mt
The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, October 2, 1986-Page 1
Opitiion
ICont'di from page 10]
the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bernard Shapiro, former director of the Qhtario Institute for Studies in Education, noted in a i-man report which studied the question of public funding.of private schools that the government decision "appears to bcmore clearly an act of political will than a fulfilment of a constitutional obligation."" He suggested government funding only, for Catholics was discriminatory.
Forty-one years afler the disiappearance of Raoul Wallenberg, the fprmer Swedish diplomat was named the first honbrary citizen of Canada in December. A month later, he was named Israel's first honorary citizen.
To mark the anniversary. Pei" Anger, an attache in the Swedish embassy in Budapest during World : War II. held a nationwide tour of Canada organized by the Generation After Committee of the Jewish Federation of Edmo.nton.'with Canadian Jewish Congress-Anger worked with Wallenberg to save the Jewish community in Budapest and together they, issued • provisional Swedish passports putting ^ thousands under the protection of the Swedish government. ..     ■;       ■ .
.Jewish communities across Canada were . joined this spring in common interest for their brothers and sisters in the USSR by the Jewish Students' Network Freedom Caravan For Soviet Jewry.
Starting in Halifa.x and stopping to hold special events with 15 Jewish communities, the participants covered more than 7,000 kms, carrying the message that Jews in the Soviet Union must have their freedom.
The protesters brought their message of hope directly into the Soviet pavilion at Expo 86 in Vancouver, satisfied that their 2'/:-week long demonstration had brought small Jewish communities together on a crucial i.ssue. and that they had sensitized the Canadian public to the plight . of Soviet Jews.
The Freedom Caravan, first proptiscd at Network's International Convention in Toronto in December, was only.one of .severalcvents Network initiated to focus attention on issiics of Jewish , concern. .Among the other Network-sponsored activities were a day-long demonstra-; tion.and lobby' effort in Ottawa against terruj-ism in March; and a protest outside the Austriari consulate in Toronto against;Kun..Waldheim in July..
. The Ontario goverhrnent implemented a variety of programs to enable senior citizens . to stay in their homes as long as possible.
John Sw:deney. community and social .services minister, announced a 2-pronged plan in February calling for SI f miljipn to be spent to, maintain arid expand services for the elderly and S60 million to be spent over the next few years to introduce the Integrated Homemaker Program for frair seniors and handicapped adults:
Sefilprs' programs also received a much needed boost in Ontario treasurer Robert Nixoii's spring . budget which saw $13.5 million allocated for new . and existing programs to strengthen sei-vices for seniors. Nixoti also announced thai the govern-., ment would provide $850 rriinion for a 5-year expansion prograrn to irnprove hospitals. .
An independent public review committee was appointed by the Ontario government toexamihe the overall direction of social assistance in Ontario in July. :':.\\',
Sweeney said the review would lay the foundation for the enactment of new income maintenance legislaiibn in Ontario.
Ontario's Contentious Retail Business Holidays A(rt governing Sunday shopping hours shifted to the judicial arena as the Supreme Court of Canada heard the appeals of business owners charged for staying open Sunday.
Following three days of hearings, the Supreme Court heard and reserved judgment on the appeals of Longp.Brothers Fruit Market. Edwards Bwks and Art. Ltd. and furrier Paul Magder. after government lawyers defended the 11 rVear-old law against charges that it .violates the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion..
At the provincial level, the Progressive Conservative Task Force Pn Sunday Shopping Hours. recpnmiended that the Ontario government should maintain its ban on open Sunday shopping, while making a number of amendments to the Retail Business Holidays Act to bring it into line with the needs of modern Ontario.
The 21st JElehairy Assembly of Canadian Jewish Congress was held in Toronto May 7-11. Dorothy Reitman of Montreal was elected presdient, defeating MosheRonen of
Reitman stresses need ta broaden febristit^
woman was
Toronto in a closely contested election campaign.
Reitman, the first woman president of CJC. promised "balanced, sensitive and responsible leadership" and emphasized the need to broaden CJC's constituency by reaching out to more segments of the Jewish community, particularly youth. Sephardim, and those living in small, isolated centres. She ahso stressed that Jews should be more visible, in current six'ial issues. '■'As Jews, we haveaduty to be in the vanguard of stKial issues Kxlay to fulfil the tradition ol prophetic Judaism.""
Close to 900 delegates trom across the country attended five days of workshops, forums and plenary sessions on the overall theme ot Canadian Jewry: New Directions. Many of the resolutions adopted refiected a trend to more involvement by CJC in issues outside the strictly Jewish sphere. Positions were taken on poverty, capital punishment, employment equity, child care, peace and rights of the disabled, for example.
Despite the declaration of opening CJC to a wider spectrum ot the Jewish community, the delegates defeated a resolution, originating m Montreal.: to make a major amendment to the by laws concerning membership. The assembly, decided tp keep.the status quo: appropriate contribution to one"s local United I.srael Appeal cam-paignand subscription to the "aims and objectives" of CJC remain criteria fpr membership.
ten Jewish giants over the past year played their last scene, wrote their last sentence, composed their last .song, directed their last film, and made their lasf final exit from the world of liyelv arts.
Here are highlights from the obituaries of the talented. 10. who left behind a legacy of lasting pleasure in their ability to charm us, entertain us. or make us think.
Bernard Malamud, the Pulitzer Prize-winning, author who was regarded intcrnationaily as the "father of the Jewish American novel."' died at
■7!'.: .   ■ :
"Somebtxly has to crv — even if jt"s a writer 20 years later, "".he said of hisninels dealing with the HoliK'aust.
Laura Z.Hobson, author of the landmark 1946 novel Genllenuin's Af^reemeni, died at 85.
Her credo as a crusader against bigotry and , injustice toward Jews began with these words: *\AII through my life I have tried to do battle with riay-sayers — those cautious ones, those people in foreign consulates who close doors, those senators who vote down the good and strong laws that coiild save lives .
Benny Gm>dman. who reigned for Haifa cen-tur\ asthe.King of Swing and. was the,first ma-: , jorwhite band leader to cross the color line and reject racial barriers against Black musicians, ■ died at.77;, ^    ^   •:' ■
Alan Jay Lerner, the Oscar-winning lyricist who wrote such ever-vernarmusical valentines as My Fair Lady, Gigi, Cainelot, Brif'aJcHVi'^nd paint Your Wagfm, died ill 61.
He didn't believe in Broadway musicals that delivered a social message. "To me," he declared, "the best message a musical play can convey is: 'Come back and see me again and, "often."' '■'.■;■
Harold Arlen, the Os.car-winning composer whose output of more than 500 JewIsh-and-jazz flavored songs won him the title of Prince pf Tin Pan Alley, died at 81.' ' r
. Borh Chaim Arluk, the son of a Buffalo can-tori he said the strain of blues in his father-s singing at influenced him when he wrote siich ballads as Over Vie Raitxb<)w,.Blues hiTheNighi. Sioirmy Weather, and Thai Old Black Magic.
Lilli Palmer, the Austrian-bom Jewess who escaped from the Na[zi regime to become an internationally renpwned actress and author, died
In her best selliog autobiography, Chiinge Lc)bsters — />a/jc<', she wroiemost poignantly about what it was like.tb be Jewish and talented and persecuted in Hitler's Germany.
Otto Preminger. the director who dared to tTout Hollywood convention by tackling EvoJm.y as well as other controversial films dealing with :.sex and drug addiction, died' at 80.
The grandson of an Austrian talmudic scholar, he recouhled in his autobiography titled Prem-ihiicr how his refusal,to conven to Calholicislll and thus stay in Vienria probably saved hi.s life. "Because, for Hitler.'" he wrpte."converted or not. a Jew, remains.a Jew." .
Bert Pearl, Canada's first entertainment superstar who emceed the longest-running program in the histor>' of Canadian radio.died,at 73.
The Winnipeg-boni showman, versatile as a piani.st. songwriter and all-around entertainer, was host to ilic Happy,Gang, v/h\ch was broadcast coa.st to coast five days a week from 1937 ■to J 959'. . ■
Toby Robins, the actress best known as '[the
Anatoly Scharansky is reunited with his mother IdaMilgrom in Israel. [IPPA photo)
beautit\il hut brainy" ■ panelist on CBCs Fnmt: Page ChallengeVdied-M 55.
When she was alive, she said she hated being "the eternal sweet-yoiing-thing ingenue" and Canada's "prettiest actress," .After her death, she was hailed by Bernard Cowan, longtime announcer of the piopular TV panel .show as^'a true Jewish lady of the theatre."
Charles Jordan, the nationally known CBC
radio baritone jn the lyMJs when he was the first to p<ipularize robust Canadian folk soncs. died
■■af7f.-.
Born Charles Wi.seman in Mprdecai Richler"s St. Urbain St. ghetto in Montreal, he was also renowned for his powerful rendition at concerts of Yiddish folk .songs, mpst noVdh\y,Vic.Chazan. : Zunieg Bulh^'undihe hcTo'id Ballad Of Vie Vilna Ghetto Resistance.
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CARL ALPERT. The CJN's Israel -correspondent, makes his annual selection of the new names which made; headlines in Israel during the past year. Once listed, a name does not qualify again for Alpert's list:
So these are the names of new personalities who, for better or worse, attracted major attention in Israel. The order is alphabetical.
Moshe Bejski* justice of the Supreme Court, headed the commission of ijnquiry that shook up Israel's banking system following their rigging of bank shares, which led to a cPllapsie of bank securities. The heads of all the major banks and the, governor of the Bank pf Israel were com-{xMledtoresign. and major reforms in the sy.stem were recommended.
George Bush, vice-president of the U.S;, paid a 4Klay visit to Israel which was regarded by many as symbolizing the continued close and friendly. relations between Israel and the U.S.
King Hassan of MProcco made histor>' when he invited Premier Shimon Peres for a visit to clarify' respective Israel and Arab stands oh Middle East issues. Through a , joint cbmmiiniique issued at the conclusion of the meeting, each side made it clear that it could not accept the views of the other.
Jonathan Jay Pollard, US: navaj intelligence analyst in Wa.shington was accused of spying for Israel andof handing top secret documents over to Israeli agents. The charge was that Jsrael emba.ssy officials had recruited Pollard and had made payments to hini for his .services. The case caused considerable embarrassment ; to Israel, and was exploited by foes of the country seeking to worsen Israel-US., relations.
Rita, a new; home-grown singing-acting star appeared in the entertainment sky suddenly during thcyear. A,p<.>werful voice, a sparkling personality; and public sympathy fprher because she was not chosen -as Israel's representative to the EurovisiPn contest,' helped considerably by a skilttil
names
in
public relations canipaign.-made her an in-.
, stant hit. Her role as Liza in the revival of the Hebrew, version of My Fair Lady, assures that this is a star which will con-
. tinue to shine, brightly.-
Nathan Scharansky came home to . , Israel after nine years of a 13-year sentence in a Soviet jail. He was released as part of an East-West prisoner exchange, and has since come tP symbolize the unquenchable desire for freedom by RussJah Jewry. His wife, Avital. who had led the tireless fight for,'his relea.se. withdfevv from the headlines, but her devoted and peYsistent efforts on his behalf have not been forgotten.
AvraKam Shalom, head of the General Security Senice of Israel (the Shin Bet) found himself the centre of a public scandal .when it was revealed that two Arab terrorists, apprehended during their murderous hijacking of a bus in Israel, had been killed after their capture. Public indignation was stirnulated, against the fact that secret service operatives had at first, denied the facts aind had sought tp cpver up. Shalom and his colleagues were pardoned by President Herzog before being
■■ 'tried.
Kurt Waldheini made headlines in Israel as he ran for election as president of Austria, despite mounting evidence both of his participation in Nazi war crimes as .wellas his attempt to conceafthe past. Indignation in Israel not withstanding, the Austrian electorate gave him a vote pf confidence, u
ChavaYaari. wife of one of Israel TV's : riiost popularnews commentators, was accused of the murder of a woman in Tel Aviv to cover up alleged thefts of money. The case was marked by extensive press coverage and emotionally charged scenes.
And for those with longmemories. the following are the 10 names which made the list last year. How many, do you , remember? David Bala.s, Ruth Payidov. Abdel Wagab Darousha, Miriam Grbff,. PinchasGnxib.HadasKedmi, Rabbi Yit-: zhak Peretz. : Moshe Schachal, , Dr. .AvrahJimSuhami and Yitzhak Tunik.
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