The Jewish Western Bulletin
OFFICIAL' ORGAN OF THE
_Vancouver Jewish Community Centre_^^^^
VOL. 2. No. 47. VANCOUVER, B. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1932 $1.00 per Year
Unless the Board of Governors of the Jewish Community Centre can raise $5,000.00 within the next two weeks, the Jewish Community Centre will be lost.
A final effort is being made to save Vancouver Jewry from everlasting ignominy and disgrace — to keep the Jewish name, which has been held in high repute since Vancouver came into existence, from discredit.
The Board of Governors are paying up their pledges in full, and every person who made a pledge must redeem same at once. Those who have not subscribed will not escape from ridicule and contempt if our debts are not paid and the building lost.
A Special Committee will be calling on you in a few days and we want you to realize the seriousness of the situation before they call. What are you prepared to do? Don't wait for the Committee to call on you, but show your sense of responsibility by mailing your cheque at once and help to avert what will be a calamity.
The following pressing accounts must be arranged for at once as well as several smaller accounts: Spencers Ltd., $6,720.00; Royal Bank of Canada, $2,800.00; 3 years taxes.
At a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Comunity Centre held recently, it was decided to withhold the publication of the list of subscribers till after the present drive for collection of past due pledges, when it is hoped that the majority of the names will be shown as paid in full.
EDITORIAL
The Vancouver Jewish Community Centre
IN view of the terrible calamity that is hovering over the heads of Vancouver Jewry at the present moment, we feel that we must for thial week let! all other thoughts lie dormant and concentrate on the one thing—and that is to save our fair name and the Centre building.
Too long has the cry of "'Wolf" gone forth and with the inevitable result that when real danger threatens us, we think it is the old cry being revived. But today it is more serious—and so serious is it that unless $5,000.00 is raised' within the next two weeks the name and credit of Vancouver Jewry will be in the list of defaulters. We have fooled ourselves a long time, but we can not do so any longer. This sum of $5,000.00 at least must be paid in that time and it is up to every Jew to do his share.
Credit was given us when the building was erected, not so much because certain individuals obligated themselves, but mainly because of the high reputation in wliich Jewry was held in this city.
In another part of this issue we are publishing an audited financial statement of the affairs of the Centre and no explanation is needed on how we stand. Today there is sufficient money outstanding—pledges—that would not only pay what is required but place the Centre on a good financial basis, and so relieve the situation for all time to come.
Why have not our co-religionists come forward and redeemed their pledges? "Depression" is the general excuse. We admit that times are bad, and money scarce, but this situation could have been cleared up long ago and will not release us fi'om our obligations. It was on the strength of these pledges that the Centre was built and furnished. The payment of every brick that was laid was partially covered by pledges when the building was started, and today many thousands of these bricks still cry out aloud for the redemption of these promises. How yvill it look to iije outside world, when it becomes public property that Vancouver Jewry's word was unreliable?
To those who did not pledge or give, we would like to point out that they will not escape the ignominy or disgrace that will befall their co-religionists if the building is lost and our debts remain unpaid. They are equally responsible for as we have already pointed out, that it was on the good reputation of Vancouver Jewry that credit was obtained. Depression is one of the excuses offered for non-payment but there is another—and we do not wish to hide matters but will come out clearly. The second excuse given is that mistakes were made when the building v/as erected, and those who made those errors should be made responsible for the present financial crisis. For argument's sake we will admit errors were made, but none of us are infallible. Nobody can deny that those men who sacrificed their time and energy, had any other view on the matter than to erect and equip a suitable Centre for our people. Are we to continue forever to bring up this old sore? Let us forget it. The Centre is here and is serving its purpose. Perhaps better use might have been m.ade of the money spent. Perhajos money might have been saved, if a different kind of building had been erected. But that is not the question today. Today we are facing a different proposition. Today it is a question of our name and credit. Let us forget the past. Let us forget that errors may have been made and join hands to keep the most precious thing we have, "our honor."
Our creditors have been very lenient and have carried us along relying on our promises. Are we going to let them say our word is unreliable? Sacrifices—sometimes bitter ones—have been made in the past in order to keep the name of Jewry clean and such sacrifices must be made again. We must remember that we are all tarred with the same brush as "Jews" and what reflects on one, reflects on us all. We often bask in tlie reflected glory of honors gained by our co-religionists and we must therefore be prepared to equally share any discredit. Let me briefly refer to another thing. In the Community there are several thousands of dollars lying unused which might be used to avert the present crisis. It is perfectly true they may be ear-marked for "a special purpose" and given for "specific objects," but circum.stances some-time's alter cases and instead of this money lying idle in the bank