4-Tfie CanoJfon Jewish News, Friday, Nor. 3, 7961
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"BROTHERHOOD IS NOT
We believe "that the best comment on Metro Mayor Gardiner's remarks concerning the Jewish Home For The Aged was mode by Alderman Margaret Campbell. Mrs. Campbell said:
". ... I don't think we can wash this out as easily as We apfsear to be doing. Brotherhood runs very deep, but we also hove to try to preserve people's way of life. We can't overturn conformity and call it brotherhood."
Brotherhood does not mean Gleich-schaltung - - least of all the levelling off end standardization of social services to the point where no attention is paid to the needs and special requirements of the human individuals. These social jiSeeds of elderly Jewish men and women will not
be met by the mechanical expedient of setting up a kosher kitchen in a "Universal Home for the Aged". By such on arrangement, myriads of problems may arise which, far from encouraging brotherhood, would only provoke tempers and aggravate tensions. Con Mr. Gardiner anticipate a Day of Atonement in an establishment of many perfectly harmless, but never the less distracting, activities that would encroach upon the sanctity of the Jewish fast day? This would be only one vexation thot might arise in the "undifferentiated," non-denominational agency visualised by the Metro Mayor.
No Mr. Gardiner, Brotherhood is a noble ideal and one quite attainable, but not at the cost of one's identity.
THE YADIN LECTURES: A COMMONITY TREAT
The Beth Tzedec congregation merits the community's applause for its coup in bringing to Torpnto the renowned scholar-soldier Yigaei Yodin and presenting his three lectures to the public.
The weekend with Yadin, professor and general, was truly great. His talks on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the excavations at Chatzor and the Bar Cochbo letters were among the most informative and fascinating Toronto's Jewry has heard in a long time. Without possessing on ounce of pedantry and with the humility of a neophyte. Professor Yadin revealed himself OS a truly great teacher - . one who con convey his subject in the simplest of terms end devoid of a single syllable of the jargon of savants. There were many young
people at the lectures, particularly the two morning sessions - - youngsters of adolescent age and under. From their reaction, we could gather they followed his outline with the some attention and appreciation as was shown by his academic colleagues from the University.
The lectures lived up to their imposing theme - - the discovery of documents actually written during the time the Second Temple was standing and letters dictated by Jewry's lost military leader to his secretaries before the Exile closed in on our people. In the warmth, simplicity, and dignity of his portrayal, Professor Yadin left 0 vivid and lasting impression upon the listeners of these historic Jewish writings.
THE JERUSALEM POST
NORTH-AMERICAN SCENE
by ALBERT VORSPAN
AND POLITICS IN THE U. S,
POINT OF VIEW OF A REFORM JEW
THE "UNITED NATIONS BALL"
If a purely social club chooses to restrict from its membership persons born in certain countries or those adhering to certain faiths, that is its own affair. We ore not among those who feel that, by pounding on its doors, these, barriers will be broken. Nor do we think that this kind of pressure leads to the rood of brotherhood.
However we do feel that organizations devoted to the cause of international understanding should not lerKJ the prestige of their names to such clubs and whitewash the stjgmg of, discrimination by holding their conferences in the premises of these institutions which pursue this type of racist snobbery.
A more incongruous locale for a "U.N. Ball" could not have been selected, in our view, than the one chosen for. next week. What could be more incredible than to choose a club, whose name in this city is the symbol of social discrimination, as a location for on affair to promote international amity and peaceful understanding'.. Yet that is exactly what the UN Association in this city has done.
The head of the UN Association's Toronto unit is, we understand a solicitor for a pipe-line. If he were to put his ear to the ground he might get a message through that pipe-line, a message which would convince him of the absurdity of his plans.
Should the synagogue be concerned with social issues? Should the institution of Judaism speak out on such issues as racial segregation and world peace? When a religious body takes a stand on a public issue does that infringe on the rights of individual adherents who may not agree with the official position? Should religion seek to influence political decisions?
These fundamental questions are involved in a sharp controversy which has embroiled American Reform Judaism during the past two years and which will be resolved November 11 to 16, at the Biennial Assembly of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the central body representing 630 Reform synagogues in the United States.
The fundamental questions have become enmeshed, and often obscured, by a tangled knot of procedu-
ral and personality questions. But there can be little doubt that the outcome of the controversy now stirring within the Union of American Hebrew Congregations will have serious implications not only for the future of Reform Judaism but also for Conservative and Orthodox Judaism as well as for the entire American Jewish community.
The background, sharply telescoped, is as follows. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (Reform rabbinate) ten years ago established a Joint Commission on Social Action to apply the ethical principles of Judaism to the great moral issues of the day. This Joint Cornmission was authorised to act on resolutions adopted by the UAHC and the CCAR. In addition, the Contunission has helped to organise social study and action com-
mittees in some 300 Reform synagogues. Conservative and Orthodox Jewish organisations have established similar social action bodies, just as . Protestant and Catholic denominations, emphasising the social gospel, have conducted such a programme for decades.
In 1959, at the Biennal Convention, meeting in Miami Beach, UAHC delegates voted overwhelmingly to accept a $100,000 gift extended by Mr. and Mrs. Kivie Kaplan of Boston, for the establishment of a social centre in Washington. D.C., the Nation's Capital. It was pointed out that the Washington centre would function under the supervision of the national Commission on Social Action and would work in close harmony with the many Protestamt and Catholic social action agencies which maintain similar offices in Washington,
In the months following the 1959 decision, several Reform synagogues joined
FINANCE IN ISRAEL
By AVRAHAM BAR-EL
ISRAELI CONSUL FOR COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS IN TORONTO.
INE BOOMING lEl AVIV STOCK MARKET
The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is booming! While Canadian, American and U,
OF SOUTH-AFRICAN JEWRY
Israel's vote in supporting Afro-Asian censure of South Africa at the United Nations has brought sharp reaction in official Jewish circles in Johannesburg.
Mr. Eric Louw, the South Africa'h Foreign Minister, was censured in the United Nations on October 11 -for a speech which was described as "offensive, fictitious, ond erroneous." South Africa alone opposed the motion; Britain, the U.S.A. and France were among the-20 nations who abstained; Israel was among the 67 notions who voted in favour. In a broadcast, . Mr. Louw recalled the many acts of friendship which Sputh Africa had shown towards Israel and occused her of hostility and ingratitude.
"South Africans who hove racial and religious ties with Israel", he said,"will disapprove of the . , . action of the Israeli
ftjil?^°*'°" ^°United Nations" r^y(/0^he South Afrig^n ^oijrd of Deputies,
meeting shortly after the broadcast, took the hint and disapproved of the action. . Israel's, vote is also attacked by the "Jewish Herald" the South African Zionist Revisionist weekly, which writes that "Israel's vote against one of hei- first and staunchest friends is unwarranted, unjustified, and politically unrealistic." "For tcio much stress is being placed on mythical friendship which Afro-Asian Nations are alleged to display to the Jewish State", the paper asserts.
What ore. the facts?
Undoubtedly, the South African (3o-vernment has been friendly to Israel, and the South African Jewish community is the most Zionist in the Diaspora. Factors such OS these could not fail to be considered by Israel's representatives before the decision was taken on how to vote. But votes at the U.N. cannot always be in the nature of votes of thanks.
drifted and declined, the Israeli exchange bounced ahead dramatically with numbers of shares registered doubling and price index on ordinary shares up 100 per cent
The Tel Aviv Exchange outdid even Tokyo where prices rose, in 1960, by more than one-third and Frankfurt where prices advanced 28 per cent.
Interest with Canadian investors has steadily mounted to the point where two brokerage firms recently established desks to deal with stocks traded on the Tel Aviv Exchange. They are Mc Fetrick and Co., Montreal, and A. E. Osier Co. Ltd, of Toronto,
Why the flurry in Tel Aviv?
Last year's boom, which actually has extended since April, 1959, reflects the (Expand ing and ■ strengthening Israeli economy. But it was intensified and encouraged by actions. both of compa
nies and of the Israeli government. Nearly two years ago, the
K. stock exchanges in J96,0(, Government appointed, a
"BROTHERHOOD"^ .n^ki AT THE GRANITE CLUB ^' The United Nations Association (Toronto Branch) has chosen the least likely location for its U.N. Ball ■:- the Granite Club oii St. Clair Avenue, long known for its discriminatory, policy against admitting persons of "un desirable" racial or religipiis origin to its membership. At least one Jewish organization which is a constituent member of the U.N. Association has served notice that it will November
not attend th 7th function, stating that an association pledged to world brotherhood could hardly square the; exclusionist policies of the club with its own high ideals.
President of the U,N. Association's Toronto branch is Mr. WX.S. Trivett, a sprightly church member (he is president of the Anglican lay men of Canada) who has taken an active position in the religious education controversy in North York's public schools. Mr. Trivett stands for the retention of Christian instruction in thj classroom.
SPELLING REFO IN MONTREAL - A few weeks ago the
Cdhadiaii Panorama
BY MORDECAI HIRSHENSON
Yiddish daily, surprised its readers and, overnight, totally without warning, sprung a new Yiddish spelling system upon them. The word "new" is somewhat inappropriate in this contest, as the system has been, known for about forty years (since after World War I). Now, however, it is in use by virtually all Yiddish book, periodical and newspaper publishers throughout the world except the two New York Yiddish dailies . which, of course, outrank all the others in cir-culation;
What does this so-called new orthography consist of? It,is a simplification of the old, removing all extraneous letters which had slipped in as an imitation of German: for instance (to transliterate into the Latin alphabet) he word meaning "more" is spelled mer and no longer me^r, (mein) ,/ie&er is nbw liber, "years" is rendered by yoni not yohren. The spel-
'Eagle (or Adler), Montreal's j ling also approximates y the
phonetics of the language — in both: vowels and consonants — for "ready" is now fartik not fartig or fertig and" to work is not arbeiten but arbetn.
I, Rabinowitch, the Eagle's editor, commenting in his daily column on the long overdue change, explained quite frankly that his paper was waiting for New York to be first in making the change but grew tired of waiting. The situation became such that most typed of written manuscripts coining into the "redaktziai"' used the new spelling, The lino-typists found themselves recasting the text into the "old" spelling. Inevitably there were slip-ups and inconsistencies so that often in one article, a word was spelled several different ways. The decision therefore necessitated a total change-over. ^ .
The Day-Morning Journal and Forwards still use the old spelUng on the as sump-
tion that their readers are accustomed to it and hence would not be able to withstand the shotk of a new orthography.'
SYNAGOGUE COMMISblON WORK
The" small Jewish community at the head of the Great Lakes sought the services of Toronto artist Aba Bayefsky when it wanted a paroches made for the sacred ark of its new synagogue in Fort William. Including Port Arthur, the conipiun-ity's Jews number about 350.
The .tapestry covering the aron kbdesh contains a design of two Lions of Judah with blue and white interwoven colours. Assisting in the weaving was Toriy, Tu-din, a young Jewish student at the College of Art; who comes from Johannesburg and now resides in T<?t:onto.
Bayefsky is also interested in other aspects or sjnaa-. gogue art, having dpne a, number of paintings of sonoe of the older synagogue structures in Toronto. i
I*ublic Committee whose membership consists of representatives of the Treasury, the Stock Exchange and the public. This Committee's duties include studying and confirming all new issues of securities, acting as a watchdog on behalf of the public. It will perform ultimately much the same functions as the Ontario Securities Commission. '
Among other government moves to encourage investment were: a reduction of company taxes to 46 per cent; revaluation and amortization rates on a basis of the realistic value of assets; a 25 per cent ceiling on income from dividends of some share; introduction of bearer shares.
The government discontinued^ loans from the development budget to enterprises with a fair chance of raising funds on the capital market.
To encourage institutional investors, the government now allows them to invest five per cent of their yearly "recognized" .shares.
Companies themselves reported larger earnings in 1960. By introducing shares with voting rights and by increasing dividends, . bonus shares and rights issues/they won the support of investors and ensured their continued support when new shares are issued.
A permanent shortage of offers, in spite of absorption of some-26 million pounds worth of new issues in 1960, and the method of dealing on the Tel Aviv Exchange also contributed to the market's- buoyancy. Orders are given openly, sometimes causing an inflated demand or offer demand and low prices in case of offers which are not always justified on the basis of the entire tur-nover. ,
New shares to the value of IL 26 million ($14,820,000) were absorbed by the market in 1960 and the total for the first two months of this year was IL 13 million ($7,410,000).
Foreign investors have de-their mark on the Tel viv Exchange and special rivileges have been granted D them, particularly on reconversion rights in connec-
tion with their investments in local shares.
Authorities point to the continuous growth of the Israeli economy, a permanent creeping inflation, the influx of restitution money from. Germany and the increasing numbers of investors as factors likely to contribute to even further expansion of the market.
A new unit trust law has taken effect and others, in addition to the existing "PIA" Investment Trust, will likely be established. Purchase of securities against margins cannot be financed by the banks because of Bank of Israel liquidity regulations. Speculation is thus limited to investors' own money only.
New stock issues in 1960 were vastly oversubscribed. Such Issues as Housing Mortgage Bank, Phoenicia and Sahar were three or four times over-subscribed. Feuchtwanger Investnjerit, Dubek and Nechushtan were over-subscribed by 15 to 20 times.
So buoyant was the market that sings of deterioration in earning capacity of liquidating position of some companies left scarcely a niark.
Although the market fluctuated dramatically in November and December, 1960. it shows no sign of establishing a stable level yet.
Contrasting with lively action on the share market, the value-linked debenture niarket took a back scat during early 1960, though it showed signs of revival at year-end and early this year.
Value - linked debentures floated during 1960 raised IL68 .million ($38,760,000). This was almost exclusively absorbed by institutional investors, mainly provident and pension funds, which, if they wish to qualify for complete tax exemption, must invest a substantial- portion of current income in new debenture issues.
Institutional investors kept the value-linked bond market moving slowly, however, and a year-end pickup is still being felt. ^
A new feature introduced more than a year ago has proved attiractive to banks and institutional investors. Weekly issues of short-term government loans — mostly for a period of 181 days —
(continued on page 10)
together in a concerted campaign to stop implementation of the Washington centre. Even after a building was purchased by the UAHC in Washington as the site of the Emily R. and Kivie Kaplan Centre for Action, the propaganda campaign continued — at an increased tempo. Pro and con propaganda, streaming into Reform Synagogues, reached flood proportions. More than one temple president, despairing of making heads or tails out of the conflicting arguments, consigned the materials to the circular file. Other congregations carefully weighed the issues in order to guide their delegates to the next biennial assembly where, it is agreed by all parties, the matter will be reconsidered. Opposition to the Washington Centre has drawn together an unlikely coalition of dissidents, including some Southern congregations who are outraged at stands taken against racial segregation; anti-Zionists who decry Reform Judaism's shift to a pro-Israel position; and conservatives who bitterly oppose "lobbying" by a religious organisation and contend that the right of individual dissent is violated by a national organisation which speaks out and acts on political and social issues.
Supporters of the Washington Center reply that any religion, and particularly Judaism, must confront the moral issues of society, else it become irrelevant and sterile. They recall that the social action programme of Judaism has been affirmed and reaffirmed at every Biennial, that social justice has been a central goal of the UAHC since its inception in 1873, and that the Washington Centre had been
approved with only a handful of negative votes at a convention in which delegates from hundreds of congregations participated. They agree that the right of dissent should be cherished but deny the conclusion that a national organisation must be silenced and rendered impotent in responding to the social challenges of the day.
In recent years, biennial assemblies of the UAHC have attracted close to 2,000 delegates. The controversy on social action promises to increase the numbers this year and xmdoubtedly, oratorical and ideological fireworks will enliven the proceedings. Although controversy can be disorderly and painful, it is a mark of health and growth. Dull, predigested and ritualistic proceedings are the bane of the conventions of too many Jewish organisations. Conflict is the stuff of Ufe — and this is true in Jewish life, too.
Supporters and opponents of the Washington Centre have held a series of small meetings in an effort to clarify the issues and narrow the differences. It is too early to say what the results of these discussions will be. Based on past decisions of the Assembly, it is most likely that the 1959 decision will be reaffirmed. Indeed, the debate may well focus on the procedures and safeguards under which the Centre will function, rather than the basic question of social action itself.
In any case, the 1961 Biennial Asssembly of the UAHC will be historic in significance. It will help to chart the main course with which American Reform Judaism will move into the onrush-ing future.
SERMON OF THE WEEK PROMISERS AND PERFORMERS
The sages read eoch word of the Torah carefully, for them, these were not just stories to be read once.,They wert lessons In chorocter to be studied a thousotid times. In this week's Sidra, they discovered o small detail in spelling from *hich they derived a large lesson in-living.
The two moin characters of the twenty-third chapter of Genesis are Abraham and Efron, the Hittite. There is a visry , slight change in the way that the names of these two are spelled within the Torah. Abraham starts out as Abram, and then his nome is triade larger by the addition of one syllable. Efron starts out as Efron, but by the end of this chapter, a vowel drops out of his name,, and it is spelled Efr'n.
The rabbis, soy that behind this change in spelling there is o judgement on their characters. Abraham was a person who promised little, and then did much. When the three strongers passed his house, for example, he raced to greet them' and offer' them his hospitality. He promised them a bit of bread, and then he gave them a sumptuous meal. He was not interested in his fame. Therefore his fome increased, and his name was enlarged.
Efron was the very opposite kind of person. He promised much and then performed little. When Abraham comes to buy a burior plot from him, his first response is to. boost that money medns nothing between such close friends. Then he nomes: o figure ond collects it oil. This wos o person who was only interested in himself, in the name that he hod,, arid in his own odvancement. Therefore his narhe.be-come smaller. .. "
There are both kinds of people within every generation, there ore those who moke public pledges of generosity and then hove to be pressed into paying what they hove so ostehtatioiisly pledged. These people may hove the tem-porory glory of public .recognition when they first make their pledges, but their reputations soon become tarnished. There are others who do not coll special attention to their gifts but who faithfully pay whotever they promise. These ore the ones who eventually receive recognition and respect, / A person's name may. remain the same throughout His life. But the reputotion that he has and the respect that is given to his name will increose or decrease, depending on his chorocter. If he lives in the spirit of Abraham, his name will grow. If he lives like Efron, his name will become small.
It is choracteristic of Judoism that it does not osk us for formal declarations of intention. At a wedding, only a single sentence Is required. At a Barrhitzvah, no promise to per-fornjjs necessary. Judaism understands that it is not by any /words that we recite during a cermony but by the way In which'we live that we best express our intentions.
The Sidra provides us with on archetype of two person-Volities: the promiser and the performer." Each pisrson moy study, the results of both lives with great benefit, :^
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