion, how observing his.eightieth birthday. -
The SALUTE-TO-BEN GURION-$UP-PLEMENT will contain special features and essays by prominent writers. It also will publish a limited number of greetings to Ben Gurion by prestige firms and individuals. For information call or write to: THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS TORONTO
2828 Bathurst St.— Telephone: 789-1895 MONTREAL X >--^N ■
6200 Pecorie Blvd-jTelephpn^ 739-3630 H ^
tute to attract back Israeli iscientists now working in the U.S.A, Before embarking on such an idea the Israeli authorities would be well advised to undertake c o s t-benefit studies. Would there be justification for such expenditure while the Tel Aviv University, designed to serve an area containing one-third of Israel's population, is in danger of being forced to close some of its d^rt-ments for lack funds*? The suggestion. by the "president of Tel Aviv University that Israeli institutions of higher learning should establish a single appeal is worth looking into, \yhatever the decision, Israeli higher education can rely on sympathetic understanding and support from Jews in this cpntry,
Hb Fincil
III Hei'ur Mbntredl tedder
Montreal (CJN)-BenMil-ner, president ot the Zionist Revisionists here,.denied this week the report that the splIt/within Herut "final". . J.^ .v.
The Zionist leader, wl : Just returned from Jerusa--1cm, told The C anadianJcw-
Isli News that he conferredH^Uiegovcrnnioiu.
with leader of both factions and there is no doubt that botlvgroups will affect a re- r'-.::''0.;^i,:^i4;^-'^-'i\ c^hcUIation. Also both fac- , tions insist that Menachem ,   ' ■ ■' '/■■^^•^^S^'->-Begin resume leadership of Herut which' now must play its role as the o|}position be-cauiie of posiiibli ..liangcs of
JEWISH STUDENTS HONORED Gobriol Monsoor (l«ff), from Ad«n, London, and  Pater Abrahams, agad
Tw«nty>yedr-old who now livos in 19, of .Liverpool,
outside Buckingham^ Pa lace after receiving ,gold medals' from/ the Duke of /^dlnburgh for outstanding Initiofive,
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