2—THE BULLETIN—Friday, November 9, 1973
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Editor's Note — Dr. Hayes is chairman of the United Jewish Appeal
permanent board.
THE TRAGIC YOM KIPPUR and the
events since passed have filled us with a despair.
What started with spirited confidence has now become sobering gloom. We look everywhere for a glimmer of hope — for some sanity — for some protecting hand to stay the overwhelming forces of wrath and hatred, a hatred that moves relentlessly and leaves no stone unturned, a hatred whose sole aim is to tear away every vestige of the Land of Israel and its people.
Once again the world looks on in silence. It is a deafening silence reminiscent of the Holocaust and the days leading to the Six-Day War in 1967.
This was the mood of the Jews in this city as we neared the end of the first week of the war. Each of us went about his tasks with outward optimism but with heavy hearts. This was not the first time in our history that Jewish existence has been threatened — like hunted animals, instinctively we felt the danger.
A MENSCH (a real Jew) does not have to be told what to do; he does not even have to be asked. He does what he has to do and thank God there are menschen in this community who rose to the occasion. They responded in the only way open to them — by mobilizing funds and sending them to Israel.
Without publicity, without fanfare, the menschen responded as they never have before in the history of this community. Women left their homes and families to fend alone and spent days and nights at the U.J.A. office answering phones, compiling lists, canvassing, picking up contributions and a thousand other indis-pensible jobs.
Businessmen left their businesses, professionals their offices and literally worked round the clock. There was an outpouring of goodwill and cooperation at all levels of the community.
People turned up to meeting after meeting and worked tirelessly to give every Jew worthy of the name the opportunity and the privilege of giving of his resources to help his suffering brethren.
Few indeed were those who did not fully realize that they were in fact helping themselves. The Jewish people of this community should know that the response in terms of funds is UNPRECEDENTED.
In fact, there is not a community on record at this time to equal our per capita giving. We can also take satisfaction in knowing that we have been held up as an example of what other communities should aspire to and have influenced them to increase their giving.
^gave as individuals rather than as a community, it would be difficult to raise even a fraction of the funds. But by mobilizing the community, by leadership acting in exemplary fashion, other people were encouraged to follow suit.
As a community we set standards; and those people who felt part of it accepted those standards. Yes, there are people who could have given more and did not, perhaps there are even some glaring examples of this. However, what really matters is that almost every contributor gave more than he ever has before, some in unbelievable amounts. And they will give again and again in the years to come.
The giving from all segments of the community was inspiring. People too ill to come in phoned to ask for someone to pick up their contribution; elderly people brought in what must have been the bulk of their savings. Many gentile people sent or brought in cheques.
And the young people were in a class by themselves — from grade school to university they held rallies, collected and gave their savings and their Bar-Mitzvah and Bat-Mitzvah gifts.
"And this testimonial goes to Mr. Epstein ... the Anonymous-Donor-of-the-Year.^
Copr.
Dayenu Productions
^etCefU ta t&e Editor-
Calls for strong boycott of everything British, French
THE EXEMPLARY behavior of individuals will not be recounted, but it must be said that our people acted with one heart and with one mind.
The few complainers about tactics do not reflect the community attitude and are more likely motivated by a guilty conscience rather than a genuine communal conscience.
We have just come through a crisis. Israel was bleeding profusely from near mortal' wounds. Surely no right-thinking person would fault the manner in which they were requested to provide the transfusion.
There are, however, Jews whose behavior during this crisis was unforgivable. They are the people who were able but who turned a deaf ear to the cries for help and refused to contribute. Devoid of the elements of decent human behavior, these same people find no difficulty in taking advantage of being Jewish when it suits their purpose.
THIS IS NOT to say that we could not have done better or even that we should not have done better, but it is to say that we stood up to be counted when the counting really mattered.
The fact is that the United Jewish Appeal is far from a perfect instrument for accomplishing its purpose. However, it is the best means we have at our disposal. If there were no UJA and people
IN THIS LIGHT all Jewish organizations including synagogues would do well to re-examine their qualifications for membership. The question must now be asked whether people should have the privileges of being a Jew in this community if they refuse to accept its concomitant obligations.
It is not too late for anyone who did not give or who might want to give more. Funds are still desperately needed.
Never before have world events demanded more of us; the Jewish people of Vancouver have responded. For us it was a reaffirmation of the profound bond of solidarity which exists between our community and Israel.
We could do no less knowing the sacrifices and the extraordinary response of the People of Israel to the bloodshed and devastation of the Yom Kippur War.
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
The piece by Gerald Kaufman of the London Jewish Chronicle under the caption of "Friends Like These'* (Bulletin Oct. 26), evokes a feeling of anger, resentment and indignation. I believe it certainly calls for some sort of action on our part in an effort to hit back in a manner that might prove most effective.
I feel that the pocketbook is as good a place as any to effect the desired results.
In fact, it is the only priority open to us.
England, having shown itself an enemy of Israel, as well as anti-Semitic besides, I feel it behooves us to act accordingly, by simply withholding our patronage of anything British, be it merchandise or anything else.
There is one area in particular where such action on our part might prove very effective and that is the insurance field. There are millions upon millions of dollars worth of insurance of all kinds being written in Canada every year, a goodly portion of which is with British companies. I feel it is the duty of every one of us holding such policies to have these converted to policies with companies of other countries.
There are a number of very rel-
iable American and insurance companies, others, doing business in Ca whose rates are quite competi In all this we must not f the French as well, whose at toward Israel is well known requires no elaboration on part.
I hope that every one re this letter will take steps i direction outlined above wi delay.
N. SANF
CIGARETTE iMON CAN HELP ISRAE
Dear Mr. Kaplan;
Smoke Watchers and the C adian Broadcasting Corpor-(channel 2) will present, as a lie service, a seven-week gram, "How To Quit Smoki every Monday evening Nov. Dec. 31.
Perhaps Bulletin readers consider the following sugge For their health, stop smo and donate their cigarette to a fund to help Israel a critical time.
Further information is avai from Marie Tracy, 584-178 Hugh Beard, CBC program tor, 684-0246. M. TR
c ^ . ,. « JEWISH CALENDAR
Sabbath begins, Light Candles, (LUACH) 1973
Friday, Nov. 9, 4:19 Chanuka ........................Dec.
Sedre, Vayera, Genesis jg.^^
Sabbath ends, Havdalah Xu B'Shevat Feb.
Nov. 10, 5:19 Purim ..............................Mar.
Friday, Nov. 16,4:10 Passover Apr.
Sedre, Chayei Sarah, Genesis ^^^ZZIZZ^
Sabbath ends, Havdalah ^ll holidays begin the preceding e Nov. 17, 5:10 at sundown.
Endorsed Appeols
Blue Box Drive..........Nov. 18
Social Calessdar
NCJW Rhoda Cohen
Membership Mtg. Nov. 13 Ladies Aux. Home for
Aged Open. Lunch. Nov. 14
B. B. Art Auction
& Exposition ..........Nov. 14
C. Z.F. Aliyah Meet. Nov. 14 B.L Adult Ed. Day Nov. 15 Schara Tzedeek Sisterhood Luncheon .-Nov. 2©
Can. Jewish Congress Delegates Mtg.........Nov. 20
B.I. Sisterhood Mitzvah Luncheon Nov. 21
B.I. Adult Ed. Day.....Nov. 22
B.I. Adult Institute Nov. 22 Pioneer Women Israel
Sholom Tea.......... .Nov. 27
NCJW Brunch ...........Nov. 28
JCF&C Board of
Directors Mtg. .......Nov. 28
B.L Adult Ed. ............Nov. 29
Endorsations are published as a Bulletin community service. Errors or omissions can be corrected only by Jewish Community Fund & Council. Ph. 261-8101.—THE PUBLISHER.
m mm WEsmNBuium
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Friday, Nov. 9, 1973
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