Aid to Quebec Diaspora
Editor:
Is it not time for Jewish communities throughout Canada to start preparing for the consequences of what was once considered unthinkable: the potential separation of Quebec from Canada?
Our federal government has evidenced little capability for preventing this from becoming a painful reality. It has shown even less fortitude in protecting the civil and cultural rights of Quebec ethnic minorities, even though the governing separatetes are still technically controlled by our Canadian constitution and laws. What then, the fate of ethnic minorities after separation, when the PQ will achieve fuU unrestricted authority to pursue their specific national and cultural goals?
They have repeatedly signalled, by words and actions, that the new nation they expect to cre-
ate will have little room for diverse customs and traditions of any ethnic minorities who choose to remain. And history indicates a habitually high level of antipathy towards Jews within the leadership of the nationalist forces.
By now, we should expect that those members of the Quebec Jewish community, who are physically and financially able, must be seriously planning on moving their families and assets to more hospitable parts of Canada or North America. But there will still remain the infirm, the elderly, and those who lack financial means to migrate to consider.
I suggest it is not too early for Jewish communities in the rest of Canada (particularly in the West) to start developingorgani-zations and allocating resources for assisting these individuals in relocating.
It would also be prudent for all national Jewish organizations who still maintain major offices
in Quebec to jDur-sue moving these to areas outside of that province.
Max A. Jacobson Bumaby
No laclcing of lullabies
Editor:
We were greatly pleased with the in-depth article about Jewish lullabies in your Mother's Day issue (JB May 10, "Good night, little dear").
However, we were not happy that no one researched the local availability of these great cassettes and CDs.
Yerushalem Imports in Ker-risdale has almost every title mentioned or is able to order them. Anyone wanting any further information is welcome to call us and we'll be pleased to help.
Marion I. Cassirer Yerushalem Imports Ltd. Vancouver
When Alzheimer's hits home
It has been four years since my grandmother spoke a word with intent. Alzheimer's overcame her gift of speech. Alzheimer's is a strange disease. It is a long, slow event that has permeated our lives like mildew on a windowsill. There is no perceivable change from day to day. Then, one morning you wake up and everything is black.
My grandmother forgot her family, beginning with the youngest. First, she forgot my children, then my younger sister, then she forgot me. Her children went next and then, finally, her husband. It was difficult to watch her as she struggled to find his name. This man with whom she had spent her entire life. She would look at him carefully, intently, as if she were trying to place his face, then she would give up, roll her eyes and the vacant look would return. It has been even more difficult to watch the effect on him, the pain in his eyes.
I began to visit her less, I found
Steven Burton lives in Richmond. His grandparents, Rose and Marvin Lercher, reside in the Louis Brier Home.
Bobba Rose Lercher
avoiding her was much less painful, until I stopped visiting at all.
One day I traveled to see my grandmother's son. I spoke to him about how difficult it was for me to see her suffering so. His response was very profound. He said, "None of that matters. What does matter is that she can still enjoy the touch of the sun on her face."
I returned to my grandmother. When I arrived at the hospital, I found her in a wheelchair
staring blankly.
It was a beautiful day outside. I took her to the courtyard, where there were trees and sweet smelling flowers. I did something I had never tried to do before. I spoke to her.
I spoke to her from the bottom of my heart. I told her about my life and family. I related how my son, her great-grandson, had just spoken his first words and my daughter had just learned to read. I told her of my life and my work. It was so difficult that tears streamed down my face. I told my grandmother how much I missed her, how I appreciated all that she had done for me, how unbearable it is to see her suffering and how I love her very much.
I know that she is no longer capable of understanding the meaning of my words, but I now know that none of that matters. My only hope is that my words might have touched her soul as the sun touched her face.
I returned her to her room. I said goodbye. As I turned to leave I looked back. It was then that she gave me the greatest gift: she smiled, n
Quotes from media around the world and at liome. "I
It is ironic that the next prime minister of Israel imd the comp(h sition of the 14th Knesset could be determined less by the electorate's assessment of the competing policy platform of the political parties, than by the actions of Israel's Islamist enemies."
—From a Canada-Israel Committee primer
for the Israeli elections May 29.
Just the suspicion that an individual was shot due to his party activity during an election campaign is enough to send a warning signal."
—Israeli Supreme Court Judge Theodore Orr, on last week's shooting of a Labor Party worker by alleged Likud supporters.
"I
I'm open-minded. They're open-minded. I said, 'Why not?" ■—Palestinian beer manufacturer Nadim Khouiy, whose Taybeh brew's kosher designation was arranged by We.'it Bank settlers.
"T
I hese people speak for Judaism the way Madonna speaks for the Vatican."
—Film critic Michael Medved, saying criticism of Hollywood isn't anti-Semitic just because Jews work there.
Dry Bones
KIRSCHEN
JERUSALEM REPORT
Jerusalem ISRAEL
Cartoonists & Writers Syndicate