I he ("aiKidiun Jewish News, Iriday, lebruary 20, 1970 - I'age 7
PROFILES OF OUR CONGREGATIONS
TORONTO
by URI JACOBSON
Wlieii Kabbi Albert Pap-penheiiii was a young Gor-maii-Jewisli refugee in England it is unlikely that he ever thought that tme day he would occupy the pulpit of B'nai Israel Heth David congre-y:ation here in Toronto.
As I sat with him in his book-lined study at 55 Yeo-mans Hd. lie reflected nostal-gicair\' about the days he was interned in England as an enemy alien. There was a positive side to that experience, however, - study at the Yeshiva Torat Emeth, a refugee seminar set up by Habbi MosheShneider, aman about whom Rabbi Pappen-heim spoke with deep reverence.
A shorttime later the British government decided to reclassify the young rabbinical student and he was shipped along with some of his colleagues to take up-life on the other side of the Atlantic.
Here in Toronto Albert Pappenheinv pursued his rabbinical studies under Rabbi Price and at the same time took courses in the Semitics department at the University of Toronto.
When I asked him about his university days and more specifically about tliealleged anti-Semitism in that department he was quick to observe that Jews have a tendency to be paranoiac and hypersensitive in matters like this. On the otiier hand, he readily admitted that certainmeml)-ers of the department were pronounced anti-Zionists - a situation which caused him no little discomfort.
After obtaining his ordination, Rabbi Pappenheim went on to serve Jewish communities in St. Catherines, Ontario and in Lexinj^ton, Ken-
RABBI ALBERT PAPPENHEIM
MR. ALEX EISEN.- Pres-■ ident of B'nai Israel Beth David; .
tucky. During his domicile in the latter place he also was a lecturer in Hebrew and Bibli--cal History at the University of Kentucky.
In 1956 he returned to Toronto to take up the pulpit at B'nai Israel Beth David. 1 asked if he could situate his synagogue ideologically within the modern Jewish religious spectrum.
He.replied that like most Conservative synagogues in Canada his own is more traditional than its American counterparts. In terms, of synagogue worship patterns he suggested that his congre-
gation could be placed somewhere between Beth Sholom and Beth Tzedec and cited as an unusual innovation the practice in his synagogue of reading the Torah in a two-year cycle.
As to the educational program offered by B'nai Israel Beth David, Rabbi Pappenheim informed me that his congregational school has some three hundred children enroled in classes ranging from pre-school groups through high school. He himself is involved very closely . in curriculum planning.
He has some definite ideas about adult education. When I queried him about Hebrew instruction for adults, Rabbi Pappenheim replied that he saw no reason for his synagogue to duplicate what other institutions could do better. The Keren Hatarbut, he explained, could provide the best Hebrew instruction for adults.
Despite the myriad acti- • vities in which he is involved the rabbi also takes time out to teach his confirmation classes and to deliver lectures to adult classes on Maimonides. Rabbi Pappenheim cautioned m e not to suggest ill my story that he was an expert on the medie-valsage. "1 merely find it most agreeable for teaching purposes to use the Mishne Torah. The students seem to like it as well."
What about synagogue life in general? Did he find it hard to find good leadersliip?
Rabbi Pappenheim admitted that synagogue politics today are not what they once were, - when the election of a president occasioned bitter controversies. .
The fact that there is a dearth of candidates for positions within synagogues may
t
MONTREAL
BY GLORIA BERLIN
This newseries will introduce our readers to the Jewish community. Its congregations and spiritual leaders. The order 61 presentation is neither alphabetical nor does it reflect the relative importance of the lespectlve organisation or synagogue. These in-depth profil<^s are being.published in the order they were prepared by our reporters assigned to cover this topic.
This series will not diicriminate among congregations representing different expressions of Judaism: liberal, conservative or orthodox. They a" (orrri an integral part of the living Jewish community and as such they will be presented to the public.
The Editors
be deplorable, he explained, but one must realize the tremendous sacrifices people have to make today to take on the mantle of a synagogue presidency.
"Jewish leadership today brings with it a great deal of harassment," Rabbi Pappenheim stated, "but you know how little honor often goes with the job."
While he was a study in calm during our discussion of synagogues, Rabbi Pappenheim became far more exercised when the topiq turned to the New Left and its Jewish adherents. He described the latter as people beneath contempt. "In most cases they have exchanged one set .of hypocrises for another' These are the people who proclaim a universal love and yet they exclude their own group. Wha' they have done really is to substitute one establishment for another."'
Nor is the rabbi particularly enamored with the new militant Jewish student groups. "There is no need for us to go down on our knees just because some of these youngsters have found their way back to the Jewish community." Referring to the newspaper Masada, put out by Jewish students in Toronto, Rabbi Pappenheim expressed dissatisfaction with its sophomoric display of obscenities and anti-establishment cliches. "Before we can respect them," he argued, "they have got to learn something about kavod Torah (respect for Torah). Part of Jewish tradition teaches us that you don't engage in filth."
In a. s y n a g 0 g u e whose membership includes prominent members of the Zionist community (Max Goode, Ju-
lius Sokoloff, Yehuda.Noy; it is not surprising that tlie rabbi is also a staunch supporter of the State of Israel. But as a realist lie told me that, regretable as it is, the Arab pressures on the Jewish state have had positive effects. Without that pressure a kulturkampf might be a real possibility there. And once Israel attains a period of relative peace the danger of a bitter clash between its disparate elements cannot be ruled out.
During the final minutes of our interview the talk turned to the current problems of Jews. Wlien 1 asked him what he thought was wrong with the Jewish community. Rabbi Pappenheim said that the problems Jews experience come about as a consequence of our positions as citizens in a free society. That freedom brings risks. Thus the problems Jews experience as a people are no worse than can be expected.
"It is very easy to critize the organized Jewish com-
SEVEN DAYS
MRS. DAVID ZUCKER- • BROT, Sisterhood head of Congregation B'nai Israel Beth David.
munity," he said. "But what good does it do to thunder out against the folibles of our Jewish society? For one thing, thundering doesn't do any good." '
In his role as a rabbi he sees his function not as a prophet but in part as a priest, as one whose duty it is to administer the Jewish heritage. "Jews should re-meml)er that one of Judaism's cardinal teachings is that we are all sinners. The synagogue, then has no room !or the holier than thou philosophy."
Professor speaks out
Dr. Lopez, Sterling Professor of History at Vale University, has joined the Arab-Israel fray with a recent letter to the New York Times,
Lopez points out that Egypt's claim'^to Sinai is not as strong as one might assume, especially in view of legal precedents which suggest that possession is indeed 9/10 of the law.
The Yale professor uses this argument to urge Egypt to make a speedy settlement with Israel before the lat-ter's occupation of Sinai becomes an established legal fact.
Israel has already asserted fliat right with regard to its own territories acquired in 1948, says the Yale historian.
In a rather ironic twist to his letter. Professor Lopez adds that humanity requires the resettlement of displaced persons in their homes but adds that this is tiardly possible with people who refijse to return . as law abiding citizens.
The final irony of Lopez's letter, is seen in his statement that Israel's treatment of its Arab citizens is hardly as severe as the treatriient America has meted outtoits Indian citizens. •
Knesset studies Talmud
"Arid the Torah will issue forth from Zion," goes the Biblical dictum. News reports emanating from Jerusalem seem to indicate that we are in.the midst of the fullfilment of Scripture.
Scores of Knesset members are meeting every Wednesday morning to study Tal-mudic law. The weekly lectures conducted by Professor Menachem Alon of the Hebrew University were suggested by the speaker of the Israeli parliament, Reuven Barkatt
There was one slight problem; Knfesset meml)ers soon discovered that the sea of Talmud was a little more than they bar gained for. Most of them have religious back- .
grounds which are deficient in Talmudic lore.
The difficulties were resolved by having the interested members begin with a straightforward session in Gemara. They are now deeply involved in studying the third perek in the tractate Bova Basra.
It is perhaps to soon to speculate of the effect that this instruction will produce among the Knesset students, but might we not soon see the day when Meir Wilner, Israel's pro-Arab communist deputy begins a speech
with "As Rav said. . ." ♦ + ♦
Hearing both sides
The forthcoming confrontation between Dr. Abba Ge-fen and Mr. Ibrahim Shuk-rallah promises tobeatense encounter. News releases indicate that the Israeli consul and the head of the Arab Information Agency in Ottawa will be sharing a platform together on the evening of February 24th at the Timothy Eaton Memorial Church on St. Clair Avenue West,
If indeied the two gentlemen share the platformphy-sically, this will be in itself an event of great significance, because official Arab representatives seldom do so. Mr. Shukrallah, the adept Arab propagandist, is the gentleman who persuaded the United Church's Dr. Long to issue a letter deploring the tendency of Jews to identify with Israel and their "regression" to Palestine.
There is little doubt that, as in the past, Arab students will come en masse to hear Mr. Shukrallah and to vjl-lify Dr. Gefen. Audiences in North America are becoming accustomed to seeing speakers representing the Israeli point of view, jeered and shouted down with cries of "El Fatah" and other terrorist slogans.
It would be most appropriate for members of thie . Toronto Jewish community as well as all those who look to a peaceful resolution of the Arab - Israel conflict, to be present at the Gefen -Shukrallah debate in order to ensure that the meeting not degenerage into social-fascist hate - mongeringi
Congregation Beth Ora is the central synagogue of the self-contained municipality of Saint Laurent. Located on Badeaux Street it was founded 16 years ago; its membership today numbers 800 families. From its early days, it has continued to serve the St. Laurent Jewish community in a manner which is truly exemplary. It has provided an important link with the outside community.
Although it began with only a handful of individuals in 1953, it has expanded in all areas. In its pioneering endeavours over the years,it has truly lived up to the meaning of its name, a' house of light' not only to its congregants but to the community at large. Beth Ora has earned the reputation of being one ofCanada's finest Orthodox synagogues, Its trend-setting accomplishments in certain areas have been adopted by many North American congregations.
•It was in 1953 that a small group of people joined together to form the Jewish Congregation of St. Laurent. Tlieir aim was to bring Jewish culture, tradition and religious services to the expanding St. Laurent Jewish community. It was not long before their idea materialized and in 1957 they moved into their permanent building which shortly after was given the name, Beth Ora, so suitable to the ideals which its members held.
The new building, active membership and mspiring leadership of the congregation's spiritual leader, Rab-
J
SISTERHOOD PRESIDENT. - Seima Leibovit/-, of Montreal's Beth Ora Synagogue.
bi Morris Halpern further enhanced the Congregation's progressive growth. In 1962 in response to the increased growth in membership, the beautiful new sanctuary of the Synagogjie was used for the first time at Rosh Hasha-nah services. And so it was that the collective dream of this small group who first came together in 1953 became a reality.
Today sixteen years later, the- spirit and ideals of its founders are ever present in the Congregation's manifold activities. From its niakeshift beginnings it has erected two buildings of its
WAS IT WORTH IT
It mightbethatMajor Ben-.' jamin. Shalit of the Israeli .Navy wanted to create a big fuss with his deinahd that his children - be registered as ■"Jews". . .
SomjLSuggest that his non- .
terrorist activities, how can We take the tiriie to deal with such delicate, questions as "Whois a Jew?" ■■: .' . It should be noted, that tlie President of-thb High Court, Dr. A. Agranat; who is npt-
Jewish wife wanted to convert^ a. religious person, and three to Judaism, but that he op- : other high judges, had'the
ppsed it. One thing is sure; he did not do any good to his, children by raising a public storm. They will be the subject of- controversy for a long time. Already, today; they are being asked by other children in school, what all .this fuss is' about? They do not answer. They really, do not know.-. . ;
Certain questions, however, could be directed to the five members of the Is-.raeIi::^High Court of Justice, whpfe'^verdicf^precipitated th/s storm. Why di^\they not take into account the ramifications that their decision would produce .in,„the young-States of ■Israelwand amongst
courage to vote against this decision. The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Iss.er Unterman, claimed; during .an urgent conference of Israeli rabbis, that some of the high judges who voted for this decision,; received their education in missionary schools. Whether or nof this istruewedoknow that/Chief Judge Chaim Cohen, who IS a; Cohen, has married a divorced woman ih a.ceremony performed in tiie-United States. Chief Judge Zvi Berenson has gained dubious fame by. cancelling the prohibition against sabbath t. v. ManySepiiardi Jews claim that Chief Judge -A. Mani committed a terrible
the Jevnsh people? , r\ act, when he joined the other Under normal conditions nour Cluef Judges- in their
, like thos in Switzerland, or the Scandmavian countries, one could understand the thing. But when every, day, hour after hour we hear about casualties, artillery-duels, aircraft attacks ;and
verdict.
Eleyen years ago Prime M.inister David Ben-Gunon sentjetters to 70 great Jewish TGligious per-sonalities all over the .worlrJ. to hear
By IVIOSHE RON
their opinion about the question "Who is a Jew? 96per-
, cent of the Rabbis and professors maintained that there was noplace for. differentiation between nationality-
-and religion amongst the Jewish people. Ben-Gurion understood that he-could not, proceed with this delicate matter because any decision mightuTseparate. the; Jewish people into two different parts.;■
. Sometimes things happen in Israel which arouse the. indignation of non-religious circles and create sharp antagonisms between the two campSi An example of the latter is the demand of the Rabbinate in Jerusalem, that non-Jewish tourists refrain from using telephones or smoking, or turning on the radio on Sal)bath,
The Ral)binate is not satisfied with the fact that all tourist hotels are kosher,, but it wants to compel nour Jews, and non-religious Jews to boliave like religious Jews on Sabbath.
There are many people in Israel who seek mutual tolerance, but now the fuss al^out the verdict of the High Court.
of Justice has now brought wild attacks on the religious population, soihetimes in the style of Julius Stretcher's "Siurmer;" This verdiethsis incited both camps.
The media are also responsible for this, untoward development. No wonder that the so called. Knaanim (the group that considers itself as Hebrews rather then; Jews) have become very active in their: incitement against religious Jewry. . :.
On the other side, in their \^Conference the Rabbis have ^attacked strongly the Chief Judges. Rabbi Schlesinger has said, that the five Chief Judges have adopted the spirit of the Knaanim. Rabbi . TcharsjvofTel-Avivhaspro-claimed^that religious Jews should be ready to go to prison to resist the verdict of the High Court.
In the meantime, the Minister of Justice, JacobShim-shon Shapirjo_has worked out a compromise. His proposal was accepted by a"big major -ity of the Labor Party. Gahal and.-tlie NaliOnal\Religlous Party and at last by the majority of the Israeli Government: ■' ■
The three clauses.in his proposal are: 1) The children of Major Shalit: wilV be i-egister ed as; Jews according to the verdict of the High Court, 2) The Government: ' will propose a new4aw to the Knesset, according to which only childirien on a Jewish mpthei^ will be registered as Jews.: 3) The repatriatibn law; which grants every Jew on arrival in IsraeL automatic Israeli citizenship, will be altered to the effect, that non-Jewish partners of rhixed inarriages will henceforth be granted automatically Israeli citizenship, but they and children of a non-Jewish mother will be registered as non-Jews,
It is hoped, that the High Court's verdict in the matter of Major Benjamin Shalit will cause the Chief Rabbinate, to reconsider the realities of modern life and facilitate the conversion-procedure. It IS also hoped that the new law will promote the immigration of mixed married couples from all over the world. One thing is sure: Israel has today enough worries and. It has accepted the government decision with a certain relief.
SPIRITUAL LEADER OF ,ST. LAURENT'S BETH ORA.- Rabbi Morrjs Halpern, whose synagogue has pioneered in progranning for Jewish youth and memb>ers of the general community.
RUSSIAN SYNAGOGUE.-Jews at worship In gogue in Tbilisi, Soviet Georqia. It Is both a house^of and social center lor the Jewish community.
a sy^a-prayer
own and now has a fine religious and community center,
Beth Ora has always emphasized the significance of its external role vis a vis the outside community. It has become an integral part of the community at large and within this role continues to serve an important function. Recently it honored the Mayor of St. Laurent by presenting him with a beautifully, inscribed plaque in celebration of St. Laurent's anniversary.
Its close rapport w^th the outside community was further manifested in a recent public affairs program which it initiated for the benefit of the entire community. A panel discussion on the future of the suburbs, Quebec and Canada was held at the Congregation. The Mayor of St. Laurent, a member of the National Assembly and a member of Parliament were among the panelists.
Supplementing its internal role as a synagogue and Jewish community center, Beth Ora continues to relate to its surrounding environment by fulfilling what it considers to be an important community function. It serves as a bridge between the Jewish community and the community outside it.
The congregation, in addition to initiating municipal events on a community level has felt a responsibility toward relating to the non-Jewish community. In this regard it has performed an instructive function by inviting Protestant and Catholic groups to its services, and holding discussion-groups on the nature of Judaism. Over the past sixteen years its efforts jn this direction have helped to create a deeper insight into Judaism for the members of the non-Jewish community.
Rabbi H.alpern recently appealed to his congregants to take action and do something about diminishing Jewish identity among, college age Jewish students and their alienation from a synagogue which they oftien criticize as rnat.e.rialistic, , He posed a most thought^ provoking query when he asked "Are we not really the , ones who have become aJien-;ated from our faith and its real heritage," This'ignited the spark' for one of his congregants,:; Victor Matus, who chose to celebrate his. son's Bar Mitzvah by do-, nating the money earmarked for the celebration to . support the Jewish Studies program at-McGill. V This exemplary deed was subsequently adopted by con-gregatipns in New York, "Chicago and other American cities. It also derhonstrated the insight of Beth Ora mem- : bership in its attempt to relate more to the true values Qf the Jewish faith rather than to see them desecrated and submerged. ; Following in this vein, Beth Ora has developed sev- : eral Habburoth(small groups of committed families) in an attempt to recreate the per- , sonal.feeling of religion, and to foster the ideaofasmall^ er sanctuary and a niore meaningful experience. \,
Within this framework they now have several small groups which meet in private homes and participate in discussions and study groups in different areas of. Jewish life. It is this approach whicli Rabbi Halpern
feels provides a creative experience for the groups involved and brings them closer to Judaism. It is perhaps the idea of a smaller sanctuary among the people which will produce ttie qualitative Jewish leadership of the future.
Adult education programs and Sunday Breakfast Club meetings at Beth Ora provide platforms for discussions of current events. Guest speakers often include new personalities who serve in a professional capacity within Montreal's Jewish community at large, thus enabling their members to meet them. Among Beth Ora's activities and programs are formal study classes. The Jewish Music F'estival conducted by its cantor, Cantor Samuel Taube is a program highlight for everyone.
Beth Ora also provides facilities for youth groups who meet in the synagogue in an attempt to foster Jewish tradition among its youth. Its Oneg Shabbat programs have contributed
SYNAGOGUE PRESIDENT. - Manny Finklestein of St. l_au-rent's Beth Ora Synagogue.
greatly to the development of stronger affiliation among its youth. These programs encourage strong ties -with Israel and support the idea of- a living experience in the Jewish homeland for . teenagers, prioi: to embarking in college studies.
In performing its manifold functions as a synagogueand community center, Beth Ora Ms approached its coriimun-. ity. by trying to anticipate ' its needs as it develops; if then programs in response to these needs. , ; : In. this regard it recently embarked on a .Golden.Age. Program, which has met with great success even in its , initial stages. ; — ■
The: congregation's Sis--terhpod has contributed sig- : nifiCantly toThe foundihgand on-going jprograms Of Beth Ora. In actuality if was the women who in their;concei:n . for their children's religious training led to the founding of the Congregation. Their great sense of involvement has made them responsible for many aspects of the congregation's growth. The Golden Age Program, the dra;>:f matic presentations and cultural programs are am6ng sisterhood's many faceted, activities. V Beth Ora has certainly kept abreast of the stages of its community's growth; its many activities and programs- have succeeded-in injecting itscongregantswith meaningful experiences.The dynamic leadership of its ■ President, Manny Finkle^ . stein and its Sisterhood president, Selma Leiltovitz have contributed toward this end.
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