2 JEWISH WESTilRN BULLETIN Friday, March 1, 1940
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The Jewish Western BuUetiin
Official Organ of the Vancouver Jewish Administrative Council ■Philip Lesser_____________________.__________Chairman Administrative Council
Harry Musikansky
JBusiness Manager
2675 Oak St., BAy. 4210.
Bijsiness Hours: 9 a.mi to 5 p.m., except Saturday iand Jewish Holy Days. Entered as Second Class Mail Matter at Ottawa
VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1940
UNITY
In these momentous tunes when the Democracies are engaged in a life and death struggle for the preservation of their principls, we, individuals of our community, must also submerge our individual interests and concentrate our energies toward achieving those ideals which are common to all.
; The outbreak of the war has brought a change in the mode of our living and new and greater problems now confront us. The entire human race must now be welded into a stronger society so that a few individuals with a lust for power, will never again draw the world into a similar catastrophe.
Never losing sight of this main world-wide principle, we of this community should lay a solid foundation for our activities, keyed to this radical change in world conditions. Our problems are twofold. First, we must join our fellow Jews (Of the world in providing refuge for thousands of our oppressed. Palestine must be established to receive them and all Zionist endeavors given greater support than ever before. We must make certain that the Joint Distribution Committee is supported, so that it.can maintain and care for the suffering and needy.
Secondly, these momentous times of great change demand that -we consolidate our own commimity so t^t our own needs wUl be conducted at a minimum cost. We are fortunate that some of our far-sig:hted citizens have established the Jewish Administrative Council a few years ago. If this organizing body did not exist, we would need to form it today. Unity, above all, whether in world or communal affairs, is the NEW system of the modem world 'structure.—M. F.
TtuTOSigh The Ages
PALESTINE
(Continned from Page 1)
Palestine and to the newcomers. Organizing Immigration The Histadrut was the pioneer in organizing the immigration to Palestine. For.this purpose the Hech-alutz organization was formed in -many countries for the purpose of training young men and women for a life of productive labor. Training farms were established and the Histadrut for many years sent its most e:q>erienced members to guide the young people and to help them prepare for life and work in Palestine.
Today the Histadrut lias over fifty^ .representatives in the w^r torn' countries organizing immigration and accompanying the inunigrants fo Palestine.
It was largely as a result of this ■work of the Histadrut that we have today in Palestine a Jewish community that is normally engaged in all productive pursuits and is capable of providing for its needs and of defending itself against "attack.
JE^uropean Situation Imposes Great Tasks
The present war situation in Europe, which has already resulted in such a terrible catastrophe for millions of Jews, imposes tremendous obligations upon the Histadrut. All its co-operative economic and social institutions must expand their activities to meet the needs of the influx of refugees. These must be provided with work or aided in setttling on the land. In addition the difficulties created in the country by the outbreak of war must be met in order to assure the economic welfare and the security of the community. The American CUmpaign for Labor Palestine In order to aid the Histadrut in its ramified activities, the National Labor Committee for Palestine, foimded fifteen years ago by Jewish labor, fraternal and other groups, anmaily conducts the Giewerkschaf-ten campaign. The funds raised by this drive are sent to the Histadrut to used for its constructive efforts, in agricultural labor colonization, immigration, cultural and social tvselfare work.
I The work of the Histadrut has found a sympathetic response in wide circles of American life and the Gewerkschaften campaign has been enthusiastically supported and endorsed by such prominent leaders ■ ^s Justice Louis D. Brandeis, Prof. Albert Einstein, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, IRabbi Solomon Goldman, President Zionist Organization of America and numerous others.
In view of the emergency situation of the Jews in Europe and the increased burdens of the labor commimity in Palestine, the National Labor Committee has undertaken to raise one million dollars to aid the Histadrut this year. According to the budget for the year 1939-40, this stim will be spent on urgent activities involved in strengthening and expanding the co-operative economic and cultural institutions of the Histadrut and thus enabling them to meet the tasks of the critical war period. Receiving Jewish immigrants from Europe and aiding them tO' become established securely in the economic life of Palestine are
A poem written for the Vancouver Jewisti Community Centre Library by one of the members of the Library Committee.
Withall, there is of something lacking,
A void that would be better filled. For you camiot live by bread alone, The spirit must be thrilled.
To friends we turn in expectation, To filends to get a spark, To them we turn in consternation We have already learned their lark.
Oh! if only we could mingle With the jgreat and the renowned. How oi^spMt woii^^^^ taken With the glory of their soimd.
Oh how simple it is to mingle Witli the greatest in the world, Without cost, without cringing We can have their hearts infurled.
This the method, this the keyword, Bead, read, read, read and read. Then you'll reach your expectation Then your mind won't be in need.
All we ask is your attention, All we ask is your good-will, All we ask is your retention To this cause to wipe out ill.
Give to us your best of wishes, Tell us that we tried our best. Tell us that the books we've ordered Won't lie dormant, clothed in dust.
Give to us your small donation That this work may still go on. That your wishes may be answered And ignorance soon will be done.
—J. C.
The Library is open every Sunday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and the books are yours for the asking.
RASHI 10404105 ' ACHDUTH SOCIETY
By SAMUEL BEICHLEB
Jewish history repeatedly proves.' the truth of the Talmudjc saying :^ "When one star sets in Israel, an-; other rises on the horizon." With, the death in 1038 of Hai Gaon, onie of the last of the, great literary Gao-nim, Judaism's most glorious cultural age came to an end the activities of the Jewish academies in Babylonia, the last seat of Talmudic learning, for centuries the Jewish cultural centre.
But another star appeared in another part of the world.
A great man is the man of the moment; he comes just in time. And so when the world was in the darkest hour, a light appeared. Solomon bar Issac, better known as "Rashi," was born. He arrived at an opportune time.
The name Rashi is formed of the initials of his full name— Rabbenu Shelomo Yitzchaki. In Prance he was known as Rabbi Solomon ha-Zarfati (the Frenchman); Christianr ity called him Rabbi Solomon Gallir cus. ;
Jews in France
Rashi being a Frenchman, it is appropriate at this time to . menf tion a few facts concerning the early history of the Jew in France. The Jews began to isettle in that territory during the first century, when the Romans came there. There is also a legend that Jews settled therie long before Israel had any kingdorri. In the Book of Judges it is related that when the tribes of Israel opened war on the tribe of Benjamin, six hundred Benjaminites escaped. It is these warriors who are alleged to have escaped to the Rhine, where they settled.
At first France was known as
Letters To The Editor
JUNIOR B'NAI B'RITH
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6 at the Centre. A very attractive program has been arranged, so make sure you turn up.
The Mixer for the month of March will be held on the ninth. A Jitterbug Contest will be the highlight of the evening. This is the chance you 'gators have been waiting for—so let's get in the groove. Remember this afi'air is open to everyone, and please come stag. On Thursday, March 28, there will be an Open Meeting at the Centre. Everyone is invited to attend. jWe were very fortunate in getting Mr. Z. Schreiner as the guest speaker of the evening.
Editor,
Jewish Western Bulletin,
Dear Sir: As a worker on many local and external campaigns, the writer is about disgusted with manly ot our local citizens who do not in any way support these efforts an^ again those who can afford to donat,e in a representative manner, yet givie a pittance merely to save their face.
I
The bitterness of this lies in the fact, that these individuals and their childi-en are the first to avail themj-selves of all"the advantages in ouir community, and yet have done nothj-ing to earn it either by personal efp fort or financial assistance. It has been suggested that these parties be socially ostracized or their names be published. But as this appears rather a drastic measure the writer feels that the members of our community should first have a chance to express their opinions.
DISGUSTED.
(We would like to have the opinion of our readers on this, and invite them to write us.—Editor.)
Gallia and was part of the Roman Empire. In the eighth century, however. King Carl the Great founded the French empire, which then included the territory of Germany arid Italy. Carl the Great is credited with bringing to the Rhineland Jewish scholars, who established Yeshi-voth (academies). These Jev/ish schools soon developed into centres of Talmudic studies, as well as of European culture, and presently attracted many students of Babylon to Europe. One of the outstanding scholars of that group was Rabbenu Gershom ben Judah (960-1028), who was the forerunner of the. famous Rashi.
■ * * * The Jewish historian, Graetz, states: "While the sword was ravag;-ing the outer world and most of the people devoted themselves to murderous strife, the house of Jacob cared only that the light of the mind burned on steadily, and that the shadows of darkness be dissipated. If a religion may be judged by its principal representatives, the palm must be awarded to Judaism in the tenth to the thirteenth century."
Strength of the Jews There are two great factors that always determined the strength of the Jews—the maintenance of an organized community with established institutions, and love for the Tor-ah and culture, as the essence of life. Arid so the life of a Jew, in Rashi's time, was based upon and directed by rabbinical jurisprudence and discipline.
Thus when the study of the Talmud was taken up, it was for the sake of finding: in it rules for the daily conduct of existence. Because the Talmudic studies responded to the needs of Jewish life, they became of real vital interest. The world was just now emerging from the barbarous state of the early Middle Ages, and the Jew felt his soul raise above the miseries of that era. In addition to his spiritual progress, the Jew, who was still permitted to own land, became a farmer, developing the vineyards and promoting: the wine industry in France. In one of his letters, Rashi writes: "All the.Jews are, at this moment, engaged;in the vineyards."
major items in the program of the Histadrut for the coming year.
The local campaign committee of Poala ZeJrei Zion Organization has undertaken to raise funds toward the national quota of one million dollars for the Jewish workers and pioneers in Palestine. On the basis of the warm response of the community in the past years the campaign committee feels confident that every Jew and every friend of the Histadrut will do his duty in this critical hour in the life of our people to the end that we may fittingly fulfill our just share in the great work of social and human rehabilitation that is being carried on by our pioneers in Palestine.
BELGIAN RED GROSS AIDS REFUGEES
IN WARSAW
PARIS (WNS).—The Belgian Red Cross have taken measures to bring relief to suffering Poles and Jews iii Warsaw by arranging delivery of money from relatives abroad to all sections of Nazi-occupied Poland, it was learned here. Food, medical supplies and warm undergarments were shipped late last week (Jan. 20) by transport from Brussels, to be distributed in the former Polish capital by officials of the Belgian Legation in co-operation with representatives of the Polish populations and the Jewish community. This transport will be the first to reach war sufferers in Warsaw, the announcement said.
Many other attractions will be featured, including the drawing of the Raffle, which Jr. B'nai B'rith is sponsoring in aid of Polish refugees. Watch the Bulletin for further particulars.
Last Tuesday, February 27, a very successful skating party was held at Happyland. More affairs of this sort are being planned for the near future, and members will be notified by telephone.
Girls, don't forget to work hard at the Raffle tickets. New books are always obtainable from the ticket chairman—^Bunny Osovsky, High. 4685-L.
We'll be seeing yo' a-dancing at the Mixer!
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