Publisher and Editor-in-Chief SAMUEL KAPLAN
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Jewish Book Month across North America has been designated as November 23 to December 23. In celebrating this event, Jewish communities in larger urban centres stage lectures, book fairs, symposia and other related cultural events.
For far too long the "People of the Book" were often the people of the unopened book. The pressures of contemporary lifestyles, involvement in professional or business activities, left little room for either serious or even relaxed reading.
Jewish Book Month helped to change this. It aids us in focusing on the richness of our literary heritage as it is filtered through thousands of Jewish volumes published annually on a broad range of subjects. By making Jewish books available for perusal and purchase, Book Fairs give added impetus to the Jewish public.
For the past three decades this newspaper, year-round, has offered quality book reviews, author interviews, and literary features (including book excerpts). Moreover, during Jewish Book Month it has concentrated on adding quantity to that quality.
But overall, in the last two decades at least, Jewish Book Month in Canada has undergone a number of significant changes in its pursuit to highlight Jewish books from diverse quarters. From modest beginnings in Montreal and Toronto, Jewish book fairs have mushroomed into major community events
from Vancouver to Halifax. Our own annual Showcase of Jewish Writers and Book Fair at the Centre took place November 12-13, featuring Israeli author Amos Oz as well as Canadian (including local) authors.
This Canadian-Jewish connection is of prime consequence. In the last twenty years there has emerged in this country an important school of Jewish novelists, poets, essayists, historians and critics who are putting Canada on the literary map.
As recently as ten years ago, Canadian Jewish Book Month programs tended to concentrate on big names from "elsewhere" to attract audiences. Canadian Jewish Writers were largely relegated to the periphery. In this regard, local book events from the outset departed from a Canadian norm, because literary programs here started out specifically as showcases for Canadian Jewish writers, and have only recently dropped "Canadian" from the name of the annual event to broaden its scope.
But today, the situation has changed all over Canada. Canadian Jewish authors are now featured attractions everywhere. By making these authors and their books available to Jewish audiences, showcases and book fairs are recognizing the importance of Canadian Jewish authors and are helping to promote "Canadian content" in their programs.
They are also providing much needed encouragement and forums for our Jewish writers.
Letters represent writers'opinions, nof The Bulletin. Right of reply rectifies inaccuracies. Letters must be signed, with day phone contact, and typed or printed, up to 250 words. VIEWPOINT exists for longer pieces, up to 750 words.
Griffith was regarded as a'man of high integrity'
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
Arnold Ages' review of Ira Nadel's critical study, Joyce and the Jews (JIVB, Oct. 26) was marred by an egregious historical error. 1 am referring to the passage which reads: "Moses is the cynosure of the prophetic ideal and the figure of Bloom is said by Nadel to represent Arthur Griffith, the originator of the Sinn Fein political movement. (1 am not sure that the comparison between Moses and the political wing of the Irish Republican Army is a salutary one.)"
Prof. Ages seems unaware that Sinn Fein pre-dates by several years the IRA (an organization which would eventually rise from the ashes of its predecessor, the IRB, or Irish Republican Brotherhood). Far from being revolutionary in intent, the Sinn .Fein of December 1905 (the month in which its first meeting was held) modelled itself after the Hungarian People's Party of Ferencz Deak; it was not just constitutional, it envisaged a dual monarchy. Sinn Fein did indeed eventually become the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, but that was the result of political circumstance, not the will of Arthur Griffith.
Since Prof. Ages seems unaware as well of the high regard in which the political leader he so cavalierly disparages was held by his contemporaries, it might be "salutary" to quote from Ulick O'Connor's book, A Terrible Beauty is Born:
"People meeting Griffith for the first time were not immediately impressed. He had a taciturn quality which tended to put people off. Churchill noting this would describe him as That
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Contents: The Bulletin assumes no responsibility for the content of, or opinions expressed in news, advertising, articles by contributing writers or Letters to the Editor. In democratic free expression this newspaper's columns are open to different views as well as to rebut or rectify inaccuracies, perceived or otherwise. JWB also reserves the right in its sole discretion to reject news, articles, letters or advertising.
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rare phenomenon, a silent Irishman.' But after Churchill had worked with Griffith over the negotiating table for three months he would write: 'Mr. Griffith is a writer who has studied deeply European History and the polity of states. A man of high integrity.* Churchill's colleague, Sir Austen Chamberlain, thought Griffith the most courageous man he had ever met. James Stephens regarded Griffith as the 'greatest journalist working in the English tongue' and Gogarty, who admittedly, idolized him, thought him the equal of Parnell."
On top of all that, Griffith was a poet, a printer, a singer of his own ballads, a successful political leader, a personal friend of William Butler Yeats and one of the many distinguished suitors of the beautifully embodied feminine spirit of Irish rebellion, Maud Gonne.
To be compared to such a man is not only "salutary"; it's higher praise than most of us will ever deserve.
MARK HARRIS
Israel's aged and III badly need unused hearing aids
Dear Mr. Kaplan:
I have recently returned from a stay at my Israeli home in Herzliah. I would like to share a rare opportunity with your readers in performing a very important "Mitzvah".
Unfortunately, the economic situation in Israel is a very difficult one. The group that suffers most from this problem is the infirm and aged. It has come to my attention that hundreds of sick senior citizens in many of Israel's hospitals suffer from a hearing loss. Because a new hearing aid can cost as much as $500 , this makes it almost impossible for these unfortunate Israelis to acquire one.
I am certain that among your readers there are those who have had members of their families with hearing aids pass on, and they do not know what to do with the instruments that are not being used. Hearing professionals in Israel, like Haya Levi, who is head of the Hadassah Hospital Audiology Institute in Jerusalem, would welcome these discarded hearing aids and distribyte them to needy patients.
Those who can afford it would pay a nominal NIS 50 or NIS 100 for them. Those who cannot afford even this small sum will receive them for free. The hearing aids would be distributed to various hospitals in Israel for their use.
If any of your readers know of or have such hearing aids, and send them to me, I will have them checked and repaired by skilled volunteers and see that they are sent to the proper hearing professionals in Israeli hospitals for distribution. ^
The hearing aids can be sent to me at the following address: Rabbi Rubin R. Dobin, Jews For Jews, Israel Heariiig Aid Project, 17720 N. Bay road. Suite 8D, Miami Beach, Florida 33J60.V- ■ , ■'^''■''■y' ■ ' ^
RABBI RUBIN R. DOBIN
Chairman, National Jews For Jews Organization
Thursday, November 23,1989
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By JWB Reporters
Should Jewish children attend a Jewish Day School?
0
AiexKliner,
exec, dir., State of Israel Bonds: "Yes. A Day School that offers Jewish studies to Jewish students supplemented with a comprehensive curriculum over and above Judaic content Is Ideal. Young Jewish students In Vancouver are fortunate to have just such opportunities."
0
Andrea Clark,
preschool teacher, Burnaby: "I have mixed feelings. If we want the Jewish heritage to continue then the best thing Is that. On the other hand, many come from mixed marriages, and we're not quite sure how we fit into the scheme of Judaism and which direction to send our kids."
0
Mary Tobin,
secretarial service owner: "Yes. My children attend Talmud Torah Day School and now their knowledge of Hebrew Is very good. It's vital that they get their roots and history of Judaism set at a very young age and it continues to be so."
0Debbie Jacob, secretary: "I think so. It's important they have some sort of Jewish Identity at an early age if they attend a Jewish school. I went to Talmud Torah and I think It was beneficial to me."
Gerry Krystal, jA
scientist: 1/ "No. It makes you unnecessarily different from the rest of society. I think Jewish people cari retain their Identity without going to separate schools. It's Important for people of difr ferent cultures to attend the same schools, otherwise you'll never get over racism."
OAlan Rothstein, businessman: "No. I think they should mix with the general population, otherwise It reinforces problems, doesn't help; I'm against any private school system, even though I wsrs^'a teacher In a private school."
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