Pogt 4 —> The Canodlon Jewish >lew9, Friday, SepTember 14, 1961
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
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VOL. Ill, No. 37 (142)
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CANADA'S LEADING JEWISH NEWSPAPER IN ENGLISH
SOCIAL CREDIT
A RUDE AWAKENING
Professor John apologist for the ment in Canada
Irving, student and Social Credit move-— perhaps the only leading intellectual who has had a favorable word for this ideology — has had second thoughts about his proteges. The "Mussolini-Hitler" statement of Eleal Caouette was what apparently did the trick, though why it should have come a surprise to a close observer of Social Credit like the professor is
FROM FRANKFURTER TO GOLDBERG
rather perplexing. Perhaps, as witnessed by the tiny attention he gives it in his book on the Social Credit Movement in Canada, this whole side of Social Credit — the tendency to minimize the peril of dictatorship and racism — was overlooked by him in his many years of observation.
However belated, the rude awakening did finally arrive.
CHOOSING THE SUPREME COURT
Canada's Supreme Court is not the only one, apparently, whose personnel is based pn some kind of "balance" of the demographic elements in society. It is generally conceded that our Sup-reme Court must contain a certain number of Protestants, a specific number of French Canadian members and at least one English-speaking Catholic. In the United States, where such a proportional system would be rejected on
principle, it apparently obtains in one respect that of Jewish membership in the Court. When the ailing 79-year-old Felix Frankfurter (dubbed "Happy hot dog" by the late Franklin Roosevelt)
grew so ill he could no longer cope with the strain. President Kennedy lost no time in naming Labour Secretary Arthur Ctoldberg, 54, for the vital post in the country's highest judiciary.
DR. KENNEDY to Israel: toke this medicine, little boy; it'i biHer but good
for you ... Moflrlv, Tel Aviv.
ST FIGURES
Moses Levy had passed his examination in the catechism successfully and, was about to be baptized. The German minister suggested that, if he so desired, he could select for himself a Christian name.
"I have already given some thought to this matter", said Levy. should like to be baptized under the name of Martin Luther".
"Martin Luther!" exclaimed the minister in amazement. "Why this historic name?"
"The reason is verj' simple, R^everend", replied Levy. "I don't care to change the initials on my laundry".
LOGICAL
Reb Moshe Nagid, the wealthy hasid, was in the
jiabii of inviting nnjembLT.s of his synagogue to his home every Saturday evening toi n schnaps: Between drinks lie would ask his guests to p;u-ticipate in chanting a verso from the New Year's liturgv which says, "Mani comes from dust and returns unto dust". Once a hasid asked him why he could not select a happier verse for chantjng.
"This is the happiest verse I can think of", explained Reb Moshe. "If man would come from gold and return unto dust, there would be something to complain about. Since man comes from dust, however, and returns unto dust, and between coming and returning he still has a chance to take a schnaps at least every Saturday, we have good cause to be grateful".
UN SPECIAL
By our P.aris Correspondent
ALGERIAN JEWRY - WHAT NEXT7^
HT OF ISRAEL"
OUR
YESHIVA
This coming Sunday evening, September 16th, Toronto Jewry will mark 6 new milestone in the history of our own young and growi^ig Ner Israel Yes-hiva College.
Close to one-hundred students, almost all of them Torontonians, now are studying Torah and obtaining their secu-lar education as well in the atmosphere of this Yeshiva.
Fotmded but three years ago, the Net Israel Yeshiva College of Toronto has proven the need for such an institution in a Jewish Community of our size. The
NEW FRIENDS
Annual Dinner, which will feature addresses by such eminent leaders in the world of Torah as Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi J. I. Ruderman of Baltimore and Rabbi Pinchas M. Teitz of Elizabeth, will im-doubtedly attract the elite of our community.
Furthermore, there can be no doubt that Toronto Jewry owes the Ner Israel Yeshiva College an expression of support and a manifestation of gratitude for planting on our soil the seeds of a Yeshiva college.
PARIS. (JCNS) — Algerian Jews are threatened with the loss of their factories and farms in Algeria if they do not return there within one month of a new decree to be published in the Algerian Official Gazette. Several thousand Jews are believed to be immediately involved and the value of their property must run into many million dollars, though no exact estimate is available.
The threat came this week in the form of an ultimatum from the Provisional Algerian Executive in Algiers, which announced that unless industrial plants, businesses and farms considered essential to the national economy were put into working order
here is that this assurance is valueless and was given only to obtain the consent of the French authorities to the ultimatum.
CUSTODIAN TO BE APPOINTED
The French have been told that the measures will be applied only to those concerns essential to the Algerian economy. If the ownets failed to return within a month, they were informed, then an official analogous to a custodian of absentee property would be appointed. Although the Frenth authorities have accepted these assurances, there are few observers of the Algerian scene who can foresee the Algerian authorities, returning seized by their owners within the property to its rightful own-next four weeks, then the ers.
ISRAEL AND TRINIOAO
The West Indian island of Trinidad, which, with its neighbour, Tobago, last week became an independent member of the Commonwealth, has already shown its friendship for, and desire for close co-operation with the State of Israel.
It is significant that the first foreign visit made by the Trinidad Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams, following the annoimcement of his country's independence, was to Israel.
He was naturally intensely interested in the State's dramatic economic progress since its creation. As a practical politician he went there to learn, to
RETURN TO ZION
explore Israel's methods in building a modem, progressive State and to seek the assistance that Israel could provide in the form of technical and training facilities.
In this respect he was emulating the example of the more progressive African nations which, on achieving independence, ignored warnings and threats by the Egyptian dictator and sought the assistance of Israel in agricultiu^ and other spheres. This close link with the West Indies will imdoubtedly help her in the difficult task of combating the machinations of the Nasser camp in the international sphere.
"...AS THE WEILS OF THE NEGEV..."
Of all psalms, David's Song CXXVI is probably the most popular — and the, most beloved — in a Jewish home. It is recited or sung usually before after-meal-Grace. It is a song of joy, of inner thanksgiving for the blessings we enjoy when living in freedom.
However, not all of us take the trouble to tmderstand the deeper meaning of this "hymn of ascendance". Says the psalmist:
"When the Lord will again return the captivity of Zion, we shall be like those, who dream ...
" . . .Turn again our captivity, oh, Lord, as the streams in the Negev".
This verse is symbolic as well of the
the hew reality of Israel. Somehow the
ALGERIAN JEWRY
ancient dream of those dwelling in the Holy Land has been — afikim baNegev — wells of gushing, fresh water in the Negev. As in ancient times, when the Negev was a center of life and prosperity, the true economic independence of Israel today depends upon making the Negev live.
To become again green and fertile, all the Negev lacks is water. Thus the new chapter of Israel's development by giving water to^lhe Negev, now proclaimed by the Israel Bonds Organization, assimies a burning actuality. Toronto Jewry most assuredly will support this new drive — to lend the Israeli government the necessary fimds to reopen the wells of the Negev for the evergrowing glory of Israel.
authorities would themselves take control.
Mr. Bel_aid_Abdesselam, a Member of the" Executive, said that if the Government did take control the rights of the property owners would he respected. But the belief
in France, about 5,000 of them Jews. The percentage of Jews among the newcomers decreased this week but among those Jews who did arrive there are many more social cases than previously.
INTEGRATION FAILS
The plans produced when the inflow of refugees first started have proven woefully inadequate. As many as 85 percent of the newcomers have so far failed to integrate themselves into the normal life of France and the great majority are unemployed. Housing conditions are bad and getting worse and thousands of families are haunted by the spectre of the Coming winter in temporary homes. ; - Refugees arriving in France this week reported that the internal struggles within the Algerian leader-
French officials agree that the new measures are unlikely to induce refugees to return from France to Alge- ship had had no direct effect
on the Jews still left in the country other than to maintain the situation of chaos in which Europeans con-
ria. Indeed, the stream continues to run in the opposite direction. During August, some 37,000 refugees arrived
Oaielme: NEW YORK
By Trude Weiss-Rosmarin
tinue to go in fear of their lives.
"NO AUTHORITIES'
One newcomer from Bone, asked by the JCNS correspondent how relations were between the Chief Rabbi of Algeria, Rabbi Rahamim Naourj', and the authorities, replied:
"There are no authorities". He did, however, deny reports that the home of the Chief Rabbi had been burned down and the main synagogue daubed with green paint, the colour adopted by the F.L.N.
What in fact had happen-
ed, he explained, was that the synagogue had been newly painted, but this was because in the'district where the independence celebration had taken place all public buildings round about had been freshly painted tor the event. Services in the synagogue continued to be held regularly although now that the once-flourishing community of many thousands had dwindled lo a mere 200 it was difficult to get a minyan. "The Chief Rabbi is determined to stay behind as long as there are Jews in his town, even if their number is very small", he reported.
A
'Whatever form its-publication in the Official Gazette everitually takes, the ultimatiun it is nothing lessr- given this week to refugees froin Algeria to return within a moiith or have their property put in the hands of an Algerian administrator^ is a better blow.
For, as the Egyptians have previously demonstrated ,the step from custodianship to sequestration is a short one. v
This latest development will come as a shock not only to the refugees but also _to all those libei:al elements who believ-ed^that the hew Republic of Algeria would show mote concern for the basic human dignities. Many thousands of Jews /Will suffer from the new regula-tionisy Few will be tempted to return to a country where -tljiieir lives depend not on the good will of a Government (for none exiists) but, on the whim of individuals. The number of Jews kidnapped and still missing is sufficient to dissuade the most aiixiouS from returning to Algeria. - V •
In these circumstances, the open tjpireat of tjie Algerian authorities to
seize their property, without the merest suggestion of compisnsation, is tantamount to barefaced robbery.
However, thererls still a possibility that/wiser Tihd more hiunane consider-a,tions may influence the authorities to reconsider their proposed action against people who have laboured long for their country.
It is xmderstandable that the neW Algerian "Government" is anxious to have its economic-life restored as quickly as possible. This cannot be done without puttinlg into operation agdin the Ihdus-triaL'and commercial-enterprises which have been paralysed by recent events.
If the Algerian authorities are really concerned to rehabilitate their coimtry's fortimes, the way to accomplish this end is riot by issuing an ultiiriatum and threats to the refugees./^ '
Rather, they shoula be given ade-quate guara,ntees that (they may be Enabled td return and contribute in freedom to the building of the'jiew independent Algeria.
i- -
THE CALL OF THE WILD JEWISH STYLE
There are an estimated thirty thousand summer camps for children in the U.S., ranging in cost from 550 for two weeks to $1,000 for eight weeks. About 2,500 of these camps catering for well over 600,000 boys and girls are under private and communal Jewish auspices.
U.S. schools are closed for 10 weeks and the summier is a period of empty boredom for most children and also teenagers who are too young to take on sumrtier jobs. Camp is the preferred solution for parents who can afford to shield their offspring from the ennui of long arid empty July and August days.
Like their counterparts, Jewish camps are of many categories. Most of the privately owned camps cost around $600 for an eight-week season, besides "extras" which add up to another $200 at least (camp outfits are expensive). Camp is to sound "the call of the wild" for city-bred' and from nature-alienated youiig-sters. Camjj directors know however, that business arid too much primitivity do not mix. Innerspring rintattresses, moderri^plumbing, hotr^and cold water, ; graduate dieticians, expert chefs, j)hy-sicians, staffed infirmaries are, therefore, "de rigeur!' for impressing the parents. As for "living with nature," camp directors see to it that cookouts, camp fires, and over-night hikes with4enting are provided in^hanriless doses.
Over the pa^t fifteen years organization-sponsored Jewish camps have mushroomed Virtually all national Jewish organizations now sponsor summer camps as part of their educational programmes. There are the "Hebrew speaking" camps of thfe His-tadruth and" of the United Syriagogue, the "Yiddish-speaking" camps of
Workmen's Circle, the "Yid-dishkeit-propagating" camps of Beth Jacob and the Mesiv-tas where some young pietists use big stones instead of pillows during the "Nine Days" in order to mourn the destruction of the Tempile, and the Kibbutz-type camps.
"Jewish learning and living" is the motto of the Union of American Hebrew Congregation (Reform) of the B'nai B'rith. and of other organizational camps cortimitted to the premise that English (not Hebrew or Yiddish) is "the language of American Jews.
The organizational Jewish camps are Uving up to the expectations of Jewish educators who regard them as informal yet intensive Jewish summer schools. Statisticians have calculated that at a camp with a good Jewish educational programme, a youngster gets more hours of Jewish instruction during Jiily and August than during the rest of the year at school.
Organizational . non-prof it-making Jewish camps are.as expensive as private caimps, owing to the fact that they have large staffs of Jewish educators and even "resident scholars" of the calibre of Rabbinical Seminaries' pro-fessorSi However; lar g e niunber of scholarships iare available for cairipers who are "leadership material'". There is a general agreement among American Jewish edu-cafors.that the organizatiori-ally-sponsored Jewish camps accomplish with ease what most Afternoon Jewish Schools dori't achieve with strenuous effortis.
THE PROPHETS ON THE FREUDIAN COUCH
The general psychological orientation in the U.S. is now definitely post-Freudian with articulate "revisionist" accents. Still, there are influential "orthodox" Freudian pockets, such as the Theo-dor Reik giiided "National the- Association for Psychoanal-
ysis". The spring number of its journal ,r "Psychoanalysis and the Psychoanalytic Review" - contains a study of "The Ontogenesis of Prophetic Behaviour" by Sheldon Cohen of the Department of Psychology of Yeshiva University.
According to Dr. Cohen, the Hebrew Phophets displayed the following "symptoms": (1) Strong personal anxiety; (2) hallucinations; (3) delusions. Dr. Cohen diagnosed the "mood swing of the Prophets as a schizophrenic pattern and noted that they tended "to convert anxiety into physiological symptoms". For example, "Jeremiah somatizes in the autonomic systiem ("the bowels"), while Eze-kiel tends to convert anxiety into hysterical failure pf muscular control".
Although Dr. Cohen holds that Prophetic behavour was definitely schizoid, he gives the Prophets a clean bill of mental health. They had all the symptoms of the psychopath, but they were saved from insanity by being "other-centred"* instead of being "self-centred" as the mentally ill are.
Interestingly, Dr. Cohen introduces hrs study with a lenghty except from Isadore Epstein's "Judaism - ArHis; torical Presentation", which stresses the importance of experience" in the formation of the Prophetic personality. iBut what to the late Dr, Epstein was "the experience" of God is to Dr. Cohen syiripfbmatic of "psy-chopathological cpgnithre processes'V ' .y!^ ''^'''"^''■'.'C' It is an understatement to say that U.S. Jewish Bible scholars specializing in the study of the Prophets, do not irglish the idea, of tskiah being 'compared by Dr. Cohen to a schizophrenic girl, and to other psychopaths with famous case histories.
(Copyright by The Cqnodian Jewish News & JCNFS) \
SERMON FOR THE WEEK
THE ALTAR OF PEACE
Thou sholt not lift up any Iron tool upon them — (Deuteronomy xxvli. 5)
This is part of the biblical law relating to the manner of building an altar to God. The instruction has a parallel in the Book of Exodus and in both places it is made clear that the altar which is dedicated to the service of God shall be made of unhewn stones, uncut by any Instrument of Iron.
The rabbinic explanation is well known: "Iron shortens life, whilst the altar prolongs it". Therefore no sword or weapon of iron shall be allowed to desecrate the altar, which is a chief symbol of reconciliation and peace between God and man, and between man and his fellow. The thought here expressed points to the ideal of religion as o major force for peace and we are entitled to ask whether such an ideal has been and is being realised through the agencies of religion.
Some years ago the American scholar Robert Gordis wrote an essay called "The Black Book of Religion", in which the record of religion as on oppressive power and a source of militancy is sadly rehearsed. It makes depressing reading indeed; and we are reminded of the religious fanaticism which throughout the centuries has been guilty of fostering war and persecution. Far frorti being made of unhewn stones, the altar of religions have often been drenched with the blood of their innocent victims. The Crusades, the Inquisition and the Thirty Years War stand out as horrifying symbols of man's inhumanity to man perpetrated inthe name of religiort.
However, this is only one side of the picture. While it would be foolish to ignore the black side,-it must be said that even in the darkest years of the Middle Ages there was quite arK)ther side to the record which does something to show that the ideal of religion as source of enlightenment and a fount of charity was constant. For religion was the mother of the arts and sciences. Even writing owes its orl-" gin to its activities, while schools, hospitals arid other charitable institutions were born directly out of the efforts of religious organisations. In the political field also, the revolt against many a tyrant was inspired by the Bible and its prophetic message of human freedom.
But all this belongs to the past. What about present trends? Today it seems that organised re-, ligion recognises its tremendous responsibility and the great challenge it faces in our troubled world. The modern religious leader is not as concerned with theological questions, which troubled the Middle Ages. His ooncern is more with the living issues of society, and in his new role, of d jpreacher of social values he works closer to the spirit of the old Hebrew prophets. Whether it Is in countries troubled by a-partheld or the new godless cult of hero-worship, leaders of religiotjs groups are vigorously and often bravely proclaiming the biblical message of the freedom and equality of man.
One Is also reminded of a famous remark by Professor Einstein: "When the Nazis came to power, I looked to the German universities to speak out, but they were silent. I turned to the Press, but there was no word from them. I turned to the great labour unions, but found them speechless qs well. Only in' the Church which I had completely dismissed, were valiant voices raised to speak out on behalf of the freedom of man". Joday the image of religion in relation to social questions has changed and laymen now expect the Synagogue and the Church to speak and to give guidance.
The altar of unhewn stohes is a permanent / ideal and reminds religion of its great responsibijity. In the past the record of organised religion has been blackened by ugly patches but in time these may be said to have been cleaned. Today religious leaders are more and more aware of the place of religion in life. When the whole record is examined it will be found that the power of religion brought to mankind the light of knowledge and the light of freedom. May it be also said that in time it brought to the world the blessing of peace.
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