Page 8 - The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, March 24, 1978
T
The material in this column was supplied and space purchased by the United Jewish Appeal
sparks from the torah
Bv RABBI MEIR GOTTESMAN Parshat Tzaf
Yadav t'veenah...His own hands shall, bring the ■■ offerings of the L-rd...
The Torah is beautiful because it's down to
earth. It recognizes.that people are just people. A saintly rabbi who was~a widower rescued a : Jewish maiden svho had been kidnapped and held . for ransom. He brcRight her home for protection ■ until she could be returned to her family. For : modesty's sake, he placed her in the loft, while he
slept below. .As an extra precaution, he removed
the ladder.
In the middle of the night.he woke up. his yetzer hora burning like a fire. He replaced the ladder and started climbing. His conscience said no, but his yctzer hora forced him up, step by step.
Suddenly he began yelling, "Fire! Fire!" The neighbors came running — where's the fire?
"My yctzer hora is consuming me like a fire."
he wailed. "Rescue me before 1 sin!"
« * ♦ * .
We're just flesh and blood, and yet we have to be kedoshim, sanctified.
Consider...in the days of the Holy Temple, a Jew would offer a korban ola. a burnt offering that was completely consumed by the flames of the altar.
G-d 'commanded, "...it should be a burnt offering, on the fire of the altar all night..." The offering. G-d insisted, should burn all night. But between you and me — what's the difference when the offering was burned? Why make such a fuss about the night'.'
But it teaches...the burnt offering was brought to atone for a Jew's lustful thoughts. It was a fiery offering to make up for fiery desires. But when does a person fall into conternplating sensual desires'.' VVhen he's busy davening? When he's running around ti-ying to make enough money to meet the.mortgage'.' No. .At night, alone, when no one's watching...
G-d commanded the offering Burn at night, to atone for a Jew's unbridled thoughts of the night. (Toidot Yiizchak)
We spend nearly a third of our life sleeping dreaming. Scientists believe that a normal person dreams five times a night on the average, his mind rising and falling like a roller-coaster, deep deep in sleep, followed by awareness and dreaming.
Our minds are never completely asleep. We re-weave the inner fabric of our lives, try lb bring order out of chaos. Sleep and dreams are also a gift of G-d. and we must approach them with holiness.
Our rabbis taught that a Jew should fall asleep not mulling over the latest Johnny Carson monologue, but the Oneness of G-d. If possible, a Jew-should doze off with the words of Shema floating in his mind.
Many people are nin aware that a Jew should recite a blessing over sleep, called Hamapil.
.As a special gift to our readers, 1 would like to send you.a free copy of the Prayer upon going to sleep. To receive a copy, please send a stamped, self addressed envelope to Rabbi Meir Gottcs-man. 9 Fraserwood Ave., Toronto M6B 2N3.
No Jew ever has to take a sleeping pill. No one
should ever go to sleep worried. G-d protects iis
dav and-night.
" ' * * * *
Mav we have only pleasant dreams. Shabbat Shalom.
Rubinstein views forest in his honor
JERUSALEM —
At his specific request while visiting Israel recently, the world-renowned pianist Artur Ritbin-stein was taken to see the forest planted in his honor,, The forest of 10;000 trees was planted in 1969 by the Jewish National Fund near the'settlement of Aminadav, not far from
the Kennedy Memorial in Jerusalem.
"When you are lOD years old; ybu will come to visit us, like Moshe Mon-'tefibre.in his diligence," said host Teddy Koliek, the ,mayor,,of, Jerusalem, referring to the pianist's age. But Rubinstein replied with a chuckle: "I ' would like that!"
sie
the name
of an afQuent Philadelphian
landmark events in our history
ByROCHELLECARR
Moses .Aaron Dropsie was walking along the streets of Philadelphia. Pleased with himself, the former watchmaker's apprentice and. later, jewel-rv businessman, had been admitted to the bar. It was 1852.
His choice to enter law had been but one major decision he had made, to that point, in his life. Born to a Dutch Jewish immi-
grant father and Christian mother, he decided, at the age of 14, to . embrace Judaism. His decision was one. of total commitment, which included a life-long active membership in Pennsylvania's oldest synagogue, the Sephardic .Mikve Israel.
His business experience, coupled with his knowledge of law, soon made him a man of note in society, both in terms of affluence and influence.
He became one of Philadelphia's leading figures in the city's transportation system. His law practice ' was one of the most prestigious. Such future notable leaders as Mayer Sulzberger studied under him. -3
As . a man of letters, Dropsie published books on everything from Roman law to studies in Judaism. Deeply conscious of the needs of his fellow human beings, he found the time to help settle, in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the U.S.. thousands of Jews fleeing Czarist Russia. He displayed equal concern toward his fellow Americans. His anti-slavery stance led him to help establish the Republican party in Pennsylvania.
Of all those accomplishments, none would stand out more than his contribution to education.
It was his firm belief that only through education would Judaism survive. Under his aegis, coupled whh the support of his good friend. Rabbi Isaac Leeser, Maimonides College was founded in
Philadelphia in 1867, For six years it helped train rabbis and teachers.
When_^ in 1873, the college was forced to close its doors, Dropsie's dis-a p p 01 n t m e n t w e i g h e d heavily on him. He felt let dow n by the Jews of New York who did not share his enthusiasm for the college and, consequently, did not help support it.
It is generally assumed by most writers that for this reason he did not back the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York when it opened.
Despite his bitter disappointment, he bequeathed a huge sum of money in his will for the founding of an institute of higher learning in Philadelphia. On May 22, 1907, two years after his death, the Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning opened.
Its importance as a learning institution grew to the point that, in 1969, it was granted university status and became Dropsie University. What Dropsie strove for all his life had come to fruition.
All set to meet the crowds at UJA Purim bazaar at Beth Tzedec are grade 5 pupils of United Synagogue Day Schools. The bazaar Is organized annually by Mrs. Lola Bar-Lewaw, (he teacher. From the left are Todd Beallor, Melanie Robins, Stephen Merrick and Gregory SIgel.
Cole
Moses Aaron Dropsie — builder par excellence
ADATHISRAEL CONGREGATION
37 SOUTHBOURNE AVE., DOWNSVIEW 635-5340
Adult Study Committee presents The M\\ Century in Jewish History
DR. STEPHEN SPEISMAIM
Historian and expert on Jewish Canadiana, Archivist, Canadian Jewish Congress, Centra) Region.
'The Toronto Jewish Community The Past 75 Years"
MONDAY, MARCH 27, 9:00 P.M.
REFRESHMENTS
NO CHARGE
GIVE
JEWISH NATIONAL FUND TREES
FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Toronto.,.........781-5515
Hamilton.........527-7385
Windsor...........256-2284
Montreal..........934-0313
Keren Hatarbut Institute
Rapid Course in Conversational Hebrew
in 5 EVENINGS you will learn to conduct a simple
conversation in Hebrew. Registration
Jos. Klinger 787-0197 for inforrnation
Camp
Golan
Hebrew speaking day camp Ages 7-12, Aug. 14-Sept.1 Registration 787-0197
Orthodox Division
TORONTO JEWISH CONGRESS
invites you-to attend an Open Meeting
KASHRUTH SEMINAR
and WORKSHOP
A MEANINGFUL
PASSOVER
A LOOK AT
METRIC
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 5th. 1978 — 8:30 p.m. SHAAREI SHOMAYIM SYNAGOGUE — 470 Glencairn Ave.
The Eastern Canadian Region United Synagogue Youth
is seeking candidates for the position of Regional Director of Youth Activities. The position requires a niiniinum of a Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field, an extensive Jewish background including'famiharity with Hebrew, current events and Israel.
The position offers a salary of between S5.700 & S7,000. .^mong the responsibilities of the Regional Youth Director are:
1. The planning and implementation of<i major annual regional youth ■ convention for high school students.
2. The planning and implementa'tion of a one week summer cainp'^ : program for high school students..
3. Responsibility for budgeting for individual events as well as yearly requirements. ,
4. Supervision of some 30 Youth Advisors and Youth Directors, 3 Field Workers and Secretary.
5. Liaison with our 18 affiliated Consen'ative congregations in Ontario and Quebec.
The position requires some travel as well as evening and weekend work.
United Synagogue Youth is the Youth Organization of the United Synagogue of America. The position is available as of July 1, 1978.
Candidates are asked to subniit. their complete resumes and recommendations as soon as possible to:;
E.e.R.U.S.Y., 20 Dresden Rd.,Downsview,Ont.M3H 1W9
i
Beth Tikvah Adult Education
. ■ ■ presents
a SpeciaI Gue'st: Lcctlire hv ;
"Educating for Jewish Survival
and in Diaspora
m
Rabbi. Pavid .Hartman is Professor of Jevrish Philosophy at the Hebrew Uiiiversity and is director of the Shdlam Hartman Institute foradvanced Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
He. completed his rabbinic training at Yeshiva.University m'l953, arid subsequently o.btained his Ph.D. in philosophy from McGill University. He has taught at Yeshiva, Concordia, McGill andr-since 1972, Hebrew University. He has also been deeply involved in communal educational endeavors through the years. •
He was Rabbi of Tiferes Jerusalem Congregation in MontreaL from 1960 to 1971, beforermaking ahya.
3, 8:30 p.m.
Refreshments
BETH TIKVAH SYNAGOGUE 3080 BAYVIEW AVENUE, WILLOWDALE i LOWER ASSEMBLY HALL
; EVERYONE IS WELCOME
No Charge
YORK UNIVERSITY ;
Conferences on Jewish Life and Education
sponsored by the Faculty, of Education, jud?.ic Studies Option an . '
of Aris, Programme in Religious Studies; in cooperation with the Mctro;Toronto , Board ot Jewish Education and the Toronto Jewish Congress,
JEWS AND THE ARAB WORLD March 26-29,1978
Sunday, March 26
Nairn Kutton, author, critic, head of writing and publications section, the Canada ■
Councji,, ' .• ■■' ' ■
Another Dimension: the Sephardi Imagination
8:00 pm. Adath Israel Synagogue, 37 Southbourne .;
Monday. .March 27
: t\aim Kattan, .... .. ■■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ' , ■ ,,' ■ '..'
lews, Arabs, and Other non-French Writers, Their Impact on ModernTrench
.Literature, ■.• 10:00 a.m. York University, Steeles Campus, Vanicr College, Room lis .
5o/o/-»f)« G{70«, Sephardic Studies Programme/Yeshiva University, Hacham of the British Commonwealth ■ ____ .
The Origin of SephardiLiturgy:_
8:00 p m. Petah'Tikva Congregation,-20 Danby „u_.
Tuesday, March 28
/(;/)(C;('r6eri City University of New York
Is There'AnArab Tradition.of Toleration for. lews?
11'00 a.m; York University^ Steeles CampuSi.Ross Building, Room S20.5
/aric Cerbvr,
Arabs and Jews: New Light on an Old Relationship
1:00 pm. York University; Glendon Campus, Fireside Room. 3rd floor, York Hall ---«ou(;/-dStfc/^<7/■, George Washington University.author,/1 ///smoo/:/src;c/ ' The Arab-Israeli Embroglio: a.Scenario for Peace 8 00 p.m. Beth T/edec Synagogue, 1700 Baihursl - -- -.
Wednesday, March 29 ,
Howard Sachar, ■,■, ■
The Seeds of Conflict: Lebanon's Christians and .Muslirps, Israel's jews . 4:00 p.m. York University, Steeles Campus, Rps^ Building, Room S872 ..
All lectures are open to the public and free of charge.. For information, phone 667-3189.
The 1978 campaign total has passed the $16,500,000 mark and if our canvassers put on an extra special effort. there should be no problem in reaching a S20 million total.
Statistically, this goal is attainable.
Based on last year's gifts, there are cards outstanding valued at $4 million. When we get them all in. we will have more than achieved our goal.
All the outstanding cards have been assigned, .so you can see why it's so important for canvassers to keep at it until every prospect is covered.
An interesting aspect of this year's campaign is that' wc have 2500gifts, totaling $1 million, from contributors who didn't make a gift last year. The grim events of the past couple of weeks make it likely that we'll get many more"new" gifts because there are some people in the community who respond only at times of severe crisis. And. of course, I expect our regular contributors, who have not yet pledged, to respond now with alacrity. Jews are again living in perilous times and a suqcessful UJA campaign is our only safeguard for the future.
Rabbi W, Gunther Plaut put it into perspective when he told a memorial meeting for the victims of the rnur-derous terrorist attack on Israelis that "your gift to the UJA is a wonderful way to show your true feelings for Israel."
* ♦ *
Milton Harris, immediate past president of Toronto Jewish Congress, laid it squarely on the line at the recent TJC annual meeting when he declared that a gift to the UJA is a prerequisite to being part of the Jewish community. "You identify with the community by contributing." he said. .
Commenting on the proliferation of fund-raising campaigns in Toronto. Milton said it is essential that the UJA has first priority to community funds. And. if iiiflation keepsup at its present rate, "we will have to find ways of enhancing UJA revenues."
Rose Wolfe, the new president of TJC, emphasized at the meeting that "those who spend the money have a responsibility to help raise it through the UJA."
TJC is a partner with the United Israel Appeal of
Canada in operating the United Jewish Appeal.. ***■
DID YOU KNOW THAT . . . 700.000 Israelis, including 200.000 children, live.in depressed housing! Your UJA dollars, through the United Israel Appeal and Jewish Agency, help alleviate this sad situation. This year's allocation from the Jewish Agency for new housing is $35 million.
. . . and in Toronto . . . your UJA dollars help provide programs for exceptionals.ser\ices to the aged and day camps for low income families at the YM-YWHA. The allocation: $85,000.
.Marvelle Koffler tells me she was very pleased with the response to a talk she gave to the Shaarei Shomayim Sisterhood. As a result, the members are arranging their own UJA telethon the la.st week in March.
In the immediate offing for the Women's Division is a massive cleanup mail-a-thon aimed at the smaller contributors.
■.. ' ■*;■ *. ■'
Carol Seidman. Baycrest staffer, reports the UJA talent show put on by residents of the Home and by participants iri the Day Care Centre program was an unqualified success. They took in.$203.50 for UJA — a very, respectable amount in View of the fact that public admission was only $1, and residents were admitted free.
I've also heard that there have been a series of UJA fund-raising teas organized by the residents, from which the proceeds have each averaged $55. The teais vyere held on different days on each of the five floors of the Home, from the fifth to the t^nth, with four speakers taking turns on behalf of the UJA.
The star speaker, I'm told, has been a double amputee from the Daiy Care Centre, Abraham Super, known around Baycrest as "Superman." Mr. Super makes his " pitch bedecked with the five gold medals he won in the Handicapped Olympics. He points out to his listeners that he received a great deal of help from the Jewish Family & Child Service (a UJA beneficiary) with rehabilitation after he was fitted for his artificial legs. The three other UJA "pitchpersons" are Be^jamiri Slat, also of Day Care, and Bluma Cogan and Williaih Silver, residents of the Home.
It's a delight to hear of the energetic involvement of
our seniors. We welcome their efforts wholeheartedly.
♦ * .*
Arthur Tannenbauili, chairman of Ediicatibh Professions, predicts his grOup wi|l raise at least 25% more dollars thjin raised last year. The number of contributors is, up by 45% — all employed in the Toronto Jewish school system. A telethon, arranged by Irwin Diamond and Said Morganstein, helped swell the total.
JackieSamuel, aged 16, is a young man who takes his commtinity responsibilities seriously. A few years ago he pressed an envelope iiiniy hand and when 1 opened it, 1 found $100 and a note, which said in part: "Dear Tubby — 1 am ericlosing $100 iii cash as my donation to the UJA > . Plea:se accept my warm .congratulations on a campaign well run. Ypu did a fantastic job
Thanks, Jackie. Perhaps some day I'll be able Jo say the same to you! ■ ^ . '' ^ "
■>^'-* • :*•■:■:■■ ■ ■■■■■
Hy Isenbaum. chairman of Major Gifts,.and Karl . Bald, chairman.of the Business division,/tell mie they are aiming at getting many more cards corhpleted by the time the UJA cabinet meets again, on March 30, at the Primrose Club. Guests of honor at the meeting willbe " Ylgal Allon, former Israel foreign minister, and Mrs. Alloh. i am siire they will be pleased to hear how well our ^campaign is doing. ^
See you next week ....