Page 8 - The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, December 24, 1981
Ofganizatiom and People
A sparks from
the torah
B> RABBI MEIR URI GOTTESMAN _
Parshat Mlkayt2/Chanukah5742
The little lights of the Chanokah have guided us for more than 2,000 vears. However dark Iris outside, in the deep winter of troubles, a little candle shines.    - _
On Ghanukah, we must make our neshamas shine.
Reb Shmuel of Slonim prepared Chanukah lights for himself on Erev Shabbat. Before he lit them, he went to hear his grandfather, the' "Yessod Ho'avodah." recite the blessings; and planned to return to light his own before Shabbat.
While he was away, another Jew passed by. saw the menorah all prepared with oil and wicks, and without hesiiaiing, recited the blessing and lit the candles.
Reb Shmuel returned, and saw the candles already lit. There was no time to prepare a new menorah. Reb Shmuel looked at the lights, took a deep breath and murmured: "'The .Almighty Who commanded me to light Chanukah lights also commanded that 1 should not become angry. ..." * * ♦
Why were the littlt? lights chosen for the symbol of Chanukah? .After all. it was a great military-battle?,
Said the Torah Ohr: 'in the story of Chanukah, there was no question of the Jews being forced out of their land, as was later with the Babylonians and Romans. The Graeco-Syrians were quite satisfied that the Jews should remain, but not as Jews faithful to Torah. The Jews should turn into Hellenists. It was the Torah that should go into exilel The Jews should be cut off from the commandments.
"Mitzvahs.are compared to a Jamp, and the Torah to light. Therefore, when the Maccabees succeeded in conquering the Greeks, the little bright lamp., symbolizing Torah. became the centre of obser\'ance." ■
Thank G-d that we have returned today to Eretz Yisrael. We are living in pre-messianic times. The way is being laid for the advent of the Moshiach. Every stone and tree in Eretz Yisrael is holy, and every penny that is sent'to rebuild the land is kodesh kodi'shim.
But it's not enough, trees and stones and houses. The people must be rebuilt. The lamp must be relit.of Torah and kindness, so that every city in Israel becomes a Ught In the menorah!
We Jews must unite with each other . . .in holiness. , ■ .
Says the Birchat Chayim: "In the ancient times they lit the menorah outside, but now it's customary to light it inside. Why? Before we were primarily concerned about our enemies from without, the ones who are pjedged to destroy us. But today we must protect ourselves from internal enemies; those who divide us. who bring machlokes (Arguments) or who would wrench us from our tradition with new 'improvements.'..."
Jews must be one nation under G-d. Canada repatriates; its constitution, and we. Jews must . rcpairiatepur constitution — theTorah.
« * * ^
On Chanukah It's a custom to play various games. This recalls the time the Jews disguised their Torah study from the Greeks by seeming to play games.
Reb ■ Simcha Bunim of Parshischa used to attempt to draw sinners back to Yiddishkeit by playing chess with them.
Once he was playing with acenain baa! aveirah, and made a bad chess move, endangering his queen. "Please." he pleadeid, "let me take back themove." Hi^opponent agreed. .
A few.minuteslater, he again made a.bad move. . "Please," he pleaded again,"let rfie pull back;"
■ ""One time Iforgive your mistake.'" answered the baal aveirkh. "but not a second time."
The Parshischa nodded,, and began singing: "Woe to the man who goes.a way.that is no way. One time it's forgiven, but a second time they don't forgive. . . ." His'*oppohent" decided to : repent.
It's time to stop domg aveiros. Shabbat Shalom.
Mark Gayn dies
TORONTO —
Mark Gayn. one:of Canada's most distinguished - newspapermen, died last week at 72 after a long illness. .
At the time ' of . his death,, he had just completed ■ a. book. "New Japan Diary," which will bepublished next year.
Gayn, a Chinese-born. Russian Jew, was a foreign affairs expert who travelled . the w^orld in search of stories. He spoke several languages, including Russian and Chinese, and he was on friendly terms with,many of the leaders—of 'A'sia and Europe.
Gayn was employed by ■ a succession ~of' newspapers and magazines." He joined Th^ Toronto Star in 1959 and remained with that paper until the end;
Paul Martin, Canada's external affairs minister froin4%3 to 1968, caBed /^him "otie^of—Canada's reaUy greaVand aathoritar tive"- Joomalists. Allan GotUeb, Canada^B am-bassadof; to/ the U.S., referred to Gayn "as a breed of JonmaUst we don't have mncb of today." Yeshayaha Anng, Israel's envoy to Canada, described his death "an Irreplaceable loss for his friends and his reading pabllc. Honest Joomalism has . lost a great - craftsman."
He was born in Man-
churia, theson of a lumber mill owner." At the age of 13 I found my true love: journalism,'* he wrote m a 1944 autobiography; "Journey From The East."
- At the age of 20, Gayn left China to. study, in the . I'.S. After graduating from the Columbia School of Journalism, he was hired by The Washington Post as a China correspondent; In 1939, he joined the St.. Louis Post-Dispatcifv-Two years later, he switched to Newsweek; and then to Time. In 1945. he. became Tokyo bureau chief for The Chicago Sun.
Gayn   immigrated to Canada in 1952 and joined The Montreal Star and. Star Weekly.
In his eventful career, Gayn covered developments in^ Asia, South America, Europe and the Middle East. In one of his last trips, he retraced Marco Polo's route along the ancient Silk Road through the Gobi Desert.
Among the world leaders he interviewed were Mao Tse-tung, Ghou En-lai, Nikita Khrushchev, Indira Ghandi and Israeli prime ministers from David Ben-Gurion on. Gayn wa§^n-^dent supporter oflsrael A
He' leaves  his wife, ..Suzanne, a former Hungarian actress w^hom he met while on. assjgnment in Budapest inT94*
[Ben Lechtman photo]
MPP David Rotenberg [left] was among many presenting awards to snper-scholar Solomon Blmbaom on the occasion of his 90th bblhday. Looking on is son Eliezer.
By DAVID BIRKAN
TORONTO —
"My having lived to 90 is no personal accomplishment," said Solomon Birnbaum. "But any-. way," he added, with a bro'ad smUe, "I'm still glad to be here."
The pioneer Yiddish linguist and Hebrew paleographer was responding to a shower of good wishes during a ' recent cominunity celebration of his birthday, sponsored by the Canadian Jewish CongreSs and the Israel Fraiikel Public Library.
Birnbaum also acknowledged the devotion and contributions of his wife of 56 years^ Irene. "Instead of pursuing her own academic career, she de-
Jews must
By MARSHA EINES
TORONTO —
, The Torah teaches that politics is a necessary evil' but nevertheless Jews must be politically aware ?' to prevent transgressions against the covenantal re-. lationship between man and God, says a Buenos Aires scholar. Rabbi Leon Klenicki.
Rabbi Klenicki spoke at the recent annual Anhur J. Siggner memorial lectures: ar Holy Blossom Temple. His address was co-sponsored by the Canadian Council of Christians andJews.
'In his lecture entitled Religion and Political Ex-_ tremism. Rabbi Klenicki" said . religion has often been used as pretext for political ends. In particular, he cited the church's frequent extrapolation of . teachings from the New Testament to justify its political adventures.  .  •: .
In referring to the passage in Luke. 22:38. which states that Christians have "two .swords." Klenicki explained that the church eventually interpreted the "expression, as meaning a "sword of the spirit," that is, the church, and a "sword of secular- power,'li-that is, the state.
A dangerous situation arises when power falls into the hands of religious leaders who then face the temptation of believing they are omnipotent. Rabbi Klenicki said.
He also pointed to situations in Latin America where religion h'as-rbeeiT exploited for political ends of the state and the army.
However, the rabbi stressed that many religious spokesmen in Latin America and elsewhere in the Third World have shifted their ideology from the right to the left and are raising their voices for the poor and hungry.
from CJC national president Irwin Cotler.
Rabbi Yitzchok Kerz-ner, sphitual leader of the Clanton Park Synagogue praised Birnbaum as a "scholar's scholar." He said: "His Yiddish research is an integral part of his Ahavas Yisroel, his love for the Jewish language, culture and people. His study of Hebrew letters and forms is part of his Ahavas Torah."
Rabbi Kerzner congratulated Birnbaum for his lifelong zeal for traditional Judaism, which now saw him "surrounded by his children and grandchildren, all Torah-commit-ted."
Among the 150 friends, relatives and wellwishers preseiit at the ceremony were Birnbaum's three sons — Jacob, Eliezer and David—^ and his grandchildren. His daughter resides,iri.England and was unable to attend. "
Jacob Birnbaum of New York is the founder and U.S. national director of . both the Centrfefor Russian arid East European Jewry and the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry;
Eliezer, who lives half a block  away, from his father, in north Toronto, is. The problem with the . professor of Middle East . shift towards the poiitical   and Islamic Studies at the left, however; said Kle-. , University of Toronto, nicki,   was   that   many      David, who also lives .Christian leaders were be-   nearby, is a senior cnvi-coming '■romantically en-- ronmentarplanner.for the chaiited" with thepolitical , province of Ontario, ideologv   of  the   Third   '■ Prof. Joseph Sh'atz-. World. miller, of the University of
voted herself to raising a farhily. As well, she has been my most helpful and reliable critic."
Birnbaum received telegrams of congratulations from Prime Minister T r u d e a u , Governor-General Ed Schreyer, and Solicitor-General Robert Kaplan. A plaque signed by Ontario premier William Davis was presented to Birnbaum by MPP-David Rotenberg. He was made an honorary citizen of Metropolitan Toronto by Controller Esther Shiner, representing Metro Council and its chairman Paul Godfrey.
Mira Koschitzky, president of the Ontario Region of the Canadian Jewish Congress.read a message recognizing Birnbiaum's "contribution to Canadian muiticultuValism"
He said many • clergy aim to be like Lord Byron, dreaming of sharing and
Toronto's history- department, said that "nothing important in modem Jewish history escaped the
redistributing wealth. But . Birnbaum dynastj-. Klemck. pomted out that       Birnbaum's father. Na-such romanticism is simplistic; moreover; it often accepts violence as .a fait accompli.
scholarship, allowed him in 1947' to establish the date of the Dead Sea Scrolls solely bythe shape of their lettering. This confirmed the simultaneous researches of two other major scholars-using_ different techniques — Dr. William Albright of Johns Hopkins and Dr. E. L. Sukenik of Hebrew University (father of General Yigal Yadin).
Ben Kavfetz, executive director of B'nai B'rith and CJC's . Joint Cotn-munity Relations Committee, gave some personal reminiscences Of a meeting with Birnbaum: 36 years ago. While in the army Overseas, Kayfetz attended a lecture given by Birnba'um and walked him home,'' Even then, he had real hadar panim" (radiance of visage)* Kayfetz said.
RabbiZigmund Wolkeh-sitein, director of the Israel Frankel Jewish Public Library, cited Birnbaum as "representing not only skiU and learning, but what a human being can be when he achieves his
..potential." L
He recalled Birnbaiim's "legendary feats" of reading the proofs for his book while in the trenches under heavy bombardment and continuing to work in a military hospital while recovering from .a biillet in the neck. "It
.shows a marvellous fortitude and faith inthie value of life and in each moment of life;" said Wolkenstein.
Chairman of the com-mimit}- tribute to Bhu-baum was Prof. Arthur Kruger, dean of the University of Toronto faculty of arts and sciences.
ByJOAN ALEXANDER
TORONTO —
Prof. Emil Fackenh^im, who is leaviiig Torohto~to teach at the Institute for Contemporary Jewry and Jewish Thought at Hebrew University, was hon- ^ ored at a reception held recently at Holy Blos,som Temple under auspices of the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University. The reception also honored Dr. Charles Gold, who was inducted as the new president of the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Friends.
Paying tribute to Faek— enheim, who will return to teach,at the University of Toronto every year for the next few years. Rabbi Gunther Plant praised him for the "indelible and invaluable impression he has made on the Jewish world," and for his "catalogue of achievements," which includes the authorship of more than 150 essays and books. . Said Rabbi Plaut: "The academic fields in Israel will be ifructified by his presence."
According to Arthur Kruger, dean of U of T's arts and sciences faculty. Fackenheim has been the "quintessential Jewish professor" throughout his 30-vear association with
the university. Whether contributing t.o.: UJA, speaking about Jewish causes, or counseling troubled Jewish students, . "Emil Fackenheim has always been~the! Jewish voice and Jewish conscience on campus," ' Fackenheim, ordained as a rabbi in Berlin in 1939, reminisced about his initial "uneasiness" upon his arrival in Toronto. Desiring" to continue his studies in philosophy, which were interrupted by the war, he .'approached the U of T "in the middle ofthe year, with no BA, no MA, and a rabbinic diploma.''
He recalled that within five minutes he was deeply engulfed in a discussion on Aristotle and "1 felt that I'd never left home." He added that fje'd always been satisfied with his position at the university arid had never thought to "move from place to place" to advance his career.
According to Fackenheim. the worship of impartiality and objectivity was largely r.esponsible for the greatness of Gerr man universities in the 19th century. Indeed, Fackenheim said, scholarship requires the objective sifting of elements.
But what, he asked, of the Holocaust? "If we waited for 500 years to study the Holocaust objectively," he said. "I am
afraid we may not study it at all." ,.. / ~
. Fackenheim suggested that the- traditional rGer-man-European university ■model needed a "sprink-. ling of American initiative/'
At the Institute of Con-teriipprary Jewry at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, "scholafs are gripped by the fact that this is an age of Jewish history . . .scholars of the Holocaust, scholars of Jewish education at the-height of studying contemporary values and at themost ordinary level are studying some such subject as Jewish demography in South America."
Ironically, Fackenheim
was admitted to the de-partriienrbf philosophy at Hebrew University in 1939. He said if someone asks him today for his university Tqualifications, he will respond that his qualification is-the quality of "savlanut," patience.
Later, Dr. Gold, chairman of the 1982 UJA campaign cabinet, was inducted as Toronto chapter president of the Canadian Friends, succeeding Wilfred Posluns. Gold, an active member of .CFHU J^t many years, echoed a commitment to Jewish education. The Hebrew University was bom in the infancy of Zionism, he said, and from it, -our future leaders are likely to emerge.
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Theologians  are obligated to listen to all view-. points, Klenicki said, but he stressed^there must be limits to sympathy, citing • a case of misplaced sympathy (that he calls ''the greatest joke  I've ever heard"). ; The Christian „ Council of Churches visited Israel to investigate an alleged  lack of human .rights,   then,  two days .later, ■ Council members were'at a meeting with Arafat in Lebanon.
^"Religious people have the obligation to listen with patience to everyone, but if you recognize someone whosg"hands are deep in blood, you're recognizing the victimizers -without recognizing the victims," he said;
than,' was a pioneer, in, successively, the Zionist. Yiddish culture - and Agudat. Israel movements. Birnbaum's work on the. evolution of the. Yiddish language, the standardization of its grammar and the resolution of current problems in Yiddish lingusitics. have made him a major influence on other scholars for six decades;
Birnbaum's expertise in Hebrew, letter forms, still unexceeded   in world
BethRadom
You reported on the 20th anniversary celebration of the Beth Radom Congregation in your Dec. 10 issue. Here are a' few more details about the event which I, as the shnl's president, woiild like to share with your readers.
Our secretary-treasurer Molly Wirigust and Max Wingust, who , is house" chairman, could not at--tend- Mrs Wingust was sitting shiva for her late brother Louis Lacki.
Abe Nisker's contributions as recording secretary must be mentioned.
Bronka Weisberg — not: Esther Weisberg. as in The CJN report — presented a check for $500 to . the corigregation on behalf of its sisterhood. Sheis the latter's vice-chairlady.
Ben Hoffman., vice-chairmian of the Radomer Mutual Benefit Society, presented gifts to the . people who did work for the congregation. ;
Henry Rosenbaum appealed to inembers to bring their children into the. congregation's membership and otherwise support Beth Radom.
I opened the celebration, which was well organized.
Shoolopi Rosenbaom, Downsview, Ont.
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Reply to Box 6077, The Canadian Jewish News, 562 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario M4P IPl.
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A SYAAPOSIUAA: THE CHANGING JEWISH COAAAAUNITY
Rescheduled ■
Thursday, January 7, 1982 at
York University, 4700 Keele Street ,
Current academic research will be presented by. 1 p.m. ~ 5.30 p.m.
YAAKOV GLICKMAN: "Converts to Judaism" BEN SCHLESINGER: "Lasting Jewish Marriages" BEN-ZION SHAPIRO:"Self-Study of a Reform Congregation" BILL SHAFFIR: "Chassidic Families" EVELYN KALLEN & MERIJOY KELNER:
"Jewish Entrepreneurs" JOEL CLODMAN: "Identity & Religiosity on Campus" BERT ABUGOV & JOYCE LEVINE: "Jewish Demography" STUART SCHOENFELD: MODERATOR MICHAEL BODEMANN: DISCUSSANT
5:45 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.
COMPLIMENTARY RECEPTION for academics, sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Council of the Toronto Jewish Congress, followed by a dinner,*
8 p.m.
RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY
^AVID_SATOK, Past Chairpersonrof the National Executive, Canadian Jewish Congress MARTIN LOCKSHIN, York University
ELLIOT LARMON, Coordinator, Jewish Family Life Education Department, Jewish Family & Child Service ESTELLE HOCK, Chairperson, United Jewish Appeal National Student Campaign "
ALL EVENTSW/LL BE HELD IN ROOMS-869,FACUL TY LOUNGE, ROSSBiJJL^NG, 4700 KEELE STREET, YORK UNIVERSITY.
^"'"^     Adhere will be a charge for dinner. . Please\^.S.V.P. for dinner and reception.
!       Sponsored by: JewishiStudent Federation, York University ^.:>-'<-..,^ Jewish Studies Program, York University .   Jewish: Cultural Council of Toronto Jewish Congress, . For more information, call: 667-3647 or 487-6118.
Coordinator, Jewish^StOdies Program,
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