4-The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, Feb. 17, 1961
A CIN CLOSEUP OF "MAIMONIDES'
By SERETTA STEIN
OUR ONTARIO JEWISH PHYSICIANS
THE TALK OF OUR TOWN: A Toronto Doctor in Laos ... Musical Therapy for Handicapped Children... Names in the News. ~
The proverb "^e Good a man does lives-after him" was never more clearly confirmed, than in the case of the late Dr. Tom Dooley, founder of "Medico," who so inspired a young Toronto "j-Association doctor with his cause that he fo-llowed him to the far-off jungles of Laos. Dr. Ronald M. Wintrob, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Wintrob of Toronto, is the 25-year old doctor, a graduate of the University of Toronto, who became, a medical volunteer for "Medico" and has been serving the people of Laos in the most remote reaches of their war-torn land.
I had a long chat with Dr. Wintrob's mother who filled me in on the current activities of her son by means of the letters he has written home — letters filled with admiration, and compassion for the gentle Laotian people, and the difficulties of the conditions of life which prevail there. The manner in which letters are exchanged by the Win-trobs and their son Is an adventure story In itself. It's by no means the simple procedure of dropping an envelope into a post-box as we know It. Instead, letters from Toronto to Dr. Wintrob jn Laos are sent to Thailand
of a musical therapist working with, the- handicapped cliildren at the Bloorvlew ~Home, and Thistletown. Miss Fran Korson. is a memljer' of the American of Registered Mu-
sicaTTRerapist (there is as U^-Lxoronto came into being In 1953. no Canadian counterpart of this
Bss^ -iation), and _it is to meet the needs of her work with muscular dystrophy victims, and others, that the Musical Therapy Group devote their efforts.
One means of therapy for muscular dystrophy children has been in effective use for some time, and this is the teaching of blowing exercises. Through the development of a curious little instrument called the "Melo-dica" — a hybrid Insrument combining a small keyboard with a wind tube, the children are now able to strengthen their lungs and enjoy a creative musical experience at the same time. Funds derived from the card party g(f towards supplying these instruments for the children.
Providing costumes for the annual operetta of the patients at the Bloorvlew Home is another important service performed by the group. This year, the children will present an original play 'The Little World of Mark
Throughout more than two thousand years "of Jewish history, the art of healing has maih'^ talr 1 a pre-eminent position as a most noble and revered calling among Jews. The belief that the alleviation of human suffering is one of the most worthy acts of "zedakah" has for centuries been a firmly-held tenet of our faith. This belief found its highest philosophical expression in the works of Moses Mai-monides (RAMBAM). the giant am r.-edical scientists and thinkers of the Middle Ages. It follows quite naturally therefore, that when the present association of Jewish physicians of
the founding fathers should have chosen to name their organiza-.
tion ^The Maimonldes Medical Society" and to present to each new member the "Oath of Mai-monides."
A GREAT PRAYER
As befitted a. theologian and humanitarian on a truly universal plane, Maimonides put his code of ethics in the form of a prayer, and it is from this "Prayer for Physicians" that the oath l3 derived:
"Thy eternal providence Has. appointed me to' watch ~over the life and liealth of Thy creatures. May the love for my art actuate me at all times; -majr neither-avarice
nor miserliness._^hor_ thirst
for glory or , for a great reputation engage my mind: for the enemies of truth and
philanthropy could easily, deceive me and make me forgetful of. my lofty aim. of doing good to Thy children. May I never see in the
. patient anything but a fellow creature in pain. Graiit me strength, time and opportunity always to correct what r have acquired, always to extend its domain; for know-, ledge is imm'-nse and the spirit of man can extend infinitely to enrich itself daily with new requirements. Today he can discover his
~ errors of yesterday and-to-, morrow he may Obtain a new light on what he thinks himself sure of today. O, God. Thou hast appointed me to watch over the life and death of Thy creatures; here am I
ready for my vocation, and now I turn imto my calling."
INTERESTING HISTOIIY
. The history of Jewish physl-cians in Toronto. reflects the growth, expansion and maturity of the entire community during the past, half century, of which the unifying of the group into one organization is a most fruitful development. In the early days of tii^ old Mount Sinai Hospital, the Jewish doctors on the hospital staff had an organization of their owr2T^"The Mount Sinai Clinical Society." As the community and its n~eeds expanded, and the new hospital on University- Avenue replaced the old qu"a?ters on Yorkville Street, many changes evidenced themselves. With the increase in their
numbers, many Jewish doctors could not now be accommodated oh the staff of the new hospital, and they affiliated themselves elsewhere — on the staffs of the Northwestern General Ho^tal, Branson Hospital, Dcictors Hospital, and others.
300 MEMBERS
The establishment of a large unified organization to which all Jewish physicians might belong for scientific, cultural and social fellowship was the goal 6f aiT earnest group of Toronto physicians who met some seven years ago to discuss the problem.-
These were historic deliberations for they resulted In the founding of the "Maimonides. Medical Society of Toronto" in 1953. A year later, whien their provincial
charter was granted, the name and scope of tiie organization were broadened to .include "'any Jewish physician in the province," and the name was changed to "The Maimonides Medical Society of Ontario." Some time later a further extension of membership embraced any physician who sought to Join, provided he was sponsored by two members of the society in good standing. The roster of memliere now includes about 300 physicians throughout Ontario.
ORIGINAL PROGRAM
IN OUR PROVINCE
where they are picked up by the | Twain" to take place in mid-pilot of the "Medico" plane and i May at North Toronto Collegiate Ultimately delivered to one of the | Auditorium. The actors, all Jungle hospitals which Ron Win-1 wheelchair patients, are given trob supervises. i carefully selected roles — roles
Until the outbreak of the re- ' which are determined by the cent hostilities in Laos, Dr. Win- ' particular psychological needs of trob was the sole medical doctor • the individual child. With 42 at the Maoun Sing Hospital lo- j handicapped children in the •ated within five miles of the cast, the problems common to Chinese Communist border — any theatrical venture are un-the only doctor for about 40.000 ! doubtedly multiplied many times
IMPRESSIVE COMMUNITY AFFAIR IN ST. CATHARINES
CELEBRATE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF UJA APPEAL
Under the chairmanship of Mr. Morton Revzen, 1960 Unired •Jewish Appeal chairman, a victory reception was held in the St. Catharines Jewish Commuri-ly Centre on Sunday, February 5.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Revzen expres.';ed his thanks to the members of the executive and to the whole Jewish comunity
A report was given by Mr, Murray Pish. Treasurer of the Community Executive who also presented Mr. Ben Newman. Chairman of the United Israel Appeal, and co-chairman of the Joint Fund Raising Committee of the Zionist Organization of Canada and the Canadian Jewish Congress, Central Division, with a cheque for S20,0()0 from this community to Israel and overseas causes.
Mr. Sol D. Granek, Chairman of the National Executive Board cf the Zionist Organization of Canada delivered an excellent address on "The Relationship of Israel and the Jews in the Diaspora" to the capacity audience.
After an interesting question and answer period a vole of
The program of-the society is carried forward by means 6t monthly meetinga^hlch -feature reports by members of current scientific advances in the field of medicine; cultural programs enhanced by guest lectures in the fields of art. literature, architecture, etc. An added benefit to the members Is the Insurance plan Included in membership which covers each member regardless of his physical status.
While most members are also members of clinical societies, no other association duplicates the broad program of ','The Maimonides Society" in providing an opportunity for busy Jewish physicians to participate in cultural and Jewish activities of mutual interest to them as doctors and as members of the Jewish com-I munity. A bursary at the Univer-! sity of Toronto was set up by I the society, open to any needy ;medical student; Israel ' Bonds in the amount of S2,000 were
thanks was extended to Mr.
Granek by Mr. Irving Freiman. j purchased during the 1957 Toron Mr. Abbie Ben Art. Public Re- to Bond Campaign — these give Dr. George J. Llban. Expcutive i lations Director of the Lachish
1 Director of the Zionist Organl ' zation of Canada, Central Divi-: sion. then presented a United I I.'srael Api>eal award to Mr. Mor-
Development Area in Israel,
tangible evidence of the responsible part played by the members
also pj^rticipated in the meeting. ■ jn their dual role as doctors and
' for supporting him m making I ton Revzen for his outstandiing • the 1960 United Jewish Appeal , .services on behalf of the State
such an outstandin.e .succe.ss.
of Israel.
A musical programme was pre- | as Jews, sented by Miss Evelj-n Gould.
A buffet reception was prepared by the Hadassah ladies.
LADIES ALSO ORGANIZED
Laotian citizens. The hospital too, is a rather far cry frotn the western variety, for' there are. no beds. Instead there are mats on slightly raised platforms, with bamboo curtains as dividers.
in this instance. That such a.pro^. duction can come into being at all, is due in verj- great measure to the limitless- patience, devotion and training of Fran Korson and her Musical Therapy
Beds were-installed at first, but : OrouP- It's a project that de-the patients were always found : serves the support of all in our asleep UNDER them, 'so they comfnunity.
were replaced by the mats customary to the natives. Another curious circumstance about hospital practice in Laos is the fact that when a paUent is admitted to hospital, he is accompanied by his entire family who also take up residence there. Now it has been found necessary to limit the number of family members to four, for each bed patient.
A3 the war "hottened" up. Dr. Wintrob was evacuated to another "Medico" hospital, on the border of Thailand, from which he commutes to the three other ho-pitals he supervises. Dr, Wintrob lives closely with the natives, and is invited to all the|ir iunctions as an honoured guest, j
NAMES IN THE NEWS
• Martin Brooks, who portrayed the role of prosecuting attorney in the "Andersonville Trial" at the O'Keefe Centre is the son of the well-known Yiddish writer Beryl Boim. ' .
• Rev. E. C. Lebel of Assumption University, Windsor, was the recipient of this year's Brotherhood Humanitarian Award, sponsored by the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews.
• Dr. Sigmund Samuel was guest of honour at a dinner tendered this week by His Honour and Mrs. J. Keiller Mackay in their suite in the legislative Buildings at Queen's Park.
• Herbert Orliffe, former Toronto alderman has been ap-
MORTON REVZEN, 1960 St. Cothorines UJ.A. Chairmen is shown here with MR. BEN NEWMAN (right), Oritorio Regional Chairman of the United Isroe! Appeol, ond co-chairman of'the Joint Fund Roising Committee of the Zionist Orgonizotion of. Canada ond the Cdnodion Jewish Cohgress, Central Division.
THEATRE IN TORONTO
By BARBARA I. PEARL
"The Andersonville Trial", At The O'Keefe Centre
lie hao learned, too, the art of i point^ Chairman of the Ontario
floor squatting — Laotians seem to have an aversion to elevating themselves from ground level!
Dr. Wintrob feels very strongly that in order to win the confidence and respect of the people. Westerners in Laos must not place themselves, apart or above the people, but share fully in their way' of life. In this cause he has sacrificed even his. own luxurious and carefully nurtured beard! The reason for this? Laos was: once a French colony — Frenchmen are partial to beards — the French were not popular colonizers. In Laos, a bearded Westerner would automatically be associated with the French — ergo — off with the beard.
One thing seems obvibirs from all tins. Dr. Ron Wintrob is the only Canadian in Laos with '•Medico." His dedicated service to the people of this land has done Immeasurable good, in its most tangible and. needed form, to establish a warni. bond between Qanada and this South-East Asian couritry. We owe him; and the,. others like him. wherever they serve, a ,trempridous debt. Would that there were, hiore such. ■,
MUSICAL THERAPY FOR THE HANDICAPPED
-~c^-of the most succisssful events of Februan' isthe annual, Card Party : ofsJhe "Musical Therapy Group for Handicapped^ Children" which took place-this week at North Toronto Memorial Gardens^ It. is.tnily a remark-Bble feat -for a small nucleus of fourteen women to organize an affair attracting, the attendance of over four hundred men and women to aid their major pro^ Ject. '
The Musical Therapy Group is Bs well, B refuta-tlon of the frequently heard accusation that Jewish -women tend to .'"ghetto-Ize" themselves In their 6rgahl-z 'ions, fofNthis groiip comprises both Jewishj and Gentile mem-< be -J. It began as a gathering of neighbours in the northern section of Toronto who shared an Interest in the activities of theii children, and expanded this to inplude chUdiren less fortunate ■ than their own. ■ .;
The. projeftt they evolved was to provide equipment for the use
Jurisdictional Disputes Commission which will adjudicate union disputes.
SHOWN HERE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ore: BERNARD COOPERMAN, President B'nai.lsroel Synagogue, St. Catharines, Mr. ABBIE BEN ARl,
Public Relotions Director of the Lochish Development Area in Isroel, i years? Where have we heard that
Thanks to the O'Keefe Centre, The .Andersonville Trial has finally come to Toronto. Starring Brian Donlevy and Martin Brooks — with a wonderful supporting cast featuring Sam Gray and Owen Pavitt —, this long awaited drama was as intense and absorbing as expected. . Directed by Jedediah Homer, with costumes and scenery by Will Steven Armstrong, The Andersonville Trial was i^nwittingly the battle-groutid for proving just how for an officer can obey orders—albeit inhumane.
Involved was Henry Wirt — played by Sam Gray — who was being tried on the grounds of conspiracy. As the drama unfolded, it was no surprise to hear that the prisoner tried to commit suicide. That is the final way of most criminals. Nor was it surprising to hear how this Wirz misireated prisoners of war.
Were his vicious tactica. In the year 1864, different from those experienced by many in recent
and SOL D. GRANEK, Choirmon of the. Nationol Executive Board of the Zionist Orgonizotion of Conoda.
htlngry bloodhounds were used to unearth hidden victims; that
thei-e w'ere, then, fourteen thousand known dead; that this maniac was referred to as "the butcher"; that the prisoner was arrogant, he had "no guilt of conscience"; that his uppermost thought was the fact he was grabbed from his family; that Andersonville was literally a pit with the sick, dying and dead wallowing together?
• • •
Mr. Gray gave a very convincing performance of the prisoner — he was hated for his bestiality. It felt good to see him squirm.
yer who knows his case is lost before he even , begins. I still haven't made up my mind .as to which it is.
Lt. Col, Chipman, played by Martin Brooks, carried the show. VVith the vigor of one who knows full well every vulnerable spot, Mr. Brooks, as prosecutor, had no difficulty in procuring wit-nesses who werg only too eager to reveal all the horrors. His examinations, however, were not without mercy. One could sense the Wdden query: after a certain point, has an officer the moral
Unfortunately, however, I can- ^i.^ht to disobey his superiors?
not be so partial to Mr. Baker, defense counsel, as played by Brian Donlevy. Of course, as counsel for the defense, Mr. Don-levy, didn't have a leg to stand on. However I can't help feeling he might have put a little more emotion into the part. He seemed aloof from it all. At first I was inclined to think he wasn't feeling well. But, no I Mr. Don-levy is too good a veteran to fall out of character. Either the part was not meaty enough for him or else he performed a masterpiece — that of dipicting a law-
Since this was purely a case of legality, that question oould not be readily answered. : Naturally the trial ended with the verdict of: guilty. Th» prisoner was to be hanged.
. * • • •
The Andersonville Trial had to be — for the record, at least. There is a similar one to be enacted shortly, also for the record. We already know the outcome. Tlwrefore is It really necessary? I wonder.
The formation of the Ladies Auxiliary.of the Maimonides Society in 1956, complemented the activities of the parent group. This, too, followed similar lines of social, cultural and philanthropic interest. Now some 200 members strong, the Ladies Auxiliary has made worthwhile, contributions to the "Canadian Save the Children Fund" in Italy, Retarded Children in Toronto, undergraduate sch^'^r-ships and purchase of microscopes for medical students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, a bursary fund in the School of Nursing in honour of the Bicentennial of the Jewish Community of Canada, and a donation of $500 to "International Medico' — the non-profit orgnr nizaUon estabUshed by Dr. Thomas Dooley to provide hospital care for underdeveloped areas.
These activities are in the classic humanitarian tradition of Maimonides. The support that the Medical Society and the Ladles AuxiUary give to these causes, is a modem link in the centuries-long chain of medical traditio.i In the pattern set out by Moses Maimonides . . ." Endow nie with strength of heart and mind, so that both may be ready to serve the rich and the poor, the good and the wicked, friend and enemy."
IMPORTANT MEETING IN TORONTO
ISRAEL MINISTER TO ADDRESS TORONTO ZIONISTS
At its next meeting on Wednesday, 22nd . February;, at 8:30 pm., the Toronto Zionist Coimcil will have as its guest speaker, MR. ARIEH EILAN, Minister Plenipotentiary and member of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations..
Mr. Eilan who has been in the Israeli Diplomatic Corps since the beginning of 1950 was, at the 13th session of the General As-
ARIEH EILAN
sembly, iinaniniously elected Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee (Trusteeship Committee) thus becoming the first Israeli to hold office as a member of the three-man Presidium of a political Committee of the General Assembly. For a time he was Acting Chairman of the General Assembly, sitting. as the Fourth Committee; His prime area Qf responsibility lies In the growing relationship of Israel with the countries of Africa and Asia. .
Undoubtedly, Mr. Elian's address will be of great, interest to the ihembera of the Toronto Zionist Council.
At this meeting the winners of the recently held HeiTl Essay Coinpetitioh will be awarded with special Herzl Centennial medals, books of Jewish interest and cash prizes. ■ Friends and guests are ipvited Jo join members of the Toronto Zionist Council at this, meeting on Wednesday, 22nd Februalry, at 8:30 p.m. in the Zionist Centre, 651 Spadina Avenue, Toronto. . The meeting "will be chaired by the President of the Toronto Zionist Council, _Mr. Harry Zif-. kin.. ..
ISRAIL SUMMER TOURS
YOUR SUMMER IN ISRAEL WILL BE AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL VALUE FOR LIFE ;
See Jerqsolem, T?l Aviv, Haifa, Eleersheba, Eilot, Safad, Acre, Nazareth Ashkelon, Caesgrio and the Dead. Sea. See the or--cheologicol discoveries . .. ttov^over-the famous "Rood of Courage". .Visit the KnesMf, notional Institutes, the Bducotionol centres, the. homes of Israel's art and culture; and the religious ■centres..' ,„' .!7 ■ I,'-.•
COST En route there will be a Sfopovwr $850 of a few days IN EUROPE.
For information write toi
YOUTH & CHALUTZIUT DEPT. JEWISH AGENCY
e/o 651 SPAOINA AVE., Toronte 4. or e«II) WA. 2-2153
t; IV.
LEADERS OF OOTARIQ'SMAIMONIPESM SdCIETYANP AUXILIARY
BACK ROW, left to right; Drs. M. Corson,/irGrenville,S.xShqrpe,P; Ros<?n, B. Bdlshin, H. Feptlgsteih, S. Wax, M. Chrla, S. Solway. FRONT ROW, left to right: Mrs. M. Carson/Dr^M/Miller/^
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