Pa?e Two
THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday; February 9, 19
most we statement
WAR MPHANSSW APPEARS
The reply of the program committee chairman of the New Centre to a letter from a prominent communal figure (see Letter to the Editor this edition) will be welcomed in a number of circles where expressions of concern have been prevalent with respect to the future direction of the New Jewish Community Centre.
Dr. S. Civkin's statement is a forthright one. It will bring credit to his conlmittee and the entire New Centre board not only because it clearly demonstrates the thinking of New Centre planners regarding the need for healthful program content of a Jewish cultural nature, but because of the committee's correct attitude vis-a-vis our local Jewish Youth gi-oups.
For a considerable time now, leaders of local youth organizations, which are amongst the strongest and most vital in the country, have expressed the fear that a New Centre Youth program in opposition io their own would place them at a great disadvantage and pbihted to. such precedents as Winnipeg, where existing youth organizationsr lost ground as a result of the
central youth program. Put more bluntly by a Zionist Youth leader was thp question: "Can a Sicha (study session) compete with cha-cha-cha?"
A qopy of Maclean's magazine arrange for the reception of th
'Feb. lb) contains feature stories orphans." -on the war orphans who were     The role of the Canadian Jew
brought over to Canada by Cana- ish Congress in the release an
dian Jewish Congress immedi- integration of former internee
ately following the end of World , is emphasized in the Maclean'
War Two anc on the integratioti story which is entitled "Friendl
of the group of former internees. Enemy Aliens," referring to th
The storj'^ on war orphans is ,
United Jewish Relief Agencie
related to the study which was ,     being among the "foremost'
recently completed under cox^. \<^^^f^^}^''^'''^ ^^^^ ffr^«!<3 au«?nices hv Ben Lannin of : action" on behalf of this grou It is obvious in the light of Dr. Civkin's f^f^^X'whfeh ?s^„"iL^^
deemed Children". ■ (The study was supported by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany on the iapplica-tion of the Bkron de Hirs^ Institute in Montreal). ■ Ths^ Mac-
statement that the New Centre committee is aware of the problem and that while activities of a puriely social, secular natijre will form a part of programming for youth, it will by no means be the end-all consideration.
In addition. Dr. Civkin's suggestion of a greater involvement of more^ persons interested in this vital aspect of the New Centre is well taken. The broad participation of individuals and representatives of organizations w'll not only safeguard the interests of our organizations
^ut will also assist the committee in the formulation and execution of a sound Jewish Ciiltural
.program.
To Dr. Civkin and his comihittee and to Mr. Feldstein whose forthright views initiiated this clarification of a serious question, goes the appreciation of the writer and the'community.
IS
lean's story emphasizes the role ^ ^olfe Lejine^s^^^^^^^^^ of the   Canadian • Jewish Con-!      178, Royai Canadian Legio gress in spohsariiig this movement Which   is   referred to as "one of the gi-eat huinaiiitarian acts of the 20th Century."   It w^^^^,, ^.^^ ^**«^fe points out that   the  movement; ^^PPy^Jfy^^^^^^^ *'was planned and carried but by the Canadiian Jewish Congress, acting for the Jewry of Canada,
received the following lette from the Pacific Command o the Cariadian Legion in connec tion with Fairview's recen )py Day
Thank you very much fo ypur letter of the 28th and th information  concerning y o u
LETTEBS TO THE
In ail the C^^^ raised and ^^PP^ tea held on Nov. 5 in an, the ^ongress raised and.^^^ ^^^^^ from the informatio
you supply that' the event wa quite a success and the branc'
spent about $l,2(M>,tl>00, and an immeasiiriable   amount   of patience, kindness and understand- .                     .    - „«^w>^«,l« io*«^ IS certainly to be commende mg were later donated by the         ^____•j'^ ___ ^.u;
(The following letter and th.e response from the New Centre were written subsequent to The Bulletin Editorial, TOn the Threshold of The Centre" published in our January ^6th Edition.
It is the editorial policy of this newspaper to allow a simuHaneous' response to letters of a critical nature concerning communal institutioins or organizations. Any further coiinmJents or statements on this subject are i2lvited.-^lE:ditor)
sion
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
Your very tirhely and profound editorial, "On The Threshold of The Centre" (Jan. 26-62) is a masterful dissertation which surely rellects the thoughts and feelings of a great many, if not most of the thinldng members of our Community.
I do noi know how long the present incumbents will take to learn that, while they may hold the Veins and appear to be driving the horses, the wagon of majority opinion has become unhitched on this Subject long ago.
Small wonder that there is concern, apprehension, apathy and lethargy, for the present seeming course of direction regarding programming, etc., seems contrary to the best interests, needs, desires and wishes of a very large number of our community.
Interest in this project is being; alienated as a result, for people can. only rally to something they believe in. This is probably the principal reason why I and many others' could not wholeheartedly consider further pledges. As a mailer of fact, it would not be too surprising
to find some of the original commitments may j these children" will ^ never be be cut or completely cancelled in r-otest against known.
men and women who took the young refugees into their homes.'*
The, story recalls: ^ 'The long chaiii of events which brought over this first and succeeding groups of orphans during the next few years, had its inception at a meeting of the Canadian Jewish Congress in Montreal in April, 1&47. Five years before, in the middle of the war, the Congress had attempted to rescue-1,000 J^ish boys s^nd girls who had been smiiggl6d froiA occupied Europe into unoddupied France. It was abortive.; While, negotiations iwere' under way,'' the Allied armies invaded North Africa. As a counter measure, the German Wehrmacht overran France and blocke'^ the children's escape. V\^hat happened to
for having undertaken thi worthwhile project to assist th Poppy Fund."
CANDLi4l6HTfNG TIME
Presented courtesy of JEWISH NATIONAL FUND
February 9 5:06
February' 16 5:17 ,
JtemeittbeF the J.N.F.
what seems to be a course of action designed more for the wishes and benefit of a minority rather than the needs of the majority.
Our "Jewish Community Centre" must have
"But now. in 1947. with the war over. Congress members renewed their efforts to bring to Canada some of the youthful survivors-of the holocaust in Eur-
a purpose and raison d'etre and you Mr. Editor They were under the im^
have expressed this most eloquently.
There is no doubt that your article will find the widest measure of agreement and support.
Respectfully and sincerely yours,
M. FELDSTEIN
New Centre Re|>lies..
Mr. Feldstein's letter serves a dual purpose of great importance. Firstly, it serves to emphasize the well-taken views expressed by Mr. Sam Kaplan in his January 26th editorial, "On
The Threshold of the Centre". We are in full accord with these views for It is not the aim of the New Jewish Community Centre Board of Directors to simply create an edifice but to meet the cultural, physical, and social needs of our Jewish Community and to strengthen the organizations and enrich the lives of the individuals who constitute pur community. Tiie efforts of the Program Committee have been directed towards the implementation of these concepts for all age groups. In short, we plan activities for the total community which would cut across all ideologies, respect all views, and contain positive Jewish content.
Secondly, it affords me the opportunity of reporting on the worfc> of the New Jewish Community Centre Program Committee even though it may be a somewhat premature announcement. This work, which is still continuing, reflects the following basic goals:
1) The New Jewish Community Centre is not planning to create competing Youth Groups. It does intend to create special interest activities such as Drama, Photography, Music Appreciation, Arts and Crafts, Physical Education, Forensics, etc. which would involve all youths.
2) The New Jewish Community Centre does plan to expand the existing Jewish Com-
pression that tens of thousands of children were available. A team of Congress representatives that went overseas, however, was stunned to find' that only about 4,000 young people were still alive. Of the six million Jews sent to the camps, it was the very young and the very old — because they were unproductive —- who were the first to be munity Centre Program such as the Golden (extinguished. The Congress team
Age Ciub, the Day Camp, and the Young Adults.
toured the refugee camps, children's reception centres and orphanages that dotted postwar Europe, and assembled a group of 1,116 youngsters for emigration to Canada. The Canadian governriient warmly applauded
3) The New Jewish Community Centre will embody Jewish dontent in all of its activities which will result in the perpetuation
of the cultural, social and physical values Fhe pi'aX  The Congrels"^^^^ of Jewish Life. took to' underwrite all the costs
4) The New Jewish Communitv Centre will of tJ^e project and to place the provide pro.essional staff which will be children in lirivate homes where available to assist both groups and individuals in using their leisure time more constructively.
A truly tremendous amount'of time and effort has been expended by the Board of Directors and others during the past three years. The majority of this effort up to now has been toward the planning and cbhstriiction of the building. We are now shifting^ our em.n'iasis to committees such as Program Planning, Youth Coordinating, Membership, Personnel, and the House Committee. Mr. Feldstein^s letter indicates a great interest in the New Jewish Community Centre. We would welcome his active participation in the furtherance of this project, A similar invitation is extended to all members of the Jewish Community.
DR. SIDNEY CIVKIN, Chairman,
Program Planning Committee New Jewish Community Centre
they would be sujpervised by social Workers. In Jewish communities across the cbuntry, volunteer comihittees' were hastily organized to find honries and to
IndbtsiftkmCtimted
ZExael Ristadnit Campaign .......Tmb. IS to Mar. 15
Zarael Ahrtadrnt/Campiiig-n
Biin^net .. ..... Feb. 18
B'K^i ^'Bith Bxotit^rJiood Hijflit ....._____....... Peb. 19
Betb X8£a«l, Scta^ra Tzedecis and Valmn'd Tbrah Joint ;tuncheon............. .Feb. SI
Henxietta Szold Chapter Sad^ssah Jmnnal Birtbday Tea............Feb. ai
17.S.T. fCong-refiration Betlx
Zsrael) Tea..     .......Feb. 25
Pioneer Women Cbalacli . aiwnas Diive.......Peb^ 25 to Mar. 18
Scbara Tzedeck X-ood
Pair .......... .......Mar. 4
Hadassah 'S'outlt Aliyab
Tttmtheon . . . . .Mar. 14 Talmud Torab l>ance.... Mar. 17 B'Mai B'Bitb Ko. 77
:BakSnflr pontMt....... .Mar. 20
Beia lis^ael S.sterbood
]btineheon . ^.. .   Mar. 21
Pion»er Women Ptuim
Ball..................Mar. 24
I'luviity H-fties'-
3f.G.J.W...............Mar. 25
Beth Israel Sisterhood
luncheon..........April 11
Ccn^. BX Baffle and
Genexal Meeting-...... . April 11
Beth Israel's Men's Club
Banco................ .April 14
Ecme for AgeA
Pesach Tea..... . .April 23
Warsaw Ohetto Memorial
Bvenlngr .. ■ April 29
Sciiaia ^.zedeck Sisterhood
Xiuncheon ........  . . May 2
United Jewi&h Appeal
l^Hncheon............ Ulay 9
National Council
£nnch6on............ May 16
Be-'h Israel Sisterhood
Torah Fund I.uncheon . May 23 B'nai B'rith Garden Party May 29 Schaza Tzedeck Sisterhood
Bcnor Knnchecn ...... May 30
«__-— • "-•
The Jewish Western Btilletegi
aPBStBUAB-r 9, 1962
Publi.shea ^^-eciiry evfery r rlaay at 2675 Oak   St..  Vancouver  9. B.C. SAM KAPLAN Publisher and" Editor Official   Organ or Vancouver Jewish    Communiiy (Council Wlt-UIAM. GELMON
President i_OUtS 2IIVIMERMAN Executive Director
DR.  J ZACK Publications Chairman
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