2 - The Corrcidian Jewish News, Fridoy, Dec, 16, TW
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
PUBLISHED tyiRY FRIDAY
Dorothy C. Nuferiberger, Publisher M. J. Nurenberger, Editor 1396 Eglintoh Ave. West., Toronto (10), Ont. tfelephone RU. 7-6031 ,
■ VOL. 1, NO. 51
Subscription: $5.00 Per Year; Foreign: $10 Per Year
AuthoriMd As Second Glass Maij, Post Office Deportment, Ottawo THE ONLY JEWISH NEWSfAPtR IN ENGLISH IN THE f-ROVlNCt OF ONTARIO
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THE FEW AGAINST THE MANY
Th& feference to Hahukah in the Talmud is very brief, the Rabbis of Old dispensed with this festival in a few sentences. However, the fact remains that Manukah, perhaps more than any other date in the Jewish calendar, underscores the innate gtand-eiir of Judaism. Hanukah ertiphasizes the permanent, never-ending battle of the few dedicated to spiritual values embattled iti the struggle against synchronization; the never-ending defiance by a minority of the totalitarian majority.
What is Hanukah? What does it signify? What is the "tale of these little candles that tell us the stories of yore", as a poet rendered it in a famous Yiddish song? Is it the miracle of a flicker of light that engulfs the darkness? 'the symbol itself tells the story: people who believe in a cause can prevail ieveii when they are weak and their adversaries — strong. They can conquer even when faced by overwhelming odds.
When the Maccabees proclaimed their revolt against Hellenic oppression, the military might was with An-tiochus. The objective bf Judah Macca-bee was to regain national sovereignty. But, was independence the sole purpose of the revolt?
It seems to us that, with Jews, territorial independence has never been the ultimate objective. Following the destruction of the Seeond Commonwealth, oui* people have been dreaming, praying and longing for the Day of Return. Was it because we felt that sovereignty is paramount, or was it the conviction, borne during the centuries of history, that national sovereignty is only a pre-requisite — the means — towards higher alms and spiritual independence?
The Maccabees revolted because the oppression of the foreign yoke had weighed heavily upon the soul of the people. They felt that ohly physical liberation would bring about the freeing of the spirit and return Unto the people the dignity of living according to. their lofty ideal.
The Maccabees perceived the danger of HelleniMn. SasiCttlly the Hellenic culture idealized beauty — eitternal beauty, that is. Or, as we could define it today, "I'art pour Tart", literature for the sake of literature. Judaism ^ never considered the Bible holy because of its literary beauty but for its truth. Beauty can very often become the mask for deceit.
They were "few against many", they conquered because of their intransigence in the war for truths
HANUKAH IM ISRAEL
TROLY THE MAYOR OF ALL THE PEOPLE
The reflection of Mayor Nathan Phillips for the fourth time is a record of which we should all be proud. Mayor Phillips has been at. all times a true servant of the people of Toronto — of all the people — without distinction as to race, creed or colour.
Speaking on the CBC network on election night, the Mayor very pertinently and effectively disassociated himself from campaigns alCHig socalled etlmic lines. He stated that he never noticed any difference between New Canadians euid Old Canadians. We believe him, for we know that the IMayor of Toronto has always been truly the Mayor of all the < people without any racial, ethnical or religious preferences.
On the eve 6f, this municipal election. The Canadian Jewish News editorially stated that in a Canadian election there is no Jewish vote. There should be no Italian vote, no Ukranian vote, no t*olish vote. The elimination of such electioneering would be a step forward towards better citizenship and greater harmony among all people liv^
ing together in this land. Last Monday night the Mayor again stressed these basic truths m which he believes and which he has observed throughout his entire political life.
Such beliefs, such a philosophy is in full accordance with our Jewish tradition. The ideal of real co-existence among men and women of all origins, transcending every religiuos persuasion, is the essence of Judaism.
In this respect the Mayor has been acting in conformity with this universal concept of our faith. Many may have forgotten an incident back in 1934 when young Nate Phillips returned an h<?nourai7 membership card to a club which did not accept Jewish members. He then stated, "I am a Jew, proud of his heritage and loyal to his race".
We feel that, during the years of his tenure in this highest office in the great city of Toronto, Mr. Phillips has demonstrated his Jewish heritage by proving that he was the Mayor of all the people.
Thus we salute Mayor Nathan Phillips.
FOR: HANUKAH
Thii Is Israel's "Stofue of Liberty" in Jerusalem. Thii greof bronze Menorah, o symbol of Israel's Independence, is a gift fr^m the British House of Comment to the people of Israel. It is the work of sculptor Benno Elkan.
And his son JUidah, who Was called Mabcabaeus, rose Up in his stead.
And all his brethren helped him, And all they that clave unto his father, And they fought with gladness the battle of Israel,
And he extended the glory of his people, And put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt on his weapons of war.
He set battles in array,
He protected the army with the sword.
And he was like a lion in his deeds:
And as a lion's whelp roaring for prey . He pursued the lawless, seeking them out. And burnt up those that troubled his people.
And the lawless lost heart for fear of him.
And all the workers of lawlessness were sore troubled ;
And deliverance prospered in his hand.
And he angered many kings.
And made Jacob glad with his acts.
And his memorial is blessed for ever.
And he went about among the cities of Judah, And destroyed the ungodly thereout, And turned away wrath from Israel.
And he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth.
And gathered together those who were perishing.
(Prom the first Book of Maccabees)
What Everyone Should Know
20 Questions and Answers on Nuclear Weapons
THE CANADIAN JEWISH CONGRESS SPEAKS
This is a question frequently asked — sometimes with impatience, sometimes With curiosity — by the Jewish man on the street when he hears of anti-semitism, of discriminationr—of-weakness in our communal structure. Too often because of the nature pf our community, because of Congress relations with government or with press, because of the complexity and cumber-someness of our communal machmery, it is difficult to fmd the answer.
this coming Sunday December 18 the Caiiadian Jewish Congress will be reporting to the community in the ancient tradition of speaking directly to its constituents, at mass meeting or, as it has been called, a "town Hall Evening". Due to the growth of our community on the ohe hand and the consequent expansion of Cotigress, the danger of Bigness is, a peril that the leaders of congress obviously want tO avoid, the extension of the Jewish community into the suburbs, the multiplication of synagogues, the great number of fraternal lodges, the increasing diversity of our interests and fund raising activities — all these and other factors make it-more and more difficult to speak directly to the community as agsingle^unit: in the Way that used to be possible. '; ■ ^.Z'::^-. /: ;
Congress in the past year has been
especially active in the interest of Car nadian Jewry, Now that it can be told, the complex and the delicate question of how a CanadarWide ban on She--chita-was-avoided"is-a~sample-of how unity and cooperation was able to overcome suspicion and rivalries, the issUe of religious education in the public schools is now no longer a problem of exclusively Jewish concern but is a matter of front page attention in the press. What has been done in this field and what can still be done will be one of the subjects of next Sunday evemng's meeting.
Perhaps the issue that will get the most burning interest is the discussion of neo-Nazism in Canada, Are these plnjpricks or threats? Shall we urge silence or noiSe? Should we press for a legal remedy Against hate-mohge-ring or should we - take the attitude that~freedom of speech protects the rights Of the race-hater? these murky problems deserve some" clarification. It is to be hoped that the excellent panel of speakers chosen for the meeting at the Shaarel teflllah Messrs, Haves, Lewis, Harris and Gasner — will throw some light on them for the guidance of our community.
the responsibility Congress holds towards the Canadian Jewish community is too serious to be ignored or to be met with apathy and indifference.
Can The WestDispense With NATO?
By the Editors of Manchester Guardian The World's Most Famous Liberal Newspaper
1. Is NATO necessar}-? , ^ ^
Yes. If J^ATO did not exist, the ' Russians might be tempted to invade Western Europe. Abolishing NATO would increase the risk of war. 1
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2, An Nuclear Weapons news-1 (wrj- to NATO?
Yes: so long as the Russians
miilj^ry commanders. The group might well be made up of senior Ministers from the US, Britain, France, West Germany, arid Norway: but its composition could vary.
7. Does this mean anything when we have only four minutes warning of attack?
have them. If NATO had' 1° case of all-out surprise attack
POLITICS
Proposals that Mr. Moshe Sharett should become co-Chairman of the
the whole crisis In the Zionist movement stems from its continued
Worid Zionist Organisation would ap- entanglement with Israel's internal po-
pear to be a retrograde step. Among litics and the dual function of its Is-
Mr. Sharett's many admirable quali- raeli members, who continue to try to
ties there are two which disqualify act for both partners at the same time, hini for the task: he is an Israeli and the forthcoming Congress opening
a leading member of m. Israeli Party, the 25th of this month in Jerusalem
He could, therefore, never properly re- must be bold enough to transform the
present the Diaspora vis^i-vis Israel, organisation into. one of all Diaspora
which is surely one of the main tasks Jews who .wish to relate to and be
of the Worid Zionist organisation and of help to'Israel. J^'--its officers. An organisation of this kind would
Indeed, it is hot so long since Mr. have to find its leadership in the Dia-
Sharett held the highest offices in the spora and, once rid of its political hi-
State of Israel, a task which he may volvement, would be able to address
yet fulfil again. - ' itself to its real tasks.
none the Russians could secure the surrender of individual nations simly. by tlie threat to use only one or two hydrogen bombs. Russia herself would be in no serious risk of radiation of retaliation.
3. In NATO too dependent on nuclear weapons?
At present NATO is dangerously dependent on tactical nuclear weapons for the defence of Western Europe.' This mekns .that if the Russians staged a limited conventional attack of any size NATO would be forced to use tactical weajMns to repel It—or give way. ruit If NATO used tactical nuclear wieapons against a Russian conventional attack, a full-scale nuclear war might
follOTff.
4. Can it be made less dependent < tactical nuclear weapons?
Yes, by increasing the number of troops in Western Europe, their mobility, and the num-. ber. of aircraft supporting them. If this were done, nuclear weapons could be removed from the', forward areas in Germany. This would reduce the risk of a .. conventional attack developing into a nuclear war.
5. WHBit Bay doe« -Britain—or France or atty other meimber Of NATO—have In the control of nuclear weapdiin?.
The Continental members of NATO have, no direct ..say.
. .Britain has a veto on the Vise of nuclear, weiapons based, on British territory. For mi.«iles this veto is effective, since before, a mlasile based on
. British territory can be fired
: a British officer, as well as an American, must: turn the key. But American "bombers based in Brltalfl c?in be ordered Into the air without approval. from any BritLsh authorities —though to do that would be. ngaln.>!t,'tile
: Anglo-American agreement. For bombers, therefore, the British veto is not fully effective.
6. How can control be improved?. Chiefly by the constant practice
of consultation..-Also by, thd creatiori of a small staiidlng : political group with the power. In agreed ciriitimRtahces to give orders to the NATO
by the Russians it means nothing. But this is the most unlikely eventuality, since as long as the West has a nuclear deterrent the Russians will not start, an all-out surprise attack which could mean suicide for themselves. The Russiaiis. might, however, blunder into—or deliberately start—a sm;iU—scale conventional attack in Europe or elsewhere. NATO would then have to decide what action to take; and. in the process of decision the existence of a standing poliUcal group would be invaluable.
8. What happen* if America, or other allies, iill not accept our proposal?
We niust go oh tr(Ing to persuade them. In tJie long run, America's inte^sts in NATO are the same ai, our own. The Americans are as anxious to prevent accider^al v/ar as we are; and if our idvlce Is sound it will in the eid be listened to. But-if we litve NATO in disgust because bur advice is rejected, NATO^ defects will grow worse ratier than better—and w6 shdl no longer have any iriflueice in trying to get rid of thei.
g. S,hould Britain iave a separate deterrent?.! No. It, adds nothlnl to the de-. fence, of. the Wist — and is therefore a-wasttj of money.
10; Should Britain g| on mann-
facluring bombs? j NOi We already havi enough.
11. Should B r 11 a I ^ lii a k e a -"separate coiitribil ion" 16 the Western deterrenifi
Yes, but only If the fritlsh contribution is pla^d under Joint control-eith* by NATO or by,a jphit Eurfcean com' mand. Similariy, tesearch ' and development i hould. be
. undertftken jointly ^ilh our allies, y—
12. 8 h 0 u rd Franc* have a /separate deterrent?.
siie will insist on heVlight to a
.separate deterrent! | long as Britain has one/ way to persuade h
to give
up her separate dArrent is to] create a Joint a «i:rent— And that means putting Bomber Oomm^r [' under European Or NATO ontrol
13, What about Gcmi|y bmA others aftcr^ardB?
If Britain and France continue to have independent nuclear forces, Germany will sooner or later demand one too. This will make NATO still more dependent on nuclear weapons than "it is now. Meanwhile, nuclear weapons may have spread to other countries outside Europe — into the Middle East and the Far East, perhaps even into Africa. The spread of nuclear weapons is probably the greatest danger to world peace; and the best place to stop the spread is on our doorstep in Europe.
14. Should the West say that it will never be the first to use hydrogen bombs?
Yes. The military arguments against such a declaration will lose force as the American nuclear submarines come Into service. Nuclear submarines are abnost wholly Immune from detection and attack. Therefore they can safely wait for the other^side to deliver the first blow, since they know that they vrillnot be knocked out by that first blow. Thus, if the strategic deterrent is ,based chiefly in nuclear submarines, it will be possible to make this declaration—and still have a credible deterrent.
15. Why not say this of all nuclear weapons?
Because at present we have not sufficient conventional forces to repel a conventional attack.
16. What If our allies won't agree?
Ohc« again we must go on trying to persuade them. If yue got out; of NATO because they refused to accept our advice, that would only make NATO even worse than it Was be-fore-^and It Would meaii that We should lose all hope of being able to press for re-..fotms In future.
17. Should all patrol flighti carrying. H-bombs be prohibited?
No: it would make all American and British bombers sitting targets on the ground. Otily Wheh tile .Westejtn alliance has sufficient nuclear submarines armed with long-range missiles will patrol flights of aircraft become unnecessaiy;
18. Are American bases in Britain almost obsolete?
No: bases foif nuclear submarines will continue.to be necessary for the foreseeable futute; and siiice it is in our own interest to mt the strategic deterrent . into submarines we should be extremely foolish to deny the Americans basesj On oUr territory Radar stations will also be necessary so long as there Is any chance of a RusSliin surprise ftttack.
19. Can't we keep oat bt a poa-giblo tttissian-American conflict?
There can lie no neutralfl, in the
northern hemisphere during a thermo-nuclear war. If a nuclear war breiaks out between Russia' and America we shall be reached by radioactive fall-out whether we like it or notr-rand going neutral will no* change the facts of geography.
20. Why can t mt leave NATO?
Because that would make a world war more likely.
Frightened people are raSI people. At present Britain is America's most trusted ally. If we leave NATO the Americans are bound to be even more frightened of Russia than they are now; anc iney mlgnt be panicked into warlike behaVioUf. fiUt as long as we stay in NATO We h&ve some Influence on
(Continued on pogeT)
SERMON FOR HANUKAH
Who Is for the Lord, \et him come after me.
Few scriptural passages so brief and concise could contain a greater challenge or be more incisive in their presentation. To hear such words is to realise the existence of a crisis, possibly a life and death struggle which demands that a firm stand be t0.ken. There must be no hesitation, no vacillation. The position Is desperate and ■"'calls for desperate meastu^.
It is of interest to note that our literature records two ocicasicms when a challenge was issued in these same words. The first was in the desert Of Sinai and the occasion was the fashioning of the Golden Calf. Moses saw his people reduced to a state of utter demoralisation. They had forsakai their laws and were following the ignoble practices Of the heathen. ITiere coilld be no compromise in such circumstances. Either they accepted GOd; and His laws or they ceased to be a people possessing an individual identity.
The second occasion is recorded in the Book of Maccabees. The words were there uttered by the aged Matathias. ■ He saw his country vanquished by the Syrian conqueror. Hard though this was to bear, he realised, that the imposition of heathen practices and their adoption by his people was even worse. A peon'-^ :ua.v h'} .subiugated bv superior military forces out thTs rnust not crush Us spirit. When a people submits to the ways of the enemy and sacrifices ite own ideals then It is time for action. It>wa« the sight of Hellenistic practices which provoked . tile aged priest to issue his challraige and his words aroused the-dormant cohsclefioe. of his people. He and his sons took the only stand possible and thereby they saved the situation fot themselves and for every subsequent generation.
It is hot to. be wondered at that the Ma<?cabees have ■ becwne the symbol of courageous action in adversity. Theirs wai the pattern which was adopted by all those who played a heroic part in our history. We who .for so lorig have, sought peaceful means of settling our troubles need to be: reminded that We cannot always repose our trust in others to ^ as spokesmen oil our behalf. There comes a time when we riiust emerge Intd the open and give full expression to our own views. Compromise Is not always the best solution for every crisis. Where our self respect and Spiritual stability are bvOlved. sterner measures must be adopted.
But how many are aware of the existence of crisis? To the average person crisis means aii tnimediate threat to persomd wefll-being. To the Jew: it may mean an attack upon his name or a decree restricting his freedom of movement or expression. Yet surely there are other forms of crisis which affect Uie virellbelng of .the Jew. Do we not regard the growing indifference to the dictates of reli-/glous^iflcipllne..^ as critical and a threat to the future f. stability of the^Iews?. Or the growing ignorance of the Jewish heritage as a portent of future calamity? Or the inroads which assimilation makes on oUr dlstiiictive. way
9f live^li^ cause for alimi?
To meet such a situation on; ;^needs to adopt a firm stand as did the heroes of old. One needs to be definitive, and the old chftlleflge must again bevissued so that It reacheis the hearts and the minds of those most personally affected, vmen the issues at stake are! so vital to the future of Jewry and the perpetuation of Judaism, there can be nd compromise with late nor vacillation in choosing the path that must be followed.
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