Canadian cash for Jewish settlements
Ottawa says the funnelling of charity dollars into Palestinian territories is harmful to the peace process
ROBERTA STALEY STAFF REPORTER
Ottawa should change legislation prohibiting tax-deductible donations to Israel for use in the occupied territories, says B'nai Brith.
"If the endeavors are humanitarian, then people from Canada should be allowed to assist and receive a tax benefit," Frank Di-mant, executive vice president of B'nai Brith Canada, said from Toronto. He said the construction of hospitals, schools, roads and playgrounds in the occupied territories should be considered humanitarian works.
Revenue Canada is probing several charities in Canada raising money for Israel, said Carl Juneau, acting director of the department's charities division.
In April, Revenue Canada revoked the diarity licence of a fund associated with the Toronto Zionist Council after it was found to be channelling tax-deductible do-
nations to the occupied territories.
It is not illegal for Canadians to send money to the settlements, only to claim it as a deductible charitable donation. ' "It's not as if this is new," Mr. Juneau told the Bulletin. "We've been concerned about Canadian charities operating abroad in contravention of Canadian foreign policy for several years."
Mr. Juneau said the only penalty it can impose on a charity is revocation of its licence. It would lose its registered status and ability to issue tax receipts. "In cases where it's inadvertent, we probably wouldn't revoke — we woiild educate the charity and give it a slap on the wrist," Mr. Juneau said.
Rodney Moore, spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said Canada doesn't allow groups
B'nai Brith's executive vice-president Franic Dimant. . _
to issue tax deductible receipts for contributions to Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. "We're opposed to the establishment of settlements in these territories," Mr. Moore said from Ottawa.
"We consider such actions to be contrary to international law and unhelpful to the peace process," Mr. Moore said.
Roughly 150,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip communities considered Palestinian territory by Canada.
Adam S2weras, spokesperson for the Consul General of Israel in Toronto, said his office won't approach Ottawa to have the law
changed. Mr. Szweras added that "government policy is to support settlements."
Drew Staffenberg, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, said nearly 40 percent of this year's annual fund-raiser — estimated to raise about $4 million — will go to Israel. The Vancouver money, is filtered through the United Israel Appeal of Canada before being sent overseas.
"Revenue Canada audits the books, reviews the projects and eveiy couple years sends auditors to review where the money is being sent," said Mr. Staffenberg.
Most of the overseas money is earmarked for new Israeli immigrants, he added. □ '
Alms for all seasons
Jews' obligation to help non-Jews runs 12 months a year.
BAILA LAZARUS STAFF REPORTER
It's Christmas time — a time when the Salvation Army is calling for donations, when clothing and food drives arc taking place all over the city and churches and community centres are getting ready to serve special Christmas dinners to those who normally don't get much of a dinner at all. But what obligations do Jews have in participating in all of this?
According to talmudic literature, Jews have an obligation not only to the members of their own households and communities, but to the poor of other communities as well.
Tikkun olam — the Jewish value of repairing the world —suggests that it is not just the Jewish world that needs looking-afler.
"Tikkun olam is doing any acts of kindness and charity whether it's to Jews or not," says Rabbi Wilfred Solomon of Beth
Places to volunteen
Vancouver Christmas Bureau: 253-7191
National Toy Banit: 540-8850
Vancouver Food Banic 876-3601
or for more ideas, call the Vancouver Volunteer Centre: 875-9144.
Israel synagogue of Vancouver. The idea of tikkun olam is believed to come from Jewish mystic sources, he adds.
However, Rabbi Solomon cautions not to focus solely on Christmas time as a time for helping non-Jews. "That's one of the problems," the rabbi laments. "This time of year, some people pay attention to the poor and forget them the rest of the year. We try not to say, that charity has to be given at only one time of the year. Of course, when people are celebrating holidays, sometimes they need extra help in order to feel part of thinp."
Rabbi Solomon suggests that allotting part of one's charity to non-Jewish organizations should be something that is doneyear-roumid.
Beth Israel collects donations on a daily basis and several times during the year, and decides how the money should be allocated, according to where it may be needed most, says Rabbi Solomon.
"We always include the general Vancouver food bank as well as the Jewish food bank," he said. "Or the Terry Fox research, or any other non-Jewish organization. Certainly that is a proper Jewish attitude." ■
Or Shalom synagogue in Vancouver
Christmas stocl(ing:Volunteer Pierre Massey helps fiil shelves at the Vancouver Christmas Bureau.
also contributes to non-Jewish charities, such as Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House and the Vancouver food bank. Or Shalom's Rabbi David Mivasair stresses that contributing to the non-Jewish commtinity is very important to the synagogue. -
Some of the money raised through ORT (Organization for Educational Research and Technological Training) fundraisers such as its gift-wrapping events, goes to the B.C. Institute of Technology to help fund a scholarship.
"Usually when we raise the money it's to support our schools all over tlic world," said local ORT co-president Beverly Pin-sky. Schools that, she points out, are accessible to Jews and non-Jews alike. * While making monetary donations is
one way to help out a charity, donating time is another. Though many charities tend to have an abxmdance of volunteers during December, as Christmas draws , near, those numbers start to dwindle.
At the Christmas Bureau, which puts together food and toy hampers for underprivileged families and children, vol-imteers are especially needed during the week leading up to Christmas.
'Teople tend to get busy with tlieir families," says volunteer coordinator Pierre Massey. "We're usually fine up until the 20th [of December] but after the 20th we're getting thinner." Mr. Massey also says it helps to have people who speak other languages, such as Russian, as more immigrants make use of the bureau's services. .