Pag« 4—' The Canodion Jewiili News, Friday, February 19rii, 1965
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A MAN OF HALAKHA
GEDALIAH FELD ER
Someday someone will portray a man of halakha. The man of halakha is one usually steeped in the tradition of Torah study, combined with a dedication to living Torah. He is immersed in a world where dimensions are different from those known to us, to the average man and woman in the Jewish community.
The study of Torah requires the entire man, his complete being. One cannot be a part time man of halakha, a part time Talmid Haham, a partially observant Jew; for it is written that one should study the Torah in order to live by it. This is the secret—this is why a true Talmid Haham must live in an atmosphere of Torah observance. And this is why no one has found yet a sub-
NOT BY PREACmNG ALONE
stitute for the old-fashioned yeshiva which produces men of true Torah knowledge.
Such a man of halakha, such a man who lives by and for the Torah is Toronto's relatively young Rabbi Gedaliah Felder. He is a product of a true Torah environment. His works, liis writings are exercises In "swimming in the sea of the Talmud" and its commentators. His observations are brilliant. What we admire most, however, in this young rabbi is that, in our affluent society, his only interest has remained the study of Torah per se.
Thus, in honoring Rabbi Felder, Toronto's Jewish community will honor what is essentially the symbol and the essence of Judaism: Torah.
GRETCHEN: Endlich, Wunderbar — East and West Germany united! They both love my darling Nasser!
Maoriv ond Jerusalem Post
letters ib the editor
Dear Editor,
Your editorialof February 5th (UJ.A. — Legend and Reality) was perfectly in order in taking the United Jewish Appeal to task for the preposterous system which has been perpetuated for too many years, namely, the transferring of funds destined-for Israel, to the Zionist Organization and to the Jewish Agency, rather than to the treasury of the State of Israel.
You are also right in saying that the allocation of the Israeli portion of United Jewish Appeal funds should not be dictated by the makeup'of the parties within the Zionist Congress. Such a course only tends to continue petty party politics and beauro-cracies, each vying for a place in the Israeli sun.
I also agree that it is scandalous that United Jewish Appeal funds, in Canada at any rate, in the process of being channelled to Israel through the Zionist Organization ol Canada, are siphoned ofl to support its own program, whatever that may consist of, in a variety ol ineffective educational, youth and public relations activities
S. M. ZAMBROWSKY
Judaism cannot live by preaching alone, by merely words—no matter how beautiful the sermon, how elegant the expression. It's the deed that counts in Hebrew tradition and in the annals of historic Israel.
Rabbi S. M. Zambrowsky, Canada's Mr. Mizrachi, is the rare combination .of the man of words and the man of action. An outstanding exponent of Judaism, a fiery, temperamental orator, at the same time he is a bom organizer and leader of men.
Rabbi Zambrowsjky, who wiII be honored on Sunday at an Israel Bonds dinner in Montreal, has spent but a comparatively brief number of years in this country. He came here from New York where he played a leading role In the Religious Zionist movement. Dur-
GROtJP PREJUDICE
ing the war, he performed once a feat of organization in the service of Zionism by organizing the most successful rally in Madison Square Park. Still a young man, he impressed New York. It was the late, unforgettable Rabbi Meyer Bar Han who first noticed this urmsual-ly talented yoimg man and had attracted him to the Mizrachi movement.
Since then Rabbi Zambrowsky has made his mark both here and in Israel. His success in organizing support for Bar Ilan University and in rejuvenating and activating Mizrachi, his fight for what is important in Canadian Jewish life, his universal interests — these qualities are recognized today in the Jewish world where Rabbi Zemach Zambrowsky is known as a leader of men who inspires to the deed.
PROFILE OF A YOUNG SCHOLAR
"Is this //ze Rabbi Felder?!"
Such was the startled reaction of many of Israel's venerable rabbis upon meeting for the first time Toron- j
by DR. WALTER S. WURZBURGER
province. . even his scholarly pursuits
Rabbi Felder's love for the I Characteristically, he always dissemination of Torah | has gravitated towards those
knows no congregational bounds. For many years, his
to's young Talmudic scholar j weekly Talmud class, con whose Haiakhic works had I ducted under the auspices of
THE MOROCCAN JEWS
won him international acclaim. Because of the profound erudition and vast learning displayed in these
the Rabbinical Council, has attracted a wide following, ranging over a representative cross section of the Toronto Jewish community.
areas of Haiakhic research which possess immediate practical applications. This accounts in large measure for the extraordinary popularity of his writings. His massive "Yesodei Yeshurun" (four volumes to date) has been hailed as an almost in
writings, the Israeli rabbis ^ ^
hardly could believe that the Deeply convinced of the dispensable compendium of renowned author was such ' high priority that must be laws relating to prayer, the a young man whose appear- assigned to the study of] synagogue, the Sabbath, etc ance was that of a typical i Torah on the part of our I The "Nachlat Tz\'i" repre-"modern rabbi". 1 youth. Rabbi Felder has de-i sents a pioneering effort in
What renders Rabbi Geda-! dicated much of his energy surveying the entire litera-lia Felder's scholarly feats i to the cause of Jewish edu- . ---t. .j *: ^
even more amazing is the i cation. At present he serves fact that they are the pro-; as instructor in Talmud at . ducts not of a secluded ivorj' j the Associated Hebrew Yeshurun" constitutes an in-tower-e.xistence devoted to Schools of Toronto. valuable addition to the re-
Halakhic research but of a' Despite his incredibly busy i sponsa literature in which
ture dealing with adoptions and conversion, while his re cently published "Sheilath
Many of us are wondering: what is happening in Toronto's Jewish community? How is it possible for a pubU-cation which claims to represent major Jewish fundraising organizations and the Toronto Zionist Council to publish a reportage about Moroccan Jews which reminds one of anti-Negro stories in the old, disappearing South? Who is responsible for what is published by the official leadership of the United Jewish Welfare Fund? Is there no one in its office to control a publication which engages the total community?
Why should a Jewish community publication—which this piarticular bulletin professes to be—meddle in racial propaganda against the Moroccan Jewish community? What sins have the Moroccan Jews committed? Is it because most of them do not belong to the wealthy strata of our society that any Tom, Dick or Harry can sharpen his pen and exercise "journalism" by offending one of the finest groups within our Jewish commimity?
After reading the article in this publication about the Moroccan Jewish community, many speculate whether we do not need an anti-hate bill in our community itself. For, how can a responsible leadership bulletin ignore the fact that Morocc.an, Jews belong to one of the most glorious Jewish communities in our history, a community which has
left an impact upon Torah and Judaism to this day? How can one write such trash, like describing cultural differences between Jews of Casablanca and Tangiers, ior example? And who is the anthropologist in the Jewish Welfare Fund who has determined that the children of Moroccan Jews are all "small, dark skinned and curly haired"? And who has the right to repeat in a newspaper, paid for by public funds, that these children "won't fit into a community school"? Who, also, in that outfit will dare assimie the responsibiUty for propagating such nonsense and dangerous prejudice, that one of the characteristics of the children of Moroccan Jews is — the breaking of school windows? Furthermore, who passed over copy where it says that breaking school windows is these children's "expression of ethical values"?
We compliment the Moroc<?an Jews for the calmness with which they took these insults, unheard of in the history of Jewish community relations.
We expect that the attack in this bulletin against the Moroccan group finally will induce the r e s p o n s i b 1 e leadership of Jewish community organizations to clean hbuse, and become accountable indeed for what is accomplished in theii; names and for fimds furnished by charity contributors.
busy rabbi, devoted teacher schedule of communal activi-and active communal leader, i t>'. Rabbi Felder always Tlabbi Felder is not merely ! manages to have time for in-the beloved and r e v e r e d I dividuals in need of counsel, leader of the Shomrei Shab- '•■ advice and encouragement, bos Congregation; he also i B e c a u s e of his patience, has served for many years as ; warmth and sincerity, he chairman of the Vaad Haka- j never remains for long mere-shruth of the Canadian ly the "Rabbi", but soon be-Jewish Congress and in this comes the trusted friend and capacity has been charged i companion. It was this kind with responsibilities for the of intimate, personal rela-supervision, of kashruth in tionship that made it pos-plants. wholesale and retail sible for him to inspire a outlets and catering estab-; history-making legacy — the
largest bequest ever left in Toronto exclusively for Jewish educational and charitable institutions. Rabbi Felder's love for
lishments. As president of the Ontario region of the Rabbinical Council of America, he has helped guide the activities of the Orthodox
rabbinate throughout the; people expresses itself in
the author brings to bear his vast and penetrating learning on a multitude pf questions that have ariseii in our world of upheaval.
Toronto has every reason to be proud that this outstanding "Talmid Chacham" was developed under the tutelage of the eminent Rabbi Abraham Price in Toronto's own Yeshivath Toras Chayim and that it can boast of a congregation such as Shomrei Shabbos. which seeks renown as a bastion of authea tic Torah scholarship.
As Rabbi Solomon J.Sharf-man, past president of the Rabbinical Council of America, put it in a review of one
keep
iling
WONDER OF WONDERS f Sheindl, an elderly Yiddish-ispeaking woman, was riding ion a train going from New JYork to Chicago. After a stopover at Pittsburgh, she got on the wrong train going in the opposite direction.
She met another Yiddish-ispeakirig woman sitting on ithe other side of the car. IThey began to chat.
"Where are you going?"
Sheindl asked.
'To New York."
"How wonderful," said
Sheindl. "Here I sit on this
side of ihe car and I go to
Chicago, and you sit on the
other side and go to New
York. These railroads are
marvelous."
* * *
COMPENSATION
A lady in the upper esche-lon asked Efreni, Zimbalist
the violinist to attend a house-party she was giving.
"It will cost you $1,000," he said.
The affluent lady was flabbergasted.
"I'll have you know," she said, "that professional performers are not allowed to mingle with my guests."
"In that case," answered Zimbalist, "the fee will be only 5500."
background of the news
IS STILL IN CiERAiA]«Y
LONDON; (JCNS). - The West German Government has cravenly capitulated to the blackrhiil of President Nasser. The Egyptian dictator had threatened the Federal German Government that unless West German arms supplies to Israel were stopped he would recognise the East Gerpian puppet regime. He would thereby leave Bonn no alternative under the Hallstein Doctrine but to break off relations with Cairo. Under the terms of this doctrine West Germany reserves for itself alone the right to act and speak for all Germariyi At first sight this / diplomatic ultimatum' wa s , Idirek6 agamst Israel and^ould reflect the measure of Egypt's overwhelrhing preoccupation -with the- Palestine , question. But closer exatni^ation suggests -that though; this is the impres-
sion Nasser wishes to give his fellow-Arabs and the world at large it is, in fact, misleading.
It had been evident for some time that Egypt has been moving tb^ the Left in both domestic and foreign policy and gradually abandoning even the specious pretence of "non-alignment" ' for closer co-operation with the Communist block. This development is iiot new and should suprise no one but the most naive and self-deluding. If it has taken so long, this might be explained more by previous ineptitude of Soviet tactics in the area than by any reticence on. the part of the Egyptian dictator.
>^ Egypt's moye to the Left in international affairs partly reflects Egypt's new? social structure, partly Nasser's own personality and approach to world politics.
and partly his vulnerability to Soviet pressures, having mortgaged" his country's economy for their military and economic assistance.
Lacking any construcitive contribution to Africa ' and the Middle East, Nasser can only hope to enhance Egypt's importance by appearing as the sponsor of rebellious and subversive movements — whether in
Jordan, the Congo, East Africa or North Africa. He may not have the money or know-How to build dams, but it does not cost a great deal to send arms and dynamite, while the chance of political gain is good. These policies coincide with those of the Communist Powers and their East German satellite. They run directly counter to those of West Gerniany and its
NEW YORk (JJCNS) - The Ameirican Society of Biblical Literature, whifh met in New York for its 100thJ:ongress since 1880, was attended by 700 members and guests.
The ; society now has seven regional branches. Including one in Canada, and a number of honorary members [in several foreign countries; of which Israel is one.
The president. Professor F. V.
Winnet (Toronto), Pfere de Vaux (Harvard), the excavator of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Professor J. Mtiilenburg (California) and Professor D. M. Knight (Duke University) Wjcre among those who presented papers.
Professor Knight summed-up the congress by saying that the Bible told people^ wfi^t they were and what tncy should^bc, arid it was in /this spirit that participants had come together.
allies. No wonder, then, that Nasser should come to regard his formal recognition of West Germany and formal non-recognition of East Germany as anachroriistic. Furthermore, there have been suggestions that the Soviet block has actually placed pressure -on Nasser to recognise East Germany as a quid pro quo.
This helps to explain why Nasser singles out West Germany for- his diplomatic offensive rather than Powers like France, which have been a major source of Israeli arms supplies. It is a commonplace that weakness or apparent weakness invites attack.yWcst;^ German willingness to rpake concessions to the Arabs where relations with Israel are concerned has emboldened Nasser to proceed with his present, policies, certain that either way he cannot lose.
The appeasing formula that no more arms should be shipped to Israel because they would only serve to increase tension in the area, is a false one. Tension exists for only one reason — be-caiise the Arabs . threaten and prepare for; the destruction of Israel, t '
Germany's latest surrender, can only tempt the Egypr tian leader to further blackmail attempts, if not worse. Reports V of Egypt's n e w rocket build-;Up and the preparation of a force equipped with unconventiohal weapons cannot be: divorced from Bonn's decision to Halt arms aid to Israel. W e s t Germany's decision will not onljy arouse the moral opprobrium of all right-thinking people, it will also open the road to^new, and even stronger pressures from Cai-, ro. Bqnrt has yet to learn the lesson of Munich. .
of Rabbi Felder's books: "It is with a sense of pride that I read this volume that would bring credit to a venerable sage. American Yeshivot have truly come of
and conventions. Let Jhose who believe in a General-Zionist Organization, contribute to its ijp-keep, rather than depending on th6 largesse of the communities to finance "their" organization.
While I agree with you on these points, you have, hpwever, let' loose a shotgun blast, in order to make your criticism, and have, as a result, indiscriminately tried to shoot down the entire purpose of the United Jewish Appeal.
I think that you are being naive when you say. that the United Jewish Appeal would receive greater support if it were to include several additional educational institutions in Toronto as beneficiaries of the campaign. Because the United Jewish Welfare Fund refuses to cover their budget fyour words) they are, therefore, forced to conduct independent drives. Fact of the matter is that no joint campaign ever raised more funds simpiv because additional agencies were aildeil to the list oi beneficiaries. If people are looking to evade cliaritable giving, raising the campaign objective and planning to increase the number of allocations, does not assure a better response.
1 don't know whom you refer to when you write "there are those who claim that Israel is aided e.xelusively by United Israel Appeal Funds." If there are such people, they are either fools or very partisan and uninformed. Of course contributions through Bonds, Histadrut, Hadassah. Mizrachi, Youth All-yah, Hebrew University, investment companies, etc., have, and will continue to play their part in the rebuilding and development of Israel. But I do noi ■think you should negate the ireniendous achic\emeniN which have been made through United
age, when colleagues of ours who have been educated here
possess the learning to pro-j l's7ael'Xp'pearFunds'i"n"~'the" dav duce such Sefarim. We hope , d Palestine, and lor the pasi Rabbi Felder will add fur- seventeen years, in the State ol
ther volumes ... for his writings- are timely and enduring."
What was said about Rabbi Felder's written work applies, of course, to so many different areas of his other multi-faceted activities. They are truly timely and enduring—and at the same time a source of inspiration to a grateful community which, in honoring him, accords Kavod Latorah. i
Israel. To acknowledge thai contribution do&s not detract from, nor disparage the value of other Israel fund raising efforts.
The most meaningful point in \our editorial, and one which should be continually stressed. I agree, is the arrogance with which the Zionist Organi/.ation of Canada has, by virtue of being the custodian ol Israeli funds, financed its own "programs" out of these very same monies. Toronto
' Max Hoffman.
SERMON FOR THE WEEK
NEED FOR DIALOGUE
And Moses besought the Lord his God, arid said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people? (Exodus 32. 11).
On Fast-days these words are read from the Scroll of the Law. The reading recalls the occasion of Moses' intensive pleading for the forgiveness of his people when they had sinned by worshipping the golden calf. The Midrash called Moses "Israel's great defending counsel". At first glance Moses' questioning of God as to the cause of His anger appears inexplicable. Surely the sin of idolatry so soon after the Decalogue warranted the wrath of God. Why was Moses so amazed that God should be angry?
These words were the opening gambit of Moses. The Bible does not record every word in the defence presented by the leader of his people. There were extenuating circumstances. Israel had still not rid itself of the harmful influences of Egypt where not only the body but also the mind had been enslaved. There had been the widespread practice of idolatry in Egypt and the people of Israel had lived there for many long years. Could Israel in a few weeks banish the effects of centuries?
Moses felt that he should not have left them so long. He had been very much in the clouds whilst his people had been very much down to earth. A leader must be close to his people. They had not yet reached the stage where the teacher could leave his pupils to their own devices.
The defence of Moses was not only a plea for mitigation but was also a vital lesson on Israel's conception of God. God was to be considered not only the Creator, not only the Deliverer through miracle but also the Father with whom His children could comrnune. A child must respect and revere his father; a child naturally loves his ff-.ther; but he should not &o dread his father that he be afraid to approach him. Moses loved God and revered His Maker but he was not too fearful to speak to God and even to question His acts. .^^
God never condemned man for argumg with Him: Sincere argument is derived from intelligence, and thinking is an especial gift from God to man which is to be exercised by man. Moses of tori argued with God but Moses never lost his faith. The book of Jacob has a particular place. in Israel's treasury of sacred Uterature because Job argued so. profoundly with God.* Godwaiits this dialogue in which man can rise to.his fuU stature in the God and man confrontation.
The Bible is mil of man's argument with God. The Psalmist cried: "Why, 0 God, hast Thou cast us off forever? Why doth Thine anger smoke against the flock of Thy pasture?" The prophet Habukuk exclaimed: "How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear? Why lookest Thou at traitors and keepest silent wherk-the-wicked-swalloweth the niore righteous?" /'Moses, Hannah and Elijah chided Heaven." sajrs the Talmud.
Israel was convicted becaus6( they made an idol which was inarticulate as Israel had become. The idol had no capacity for thought arid Israel had become thoughtless. There was no dialogue between man and idol. Israel sinned because they put in the place of the one omniscient God something which could not think. God who inspires, thought and. argument cannot bis replaced. ;