Pogt 4 — Th* Canadian Jtwiih Newt< ffiiay, Jun« lOfh, 1966
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THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
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VOL. VII   NO. 23 (337) Subscriptions: $5.00 per year, $12 — 3 years; U.S.A.: $7.50 per year, $18.00 -— 3 years; All other cpuntries: $10 per year, $24 — 3 yeors.
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in advertisements.
SPLIT IN CANADIAN ZIONISM
DIVISION CALLED UNITY
In the inimitable style of misleading the public, which is characteristic of some professional Jews, we were informed last week that "the Zionist groups in Canada unite". The fact is, the Canadian newspapers, among them the venerable Montreal Gazette, did not bother to even check whether the "news" released by some organizations was correct. They took it for granted that if four Zionist groups declared they now have achieved unity, they would not plant a canard and use a daily newspaper as a medium.
However, the Montreal Gazette, which last Friday so prominently announced that "Zionist groups xuiite", was taken for a ride by four offices representing Zionist parties which broke away from the Zionist Organization of Canada and created a new Federation. The four groups are: the Labor Zionists; the Miz-rachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi (Religious Zionists); the Leftist Ahdut Avoda; Friends of Pioneering Israel, which is a fancy name for the Canadian outlel of the extreme Marxist Israeli Mapam Party.
The establishment of this new Zionist Federation of Canada, to compete from now on with the old Zionist Organization of Canada, is the result of many months of bickering among the professionals heading the different political Zionist groups here who were unable to agree on how to divide the funds they receive from the Israeli Appeal. Meetings were held in Jerusalem, New York, Montreal and Toronto — to no avail. Each group accused the other of not
WASTE HERE
representing "the people". And the people, of course, were kept in the dark for these gentlemen never condescend to report to the Jewish taxpayer the detailed accounting of how his money is distributed.
We do not know who is right or wrong among these political parties. For the main concern is whether any or all of them have the right to operate on charity funds. Yet they are contemptuous of the individual contributor who never knows what is done with his money. Probably all these groups are right in one respect: the giver doesn't give a hoot.
The truth of the matter is that because no one in the general press is orientated on what goes on within the Jewish community, the Gazette and other papers were used obviously to plant such a hoax in order to vdthhold the truth from the Jewish community.
One of the spokesman of the new Federation declared that the purpose of this organization is to "further ties between Canadian Jewry and the State of Israel and to enhance its fundraising activities." It seen^s that up to now there were no ties between Canadian Jewry and Israel or fundraising.
The real news behind the statement is that these groups do not wish the Zionist Organization of Canada to represent them. We believe that in the future Canadian newspapers should check such information so that we may have a little less confusion in the already so deeply distracted Jewish public Ufe.
QUEBEC MARCHES FORWARD
1^ Deyoir, Montreal
ZURICH, (JCNS) - The cen. tenary of the full emancipation of Swiss Jews was celebrated at a moving ceremony here last weeli. It was attendcJ by a member of the Swiss Cabinet, Dr. Rudolf Gnaegi, and other State dignitaries, and leaders of the Jewish community in Switzerland.
The Swiss president, Mr. Hans Schaffner, sent a message in which he emphasised that in the view of Switzerland, "the attitude of a people towards its Jewish fellow-citizens testifies to the extent it respects the ideal of human dignity."
Dr. George Bru;ischvig, presi. dent of the Federation of Jewish Communities, traced the "courageous fight for human dignity
of those who engineered the emancipation of the Jews in the face of considerable obstacles."
Geneva's Chief Rabbi, Dr. Alexander Safran, expressed h i s gratitude for the religious freedom enjoyed by Swiss Jews, He said that some of the credit for this ought also to be given to France, which exerted strong pressure for the liberation of the Jews "from their medieval chains."
Guests of honour included Mr. S. Benisour, the Israeli Ambassador; Mr. Slgmund Widner, Mayor of Zurich; Dr. Walter Koenig, vice-president of Zurich Cantonal Government, and representatives of the national (Swiss) churches.
REAL TROUBLE IN DENMARK
' Exclusive Reportage by William Frankel ■
The Jewish community in Copenhagen is today a troubled one. It consists of some 1,800 families and, on the Continental model, it is Government recognised, wihch means that all Jews are assumed to be members unless they opt out (very few have). Members support the community by a ta.\ which is based on their income as disclosed to the inland revenue authorities.
VIEWING ISRAEL'S CRISIS
A few days ago, Asher Yadlin, secretary of Hevrat Ovdim, the holding company of the Histadrut financial empire, shocked the people of Israel by a statement in an interview in that country's largest circulation newspaper. Speaking with a reporter of Maariv, this Big Boss of a combine richer than the nation and belonging to the trade unions (Histadrut) candidly told the workers that the danger of unemployment now is gnawing at Israel's economic foundation. He said that if no steps are taken to remedy the situation, the number of unemployed will double by the end of the summer.
In this interview, Mr. Yadlin also told the nation that his party, Mapai—which controls both the government and the Histadrut's financial empire —, will not agree to pay all those employed in Israel the cost of living allowance due in July.
Because of this decision of Mapal (which is responsible for running the nation), the labor parties more to the left threaten to leave the coalition. In fact, Ahdut Avoda, which is part of the curious Alignment vnth Mapai, may withdraw from both the "Alignment" and the government unless those at least in the lower income bracket obtain their cost of living allowance.
To this eventuality Mr. Yadin openly replied: "In this case Mapai will have to look for other partners."
Those who read the house organs of different political groups in this country and elsewhere are unaware of the sen-ous crisis facing Israel's economy. There are differences of opinion as to whether it is organic or merely a superficial ailment curable by a few drastic steps like halting the inflation, but the . unemployment is serious.
The fact is, now that the payments from GermMiy under the Reparaftons Deal are over, isome are beginning to analyze critically the Histadrut-Mapai economic policy which always has been estabhshed on the premise that certain Qhanty-mcome is part of the national budget. At the same time, those who live
in Israel — especially the ten-thousand registered unemployed — are beginning to ask questions. First, they wonder how a trade union confederation like the Histadrut can be an employer, the biggest in the country, and, at the same time remain fair to the working class
Second, they want to know where all the millions are going that the trade union-employer-financial combine called Histadrut raises in the guise of charity the world over with the help of some publi city-hungry local "leaders".
Of course, no one considers the protests of Ahdut Avoda and Mapam seriously. For every chilld in the Jewish na^ tion knows that immense sums of money are spent abroad by those two little Lefist parties—from funds turned over to them by the Jewish Agency — for political propaganda among the Jews in the Diaspora.
Instead of cutting the cost of living allowance of working families whose in come is a hundred dollars a month, wouldn't it be wiser and more practical to close for one year all political offices troughout the Diaspora thus employing these millions of dollars to finance a program to salvage some industries In Israel and establish new ones that would create employment?
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We are not Israelis nor do we know how these problems can be solved. However, with all due respect to Mr. Yadhn, we haven't noticed one concrete suggestion in the lengthy interview with Maariv as to how to solve the crisis. Nevertheless we are convinced that part of the solution lies here among afl of us who believe that we are doing Israel a favor by tolerating waste and inefficiency of public funds destined for aiding the economy of the Jevrfsh state and helping the immigrants eke out a living.
We boldly state — and we want to be refuted by facts — that during this economic crisis in Israel the sin of wasting money collected for the Jewish state by pohtical parties in the Diaspora cries to Heaven.
The Chief Rabbi, who requires Royal assent, has the power to register births and conduct marriages which are recognised by Danish law. A small Machzike Ha-dath congregation in Copenhagen does not have this official status though it has its own rabbi and kashrut system. Their 100 or so members contribute to the community though they do not attend the stately white and gold synagogue in Krystalgade. But about 400 Jews do so every Sabbath and it is filled to capacity on special occasion.
This very respectable regular attendance is attributed by some to the Copenha-gener's' religious discipline but others give the main credit to the Chief Rabbi for the past 19 years, Dr. Marcus Melchior.
Vigorous
Cliief Rabbi Melchior, now a vigorous 69, is a yarmulka-wearing Orthodox rabbi trained at the famed Hil-desheimer Seminary in Berlin. His progenitors have lived in Denmark for almost two centuries. There is a good deal of pride in the Jewish community that one of their own sons is their religious leader and, moreover, that by his oratory and personality he has come to be one of the handful of outstanding men in his countr>'. He is respected in Court and Government circles and by foreign embassies. His radio and television appearances are impressive and his recent autobiography was a national best-seller, which has gone through several editions.
The Chief Rabbi is a gifted and articulate man with strong and independent convictions and an air of authority which his opponents describe as autocratic. That he has opponents will surprise nobody who has had experience of the reactions in Jewish commiuiities to the leadership of a strong rabbi. And Rabbi Melchior is forceful in many things including resistance to the current tendency of the Orthodox rabbinate to inten sify rigidity on matters of
letters io the editor
ZIOJ^IST LEADER'S HOPES
)ear Editor:
Regarding the split within the Canadian Zionist movement as publicized recently by some political parties, I wish to point out that the Zionist Revisionist movement has not joined the new Zionist Federation of Canada. At this moment I cannot speak for our movement as this problem has not yet been discussed at our executive meeting. Neverthless I believe that our position remains as firm as in the past, in favot of upholding Zionist unity
wthin the Zionist Organiza tion of Canada. It is im-
)ortant for the ZOC, which las done so much in bringing Zionism to Canada, to remam the : instrument which should be preserved. In my opinion, this spht
KEEP SMIL^ING
PROGRESS
Two Jews of Khelm were .discussing woridly affairs,
Said one, "I cannot understand how people got along m former years. Really, how could they have lived without the telegraph, telephone or radio?"
"Those   are  my sentiments" rejhed the other. '•They really could not live. That's why they died." THE LORD IS GOOD
David Kapota of Khehn was a tailor; his father and grandfather  were tailors.
Thus he wanted his son, Shloimke, to carry on the tradition. But Shloimke refused. He preferred to be a shoemaker.
So the father contacted a shoemaker in another city, the son served an an apprenr tice and in due time became a full-fledged> shoemaker with his own busmess.^
Some time later, Shloimke visited his father in Khebn.
"Do you know," he said, "I should thank God three times a,day for having re fused to be a tailor. Had I
listened to you. I would have starved to death." r ^'Why do you say that?" asked the father.
"Because,'' replied Shloimke, "I have been a shoemaker three years and so for none of my customers has asked raeTto^make even one smgleipair of trousers "
DIPLOS^CY ^
The rabbi was interrupted m his study ;of the Talmud by Moses and Aaaron. who wanted to straighten out a senous business difference;
Moses spoke first.
"After hstenmg to the story," said the. rabbi, "1 think Moses is right."
Then Aaron,spoke. "Now that I've heard the other side," "said the rabbi, "I believe Aaron is nght." ,
Both were bewilder«d. The rebbitzm intervened.
"It is not. my business to interfere, she said, "but how is it possible for both to be nght?"
"Now," replied th.e rabbi, "it IS perfectly evident>that the rebbitzm too is/right."
definitely will do no goot to Canadian Zionism. Fo^ lowing my discussions with various leaders of different groups, I am convinced that on the contrary, it may blur the image and harm the work of the Zionist movement.
Canadian Jews are not politically minded Zionists; they support Israel, leaving all political decision to the Israelis. This is indeed healthy situation. In com parison with Hada^sah, for example, all political organizations here do not represent even twenty percent of Zionists. Thus I do not believe we, political Zionist groups, have the right to demand the control of the Zionist movement of Ca nada.
A political Zionist works actively for Zionism, hi does not merely pay dues as a member of a political group. Thus the duty and obhgation of a political Zionist in Canada: to strengthen Zionism and prevent division withm the Jewish community ■
I am sure this also is the opinion of the leaders of political Zionist groups m Canada. I appeal to them to place imity and the cause of Zionism and Israel before personal ambitions. Montreal, Que.
Ben C. Milner Mr. Mihier. is one' of the national leaders of Canadian Zionism.
belief and observance.
The opposition of the Machzike Hadath group can be assumed but, in addition there are possibly as many as 100 members of the general community who are not Machzike Hadath mem bers though close to them in their religious attitudes It is this group which leads the attacks on the Chief Rabbi and, although the numbers are comparatively small, the individuals involved are important and have acquired considerable influence in the community because of their sincerity and assiduity.
They deny that they are religious extremists but base their opposition to the Chief Rabbi on the claims that he has been casual in his acceptance of converts and that there has been some laxity in his supervision of kashrut (both are denied by the Chief Rabbi). To this end, they have campaigned for the ^creation of a Beth Din which would obviously be a brake on the Chief Rabbi's personal authority. But when the Chief Rabbi agreed to create a Beth Din they were dismayed to learn that the third member was to be Dr. Melchior's own son. Rabbi Bent Melchior, a young man of charm and ability, obtained his semicha from Jews' College, London, acts as his father's assistant and is expected eventually to succeed him.
The opposition, affronted by this selection, have now obtained authoritative opinions from rabbinical lead ers in London and Israel that it is not permissible for father and son to sit on the same Beth Din.
At about the same time, the Chief Rabbi aroused strong reactions by accept ing a higher rank of an order which he had been given by Germany several years ago. An agitation developed and the Board of the whole community issu ed a statement deploring the Chief Rabbi's action. This incident exacerbated relations even further.
With all these things coming more or less together, the Chief Rabbi and Rabb 3ent   Melchior demanded from the Board a public statement of confidence, which vvas given to them by a ma ority of 4-3. The minority •epresent the "right wing' but the Chief Rabbi and his supporters claim that it is evidence solely of the fact they are over-represented on the Board.
Storm expected
This slender vote of confi dence allowed controversy to quieten. But the lull is not likely to last for long. The right wing expects the Chief Rabbi to retire next year when he is 70, although there is no retiring age for the office. If he does, they will object to Rabbi Bent Melchior succeeding because they claim he is too much under the influence of his father. In that case, there is bound to be a head-on collision and a possible split in the community.
But the Chief Rabbi may not retire and, moreover, there is to be an election for communal leadership in eighteen months' time, which the Chief Rabbi's supporters hope will result in a reduction of the representation of the right wing and.
is apparent that in Denmark, as elsewhere in the Jewish world, an energetic religious Right wing with the best of possible motivse, is assailing the old establishment. The heightening of conflict naturally forces the sides more widely apart and, unless there is a greater willingness to compromise than can now be forecast, it seems to me unlikely that they will be able to live together for much longer in one congregation.
Chief Rabbi Melchior, in the context of a discussion on the subject, repeated to me a comment he had heard from Leo Baeck. "These diehards," said Rabbi Baeck, "are building an ark for themselves. They say we shall be swallowed up and they will preserve Judaism. We shall not be swallowed
consequently, of their   in- up and the lluence in the community,    ark will be Whichever way it goes it raites."
people in the new
the Ka-
SERMON FOR THE WEEK
Rabbi: Morcua Melchior
, Harold Iterutein
FAILIMGS OVERCOME
The portion of this week gives the names of the twelve spies whomMoses sent to spy out the land, and the tribes to which they belonged. Of the twelve sons of Jacob, however, Joseph alone is the progenitor of two tribes, Ephraim and Ma-nasseh, and a representative was chosen from each.
In this connection the Tosafist commentary to the Bible points out that, whereas Hosea (Joshua) is referred to only as "of the tribe of Ephraim", the representative of Manasseh is called "of the tribe of Joseph of the tribe of Manasseh". Elsewhere, as in the census of the tribes In the first chapter of Numbers, the opposite procedure is adopted. It is the "sons of Ephraim" who are the "sons of Joseph", while of Manasseh it says merely "of the sons of Manasseh". To that slight departure from the norm an interesting explanation is given.
What was the sin of the faithless spies, which brought such condign punishment upon the whole of the Chil^en of Israel? It can be summed up in the verse, "And they uttered a dibah of the land which they had explored". That word dibah is translated as "an evil report". It is an accurate rendering as long as one does not make the mistake of confushig it with a "lying report".
There was not one word in their depressing and disastrous report which didnot express their considered opmion. They praised the fertiUty of the land; they brought with them visible evidence of its luscious fruits, but they held that the difficulties in the way of its conquest were too formidable to be overcome.
It was an "evil report" only in that it emphasized the bad side instead of the good. The two faithful spies did not deny the formidable nature of the difficulties. All they said was, "The Lord is with us, fear them not." And this attitude of faith made their report a "good report".
This word dibah occurs only once more in the Pentateuch. It is found with regard to Joseph, of whom it is stated that "he brought unto their father the evil dibah'^ of his brothers. Similarly here, therefore, the word is not meant to convey that" he toldjmtruths about his brothers, but that lie reported the peccadilloes of .which they had been guilty, and portrayed them in an unfavourable hght.
And the Tosafists ingeniously suggest that since it was the represisntaitiye of Manasseh who showed this same weakness as his ancestor, the proclivity to speak the worst instead of the best,, whereM Joshua distinguished himself by rising^ above tliat hereditary vjreaknesis. It is the former who is callied "of the tribe Of Joseph", whfle the latteris"nbt:y^- ■       /v"'j ..-'r^v'V^^-^-vV
On the surface this dcplanation appears to be merely a bon mot. But when one penetrates beyondv the surface^there ^ surely a salutary moral to h^ derived-from itl /
We all of us have a prOneness to certain failings which may even beinherited. Most of us make no effort to bvercoihe these weaknesses, and allow ourselves to be borne along imresistingly on theirs qirrent. But a^inst them there are the heroes of the spirit Y^ho fight against failing and ^ overcome them. It is thfey who coyer themselves with'distinction.' =■   : v::      ' ^--r ^