Page Two
XBWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, October 12, 1063
The tradition of Torah
One can think of many good reasons for opening one's heart and helping the Vancouver Talmud Torah during that institution's annual lyiembership campaign which commences next Monday. For example, the parents of children who are preseiitly attending the school will have a special interest in working for and supporting Idle campaign. So will parents and relatives of older children who graduated from the school. All of these people are persons from whom the school has a right to expect great assistance in both time arid means for they have acquired a first-hand understanding of the need based on their own personal experiences.
In addition to these, there are a large number of loyal friends who may not have the direct personal ties of those mentioned above but who nevertheless extend their support to the school. It the former are to be comrftended for encouraging the Jewish educatiori of their own children, how much praise, then, do those people deserve who help make it possible for the children of others to acquire a Jewish education!
But although much has been achieved in past years in the area of Hebrew Day School education in Vancouver, we can not afford to be complacent. There is still a greait deal more to do if the standards, facilities and enrollment are to attain a greater than minimal level.
One of the greatest obstacles to raising standards, improving and enlarging the physical facilities and broadening the school's enrollment is, as one might expect, the problem of adequate financing, an area in which the Vancouver Talmud Torah is by no means unique. Few if any educational institutions can ever balance their budgets without the assistance of government or private subventions, and the Vancouver Talmud Torah is no exception.
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What is not generally known, however, is the fact that the Talmud Torah leadership itself has within the past year made the greatest effort to narrow its fiscal deficit.
One year ago, for example, the full annual tuition fee was $210. This year, the fee has been revised upwards to $350, an increase of sixty-six and two thirds percent!
Low tuition fees
For those who can better understand the situation from the more graphic mathematical point of view, hei'e are a few other important statistics about fees:
One year ago, 42 percent of all children enrolled paid the full tuition fee of $210; this year 45 percent are paying the full tuition fee of $350.
One year ago, 22 percent paid approximately "three-quarters of the full fee; this year 22 percent are paying this amount.
One year ago, 23 percent paid between one-tenth and three-quarters of the full fee; this year 25 percent are paying this amount.
And finally, one year ago 13 percent were unable to pay anything; this year six percent are in this category.
Yet in spite of the very su'ostantial increase in tuition f6e structure this y«ar, it should be remembered, the Vancouver Talmud Torah's fees are still amongst the lowest of any Day Schools in Canada. It is apparent, therefore, that as long as the school maintains its firm policy of never turning away any child, whether their parents can afford it or not, and as long as there is a need for the school to maintain standards and salaries of teaching staff at a level comparable with that of the public school system, there will remain the ever-present need for asking the general community to help the school meet its operating deficits.
And as mentioned above, there are, thankfully, many persons in the community who recognize this need. Theirs is a concern for Jew-
ish education that is of historic magnitude, an inherited love for learning, that is as old as the Jewish people itself.
Everyone is aware that throughout the ages our people have had to sacrifice for the l^ook. We must become more aware that the same sacrifices are required right now.
Generations ago in Eastern Europe it was not unusual for Jewish homes to provide room and board for students without means. It was also not uncommon for Jewish families to go without food and other necessities in order to enable their child to obtain an education. In more recent times, this love for Torah has continued, the emphasis having shifted sweepingly from the religious to the secular.
Yet the sacrifices were many that were required by the Jewish parents of a generation or two ago. Without this readiness to sacrifice material necessities and comforts it would never have been possible to produce the high percentage of professionals which our own generation today possesses. Incidentally, today, more and more of our professionals are themselves realizing that one of the additional great sacrifices that has been made in acquiring a secular education has been the almost total loss of a traditional Jewish education.
Recognition of this is leading them and the broader community to enroll their own children in schools such as the Vancouver Talmud Torah. All of us must now be prepared to help in this cause that is .so closely bound up with a matter that concerns all of us — Jewish survival.
"Rights Commission"
forbids bias
In a sweeping York State
NEW YORK
decision, the New Commission for Human Rights this week ordered the Arabian American Oil Company (Aremco) to stop discriminating against Jewish job applicants.
. The ruling, climaxing a six-year legal battle launched against Aramco by the American Jewish Congress, was hailed by Shad Polier, who served as counsel for the Jewish group, as "a landmark decision in the effort to protect the equality of all Americans snd to safeguard against the importation of foreign prejudice and discrimination to our shores."
Mr. Polier, who is chairman of the national Governing Council of the Congress, listed these highlights of the decision:
"1) The Commission vindicated the American Jewish Congress ch^vge that Jews had been excluded from all employment v.'ith Aramco, in New York ^'js well as in Saudi Arabia, in v:o-IrAlon of the State Fair Empioy-ment Law.
"2) The Commission upheld the AJCongress claim that Aramco had no legal basis for screening persons seeking work in Saudi-Arabia by requiring them to fill out visa applications and rejecting those applicants who were Jewish.
"3) The Commission confirmed the AJCongress accusation that there were in fact no Jewish employees in the company, here or abroad.
"4) The Commission sustained the right of the Congress to seek to safeguard the civil, political, economic and religious rights of Jews and to secure and maintain
visa applicants it sponsors for employment in Saudi-Arabia are non-Jews. This is now barred under the decision.
The decision was signed by Commissioners J. Edward Conway and Mary Louise Nice. A separate concurring opinion was written by Commissioner Bernard Katzen.
In welcoming the decision, Mr. Polier commented:
"The ruling by the State Commission marks an historic step forward in the determination of the people of New York to m^ke real for every citizen the statutory guarantees against discrimi-
NEW YORK — A Lutheran clergyman who was the only German national to testify at the Eichmann trial, has stressed the need to "develop counter-totalitarian forces" in German churches, schools and institutions.
Dean Heinrich Gruber, a pastor of the Lutheran Church, honored at a recent reception given by the American Jewish Committee, said that history has shown that the German people are "susceptible" to totalitarian forces and therefore must diligently guard against their influence. He pointed out, however, that the current neo-Nazi threat in Germany was not great. • The German clergyman, who was instrumental during the Nazi regime for saving many Jews, said that while there are small, but very active democratic groups," in Germany, he hoped that "democracy in Germany will in the future be better than at the moment." Dean Gruber also supported an exchange program of German and American clergymen as a "good way for these leaders to judge each other and their countries by personal experience."
Dean Gi-uber, who Wgs imprisoned during the war in Dachau concentration camp, currently heads the relief agency for former racial p^rsecutees in Berlin, was during the Nazi period a leader of the "Confessional church." This group resisted the Nazi takeover of thv> Protestant Church in Germany.
Subsequently, he headed an agency which helped facilitate emigration "for "non-Aryans." In this capacity, he dealt person- \ ally with Eichmann in behalf of I German Jews. Dean Gruber I testified that Eichmann once told him:
"Why do you, a man who has no Jewish blood or kin, stand up for these Jews? You don't ha-ve to, and no one will ever thank you for it. I can't understand what promr^+s you to do it."
Dean Gruber also testified that Eichmann, with whom he dealt frequently, always made decisions on his own and never referred to any superiors.
Following the outbreak of World War II, Dean Gruber, who as an "Aryan" had access to government offices where Jews were barred, intervened many times in behalf of Jewish communities. In 1940, he obtained permission for matzo flour to enter Germany.
Eventually his protests about deportations of Jews and other
persecution^ caused his arrest. iHe was se|Jt to Dachau concentration canip. In Dachau, he secretly convened a "Synod" ot ininate clergy^ien. They decided that %o pastier would sign all agreement t)i£^t he would no longer serve as pastor, a condi* tibn the (Giestupo cjemanded foi* release from the camp.
After suffering a series of heart attacks, Dean Gruber wi^s released from Dachau in 1943 and resumed his pastorate in Berlin. After the Nazi collapse, h^ was made "Propst" (an auxi-iicjry Bishop) of the Protestant church in Berlip. He was a Protestant spokesman for negotiations with the East Berlin Communist regime.
Dean Gruber was born in Stol-berg in the Rhineland. He studied Philosophy and history before turning to theology. After a few years as pastor of a parish in Dortmund, he turned to social work. For several years before World War II, he was director of a home for delinquent a-nd destitute youngsters.
TMght for the Week
Th^ Divine te;^ of'-a man^s w^oi-th is not his theology but his life.
Baba Kama, from The Talmud
JEWISH CALENDAR (LUACH)
Caniaie-Zii)?htmff Obt. 12—6:11 p.i»i. 1962 5723
Succot Oct. 13-14
Shemini Atzeret Dec. 22-29 Oct. 20
Simchat Torah Chanuka Oct. 21
All holidays begin on the preceding evening.
indorsations Granted
Talmud Torah MemDer
Campaign......Oct. IS-Nov. 15
Feretz School JUCemuership
Campaigrn •• Oct. 1 to Oct 21 Vane. Kad. Conn. Baz. . Got. 23 24 MizracM W. Tiskor Tea . . Oct. 30 State of IBtael Botads
Bond Brive .......... »ov. 1
T.T. P.T.A. Aiinual PaU
Tea ............ wrov. 7
Yonnjr Adnlts .
Semi Formal Dance .... Nov. 10 Ampai Tdg". Corp. Jtoa Anffeles,
Cal. Comm. Meeting" .. JTov. 11 B nai fi'rith Wo. Ko. 7?
Fre-Chanuka Tea .... Nov. 14 New Cent. Opening-Ceremonies........... Nov. 18
Betli Israel Sisterhood
Mitzvah Luncheon..... Nov. 21
Weizmann Ch. Bad.
10th i^nnnal Tea......Nov. 28
Comm. Centre W. l>iv.
Musical ItevJew ....... Dec. 2
J NJE", Neerev Dinner .... Dec. 6 B'nai B'rith Women No. 763
Halloween Dance ...... Dec. 8
Pioneer Women Aimual
Bazaar ............... Dec. 16
equaJity of opportunity for per- nation on account of race, religion or national origin. Every citizen who opposes bigotry and bias owes a debt of gratitude to the Commission for its ringing B.ffirmation of the principle of equality and for its vigorous action in ordering a halt of th^^ efforts by an American company to violate our laws in deference }},-s been to certify to the Saudi- to the religious prejudices of a Arabian consulate here that all ' foreign power."
sons of the Jewish faith."
In its decision, the State Commission recognized it has no pov/er to compel Saudi-Arabia to admit Jews. It ruled, however, that Aramco could not serve rs a "cat's paw" for Saudi-Arabia in barring Jevvz-s from enterinri \\\e countrv. Av^mco's oractice
The Jewish Western Bulletin
OCTOBER 12, 1962
Published weekly every Friday at 950 West 41st Ave., Vancouver 13, British Columbia.
SAM KAPLAN Publisher and Editor Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewish Community Council
WILL'AM GELMON President
DR. J. ZACK Publications Chairman
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