Page Two
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday? Februory 15, 1957
Editor^s view
A, J. Amoid
How cm we talk about brotherhood?
THIS is a tough week to write about brotherhood. But regardless of how Israel's actions towards
^ In view of current world tensions and their re- the Arabs may be regarded, there can be no excuse
flection on the local scene we might almost say that for proposals which might sacrifice the security and
brotherhood week comes at a most inappropriate ultimately the existence of the Jewish state, for the
time this year. ostensible and transparent reason of appeasing Arab
On the international scene we find Israel being hatred, subjected to the fiercest political pressures in her We were unhappy this week about Israel bemg short history. On the local scene, all of us, Jew and placed in a position of defiance towards the United non-Jew alike, are being put to the test of welcoming Nations, just as we were unhappy when Israel found large numbers of refugees from Europe as new im- it necessary to launch her attack against Egypt a few migrants. * months ago. ^ut we find now that only after having So why does Brotherhood Week have to come risked the consequences, first of a military offen-into the picture right now? We are so concerned sive and now of political defiance, that there seems about these bigger problems that perhaps we don't at last to be some yielding to Israel's reasonable de-have time to take a tolerant view of our next-door mands. neighbors, let alone fellows from a foreign clime. PJJBLIC ENEMIES
Perhaps never before did we have so little time Frankly we like political strong arm methods for nice sounding slogans and phrases. But beforie little more than we like the military strong arm. we sneer at the sponsors of Brotherhood Week let's Taken in reverse order these methods are "Public consider the proposition that if all the slogans remain Enemies No, 1 and No. 2" of the concept of brother-nothing but a bunch of words strung together we hood. In fact it is the political strong arm philosophy really have no one to blame but ourselves. practiced in the Middle East for the past quarter of The fact is that the goals proclaimed for Brother- century and more, for the sake of oil which is b&si
CAVALCADE OF CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM AT BETH ISRAEL
hood Week are:
"Rededication to the ideal of respect for people and hnman rights; demonsfrafioii of practical ways in which Canadians can promote these ideals; enlistment of more people in year-round activities to promote In-otherhood."
cally to blame for the current volcanic situation there The United Nations should place itself above such methods to become a true forum for the build ing of world brotherhood. The only practical way o doing this in the Middle East is for the U.N. to devote every effor^ to bring about direct negotiations be-
Hying in the face of all cynics and sophists we tween Israel and the Arab states. If we can place it
shall endeavor to apply brotherhood concepts to on this level there's room for everybody to get into
these two vital problems: (1) Israel's international the debate, even the cynic—as long as he doesn'^
travail; and (2) the reception pf unexpected numbers pick up a gun.
of newcomers in our own midst. If ever a slogan needs application it is the one
DANGEROUS HATRED IN THE MIDDLE EAST now proclaimed by the Council of Christians and
In the matter of Israel's relations with her Arab Jews: '^Brotherhood for peace and freedom—^Bdieve
neighbors we must face the fact that prejudice has it! Live it! Support it! . .. that people shall live as
reached to the point of deep hatred between Jews and One Family of Man!'* This is the only alternative
Arabs in the Middle East. And the attitude of Arabs to hatred of one's fellow-man—because such hatred
towards Jews may be described as an almost uni- can only lead to self-destruction, form blind hatred. Before "Brotherhood Week" is over perhaps we
If Israel has made any mistakes in dealing with will be able to take a closer look at the second poin
the Arabs, and there have been sonie, we would ex- referred to at the outset, namely our attitude to-
pect her to try to make up for them, and we believe wards and reception of immigrants in Canada and
she will. our own community.
to the
The "BulfeHn" welcomes oU leHers fo the Edifor. In order to be considered for pablieaHon every letter must Include the full name ond oddress of the correspondent. A "nem-de>plttme" will be substituted for the name enjrequest. Signed letters or orticles do not necessarily rep«esent the views off the "ftiilletirt" or the Jewish Commiintty Council. All letters should be brief. The editor reserves the right to curtail letters which ore too long.
Editor's Note: The loilowing letter was written In response to ^e editorial in last we^'s issue entitled: "Need better i^stem of refugee allotment'* This subject will undoubtedly be dealt with again editorially and furtiier reader comments are ^Iso weIc<Hne. In ttie meantime we would urge upon our readers that further home accommodation and assistance to flie newcomers is urgently required. (The writer of the letter which follows
has requested use of a pseudonym.)
* « «■
CRITICAL VIEW OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS REFUGEES
You are right. There is need of a better system of refugee allotment; But you' are dealing with human beings—and it is still their right, after they arrive in Canada, to wish to go to ai different city.
Even we do not know where we are going to be in a short while and it is really amazing the people who do land up out here.
Surely you arc aware that even the
Immigration authorities do not know how many Jews are arriving into the country at any one time. There are some who reveal that they are Jews only when they are sure there will be no more travelling and they can settle down. If they find they are secure here, they become Jews again!
Congress representatives went to Abbotsford to determine the number of Jews. By the time they arrived in Vancouver, one had to uiiscramble the housing accommodation available for single and double and try to house four and five people whefe the first had been offered.
Certainly there is a disparity in the size of the Jewish populatfon between eastern and western centres. The disparity is the insularity of the Vancouver group! . . . Loojc around you and see how our Canadians are flocking to the coast.
Look at the dossiers of the Hungarian Jews arriving and you will see nearly all have a craft or talent which our community is not going to find a detriment. They are more cultured than many of the groups which arrived in the past and can bring to our
THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Published Weekly Every Prlday at 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver 9, B.C.
ABRAHAM J. ARNOLD, Publisher ond ^Editor BERTHA ARNOLD/ Advertising and CirculoHon
Official Organ of the Jewish Community Council of Vancouver
DR. J. V. WHITE, President MORRIS SALTZMAN, Publication Chtairmon LOUIS ZIMMERMAN, Executive Director
PHONES: Bulletin Office, BA. 3125; Eveninss, SA. 3098 Community Centre Office, CE. 1168
LOCAL DEADLINE: EVERY MONDAY, 5:00 P.M.
Business Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Saturdoys, Jewish ond Legal Holidays. Authorized Second Class Moil, Post Office Dept., Ottowo
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1957
Condie-Sighting Time Sobboth Eve,, February 15, 5:02; Februory 22, 5:24
centre a greater appreciation of values of life which our community are forgetting in their search for ease and comfort.
Human values cannot, be estimatec with the statistics you arc quoting. What are you afraid o^? So what if Vancouver has another ISO Hungarian Jews? How muph will our conunun-ity suffer? Will we have to find few more jobs—give a more thorough search of our cupboards for the cast-offs we send down to the Centre? . . .
When people at our community level stop meeting in little huddles and estimating how they can keep the costs down in terms of money, they might see the broader aspects of the tapestry one can weave in our community with these newcomers—and prepare for more such onslaughts of newcomers—not^ with largess—but with lifting the morale of people who require considered assistance. Many people are turning their faces away in the sense that they might get asked to do something and they hate to get involved—hate to give up their privacy, hate to have to stretch their budgets ...
I worked at Bloomsbury House in London in early 1939 when Jews were being rescued from certain confinement in camps and in the great need and greater emergency, I saw more calmness, certainty of purpose and realization of values than in our community centre here.
There is a vast section of the Vancouver Jewish population which is close to the newcomer in ideological identification—have any of them been requested to help form a committee representing all the community? . . . Is it not rational to expect that this is a matter not just for B'nai B'rith and NCJW—but for every group . . . to realize that they are considered part of the picture.
So we talk of size of population of eastern and western sections of Canadian Jewry. There is room to breathe here, there is room for our Hungarian Jews—the first ones I saw will be.
The "Cavalcade of Conservative Judaism" consisting of a Guest Lecture Series of three lecturers on the theme "Judaism in the Modem World—A Conservative View" will begin on Wednesday night, February 20 at the Beth Israel auditorium.
The first lecturer will be Dr. Morde-cai Waxman of Temple Israel, Great Neck, New York, who will speak on the subject "Wh^t We Jews Believe Rabbi Waxman is a prominent member of the Conservative Rabbinate and a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. A member of the program and education committee of the Zionist Organization 6; America, Dr. Waxman is on the Executive Council of New York Board of Rabbis. .
Subsequent lectures mil be held on March 20 by Dr. Baruch Silver-stein of Brooklyn, New York, speaking on "How We Jews Live"; and Dr. E. T. Sandrow of New York Chy, speaking on "Judaism and Psychology."'
This lecture series is a part of the Spring Semester offered by the Adult Institute of Jewish Studies and the Men's Club of Beth Israel Congregation. Registration fee for the series of three lectures will be $2.50, and
$1.00 for an individual lecture. Registrations caja be made at the Synagogue office every day from 9 to 5.
a credit to this community and I pray the others will be too.
I am sorry you wrote this article— to me it only emphasized what many people are saying—blame the Canadian government first for giving the hospitality and Congress second for, not having more foresight. We should blame ourselves for the complacency whic^ delayed making arrangements when we first heard that Canada was opening its doors; blame ourselves^ for feeling guilty if someone^else tries to help and we think we arc too busy or getting ready to go to Honolulu or Mexico^ Mid; can't think ^o/ it ^.tHI.w^^ get ;baci£ Cw^iiily is orderly and pleasant and we work hard to keep it so—but let us think what people in Israel have done to repeive the newcomer and let us be ashan|ied that we do not do more.
CLAIRE GINDE
Canadian ■Premier Life appoints hew branch supervisor
HARRY GALE
SIDNEY K. COLE, CLU, brarici manager of Canadian Premier Life Insurance Co., announces the appointment of Harry Gale as btandi supervisor. Mr. Gale was formerly represientative of one of the priur. cipal Oinadian life insurance com* panics. He has also served as director in charge of sales and administration of a well known English confectionery manufacturer. Mr. Gale's extensive business background makes him a qualified consultant on business insurance and estate planning.
For assistance and advice on all life insurance pjroblems yoii may contact Mr. Gaj^ at EX. 2924, 779 West.jBroadwaj.^..?,.>^--:v;
SUBSCRIPtlONS FOR 1957 NOW DUi
YOUR EARLY PAYMENT WILL BE APPRECIATED
VANCOUVER tALMUD TORAH
nmtvia.
is taking ploce
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
in the School AudifrbrBiim, 995 West 27th Aye., 8:30 p.m.
Regierts of the past yeor's activities wiH be made ond elecHoh tf
officers will toke place.
VANCOUVER LODGE' AND LIONS GATE LODGE OF B'NAI B'RITM
cardiolly invite the community fo hear
< ■ ■ ■
JACOB SHEMANO
President of District Grand Lodge No. 4
AT A
Mass
ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 8:30 P.M. AT THE SCHARA TZEDECK AUDITORIUM