Publisher and Editor-in-Chief SAMUEL KAPLAN
Our 59th Year
since 1930 the only weekly publication serving Jewry of the Pacific Northwest
An Independent Newspaper
Advertising Manager RONFREEDMAN
City Desk MARTHA BARKER
Page Wmmr
Thursday, June 22,1989
Published every Thursday by Anglo-Jewish Publishers Ltd. 3268 Heather St, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 3K5 Subscription In Canada: $35.00 per year
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is one of the more enlightened groups in Canadian society. Whenever the bishops speak on non theological topics they have made significant contributions to public discourse on Canadian economic and social problems.
During the Trudeau years the bishops spoke out often and eloquently about the growing gaps between the rich and poor in this country and about the need to devise a more equitable distribution of wealth. The bishops' statements about social justice and the scourge of unemployment have been welcomed by all Canadians.
It strikes us as rather odd, therefore, that this same organization has now released a broadside against the State of Israel which lacks the intelligence and probity which has characterized its statements on social policy. It is more in sadness than anger that we reflect on this disquieting development.
In addition to condemning Israel's "repressive" actions, and responding to the "prolonged suffering" of the Palestinians, the bishops have urged Ottawa to initiate a dialogue with the PLO "to help solve the conflict" because the "Palestinians have a right to a homeland."
The customary sobriety that has characterized the Canadian bishops' forays into social affairs in the past is completely missing in this myopic overview of the Middle East. The concept that a Canadian dialogue with the PLO might help resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is an idea so naive as to invite derision, and deservedly so. The moment Canada decided to talk to the thugs that make up the leadership of the PLO, this country's leverage on Israel disappeared.
The Canadian bishops have failed, moreover, to understand that the suffering of the Palestinians is a result of their own reckless and violent confrontations with the Israeli Army. Given the violent history of Arab-Israel relations it should not surprise the .bishops that when an Israeli soldier is attacked with lethal weapons (rocks, Molotov cocktails etc.) he will take action necessary to protect his life.
If the bishops wish to promote peace in the region and help the Palestinians, they should urge the latter to put an end to the intifada. They should also call upon neighboring Arab states not only to recognize Israel's legitimacy and security, but also to refrain from their attempts to strangle the Jewish state economically through pernicious boycotts. .
Letters represent writers'opinions, not The Bulletin. Right of reply rectifies Inaccuracies. Letters must be signed, with day phone contact, and typed or printed, up to 250 words. VIEWPOINT exists for longer pieces, up to 750 words.
Ad makes audacious demands on Israel
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
1 would like to react to the ad "A Call To The Government Of Israel" (JWB, June S).
Who was it that said ~ "When a lie is repeated over and over again it becomes reality"?
More than two decades ago such a lie was planted by the PLO and the Arab world. They patiently nurtured the lie over the years, cuddled it through difficult times, watered it and fertilized it liberally. It was originally planted to deceive non-Jewish communities of the world — so you can imagine their surprise and ecstasy when they found that Jews were also falling for it. This lie, of course, is that Israel has an obligation to provide a Palestinian State for those Palestinians not willing or unable to live in the Palestinian State of Jordan.
Unfortunately this seedling was not immediately uprooted by Israeli authorities at the time. Instead, repetitious fiction has been allowed to cloud fact in a forgetful fog and now we have generations of Jews both within Israel and without, who do not know the true facts of their own people's recent history.
Instead, many of them choose to form their opinions and gain their "knowledge" based on reports from over-zealous news correspondents out to make a name for themselves (or striving to keep their foreign assignments) by sending home the most outrageous and exciting stories.
Why do the friends in the ad wish to forget that the Palestinians are not the issue in the Israeli-Arab conflict? The Palestinian refugee is a side effect of the real issue — which was the attempt to annihilate the Jewish State. These friends are suggesting that Israel should play her whole deck, her only deck, against a side effect of the main issue. They are suggesting that Israel should
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believe that although Arafat is a murderer of babies and women — he would not lie, he is an honest murderer. Do these advertisers really believe that the Arab countries would even permit a "democratic" Palestinian Arab state in their midst?
We cannot afford to make a mistake; we have only one Jewish State. Those Jews who prefer to live elsewhere have that right. But it is a despicable display of grotesque arrogance to have the audacity to sit outside of the arena or battleground — in comfortable armchairs without personal risk — and make demands of the Israeli people and government.
Who do they think they are?
MICHAEL KARMEL
California girl, 13, believed kidnapped
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
On January 30 a thirteen year-old Jewish girl was kidnapped on her way home from school in DubHn, California. Our law enforcement agency is over-burdened with this kidnapping and two other kidnappings in the San Francisco area since last June.
Efforts to find the young Ilene Misheloff of Temple Beth Sholom in San Leandro have included the mass distribution of posters, mass mailings, vigils and the recounting of Mishe-loffs apparent abduction in national Jewish publications.
I'm writing this letter to appeal to the Vancouver Jewish community. Ilene Misheloffs family is overwrought with fear for her safety. Could you pass on information and her picture to your subscribers and'all the area's synagogues?
Anyone who might be able to help this family in any capacity can write to the Ilene Misheloff Volunteer Office, 7475 Steward Drive #103, Dublin, California.
BARBARA CHAIM
Sunnyvale, California
Film accuratel small town Jewish dilemmas
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
I had the pleasure of viewing the recently released film "The Outside Chance of Maximillian Click," which I enjoyed tremendously.
The realistic portrayal of life for a Jewish family in a small community, and the concerns and dilemmas that it brings to children and adults alike is to be commended.
In my capacity as National Director of the National Small Communities committee of Canadian Jewish Congress, I must say that this is one of the few films I have seen on this subject which so clearly and realistically illustrates the varied frustrations encountered by members of these communities to preserve their Jewish identity, culture and heritage. And the film does so with warmth, sensitivity and appropriate touches of humor.
SHELLIE ETTINGER
.National Oirectur National .Small Cummunities Cummitlec
MISHELOFF . . last seen Jan. 30
By
GILDA LIBBISH
Does the community do enough to welcome newcomers and strangers?
0
Barbara Minuk,
Golden Age director, VJCC: "Not enough, but the community does try. Golden Age and the JOG try also. Any Jewish senior over the age of 60 can come into the building and say hello. yVe introduce, integrate and involve them . . . We've had friendships and romances from it!"
C\ Monique Galazka,
^ 20, student: "No. People go to activities when they want to meet new people, but there's such a tight clique no one can penetrate it. Only one or twb people approach a new person — and they don't during dances and getting-to-know-you dances for Jewish Singles!"
0
Irwin Levin,
27, warehouse staff: "In the Jewish Singles scene I don't think there's enough being done. The Jewish Family Service f does a lot for people from out of town, but I think that the Community Centre or the synagogues should have a place for people from other cities to meet."
ODean Shaler, works in electronics: "I think it would depend on what age bracket you're in. It's a secular, small community, not a cohesive community. If you're 40-50$ — or teens — there's the JCG, but for middle aged Singles, 35-40, there's nothing at all."
Shiomo Yekutieli, i\
cook: W "There are enough programs but the people welcoming newcomers are not warm Jews. Half of the people are hiding themselves away from- Judaism. There's a high rate of intermarriage, and a lack of Orthodoxy. People who come here mostly don't want to be Involved In the Jewish scene."
ORita Janowitz, retired:
"Recently, yes. I've found during the last half-year that the synagogues and the JCC have started to publicize programs that are available, the Family Service has programs now, and the synagogues have speakers. I think they're doing a great job, but that's quite recent."
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