Page 2
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, March 20, 1964
£dtioA'A, (/lew
S" JCafilim,
Shalom to a friend
IN YOU
Although his name, his picture and his communal role had been familiar to the writer over the years, seemingly almost wihenever news reports of Vancouver Jewish activities were received in Winnipeg, the name Irving G. Chertkow began to attain far greater significance from the day of our first meeting. It was at a meeting of the executive of the Pacific Region of the Zionist Organization. He had listened carefully as other speakers debated an important resolution. Then the chairman acknowledged him. He began to speak, calmly and deliberately. Every thought was weighed carefully; each word was chosen methodically. Here, it soon became obvious, was a keen, clear mind that could examine a complex problem and form a mature, independent point of view. As each person listened attentively, he developed his analysis. Then, frankly and boldly, he stated his position, although it was clear that he was aware that his stand, if adopted by the Zionist Organization, would nbt be particularly popular ambhg a segment of the community. The outcome of that debate is of no consequence here. The event itself, however, is especially pertinent now because it reflects the first impressions
of an initiate exposed to a caUbre of man so
highly devoted to a cause. What a privilege
it has been to have been a contemporary part
of the scene on which such men as Irving
Chertkow have walked. Here was a man who
worked on behalf of an entire conimunity;h^.
was a Zionist because for him, as for soiiie of the best men in his organization, tljis repire-sented the epitome of the struggle for the sur-J vival of the Jewish people. It was-to expected, therefore, that he would unhesitatingly lend his energies to work for any Jewish organization that required his help — tihe Jewish Home for the Aged, Vancouver Talmud Torah, United Jewish Appeal —- all of thena benefitted froin his keeri drive and organizationar skill when he accepted the chaimqianship of their respective fund rjaisini, campaigns. A p.ast president of the Zionist Organization, a pa§t president of B'nai iB'rith, a member of the Legion, a member oi Beth Israel synagogue — many were tlie facets of Irving Chertkpw's contribution ,to the entire community. Tp a colleague, to ^a cpnamunal leader, to a friend^ we pay a &al tribute! Your years were few big; your deeds were abundant.
The Bulletin is pleased to continue this special feature for its readers—^^a Jev,rish scholar's translation into contemporary language of the First Book-of Psalms. Rabbi Gershon Hadas, who translated into current English the traditional Jewish daily prayer book for the Rabbinical Association of America,' in 1962, labored long and hard to" produce this new text of the familiar, beloved Psalms.
A Psalm of David Concerning Cush of the tribe of Benjamin Sung to the Lord with instrumental accompaniment
O Lord God, in You have I taken refuge; Save me and deliver me from my pursuers.
Lest I become like the prey of a lion, Torn to pieces with no one to save me.
It is gratifying to note that a Moscow bakery lhas been permitted to produde matzot so that the 200,000 Jewish residents of the Russian capital may celebrate Passover, the first great holiday of freedom from slavery. For awhile it looked as though a serious obstacle would cause production to terminate when it was announced by the authorities that the building housing the bakery constituted a fire hazard. Of course, the building, located in Ch^rkizovo, Moscow subiirb, is not pur idea of a bakery suitable to make matzp for 200,000 people: as a matter of fact it really isn't a bakery at all but is no more than the private home of a member of the Moscow Jewish congregation. Hence it is no surprise that such a baking factory might constitute a fire hazard. It is also no surprise that the expected ma^cimum production of this bakery,will only be about two tons of matzot, enough for approximately 700 families. And it requires no elaborate computer, also, to arrive a.t the pathetic, tragic fact that thousands upon
thousands of Jews in tihe Russian capital will not be able to pbserye Passover in the traditional manner; That the Russian Jewis ;tk#ni-selves were angered and frustrated Ovet Ttffe matzot persecjution has been reported frp^i countless reliable news sources. In; spite ^ -Of the protests of Jewish and non-Jewislr Qomim^^ nist apologists: that Russian Jews liave.abaia-doned their "old fashioned.reiijgBh'" |Mrfe apparent to th% wc^dd that ,^e^e is^ i$|ill ^ v&i^ real: hungei?,::.f5fe;;;s]Li(dh
amongst the rna^s^of Russian Jiewi'y/jA^ if the plight of the elite Mosp^w Jew^^ munit3^ which is Jheld up to tMje public eye by Soviet propagandists to Hlu^ii^te'f-the great freedom given to Je^s iiridier Cbn^ is so severe, how then Will the remainder of the two-and-a-half milliori Jews iti the Russian provinces fare this Passover? As we pre-xpare to sit down; to Observe tfhis freedom festival in the'abuhdance with which We are blessed, let us remember our brethren who are still under the yoke of another Pharaoh.
O Lord God, if I have done wrong, If there is any guilt on my hands>
; If I have repaid good with evil, :di' wan my enemy,
Then let the enemy persecute me. Selah!
Let them pursue and overtake me; Let them trample me to the ground.
Arise, O Lord, in anger arise Against the fury of my eiiemies.
Awake tp help me, and to mete out The judgment which Ypu commanded.
Let all the people gather about You While You.mount Your throne oii high.
You, O Lord, minister jud^ent to peoples; Judge me according to my righteousness.
■ Ybuj O 3U^^^ Gfpd, who ti^ heart and mind, • Judge me by my deeds and i>y my integrity.
Let the evil of the Wicked come to an ;^d • And firmly establish the right of ^h© j^i$t. ;
Hdlland to discussRussanti^^^
CRITICIZES WANTON ATTACK'
stein, national president of the "Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, denounced a statement issued by seven Jewish organizations on religion in Israel as a "wanto attack" on traditional Jewry showing "communal irresponsibility" on the part of the seven groups.
The statement in question, issued by presidents of American Je\yish Committee, American Jewish Congress, B'nai B'rith, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbinical Assembly," Union of American Hebrew Congregations and United Synagogue of America, alleged that "extremist religious groups" in the United States sought "by coercion" to deprive persons in Israel of full religious freedom.
Noting that the signatories of the statement "contrary to the usual courtesies in such cases" did not consult the UOJCA on the matter, Mr. Feuerstein said that "this would indicate that the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations which represent American Orthodox Jewry, is one of the anonymous targets of this strange statement."
"We must reject and condemn the epithets 'religious extremists' and 'religious extremist groups,'" Mr. Feuerstein de-
clared, adding that it was evident "that the peroratives are meant tc applj to orthodox Jewry and are directed against the effort to protect the Jewish spiritual-heritage in Israel. It is an unfortunate instance of communal irresponsibility when such slogans are used, and to such purpose."
Referring to measures to protect Jewish children in Israel who are subject to massive proselytizing efforts by certain n^is-sionary groups, Mr. Feuerstein said that it was "a shocking slander against the State of Israel to imply that -there have been imposed on Israel's non-Jewish citizens any curtailment of their own religious practices. The State of Israel," he noted, "has been most scrupulous in observance of the constitutional provisions protecting the rights of the several non-Jewish religious communities. At no time has any group of orthodox Jews proposed, not to speak of having 'imposed' any curtailment of these rights." He added:
"We seek only the protection of orphaned and impoverished children from proselytizing bribery by unscrupulous missionaries — no matter what faiths the children are being lured to
and from.; W:h(|n iiii^^^ choose; su6h chil<lreh as ^ gets of thei? prbsel3rtizin^,e& v(re believe ^it to be a ^[^rehen-sible ^^xplPitatiOn • human imsei-y:''■;.p::.: ' -.Mr;r ;V
i/'This sirtahge: a^ by ;sev
cu.larist a h d non-orthodox groups," Mr. Feuerstein declared, "is obviously unhappy over the resurgence of orthodox Judaism in Israel. Yet their apparent desire to stem th»5 resurgence is no -excuse for this wanton attack pn decent religious folk whose only wish is that the land of the Bible retain some of the sanctity of Biblical faith. To disguise this as a battle for religious freedom is to misuse, for, political purposes, a noble ideal." '
; NEW YORK—The problem of Soviet anti-Semitism will be aired :befor,9 the people of Holland through a; national corifer-ehce to be sponsored by Dutch Lal^br Party;, on April :v3.4, according.Jewish;^ Labor Comi| mittee. ■ ...
^ In a letter to the JLC dated March 2, International Secretary of Dutch Labor Party^ M. vati der Stoel, stated that his party planned to use the cpnference as an occasion to "draw the attention of the Dutch public to the discriminations suffered by
NEUMANN AIDED JORDAN PROJECT
Simicha Blass, Israel's Water disclosed here
JEWISH CALENDAR (LUACH) CandSe Lighting
MARCH 20 - 6:07
1964____________5724
Pesach _ _ Maf. 28-Apr. 4
Israel Independence Day________ Apr. 16
Shavuot ________May 17
All holidays "begin on the preceding evening.
. TEL AVIV —
former head of Authority, has that Br/ Emanuel Neumann was the first person to have taken a practical step which ultimatel^?^ led to the realization of the Jordan River Irrigatioh project. / Mr. Bla?s recalled in an interview published . in the daily, Maariv, that it. was Dr. Neumann who, in the period of the British Mandate, Invited " the well-kno^vn American water expert, James B. Hays, to come tp Palestine to survey the water situation. Hays, who was among, he engineers responsible for the Tennessee Valley Authority, published a book about the country's water problems which was acclaimed by water experts throughout, the world.
the Jewish population in the Soviet Union." He said theft the general theme of the meeting will be -'recent >development^ mthin.the Comm^^ bloc" an^ . that it wouljdjbe attended by dell .egafeS;j^ffpm|^l§^ '4
■ T^ is part'
of the goverrimeiif;:<)ijfHolland in coalition withivthe Catholic' Party. The Jewish LafbOr ^Com-' mittee enjoys frieiidly relations with Dutch laboriies Steniming from its suj(;>port ^6f • Eurppean-anti-Nazi underground during Second World War. JLC is keeping labor and social democratic forces in Europe appraised of the situation of Jews in Soviet Russia.
Apr. 12
Apr. 15 Apr. 16 Apr. 19 Apir. 19
t
indorsations Granted
Home for Agea Tea.............Mar. 31
L. Freimann Passover Tea Apr. 1 Wars. Ghetto Mem. Cesl. .: Royar City
Hadassah Fashions JCC Annual Meeting
Pioneer Wo. Bazaar .....
JCC Orch. Concert ....____
B.I. Sisteris' Pac. : Nor'West Gonf. .„.„:: Apr. 26-28 AvivaMadassah Dessertr.. Apr: 29 UJA Men Opening pinner .Apr. 29 Pioneer Wo. Lag ' B^Omer Tea .....l.....; May 3. NCJW M. Zemans i International, Show ______ May 3
JCC Annual Meeting May 5 •
UJA Women Luncheon ......„ May 6
Hadassah Architect.
Tour :..........:—May 12
NCJW Year-end Lunch ...... May 13
B,|, Sisters Torah Fund Lunch ............................;......... May 20
Hadassah Wizo Tea .............. May 20
The Jewish Western Bulletin
Official Organ of the Vancouver J e ¥/ i s h Community Co u n c i I
Friday, March 20, 1964
Published weeWy every Friday at 950 West 41st Ave., Vancouver 13, British Columbia.
SAM KAPLAN Publisher and Editor
WILLIAM GELMON
. President ALEC BECKER Publications Chairman
IFADING JEWISH WEEKLY IN WESTERN CANADA
BULLETEN OFFICE: - 361-6304
Deadlines: Local News: Monday at 4:30 p.m. Advertising: Tuesday at 12:00 nooR.
Subscriprions: $5.00 per year;, $5.50 pier year in U.S. and other countries. Business hours: 8:30 aim.-4:30 p.m. except Saturdays, Jewish and Legol Holidays. Authorized as Second Class AAail by the Post Office Department, Ottawa and for payment of postage in cash.
In the event of a typogrraphical error advertis.ngr 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.