63 Tears Serving PqcHic NorlhwesI;: JewTU
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief SAMUEL KAPLAN
Our 63rd Year
Since 1930 the only weekly publication sei'ving Jewi-y of tfie Pacific Norttiwest
An independent Newspaper
Advertising Manager RON PRE£PMAN
- Editor ARIELAFRIEDMANN
City Desk LYNDA ROSENBERG
Thuraday, November 4,^^
Published 47 times per.year by Anglo-Jewish Publishers'Ltd, 3268 Hisather St., Vancouver. BrilithColumbia V5Z,3K5 Subscription (nCanadiaV $40.0Q per ye^r plus $2.80 G.S.T.
a
When the gping is tbughv the tough have to get
going.;-:',
There is a downturn or recession out there, and Ipcar organizations have had to undergo a financial belt-tightening because of ^it. But the prospect is nonetheless alarming that because of a Ipng-term shortfall of donations, allbcations may again have to be reduced for the 20 local agencies as well as for national and Israeli priorities funded through the Conibined Jewish Appeal of the Jewish Federatipn of Greater Vancouver.
In a fotihti^ht Biilletm interview as the 1993 C J A was getting underway (JWB Sept 15), campaign chairman Howard Karby acknowledged that fun-draising is a struggle. But he expressed optimism that people would realizis they have to give more and that major donors will come forward tplead the way into a new level of giving.
That is the way it once was here "in the old days," during many of the years when there was a UJA campaign and local agencies maintained their own fund raising driveis. Our community used to be one of the trend-setters oh the continent amonggivers of dollars for Jewish causes.
For too many reasons to catalogue in this brief spaccvthe community reprgaiiized in phases, until seven years ago the dream of many younger leaders was attained and a Federation was established here.
Since then there have been growing pains, which were to be expected; and of course, there have been problems, also to be anticipated. JCp/ Hatchala kasha — every beginning is difficult. Then in recent years, the declining economy has exacerbated campaign hurdles:
However, there are promising
A fresh awareness of community is dawning as this year's campaign is being joined by new people and some canvassers are recording unprecedented increases.
Vet a community that was once a model of holy work in funding for Israel and locaiagencies, must surely still have in it more and more people who recognize that for Jews blessed to liye in Canada, it is both a privilege and a duty to meet the challenges of urgent overseas demands and vitally important Jewish needs at home.
Spme of us who do not have the means to donate money can hopefully give of ourselves to assist the campaign in myriad volunteer ways.
Still, there remains an uninvolved majority which has not come forward — perhaps has not been reached — and presently does not shoulder any resppnsibility in maintaining a local Jewish com-
munity infrastructure or in supporting Jews the world over who need help.
As Federation executive director Drew Staffen-berg explains, just imagine what we could accomplish if the uninvolved \yould contribute, even modestly. A significant sum could be raised towards strengthening our own community and assisting Jews in other lands.
It is hard to disagree with CJA chairman Karby's statement to The Bulletin: "What we are trying to achieve sometimes sounds yery difficult, if not impossible. But 1 truly believe that if each one of us does a little bit more and gives a little bit more, then together we can make a major difference as to how this community grows up."
Wanted: participation from a community that cares aboiit Jews here and everywhere.
I:
In vi
bear Mr, Kaplan: ; ,
It wias a delight to read the very informative column "Eye View" by Adam Rabiner {JWB Oct. 21). Each word was a treasured gem The young author is realistic, open-minded and honest.
I certainly agree with him, that until Israel reaches a complete and secure peace between the four million Jews and 200 million Arabs; the country is entitled to be supported, not only by the Diaspora, hut by the remainder of the decent world.
According to M^rk Twain, Jews constitute 1 percent of the human race, yet they are as prominent as any other people. Their contribution to literature, science, medicine, and technology is tiremendous. Twain also said that the Jew has put up a marvelous fight in all ages and done it with his handis tied behind his back to survive:
What Israel and Canada need is more men like Adam Rabiner — honest and courageous.
JEAN LAWRENCE Resident, Louis Brier Home
Letters represent writers'opinions, not The Bulletin. Right of reply rectifies IrtaccurBCies. Letters must be signed, witti day plione contact, and typed or printed, up to 250 words. VIEWPOINT exists for longer pieces, up to 750 words.
•li
DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY at 9:00 a.m.
Bulletin Office: 879-6575 Fax:879-6573
Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.- -
Closed Saturdays Jewish and legal holidays
JWB Copy .Box at Jewish Community Centre cleared orice a week at deadline
JWB Office Mail Slot for after-hour drbp-offs  : V MEMBER: ■■ Ethnic Press Associatiori of British Columbia. Multilingual Press Association of Canada..
SERVED 8IY: Jewish Telegraphic Agency. World Zionist Press Service. Israel Sun Photos,
AWARDS: Government of Israel Award of Excellence — 1968; Smolar Ayvard for Excellence in r«iorth American Jewish Journalism 1979 (Smolair Award Finalist; 1974 and 1982).
Publications Mali Registration No: 1384 ISSN 0021-6879
Subscription: Canada $42,80 (incl. G.S.T.) . per year. U.S. $43.00 per year; other countries $44.00 per year:.Foreign airmail rates on request.
.   Deadline: Every Wednesday at 9 a.m. . unless otherwise advertised in the newspaper.
Contents: The Bulletin assumes no responsibility for the content (Jt!4j?"Dpin-iphs expressed in newS|(^advertising, arti-, cles by"contributing"W?ife'i:is or Letters to the Editor. In deriiocrafic free expression this newspaper's columns are open to different views ias well as to irebut Or rectify inaccuracies, perceived or otherwise. JIV8 also reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject news, .articles, : letters or advertising.
-Submissions: Submissions and letters are welcomed on matters of Jewish interest but The Bulletin assumes no responsibility for Ohsolicited publicity, manuscripts or photos..
In the (Svent of a typographical error advertising goods at less .than the proper price. T/je -Jewish Westorn Bulletin wiH furnish letters to the advertiser stating the correct price, biut .goods may not be sold at the price printed and the difference charged to the newspaper. The Bulietinis not responsible for the Kashruth of productsor establishments advertised in its pages. The Bulletin assumes no responsibility for the contents of advertisem6nts\ wirich represerit solely the advertiser's clainis or views arid have no connection with this newspaper. .   :^ J
mokes pride heritage
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
On a recent trip to Europe, I spent time in a city called Prague in the Czech Republic. It is a gbthic city JfuH of castles, synagogues and so much history! ^
Among this history is a concentration camp called There-sienstadt. I spent one day among the fortress walls and dealt with many unsettled feelings. ^
I spent the next day in synagogue being that it was Yom Kippur. On entering the shul, a man was being held back from entering the building. He was questioning, in Czech, what was going on inside: A friend, who lives in Prague, translated the response.
V The siecurity guard told the intoxicated man that in the shul were religious Jewish people praying for their dead relatives, I then noticed that the man had a large rock held behind his back. Luckily, he was escorted away and nothing came of this. ■'
I sat down inside the shul beside acoiiple from California. We: spoke after the services and I learned that this was their first trip back to Prague in 48 years since they escaped
Theresienstadt. They had fled to Austria then to the U.S.
I realized on this trip that being a Jew is very important to me — it has always been. I am active in this community and enjoy my heritage, especially being free to do so!
LI ANNE COHEN
26 «/6ARi
. Cartoonists & Writers Syndicate
THAT MAvg Ctrr A
TO JuSTifV tH^iR P/xtttiajg to
SCHINDLER
JTUCSON, Ariz. — Calling all history buffs? What do you know of Jewish history down South?
The Americari Jewish Historical Society is awarding the Leo Wasserman Foundation Prize of $100 for the best student essay on any aspect of American Jewish history.
The contest is open to undergraduates and gradu-
ate students only. Send five copies of your essay, 20-30 pages long with appropriate citations and bibliography, to Leonard Dinnerstein, Dept. of History, University of Arizona,. Tucson, AZ 85721 no later than Jan: 15, 1994.
The winner, whose essay will be considered for publication in Americani Jewish History, will be notified by
May 15. ■'::/■.:■'::'-■■■■
From Page 1
selytizing has "historically never been something we've
done."
"It is another aberrational activity (of the Reform movement) that we have diff iculf y uriderstanding," said Rudoff.
"It is another step by Reform which widens the gap between us," he said-"The concentration should be on making Jews committed" to Judaism.
Rabbi Moshe Sherer, president of Agudath Israel of America, said Schindler's proposal "is a further step to undermine the identity and ocntiriuity of the Jewish people."
"It would seem that this group has launched another public relations numbers game to increase its constituency.^ Unable to accomplish this goal within the Je>yish community, the Reform leaders are once again reaching out to the non-Jewish world to bolster their ranks," he said.
Sherer was referring to the Reform movement's 1983 decision to adopt the principle of "patrilineal descent "and thereby accept the children of Jewish fathers and non-Jewish mothers as Jews.
That decision broke with the tradition pf defining Jewish liiieage through the mother. No other Jewish niovemerit defines Jews by the father's religion.
"Oufjob today is to reach out to Jews to be Jews, instead of to non-Jews to be pseudo Jews," said Sherer.
Schindler, in an interview after his speech, said that, in fact, Jews historically did missionize to others, but that their efforts ended when the societies in which they 1 ived began prdsecuting
The prophet "Isaiah said 'My house shall be a house of prayer for all peoples'," said Schindler; ^'That's Jewish tradition (which is) 2,500 years old. There were schools for missionaries in
the Maccabean period," in the first and second centuries before the common jera, he said.
"The prototype of the proselytizing Jew was
them for their efforts.
"Conversionary zeal has been praised throughout Jiidaisin,' he said. ^
Abraham, whose tent was continiially open on all four sides for fear that he would miss a wandering nomad and fail to bid him enter," said Schindler. "We must reclaim that which we let
He first called for such efforts when he instituted oiitreach to the unaffiliated 15 years ago.
But the movement's Outreach Commission has focused instead oh involving and integrating into Jewish life the non-Jewish partners in intermarried families that belong to the Reform denomination's 850 congregations.
The founding chairman of the Outreach Commission, David Belin, will lead the effort to raise $5 million.
Schindler suggested that moriey he wants to raise to further the Reform movement's ihissionary program might be spent on advertising synagogue programs that teach non-Jewish spouses about Judaisrn.
Reinni Altman, director of programs for the unaffiliated at the UAHC, said in an intervie\y that the money, would have to be spent through "the individual synagogues which could reach the unchurched population."
"It means creating more welcoming congregations which potential converts see as exciting and spiritual places, not that we're going to stand on street corners" preaching, she said.