lishalTAv
A time to rejoice?/4
A light in the darkness/25
Legacy Lives
National Rabin Scholarship will send a Canadian to study in Israel fl
750 JULY 19,1996/3 AV 5756
A centennial story of love
GEORGE EISEN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Jewish athletes, past and present, hove a strong history of competition filled with tragedy and tiiumph.
often have been mystified by people's reaction, a mixture of amazement and pride, upon learning I was a boxer in my youth. Jevmh tradition, at least what we are taught to believe, has always viewed the body and athleticism with a degree of
discomfort or ambivalence. It has never been easy to reconcile the image of the "people of the book" with the image of the athlete.
The emphasis on spirituality that, according to Jewish belief, sets us apart from the outside world, and the warning that emulating the behavior of our gentile neighbors leads to assimilation, has been a defence mechanism that serves as a safeguard of Jewish identity.
In the Eastern European shtetl at the turn of the century, the emphasis on the body was looked upon with disdain according to some Jewish historians. This portrayal of the Jew is still far from accurate or fully justified because, in these same shtetls, there were many Jewish shtarkes, or strongmen, such as porters, blacksmiths and farmers, who protected the community during anti-Semitic disturbances, continues on page 16
Token player: Helene Mayer, the halt-Jewish German tencer, won gold medals In 1928 and 1932. Adolt Hitler Invited her to train with Jews for the 1936 Olympics, where she won the silver.
X) X)
ix;
X)
x; x;
t'XT m
s9Niaiina iN3wvnavd Aavaan 3Aiivisi93i
Next year in Jerusalem
Teenager's world turns topsy turvy with a winning trip.
BAILA lAZARUS STAFF REPORTER
Next time you need some in- Jordana Rothstein will Jewish history teacher, Rabbi Avi formation about the histo- be looking at the world Kidron, approached her to see if ry of Jerusalem, maybe from a Middle East she had the desire and motivation you should skip the trip to perspective when she to pick up five specified texts on the Encyclopedia Judaica and represents Canada at a Jerusalem's history, study them
just give Jordana Rothstein a call. . and prepare for a test over and •* m?-.^_________;j„„ Jerusalom thIs Winter. „,—"r. r-,,,.!—i_____i, r™,----
The 14-year-old Maimonides Secondary School student can be considered tops in the subject (at least compared to others her age) in Canada, having just won a national Jerusalem 3000 competition.
It all started last fall when Jordana's
above her school work. The prize was a trip to Jerusalem. Jordana said yes.
'1 was a little reluctant in the beginning," she admitted, "but I realized it's a great chance to go to get to have a trip to leani
continues on page 24