Page Two
JEWISH  WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, March 17, 1967
1 :
I 1
I i
' ■ 'X-
IS; 'X,
Negev and Bible
are
his
mission
CALL IT "BASHERT", pre-ordained, great wisdom or just good fortune that motivated David Ben-Gurion to decide that during his visit to this Continent he would discuss only the past and the future. For even before embarking on his tour, there had been suggestions that he had agreed to call a temporary truce in the political war he has been waging with Prime Minister Eshkol and the Mapai party. As one Anglo-Jewish newspaper's headline posed the dramatic and antithetical question: "Ben-Gurion Gagged?"
Now if he did in fact consent to such an agreement, Ben-Gurion has remained true to his word. For the man who proclaimed the independence of the State of Israel has maintained his silence about Israel's internal problems. Thus, when he had the occasion to "Meet the Press" on network T.V., he was a "model of dispassionate calm", refusing to become embroiled in areas in which he has earned great notoriety for outspoken, controversial opinions. For example, when asked about the apparent decline ol the Zionist movement, he replied that he doesn't know what a Zionist is. "Moses wasn't a Zionist, nor was Joshua," he retorted. "I'm just a Jew," he stated.
Throughout the strenuous lecture schedule, Ben-Gurion remained calm and collected, bright and alert, almost as a young "lion". At one point, in Los Angeles, he was addressing a large group of college students when an Arab student challenged him: "If G-d asks you a long time from now why you took the land of the Arabs in Palestine—and kicked them out against their will, what will you reply?" Ben-Gurion said: "Well, if G-d asks me this question, I will answer Him, 'You promised this land 4,000 ^ears ago to Abraham and Ms children'." The audi-
ence reportedly cheered as Ben-Gurion added to the Arab student: "We were there, I think you will agree, long before you came there."
THE RESULT HAS BEEN that rather than dissipate his "message" with partisan controversy to which his American Jewish audiences would find it difficult to relate, Ben-Gurion has dwelled on two other subjects which in the long run may prove to be far more important. For he did succeed in communicating and American Jewry did respond.
The two topics to which he has devoted his boundless energy are the Negev and the Bible. The former he regards as the key to Israel's future: "If I had my choice, I would want every Jew immigrating to Israel to settle in the Negev."
To this end, he has delivered as many as five speeches a day telling thousands of people of his vision and asking help in the building at Sde Boker of a centre of higher learning. They heard the message and responded with dollars.
HE HAS ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE BIBLE, describing it as one of the main links among the Jews today: "A link which will become even more important in the future."
He issued the following warning: "If you do not teach your children the Bible, I doubt whether Judaism or the Jewish people will survive. It is the Bible that has kept us alive all these centuries and it is the Bible that holds the greatest hope for our survival in the future."
They heard this message, too, and responded by establishing the first American Jewish Bible Society branch, forerunner hopefully, of branches all over this Continent.
We say "Bruchim Habalm" to Ben-Gurion and his bride of 50 years, Paula, as they visit Eastern Canada this wekend.
"Ad Mayah V'Esrim!" >
Iwim RECLAMATION IS UlA'i MOST URGENT TASK
A Writer and His Works
The imposing stack of 22 volumes is from the 50-year literary career of Maurice Samuel (right), winner of the B'nai B'rith Jewish Heritage Award "for excellence in Jewisn literature." The celebrated author, essayist, translator and widely-traveled lecturer Is congratulated by writer anj critic Mark Van Doren, his long-time friend and radio companion, who was one of several distinguished speakers at a luncheon in Ne^ York at which B'nai B'rith's commission on adult Jewish education awarded Samuel the $1,000 literary prize. Van Doren; Israeli author Elie Wiesel, last year's award-winner; publisher Alfred A. Knopf; Dr. Louis L. Kaplan, president of Baltimore Hebrew College, and Meyer W. Weisgal, president of The Weizmann Institute, lauded the 72-year-old Samuel as an interpretive Jewish writer "who has stayed close to the source." Van Doren and Samuel have held weekly discussions on the Bible each summer on the NBC network since 1953.
FRIDAY SERVICE SH 8:15 P.M. AT B.I.
Friday night service a Congregation Beth Israel will commence at 8:15 p.m. tonight, with Rabbi Wilfred Solomon officiating and Cantor Tiber Moses chanting the liturgy, assisted by the Choir im-der direction of S. Pelman. Oneg Shabbat following the service will be given by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Plottel in honor of their son's Bar-Mitzvah.
During the Sabbath morning service, Saturday, March 18, Michael Jeffrey, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. Plottel, will become a Bar-Mitzvah. In addition to the Haf-torah, he will chant the entire Torah reading of Sidra Vayikra.
The service commences at 9:15 a.m. with Rabbi Solomon and Canter Moses officiating, assisted by the Beth Israel Choir, Following the service, a Kiddush will be tendered by parents of the celebrant.
British want Sephardit
LONDON—The London Board of Jewish Religious Education has come out firmly in favor of the Israeli Sephardic pronunciation of the Hebrew language being introduced in its synagogue classes and centres. The Board also decided that new teachers would be asked to attend a course of lectures in order to learn the Sephardic pronunciations.
Five sentenced in outopsy ottiick
TEL AVIV—A Tel Aviv district court sentenced to four months* imprisonment five members of a religious settlement at Revaha, who rioted last May in Kaplan Hospital at Rehovot in protest against an autopsy per-brmed in the hospital on the body of a Revaha settler.
By FAE CRISTALL
Residents of Vancouver who have supported the annual campaigns of the nationwide Unitec Jewish Appeal can be justly proud of the UJA record over the past many years—^saving and rebuilding the lives of more than three million victims of war and oppression.
The most significant achievements of UJA humanitarian programs have come in the perioc since the establishment in 194J of the State of Israel—a beacon of democracy in the Middle East. Israel opened its doors to all Jews who sought haven and UJA has provided a majcr part of the funds needed to transfer more than one and a quarter million persons from lands of hopelessness to freedom in Israel,
Most of Israel's newcomers have become self-reliant, productive citizens. But there still is a residue of some 250,000 destitute immigrants who came from culturally and technologically backward lands. They lack the education and skills needed to fit into the modern industrial society Israel is forging.
While Israel has organized a massive program of social services, education and vocational training to niove this disadvantaged group up to a par with the majority of its citizens, recent events have threatened a slowdown in this urgent work ai human rehabilitation and integration.
Increased hostility from neighboring Arab states along with terroristic attacks from infiltrators have forced Israel's hard-pressed people to make further €cc?ioinio; sacrific!^: -fpri'-secmity heedsi.'riiis fin
at a time when Israel also is'ti^^^ dergoing a sharp economic recession. These external and internal pressures can have a disastrous effect on the immigrant integration programs. It is this vast task of human
Israel gives LSD
TEL AVIV — A police spokesman has noted what he believes to be the first appearance of LSD in Israel. An American tourist sought to sell the hallucinogenic drug outside Cafe Kassit here imtil an anonymous phone call alerted police and the efforts were put to a quick end.
reclamation that is UJA's most urgent concern this year. UJA supporters helped bring these immigrants out of despondency to a land of hope. Only swift and increased support for UJA cai fulfill those hopes.
In the light of our community' response to the needs of the past we feel certain that UJA support ers here will respond in evei greater measure to the compel ling needs of the 1967 drive.
Unm TO THE EDIT
Cultural life has grown
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
I wish to take this opportunity to salute Mona and Sam Kaplan, for their great effort in co-ordinating and producing the "Vista of the Jewish People" weekl' radio program.
This program, along with The Jewish  Western  Bulletin, pro vides the Jewish Community o British Columbia with the opportunity to keep fully abreast of Jewish affairs and culture.
The Kaplans have greatly enhanced the cultural life of this Community through the quali of The Jewish Western Bulletin, the "Vistas" program, and-the Hebrew courses which they: organize each year.
An Admirer.
B.C has a heart
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
Please accept sincere thanks of the B.C. Heart Foimdatiop for your newspaper's support bfjjge, Heart Fund drive. | it will be some time before' iinal results are known, but wej are happy to report that there is every indication that we will achieve our $295,000 Provincial objective.
It is only through the support and interest of the various communication media that we are able io present our heart- s^ry to the public. We are most gr^te-'ul for your assistance. Jean Jones, B.C. Heart Foimdation.
JEWISH CALENDAR (LUACH) Candle Ughting MARCH 17, 6:01
1967
Purim----JWar. 26
Pesach--Apr. 25
Israel Indep. Day—May 15
Lag B'omer_-_May 28
All holidays begin the preceding eve at sundown.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
ftrom the TALMUD
There is no remedy for a fool.
— Gittin, 70 b.
Endorsations Granted
Pioneer Women Shaloch Monos Drive_Feb, 26-Mar. 26 United Jewish A]»peal
Drive____Mar. 1 -31
S.T. Sisterhood
Farm Market _JMbr. 19
BX Cavalcade Lecture Mar. 21 J.N.F. Negev Dinner—.Mar. 22 Centre Purim Carnival Mar. 26 B'nai B'rifh Women Gold Menorah ___Mar. 29
WEIEWISH WESURN BULUm
Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewish Community Council
Friday, March 17, 1967
Published weekly every Friday at 3285 Heather Street, Vancouver 9, British Columbia.
SAIM KAPLAN Editor and Publisher
WILLIAM CELMON President ALEC BECKER Publleatlons Chairman
LEADING JEWISH WEEKLY IN WESTERN CANADA
BULLETIN OFFICE: 879-6S75 Deadline: Local News: Monday at 4:30 p.m. Advertising: Tuesdays at 12:00 noon.
Bulletin Copy Depot beside Jewish Communify Centre front door elear-ed at deadline.
Subscriptions: $6.00 per year; $6J0 per year In U.S. and other coun* tries. Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Saturdays, Jewish and Legal Holidays. Authorized as Second Class Mail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa, and for payment of postage in cash.
In the event of a typographical error advertising goods at less than the proper price, the Jewish Western Bulletin will furnish letters to, the advertiser stating the correct price, but goods may not be sold at the price printed and the difference charged to the newspaper.