AGM hears of 'March/ Holocaust Centre
JWB staff
Two local high school students who re^^ntly returned from the March of the Living missionto Poland and Israel, and two directors of the Jew-; ish Commuiiity Centre, were featured speakers at the Vancouver Holocaust Centre Society-Annual general meeting last month..
Yaron Da\dd and Rebecca Portei both at Eric Hamber, presented a slide show. They related to. an alternative audience their experiences of Polish society — and its former death camps, including Auschwitz and Treblinka ^contrasting them with their ecstacy on arriving in Israel.
One slide from Majdanek revealed the metropolis of Lublin looming in the background. ^How could they (the Poles) not have seen what was happening? How could they not have done anything,"* David exclainied.
Another image showed two youths casually riding bicycles
through Ausphwitz, using it as a shortcut to their final destination.
Porte was equally dismayed by what she observed. "On our very first day in Poland, we had tobury bones that had been desecrated at the Jewish cemetery of Warsaw.** She also told the audience of defaced nionuments and graffiti Qninm^e bunk beds,
•*We saw kids kissing in Auschwitz!** she bemoaned.
'*!t was almost as upsetting as the camp itself.**
On arriving in Israel, niahy of the 3,000 students participating in the March, kissed the ground and danced: Yom Ha*Atzmaut in Jerusalem wais incredible,** they reported;
Davidadmitted that atfirst, he wasn*t very excited a|>out the trip. "The Holocaust doesn*t mean very much to a teen." Though he had been to Israel twice previously, "This time, after seeing the death camps and the apathy that still exists in Poland today, it had special meaning.**
Dr. Robert Krell, president of the Society commented on the-wisdom of featuring istu-dents talking about the Shoah to Holocaust Survivors. While this group least needs to be reminded of the Holocaust, perhaps it needs most to be reassured that youth have not forgotten it,** he observed.
The business portion of the meeting focussed on plans for develojiment of a Holocaust Centre in Vancouver. Krell informed the 75 in attendance that past pledges have been
reconfirmed and the boaid is confident that the Society can join the Jewish Community Centre in its Phase in. plans. He then introduced Alan Farber, JCC past president, and Gerry Zipursky, executive director, who provided an update on recent develop-' ments.;:'
Fkrber admitted that he only saw the need fora local Holbcsiust centre when it afiectedliim personally. "My daughter at Eric Hainbeir was learning about World War 11. The teacher wanted a Survivor to talk about bis or her experiences to the class. The: Holocaust Centre responded immediately.**
He recognized that Survivors have been active in the community for many years not only in activities of commemoration but also in planning for the future. "We believe that the future Holocaust Centre should be in the heart of the community, and that means here as part of Phase HI.**
Farber explained that in light of Operation Exodus, the JCC has re-evaluated
priorities, deciding to phase in their development plans over a long period of time. "Wc now see it as a long range plan of renovation for the next 20 to 25 years.**
Jfc assured the group, however, that the Holocaust Centre is of highest, priority.
Zipursky discussed details of Phase III plans, including where the centre would most likely be located, space allotted and estimated cost. He hifited that within the next few d[ays several major announcements would be forthcoming. "Stay tuned,** he said.
The announcements were made public at last month*s JCC gala fundraising event. Russell Eraser, on behalf of the provincial government and GO B.C. presented Sid Se^l, JCC president, with a ceremonial cheque for $ 1 million dollars; Annette Roth-stein, in memory of her late husband Norman Rothstein, offered a generous confribu-tion; and it was niade official that the Holocaust Society will participate in Phase III, providing an exhibition and programming centre devoted to education and combatting racism,
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conveyed to: Mubarak;
But in recent days, Shamir, too, has given credence to the idea of a summit with Mubarak. He told a group of German journalists last week that "not only the United States, but also Egypt could play an important role in the promotion of the peace process.** The Israeli leader said it was in Egypt's best interest not to remain the only Arab state that has made peace with Israel.
Meeting last week with a delegationfrom the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the pro-Israel lobbying group in :Washiiiigtbn> Shamir again suggested that Mubarak could act together with Israel "to stabilize the area and to advance peace."
He praised the Egyptian president's leadership, observing that Mubarak is "so popular in his own country and with the rest of the Arab world" that he could help guide the region to a peace set-tlement.
North Eraser Harbour Commission's
5th ANNUAL WORKBOAT PARADE
A parade of tugs, coastal
ers, fishbbats and patrol boats that form part of the marine transportation industry in the Port of North Fraser.
Mubarak has said in the past that he would meet with Shamir only if there were "substantive progress in the peace process." Now he may be reversing the order on the uriderstanding that a meeting itself would'adyance the pro-cess. .: , '[■■;":■:■:.■■ :■
Meanwhile, PLC leader Yasir Arafat may have sensed that closer contacts between Egypt and Israel are immi-neht.
The Kuwaiti newspaper/l-Siassaxepqrted last week that Arafat would visit Cairo "within a few days" to brief Mubarak on the mood in the PLO after the U .S. suspension ~ of its dialogue with the PLO last month. Arafat also was to belbriefed on Meguid's meetings in Washington. JTA
MAGDONALD BEAGH, Richmond— 1:00 pm FRASER RIVER PARKi Vancouver—1:20 pm BRIDGEPOINT HARBOUR MARKET, Richmond — 1:40 pm ERASER FORESHORE PARK, Burnaby — 2:40 pm WESTMINSTER QUAY MARKET, New Westminster — 3:20 pm
SUNDAY, JULY 29TH, 1990