Page Two
THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, June 2, 19ei
Of tractors, trucks and human lives
The only similarity between the offer by Fidel Castro to liberatie 1,200 prisoners of war in exchange for 500 tractors and the so-called "iblood for trucks" deal of the Nazis, is the cruel truth that human lives were and are being weighed by an authoritarian state against mechanical vehicles. From that point on the events are widely divergent.
Castro's ransom offer deals with soldiers who of their own accord joined a counter-revolutionary army knowing full well that the gravest risks were involved. It also concerns tractors which Cuba sorely needs for its agricultural and economic development. (It should be noted as well that the Cuban dictator does not threaten to put these prisoners to death if negotiations are not successful but rather to keep them in servitude at hard labour.) Indications from present-day American ieaaers and the western press are that "private" sources will succeed in raising the necessary funds to purchase their freedom.
The Nazis' "trucks for blood" proposal in April 1944, on the other hand, dealt with civilian men, women and children whose only guilt was having been born into the Jewish faith. The German military position imperilled, Hitler wanted the vehicles for war purposes and even promised the Americans and British that he would use them only on the Eastern front. He also promised that if the negotiations failed the one million Jewish "hostages" would join their co-religionists in the gas chambers and crematoria of Auschwitz.
Mathematically, one might have expected the Americans and British to accept the German offer mors readily than the Cuban, (100 Jews per truck would seem to be a much better deal
than 2 Cubans per tractor), if one forgets how insignificant "foreign" Jewish lives were 17 years ago. In the extreme, Leon Uris points out, Jewish meat was cheap—cheaper than beef, cheaper than herring!
What could you expect from a world that just did not have room for Jews? As Lord Maughn, British Deputy Commissioner for the Middle East declared when he heard of the deal: "What would we do with one million Jews?" Had not the free world stood by and watched the murder of other millions, a large percentage of them young innocent children?
No wonder then that when Eichmann told Joel Brand and Kastner that he was "ready for business—goods for blood; blood for goods (ware fur Blut; Blut fur ware), the response of the West was negative.
The only possible justification for Allied leaders taking this course of action was the possibility that the trucks demanded by the Nazis could have endangered the Allied military position. This is indeed no trivial consideration. But, as Quentin Reynolds points out, had not Roosevelt and Churchill both remained silent during the slaughtering of Jews from 1939 to 1943. "Never were their angry voices lifted to stop. They were too busy negotiating with Arab leaders to obtain oil in the Middle East to fill aircraft. Tliey had no moral courage to scream and halt the slaughter."
And so the trial of Adolf Eichmann continues, not as the trial of merely one individual but a tribunal at which the entire Nazi epoch and the world which countenanced it are being called to account.
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TORAH READING OF THE WEEK
T/ie problem with value
Distinguished visitor
The warmth with which Canada received the Prime jytihister of Israel on his first official visit to this country this week is an indication not only of the high esteem in which Canadians generally hold this remarkable old gentleman, but also of the strong bond of friendship which exists between the two respective nations.
Jewish citizens of Canada, the majority of whom possess feelings of deep spiritual attachment to the Jewish homeland not unlike that felt by Canadian citizens of varying national origins for their motherlands across the seas, experienced particular pride and satisfaction at this hearty wfelcome extended to Mr. Ben-Gurion toy Ottawa officialdom. From the very first welcome by Prime Minister Diefenbakier who came out to the airport to greet him personally, through the inspection of the- guard of honour, the military band playing Hatikvah (hope), the wreath-laying ceremony, the round of diplomatic parties and the special reception tendered him by Oovernor-Gerieral Vanier, it was a welcome, as some observers noted, no less impressive than that afforded the president of the United States just a few days earlier.
Likewise, did the press, radio and television industries acknowledge Canadian-Israeli friend-
ship by providing prominent coverage of the Ben-Guricm visit. Leading daily newspapers in nearly every city told the story with prominent
front-page news and photo .displays. (Incidentally, put of step with the reportage of the majority of Canadian newspapers, in this respect, were thie two local dailies to whom the same wire services were presumably available).
But by far the most outstanding tribute to this distinguished visitor, in addition to that exemplary gesture afforded by Mr. Diefenbaker who despatched an R.C.A.F. aircraft to bring him from New York to Canada's capital and who lauded the "extensive contribution" which Israel has made towards the maintenance of Democracy in the Middle East, was the attendance in Montreal on Sunday of hundreds of Jewish communal leaders; from almost every sector in Canada. Mr. Ben-Gurion was himself deeply moved when he was introduced to representatives of our own West Coast community and expressed his gratification to them for having travelled such vast distances to meet him. It hardly needs saying that they would have journeyed twice the distance to meet such an incomparable individual.
At this point, it must be said
that trying to summarize a sed-
rah,—any sedrah—is like trying
to select a set of profitable
values. The only problem with
choosing values out of a sedrah,
is that it is so overcrowded with
items of human interest, one just
doesn't know which to choose. Which refutes the argument that Biblical writing is archaic.
For example: We learn in this week's jsedtah (Numbers, chapter 8, verse 1, to chapter 12, verse 16) that whilst wandering in the desert on their way back to the Promised Land, the Jewish people became upset by all the trouble they were going through ana, instead of continuing to bear their trouble in a sprit of trustful dependance upon God, they rebelled and complained, asking from One another whether it wasn't all better, way back in Egypt. Which makes One wonder whether a human being really knows what he wants. While in bondage, the Jewish nation asked to be set free and, once they were free, they were not willing any longer to go through the ordeal of 38 years of <w;ftnderrhg in the desert—ordeal which was planned—so that
that was happening. Whic brings in the fact that peopl almost always blame the' troubles on somebody else. Mps in return complained to the Lo in a little speiech that is wort while quoting. "Wherefore ha Thou dealt ill with Thy servant ... Have I conceived all the people? Have I birought ]tj> forth, that Thou shouldest s unto me: Carry them in bosom, as a nursing-father t; rieth the stickling child, un the land which Thou didst swe unto their fathers? Where sh(|)u I have flesh to give unto these people? For they troub me with their weeping, sayi Give us flesh, that we may e
To say that God listened Moses' complaint by sendi food to the Children of Israel, so much food in fact that came out of their nostrils"—a
Parental duty
In the majority of instances the question of whether or not a child is to be given the opportunity of obtaining a Jewish education is merely a matter of decision, a question of choice. And yet, how often does one hear people express the regret that they or tlieir children could not have had a better Jewish education.
With Jewish school registration about to begin for both the day school and evening school classes, it would seem worthwhile considering, therefore, a course of action that will finally eliminate the need for regretting such inadequacies.
In former years, Jewish immigrants had no choice. The earliest attempts at organized education were primitive to say the least and even in later years the Cheder could not compare . with its modern-day successor. Besides, ffrany a young newcomer had to work much longer than an eight-hour day for his livelihood and additional money and time had to be spent on learning the Janguage and culture of his adopted land.
Today the situation is entirely different. Tlie second and third generation are blessed with
the means and with more than twice the leisure time of their forefathers and with Jewish educational institutions which incorporate the most modern facilities, highly qualified teachers and ' new advances in teaching methods developed in recent times. |
If the child is to be certain of enrollment next autumn, the all-important decision to send the' child for kindergarten or Grade One must be ; made at the earliest possible date. (Those who < are going to re-enroll their children for the | higher grades have already been advised and ; are aware of registration procedures). School j administrators must plan ahead for the next! term preparing staff, facilities and texts.
It is apparent that parents are recognizing their responsibilities to provide their children \ with a Jewish education and are taking proper I steps in this direction. To deny a Jewish young-;
er such an opportunity is not only a most j serious decision for the youngster personally, | but holds the gravest portent for future Jewish creative and cultural life on this continent. Happily, more and more parents are recognizing its importance.
they could better appreciate the Holy Land orice they got there.
At ahy rate upon seeing His children's behaviour, the anger of the Lord was kindled and He decided to show what trouble really was. He caused a scarceness of food among them and let them go hungry. Which only contributed to make matters worse for, we are taught, they started to complain to Moses, holding him responsible for all
that he asked Moses to appoi 70 elders to bear with him t burden of the people is of no i portance really.
The amazing thing about th words, simple as they are, that, they are but a parable the human heart tragedy, the earthly part of us constan complaining about one thing another, while the spiritual ement within—the soul—^just (Steadfastly compla:ins to G about the purpose of existan the why's of what we see or falls us, the do's and don'ts life. Remember, Moses was li the soul of the Jewish peop
The Jewish Western Bullefin
THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1951
Published wccKiy every Frldas' at 2675 Oak St., Vancouver 9. B.C.
SAM kafi;an
Publisher and ..Editor
Official Organ of Vancouver Jewish Community Council
WIXiI^ZAM OEXiMON President ,
ILOXTZS ZniMEBMAN Ex-Hjutive Director
DB. J zack
Pabllcations Gbairman
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