Page Two
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, February 26, 196!
Survey of our youth
TORAH READINS OF THE WEEK
''Bezalel
Sedra: "Vay&khel"
B7 RABB! DR. EPKRAIM M. LEV?. BS^ LL3.
A public opinion poll is like a tiny mirror; it focuses on one small part of the communal countenance and tells us, at least superficially, of its condition.
Such is the case with the survey recently conducted by the Medrasha Department of Schara Tzedeck synagogue in which nearly 150 teenagers were invited to give their views on topics ranging feom synagogue attendance to "going steady" and going on dates with non-Jewish partners.
At the outset, it must be recognized that the entire project was experimental. It was also non-professional, llie results, accordingly, must be considered with certain reservations; a professional might even deem it prudent to draw no positive conclusions whatever from such an amateur imdertaking.
Yet in spite of the aforementioned weaknesses, in our view there are three valid reasons for believing the survey worthwhile,
Firstly, perhaps its greatest value lies in the very fact that it was held at all. That the yoimg Schara Tfeedeck group volimtarily spent many hours of their time conducting such a poll, indicates a desire for serious self-examin-ation and self-improvement. It indicates, also, the need for a follow-up, perhaps in the form of a professional suryey on a university level that would examine in depth not only the views and habits of our youlh but perhaps also those of the adult community.
Secondly, while it reveals a wholesome attitude amongst the majority of our teenagers towards the Jewish rehgion, Israel and the Hebrew language, the enquiry also indicates at least two problems that require wider .community attention: 1) The indecisive and negative attitude of many teenagers towards inter-
EDITORIAL TOPIC
dating, the survey having found that the ma^ jority of teens consider it "proper for a Jewish boy to date a non-Jewish girl" or are undecided about it; and 2) The indecision expressed over observance of ka^mit, which can be considered a direct image of the adult indecision on the matter which our youngsters see all about them. The enquiry found 51 yoimg persons stated they would keep a kosher home when they married; 46 replied in the negative; and 36 stated they were "im-decided."
Thirdly, the survey by the youth group indicates a need for greater community discussion. For if we are to have an awareness of the problems—and no communal problem was ever solved by hiding it imder a rug, but rather by bringing it out into the open by means of a professional survey such as that referred to above—^these problems must then be deliberated and freely discussed. And our institutions with youth arms which are especially concerned with the education of our youtii such as our schools, sjmagogues, B'nai B*rith, the Community Centre and Zionist Organization, have an obligation, either singly or in imison, firstly to help sponsor a professional survey and then to provide a forum or series of forums in which tihe findings may be aired and solutions to problems discussed.
Clearly, a niunber of our youth, by initiating this Student Opinion Poll—a non-professional venture though it may be — have issued a challenge to the organized adult section of Ihe commimity. For this we must express oiir appreciation.
But more than that, we must take -the appropriate measures that will enable us to give diem the guidance and education they are obviously seeking.
Tribute to a lady
This Simday evening's event at Schara Tzedeck promises to be a very imique and unforgettable occasion in the annals of the Congregation. For on that evemng the entire Congregational Family wiU applaud, honor and pay homage to a woman who for so many years has honored the synagogue by her devoted and tireless efforts on its behalf.
Yes, one may say of Mrs. Max (Lil) Poplack that she has been in the limelight as far as leadership and responsibility of syna-
gogue affairs is concerned. But one may also say quite emphatically that she has done everything humanly possible to shy away from aU honor and glory so rightfully due her.
But just as the Rabbis in the Talmud suspected, "Honor seeks out the person who runs away from honor."
We finally caught up with Lil. Won't you join us in tribute.
"Kol Haboreach Min Hagdulah G'Dulah Machzereth Achrav," M.H.
musm BHKAjm mm
B7
DR. MARVIN WEINTRAUB
Fourth annual seminar for Hebrew and Yiddish teachers ^of Vancouver, sponsored by Canadian J e w is h Congress, was held recently at Beth Israel and Schara Tzedeck ^na-gogues. "The Teaching of Hebrew as a Second Language", was the subject heard by 25-30 participants, virtually all the Jewish teachers in the city.
This year's consultant, Dr. Elijah Bortniker, executive director of Jewish Education association of Essex County, NJ"., brought to the Seminar a seemingly i n e x haustible wealth of experience in education. He was especially interested in bringing forth possible solutions to specific problems that teachers encounter in the class-room. At the first session, Dr. Bortniker lectured on 'The Methodology of Teaching a Second Language", in which he reviewed and analyzed the inadequacies of the traditional approaches to teaching other than a native
language'both to children and to adults. He showed the change in approach during and since World War II, and described modem techniques that grew out of the new theoretical outlook on this subject.
Discussion period that followed was initiated by Prof. S. M. Boyles, assistant director of education, UBC, who pointed out similar difficulties that were encoimtered in teaching French as a second language. She showed that, as in Hebrew, an analysis of basic patterns of the language, and their constant repetition during instruction, are necessary so that proper habits of using these patterns will result. At this session there were present not only professional teachers, but also lay people associated with, and interested in, Jewish education.
The next two sessions were devoted to problems encountered respectively in lower and higher grades. Emphasis here was on questions asked by teachers. Out ol these ques-
tions and Dr. Bortniker's answers, there emerged several concepts that are o£ interest to lay people as well as to professional educators. Among these: the conviction on the part of educators that reading of Hebrew and Yiddish should not be hurried. It was noted that reading should not be attempted until the child's vocabulary is sufficiently large to include much of what is going to be read. It was gen-; erally agreed that so-called "mechanical reading" is not only useless, but may be detrimental to the student's progress.
The problem of aims and purposes of our Jewish school systems was also discussed at some length. Dr. Bortniker offered his opinion that we can
See SEMINAR (Continued on Page 7)
JEWISH CALENDAR (LUACH) Candle Lighting FEBRUARY 26 - 5:33
1965 5725
Pwrim........Mar. 18
PesBch____________ Apr. 17-24
Martyrs Rem.
Day May 5
Israel ladep.
Day _______ May 6
Lag B-'omer May 28
The above name by which this Sedra is known singly means "and he (i.e. Moses) assembled" (the Israelites to a convention). But the highlight of the whole is to be found in the assembly of the virtues wihich go to mould the genius. It is about Bezalel that the issue is raised. That was the name of the great artist who fashioned the miniature portable Temple which Israel car ried with them during their march through the desert, and which was in later history copied by King Solomon, only on a larger scale of course, when he built his famous temple on Mount Zion, destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. and later rebuilt by King Herod.
The name "Bezalel" is famous down to the present day in Israel, in artistic circles. The Bezalel School of Art was founded in the early years of this century by one Boris Shatz whom we had the privilege of meeting personally at his exhibition in England when he was launching his great artistic project for Israel. There in Israel beautiful Bezalel curiosities are now made, bought and sold all over the world.
But let us go back to Bazalel of the Bible. He planned and executed that miniature temple called the Mishcon; (so called because it was deemed to be the Divine Residence). What sort of personality was he? What was his background, his education, his destiny?
We first meet him under his family name of Chur (a nephew of Moses) holding up one heavy arm of the great leader (whilst Aaron held up the other) during the crucial battle against Israel's arch-enemy, Amalek. Moses' two arms, thus raised, were the pre-Churchil-iian victory sign! When Moses' arms (being very heavy) went down, Amalek was winning. And when Moses' arms were upraised, Israel was winning. And Israel won in the end.
Secondly, when Moses (accompanied by his right-hand man, Joshua) went up the Sinai mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and the Five Books, he left the encamped Israelites at the base, in the charge of oUr Bezalel (then called Chur) jointly with his brother Aaron, the first priest.
And thirdly, when the timt came to build this "Mischon", Bezalel again was entrusted with the sacred task.
And this Sedra even tells us clear details about the quality of Bezalel's mind. For we are told: "See the Lord has called by name Bezalel . . . and He has filled him with the spirit 1
hdonatims Grmted
Israel Histadrut Campaign
Feb 15-Mar 15 Pioneer Women Shalach
Monos Cmapaign___Feb. 28-Mar. 28
B'nai B'rith No. 77 Bake
Cent. ____________——Mar. 2
U.S.Y. Family Tea_______Mar. 7
Centre Teen Drama Festival
.Mar. 7-8
Youth Aliyah Lunch----Mar. 10
Schara Tzedeck Sisters
Farm Mart —-------Mar. 14
J.C.C. Purim Carnival -------Mar. 14
Beth Israel Men Breakfast..Mar. 14 J.C. Orchestra Concert —Mar. 14 World of Children
Series____._________Mar. 16, 23p 30
Beth Israel Sisters Uunch..„Mar. 17 Schara Tzedeck Men
Purim Party____-________Mar. 18
Beth Israel Sisterhood Theatre Party__________Mar. 20
H. Szold Chap. Hadassah Tea
Beth Israel Men Dine Schara Tzedeck Men Breakfast
.Mar. 2t Mar. 24
U.J.A. Pro-Campaign Dinner
.Mar. fi8 ....M^r. 28
Aviva Chapt. Hadassah
Fashion Show-----Mar. SI
Com. Centre Art Show_______Apr. 8
Com. Centre Art of
Colleetg. Ser.-------Apr. 4,11, 18
Talmud Torah Gei;!. 1Meeting..Apr. 6 Pioneer Women Bazaar Tea..ADr. 6 Beth Israel Men Breakfaet.~.Apr. 11
BBYO Mr. and Mrs. Tea___Apr. 11
Nat. Council Jewish
Women Lunch_________Apr. 13
Com. Centre Search.for Meaning Service____________Apr. 14
The Jewish Western B^letin
Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewish Community Counetl.
Friday, February 26, 1965
Published weekly every Friday at 950 West 41st Ave., Vancouver 13, British Columbia.
SAM KAPLAN
Publisher and Editor
WiUIAM 6ELM0N President
ALEC BECKER Publications Chairman
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of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship And to think out things." Ecce Homo! This was the manner of man who became the pioneer of Temple building. This was Bezalel. This was that noble scion of the fan^y of Chur and you win observe, the order of importance in which his qualifications are listed in this Sedra.
First of all he was filled with the right spurit, the Divine. Next to that came Wisdom—^for as you know, where there is no wisdom all the other admirable qualities fail a man. Next: Understanding. A man should have some intellect; without that, spirituality and wisdom fail, too. And what is the good of spirit, wisdom, understanding without knowledge?
And even with all these he niust have practical skill with his hands otherwise he remains the mere theoretician unqualified for action.
And when he has all these attainments, he must be an original thinker and not a mere copyist from others. Then, when he has all this, he can build a Temple.
Bezalel had it all. And he built his Temple which was the blueprint for wise King Solomon in later years.
When we started on this sermon we intended telling you the very interesting sequel and little-known story of his ultimate destiny with his people IsraeL Did they iappreci-ate him? But owing to considerations of space we must leave it till Part II next week, God wiUing.
