Page 6 — The Canadian Jewish News, Frid.iy, September 3rdi 1965
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YESHIVAT YESODAY HATORAH * BETH JACOB ELEMENTARYSCHOOL<>»^)
Toronto's Educational Institution Where The True Jewish Spirit Prevails
ANNOUNCEMENT
• The Yeshiva Yes^day Torah is staffed by the most competent and highly trained teachers in both Torah Study and general subjects
• The general studies program is in full accordance with the regulations of The Ontario Department of Education and is under supervision of a highly qualified educator
• All teachers in every department of both schools are graduates of recognized Yeshivot or universities
• Instruction in Gemarrah for boys is most intensive and begins at an early age
• Students spend all day in an authentic Torah atmosphere
Tuition not compulsory
RKISTRATION IN OUR SC^
FROM KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 9
Office Hours-Daily including Sunday,9:P0o/m, to 12 noon 5:00-7:00p.m. Friday 9:00a;m.- 1:00 p.m.
TORONTO DAY SCHOOLS
Dean and Rabbi: Principal and
567 LAWRENCE Avenue Vi
Beth Jacob School
R GRUENWAID; MOSHEp
789-4616
O.:
POLEHIICS
6y MOSHE KOHN
HOW HASIDIfl IN JERUSAL EM EVALUATE Bm QVUION
If you wish to have the pure truth, you must purge yourself of the spirit of vie-toriousness: only then can vou prepare to behold the truth.
Rabbi Nahman of Bratzlav TRUTH BY PRESCRIPTION .
It appears that even some of Mr. Ben-Gurion's politic al rivals believe that he is telling the truth. What concerns them is whether the truth is good for you and me just now; whether we are in fit condition at this moment to take the truth.
This is what one gathers from some words spoken at a recent "Neighbours' Meeting" in one of Jerusalem's quarters organized by the Alignment, which was addressed by Mr. Ra'anan Weitz. Mr. Weitz believed ; that unity is what we need right now, and that truth is not good for unity. This, at any rate, was the ogject lesson he apparently intended to drive home in quoting a "Midrash" which, he said, had been told to him by Mr. Yehuda Sha'ari, M. K. (Independent Liberals). This "Midrash" deals with Moses' smashing the first Tablets of the Covenant (the Ten Commandments) when he descended from Mt. Sinai after 40 days' absence and found the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf. And this "Midrash", as related by Mr. Weitz in the name of Mr. Sha'ari, has it that Moses smashed the Commandments beca use giving it to the Israelites at that moment — while they were engaged in an idolal-atrous orgy, in violation of the first couple of Commandments — would have had a deleterious effect on "Jewish unity".
The audience applauded Mr. Weitz heartily.
There is a similar "Midrash" where the reason for Moses' action is somewhat different from the one cited by Mr. Weitz. According to
the second "Midrash", giving the Israelites the Commandments at that moment would have made them liable to the death penalty for the idolatry they were committing and Moses, apparently, did not wish them to be punished under "e.\ post facto" legislation.
But why deal in "Mid-rashim" which are only Rabbinic homilies composed long after tho Biblical events they deal with, when we can refer to the events themselves? According to Exodus 32, Moses smashed the Tablets in a rage, and a few minutes la'er he called upon the Levites — who had not sinned — to carr% out a purge in the camp, which thev did, sktvin<.'. "about 3,000 men".
Furthermore, for nearly every homily proving one side of a case, there is at least one more homily proving exactly the oppu.siie.
For example. Rabbi Nah-1 man of Bratzlav (cited above) stales an epigram about truth and unity at once. He says: "False-hoods are many, but truth is one. In the oneness of truth there is strenght".
Or, Rabbi Solomon Klu-ger comments on a ".Mid-: rash" concerning the creation of man. Kindness and Charity favoured creation, while. Truth and Peace were
opposed. So Gpd cast Truth out of Heaven and there remained a majority in favour of creation. Asks Rabbi Kluger: Why was Truth rather than Peace, which also opposed man's creation, cast down to Earth? He answers his own question: If truth were left in opposition, a ' majority a-gainst man's creation would not have availed. Truth is higher than any majority against it.
And there is the tale of the wife of Rabbi Pinhas of Koretz, who, unknown to her husband, once bought | a gilded "Kiddush" cup. On j Friday night, when he saw | the cup un Ihc table, the: humble and austere Rabbi; I'inlias asked: "Since when tlu we ha\e i^iokleii utensils' in our home?" Said his wife: "But it isn't real gold; ; it is only gilded". To which he replied: "Then you have' brought not only arrogance, but also deceit and falsehood into our h(jme".
There are others, too. i
The same Rabbi Pinhas was once called upon to tell what he knew of a certain man. By speaking the truth, he would have brought grave harm to the nfian, while by a single lie he could have made him happy for life. Under the circumstances, Rabbi Pinhas felt he could not tell the truth, and he (continued on page 8)
HYMAN & SOH
TORONTO'S OLDEST JEWISH BOOKSTORE
ONE LOCATION
412SPADINA AVE. EM. 8-4977
• Paperbacks of Jewish interest
• Sabbath candlesticks "in a compact" for the eottoge or trips.
• New Year Cards • wholesale and retail; order your personal imprinting now.
HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
Will be held at
North York Memorial Gardens
180 EGLINTON WEST
CONDUCTED BY
RABBI DR. 20LTAN ZAGON
Order Tickets by telephone.
LE. 3-6175
SHOMRAI SHABOTH CONGREGATION
is pleased to advise that
HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
' will be conducted in the new synagogue, 585 GLENGROVE AVENUE WEST {At Englemount)
fully alr-condltloned — nursery provided
Rabbi G. Folder, Spiritual Leader, Hazan M. Solomon
Services will olso be conducted in the Synagogue at 225 BRUNSWICK AVENUE, (SUSSEX)
For information regarding Membership, Seats and Sirnchos, Kindly contact:
MR. SOLOMON, LE. 4-2575 or WA. 2-9679.
OR COMMITTEE ON PREMISES
A. S. KLING, President
CONGREGATION HABONIM OF TORONTO
HKM HOUDAY SBtlfttES
IN THE EUROPEAN LIBERAL TRADITION
JUDEA BROTHERHOOD TEMPLE
12 Hollaman Road, corner Glencairn and Bothurst
Cantor: MR. ALBERT FELDMAN Musical Director: MR. ERICH SCHAEFFER
For tickets and information please call: Mr. Arthur Kacer — 58 Dorking Cres., ME. 3-6374 Mr. George Stillmon — 740 Eglinton W., RU. 3-8028 SPECIAL TICKET SALE WILL BE HELD AT JUDEA BROTHERHOOD TEMPLE ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 12, 19, 26 from 11 o.m. to 2 p.i
BETH TORAH COHCREGATIOH
TORONTO'S NEWEST CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE
AFFILIATED WITH THE UNITED SYNAGOGUE OF AMERICA
is proud to announce that the distinguished scholar
Rabbi Michael €elmker,^l£^.
has accepted our call to become Spiritual Leader of this Synagogue.
We welcome our new Rabbi and hope that under his spiritual guidance our Congregation^ arid the community in general, will grow from strength
to stri
MARK GdlDENBERG,
PRESIDENT
• An Open House in honour of Rabbi Michael Gel-niter, and upon the occasiori of the inauguration of our new Sanctuary, will take place Sunday, September 12th, from 2 to 5 p.m. on the premises. The community is cordially invited to join us.
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! 1 * The Beth Torch Congregation will operate dn afternoon Hebrew School with a curriculum of 111 li integVal Jewish education; will diso have Bar Mitzvbh and Bat jMitiyoh^ Ijl