8 — THE BULLETIN — Thursday, January 3.1980
N.C.J.W,, Vancouver Section, held three successful events ^recently: the Annual Israeli and Com-. munity S ervices Brunch, an evening function for "Friends of Council and Council Angels," and "Appraisal Day."
The Brunch was held Dec. 5 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. David Huberman. Convened by Elaine Shnier and Doreen dlobman, money- raised will be used to help finance the Israel Family Counselling Service in Tel Aviv. (This is a national project and iills a great need in Israel.) Part of the proceeds will go towards Council's local community work.
The evening function Dec. 4, at the Four Seasons hotel commenced with a cocktail party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Reitman of Montreal. Dorothy, Reitman is a past national president and is chairman of the "Friends of Council" program^
Following the cocktail party, a
Lion's Gate names bowling winners
First half playoffs of Lion's Gate lodge B'nai B'rith's Wednesday night (mixed five-pin bowling saw Jack Krangle's team win first place. On his team were Al Grossman, Evelyn Jackson, Stan Korsch, Rose Kush-ner.
Additional honors went to Beryl Gempel, high single men (278); . Larry Katz, high three men (717); Belle Bevan, high single ladies (291); Evelyn Jackson, high three ladies (653).
A windup party was held and bowling resumed Jan. 2. A Saturday night 10-pin bowling party is planned for January.
reception was convened by Karen Trester and Rbona Schneiderman. They created a Japanese theme where guests were greeted at the door by hosts and hostesses in traditional Japanese costumes. They presented each lady with a fan, the men received a cigar and saki was served. This was followed by Japanese entertainment and a gourmet buffet of Japanese fobds^ including a Sushi bar.
One comment heard from a guest was: "What are yoii doing for an encore jiext yeai?" ; There are now 25 new Friends of Council and 32 Section Ahgels. ""Appraisal bay," arranged by Carol Leiren, saw Murray McKay, a Christies' representative, evaluate china, silver, pictures, sculpture, etc. This popular "Day" is anticipated becoming an annual event.
As part of its scholarship program, Vancouver Section has allocated funds from the Arthur Sereth donation, to a student of Geronto-: logy at UBC. This year's recipient, Arthur Fallick, mentioned several points in a letter of thanks: "I can assure you that the award will be put to its fullest use in my current efforts to produce research which will be of value to our older friends-r"
He also mentioned studying some of the personal and intermediate care homes within the Greater Vancouver area. Specific interviews with the residents were tabulated and results of the analysis are being reviewed by Dr. Gloria Gutman of the psychology department together with the .UBC geography department.
Vancouver Section has recently initiated a new IFCA (Israel Family Counselling) card which may be obtained or sent by contacting Shirley Kort, 261-7863. J.P.
JalftSltliesituat avail. >
However, the goal of helpingthese people had been set in motion and when vT)K Hiit and hiis family weijtv ^ on sabbatical to Israel in 1971, where^ he taught at^Hebrew University, he searched  out former victims of Russian persecutibii; y   He states: "I ibund out that the charges were a|I true and unbeliev-abiy enough, one of the criteria for being a victim of this persecution Was if a person wore a kipa." } But there was a startling further revelation.  Dr.  Hirt acquired evidence indicating that the founder of the misuse of psychiatry for political repression was "an anti-Semitic Jew, Daniel Liintz, who died
in March 1979.^' More evidence was forthcoming.
Through painstaking efforts, Norman Hirt eventually located and spoke in Israel to a Jewish psychologist, an ex-KGBi man, who had unknowingly been coopted onto this program. He was extremely reluctant to talk, but, finally convinced his life would be safe, he related specifics of the Russian practices, requesting the Vancouver psychiatrist to testify about this information in Washington.
Dr. Hirt returned to Vancouver with his/family in 1972 and shortly thereafter related ithe testimony to the U^S>^;Sertatet^su on ■ internal security.r^;-  'f-pf_'~'...^'V:--''
Fully cpmync^rthat "thi^^ to keep the i'atsff^o^m opeiafing, isto keep a light On their operation," Dr. Hirt proceeded with vigor to do
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^exactlgth^t.
W He dbtained all the information he could frdm victims, psychologists, families. He broadcast these details on Radio Liberty, the Voice of V^merica- and the British Broadcasting Corporation;
"I created as much publicity as possible, so that if the Russians wanted to, they'could take me to court. They didn't," he relates, indicating that the USSR made counter-charges against the evidence, which he was able immediately to refute.
M^hat are Norman Hirt's goals to ameliorate this situation?
Firstly, he wants the Russians and Other governments engaged in these practices, to cease immediately. '
Next, he believes efforts should be pursued to make certain that such occurrences don't happen in North America, including in Canada.
And lastly, he feels a world mechanism should be established to help control this kind of behavior.
Progress has been made in this last regard. The World Mental Health association, due to the efforts of this Vancouver psychiatrist, formed a section to study the situation. He is the new chairman of the section.
Additionally, the World Psychiatric association has also constituted a similar committee, again at Dr. Hirt's instigation, and -he is in the process of being made a consultant to the WPA on this question.
A member of the liaison council of the Canadian Psychiatric association, Hirt is now that organization^ spokesman for this problem of the
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us^ of psythiatry to stifle people the State regards as dangerous. He also acts as CPA representative to Amnesty International, a nonmedical group which has become "most active in trying to resolve this issue."
The World Medical association has passed a resolution condemning these practices. However, Dr. Hirt note§ with great dissatisfaction, the United Nations* World Health association **won*t touch the question.** .
The Vancouver psychiatrist stresses that this is certainly a Jewish problem. Some 25 percent of the figure of 7,000 Russian victims (estimated by the ex-KGB man in Israel) are thought to be Jewish.
But he cites a sad and shocking fact: "If we emphasized in any way the 'Jewish aspect' of the problem, the progress made so far would not have been achieved. The world doesn't want to fight for the Jew."
It isforthis reason that though he states "my heart is with all the Jewish organizations,** nevertheless, he has refused to head a specifically Jewish committee on the problem because "it would detract from the entire effort."
He continues: "Russia today is a fascist country, controlling people by terror.
"These psychiatric practices are done deliberately and knowingly by the KGB Special Mental hospitals branch, which is independent from the USSR's Clinical and Forensic Psychiatric branches. I don't believe \ in^beihg polite to these:piiople."
In addition to his strong concern for this issue. Dr. Norman Hirt maintains a busy schedule as a psychiatrist. Besides his private practice, he is: associate professor of psychiatry at UBC; director of psycjiotherapy for the training of residents in psychiatry for B.C.; a member of the liaison and education council of the Canadian Psychiatric association; a corresponding member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, section on education; and a member of the legislation committee of the American Psychiatric association.
Norman and Hannah Hirt have two daughters, (Mrs. Aron) Judith Hirt-Manheimer of New York and (Mrs. Peter) Sheila Maidstone of Victoria; and two grandsons. A third daughter, Diana, passed away in 1978.
The interview concluded with Dr. Hirt stressing the importance of the community doing what it can to assist those Russians put in mental institutions for political reasons. He suggests Amnesty International is the best agency to work with on this problem.
"It's 1984 today," he states. "If we
don't stop this now, it could happen
here.  There are politicians and
doctors not above this in every country.
"It just makes me angry" concludes Dr. Hirt, whose soft-spoken manner at the same time carries with it a compassionate . fervem concern for persons who are being denied their basic human ~
mus.
.JERUSALEM >- Israel has iold: > b .S that if no. international force has been organized and deployed by April 1982 to monitor peace agree*, ment with Egypt, the. Israel Defence ' forces  will  not complete their withdrdwaJIrom Sinai.