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The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, May 7, 1992-Page 3
Yom Ha'at zmau t
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The following is a message by the President of Israel, Chaim Herzog, to Jewish communities abroad on the~ 44th anniversary of Israel's independence.
A year ago, as we approached Israel's 43rd Independence Day, we looked with relief on the cessation of the Gulf War. Israel had suffered no little loss and damage, but it shared the widespread hope that a better world order would emerge. Now, on the eve of our 44th Independence Day, the world we face is beset by political turmoil, economic recession, and widespread increase of terrorist activity, rooted to a very great extent in Islamic fanaticism.
That last development, tragic as it is, does not come to us as a surprise. 1 have long been pointing out that international obsession with the Israel-Arab conflict has blinded political observers in the democracies to the insidious threat posed by fundamentalism in Muslim societies. It has now become all too clear that this threat knows no boundaries and endangers the world at large.
As the case of Iraq demonstrates, today's terrorists are frighteningly endeavoring to equip themselves with weapons of mass destriiction. We see Iraq itself, despite international bans and boycotts, persistentiy endeavoring to outwit the United Nations.
We recall with special grief the fate of Israelis and local Jews— and innocent bystanders — at the hands of fanatical terrorists in Argentina and Turkey and elsewhere. Without worldwide vigilance and cooperation, the deadly threat cannot begin to be overcome.
Yet the year has had its hopeful aspects even in the stormy Middle East. The peace talks going on be-t\yee:n Israel and Arab nations may be moving very slowly and as yet inconclusively, but they continue. This in itself is a revolutionary development and leaves the way open for eventual understanding. That the way will be long, trying and complicated is obvious, but the effort must go On for
the sake of all the peq)les of the area.
In the coining elections, the Israeli public will be called upon to make decisions which relate, inter alia, to the peace process. This reflects one of the many asymmetries which characterize this region — one democracy in which decisions are made by the entire populace, surrounded by countries with diHTerent regimes and decision-making processes.
For Israel's own future, the importance of aliya as a factor cannot be over-estimated. The surge of hundreds of thousands'out of Eastern Europe and Ethiopia has brought un-
Chaim Herzog
anticipated blessings — able, gifted, eager masses of Jews who desperately need Israel as a refuge and home in the face of shifting, insecure and ominous political, economic and social conditions in their previous homelands.
The enormous numbers of two years ago have diminished, partly no
doubt because of tentative political changes, partly because it has been impossible for Israel quickly to_pro-vide deisrable conditions, particulariy appropriate employment, for all.
Yet, aliya is still continuing on a scale far larger thain we saw for tens of years, and the option of fiulher increase is very much alive. Daily in Israel we are reminded not to accept
the idea that full absorption is impossible. We must continue to work at achieving it in the context of economic growth which remains one of our chief and most necessary goals.
And world Jewry, too, which has participated so ardently in aiding the great exodus and replanting in our time — world Jewry must surely con-. -linue to pull its full weight at this breath-taking historic juncture in Jewish history.
The enriching impact of the new aliya ia already perceptible in the social and cultural map of Israel and in the tone and level of daily life. No effort to aid the process is too much. Cause for hope is surely here even in the midst of this problematic, often deeply troubling time. Israel has other sourres of gratification as well. Major parts of the worid have opened to it officially — China and India which had never recognized it, and nOw new republics grown out of the one-time Soviet Union.
As we mark Israel's Independence Day, we also note two significant historical anniversaries. In several weeks, Jerusalem, eternal capital of the Jewish people and the seat of Israel's government, will celebrate a quarter century since its reunification, and this year we mark 500 years of Jewish expulsion from Spain.
I recently had the honor of representing Israel on a state visit to Spain and was present as King Juan Carlos I participated in the Madrid synagogue with me in an historic act of reconciliation. At that time, my thoughts turned to the resilience of our people and their ability to rise to meet and overcome what appear to be insurmountable difficulties.
As we enter a new year in Israiel's existence as an independent and sovereign nation, I feel confident that the same spirit and ability which have borne us through past millehia will continue to acconq)any us through the challenges which lie ahead, and enable us to utilize to the maximum the opportunities which we are granted.
The fblhwmg is a message from the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Shamir, for Yom Ha 'atzmaui.
On this Yom Ha'Atzmaut we shall enter the 45th year of our renewed independence in our sovereign land, Eretz Israel, and three weeks later we shall celebrate the 25th anniversary of the liberation and unification of Jerusalem, thenadon's c£q)ital. These two soul-stirring experien(»s emphasize the extraordinary privilege that has been granted to the present generations of our people.
At this milestone, we look back on the road we have travelled, the problems with which we have had to contend, and all that we have accomplished, and We proclaim that the Shehecheyanu prayer with profound feelings of thanksgiving that we have reached this season.
We have succeeded in maintaining our capacity to defend our nation and our deterrent capacity, largely because of the motivation of our young generation who have the duty and privilege to protect the land^ and safeguard its citizens.
We have seen the truly magnificent renewal of the momentum of Shivat Zion — the return to Zion — as tens of thousands of our brethren streamed into the country from all parts of the Soviet Union and Ethiopia.
When we saw the Ethiopian olim descend from the aircraft, the thought uppermost in oui mindis was: if only we had been in that situation 50 years ago. This is the niieaning of the sovereign Jewish state — a homeland for every Jew who nods it — when he needs it.
As a result of diis Shivat Zion we are steiadily approaching the time when the majority of the Jewish people wiU be conco^rated here, in Eretz Israel, which will regain its rble as
the physical, cultural and spiritual centre of the entire Jewish people.
The great wave of aliyah has placed extraordinary demands on us to make sure that the newcomers are successfully absorbed and integrated. Since the establishment of the state, we have never faced a challenge of such magnitude. The newcomers, who arrive with nothing, are provided with all their basic needs, but the creation of job opportunities for such a large number of educated, skilled people, presents the greatest difficulty.
Yitzhak Shamir
For such an undertaking, we need the united effort of the entire Jewish-people, their maximum financial involvement by contribution and investment. I finnly believe, if we make these efforts together, we will be suc-cessfiil in this great enterprise as well.
We derive much satisfaction from the fact that within the past year We have seen Ae breakdown of the diplomatic boycott of Israel, with the normalization of rdations with Israel by countries llkie China, India, Russia,^ the Baltic states, the new republics
and Afiican countries. We hope to open a new chapter of fruitful cooperation with these states and make pur modest contribution to the strengthening of freedom and democracy.
In the outgoing year we took, the first steps on the long road towards peace between Israel and our neighbors. We willm^e every effort possible to keep the progress on track, despite unrelenting, vicious terror attacks, despite the continuing mtifada, despite the feverish arming of our neighbors around us, and despite the Jact that most Arab states continue to reject Israel's right to existence and legitimacy.
We are confident that, at the end of the long road, we shall reach, with God's help, the shores of peace and therefore, we shall persevere with patience and tenacity.
Meanwhile, the dangers facing us and the threats to our security have not abated. A host of terrorist organizations continue to attack Israel, its citizens, and missions abroad. And Arab governments are making every effort to acquire massive quantities of arms and weapons of mass destruction. In spite of the end of the Cold War, our region has not become safer. Israel is doing its best to ensure its capacity to defend itself and to maihtain its deterrent cecity and its qualitative edge in the fece of these formidable dangers.
Becaiisc of the national achievements in the past, and our present efforts, we enter the year^ead with determination and strength, and face the fiiture with confidence. From Jerusalem, the nation's capital, I send heartfelt greetings to the Jewish communities in all parts of the world on jhe occasion of the wonderfiil festival of Yom Ha'Atzmaut. Chag sameach.
By
JANICE ARNOLD
MONTREAL-
Montreal Jewish community leaders grappled with the dilemma of whether to become involved with a project that appears, at least, to encourage the immigration of Jews from the former Sovirt Union away from Israel, Allied Jewish Community Services president Harvey Wolfe admits.
On balance, though, the leadership decidwl the accord with the Quebec government would be both a humanitarian gesture to fellow Jews fearfiil of their fiiture and a "psychological boost" to Montreal Jews.
Wolfe said the leadership consulted with the Israeli consulate in Montreal before going ahead with the one-year pilot pnDJect and was satisfied that the relatively small number of eligible Jews from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Baltic countries and Georgia mitigated any "moral dilemma."
"My personal feeling is that every Soviet should go to Israel," Wolfe said. However, he added 100 families is not a large number and would give the Montreal Jewish community a psychological, if not significant, demographic boost.
The vety fact that Jews choose to come to Quebec at a time when many members of the community are leaving will be a positive development, he thinks.
Wolfe also sees it as an opportunity for the community at large, through synagogue and other groups, to volunteer in the effort to integrate these people. This. -means more than finding them jobs; it could be as simple a gesture as inviting the newcomers to one's home fordinner, he said.
Perhaps, most importantly, Wolfe views the project as a way of "legitimizing what is already happening." After Canada stopped automatically recognizing Jews from the Soviet Union as refugees in 1990, most Soviet Jews arrived in Quebec on visitors' visas and claimed refugee status here.
Immigration Minister Monique Gagnon-Tiierablay has said she hoped this "circumventing" of the system would stop and that this project will provide a legitimate route for them to enter Qudbec.
Canada has also indicated it will be more stringent in issuing visitor's visas to Soviets.
Israeli Consul General Itzhak Levanon declined to comment atjength on the
project, but said if the number of former Soviets remains as small as intended, no serious conflict exists with the Israeli government view that all such Jews should make aliyah.
Because of the Commitment that has been made to help find jobs and meet essential needs, Levanon does not think the community will be able to help many more.
The iOO families in this "fast-track" project do not represent the total number of former Soviet Jews who will arrive in Quebec over the next year. Jewish Immigrant Aid Services Montreal director Joel Moss said others will continue to be processed through the regular channel, primarily under the family class. "
In 1991 .about 200 Soviet families, or 375-400 individuals, arrived in Montreal, according to JIAS. Moss estimates JIAS sees at least 75 percent of Soviet immigrants. Most came: as visitors.
At least 100 Soviet Jewish families are now "in the pipeline," waiting to come to Quebec, but Moss would not guess how many will get here this year. Among the 60,000 immigration applications at the Canadian Embassy in Moscow, JIAS has already identified 600-900 from Jews wishing to come to Quebec specifically, Moss said.
Moss said the project with Quebec allows Soviet Jewish immigration in an "open, planful" way. How to make the selection for fast-tracking. Moss admits, is a "delicate issue" and he did not make clear how JIAS will decide on the applicants it will refer to the Immigration Ministry.
These will have to come directly from the CIS, Baltic or Georgia, and those already in "the pipeline" may not be eligible.
Moss thinks that, despite the recession, the picture isn't so gloomy for immigrants. He pointed out that JIAS's caseload in Montreal doubled last year, yet demand for financial assistance was down 25 percent, indicating people found work of some kind.
.Gagnon-Tremblay aide Barbara Berg-er, who played a key role in bringing together the Jewish community and the government, feels the accord is mutually beneficial to Quebec and the Jewish community, as well as for prospective immigrants.
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