Congress bulletin, 1 mars 1975, Mars

[" GRESS Published monthly except July and August to report on the activities of Conadian Jewry and matters of interest to them.National President National Executive Director: Editor: : Sydney M.Harris, Q.C.Alan Rose Annabelle King BULLETIN Published by Canadian Jewish Congress March 1975: Happy Passover A CJC at World Jewish Congress Canadian Jewish Congress delegates assumed active roles during the Plenary Assembly of the World Jewish Congress held in Jerusalem, February 3 to 10, and two were elected to office.h HES HAN er, Q.C., Sydney M.Harris, Q.C., President of the Canadian Jewish Congress, addressed the Plenary Assembly on the structure, role and program of the Canadian Jewish Congress full text on next page.> x; 574 Monroe Abbey, Q.C., who is Chairman of the Organizing Committee on Structural and Constitutional Changes, presented the new constitution of the World Jewish Congress.an CJC National Executive Committee, addressing the World Jewish Con- Hosonmsl allaukeing Plected a member of the Praesidium of the Assembly.DU QUÉBEC Dr.Leon Kronitz introduced the debate in important Education Session.Lavy M.Becker was the key speaker in session on smaller communities.Sol Kanee.Past President of Canadian Jewish Congress and Chairman of the Board of Governors.was elected Treasurer.Professor Perry Meyer, Q.C., was elected member of the Praesidium of the Assembly.Edgar Bronfman was elected Chairman of the North American.Section.The Carfadian Ambassador to Israel, Paul Malone, attended the opening session of the Assembly and gave a reception to Congress delegates.The Assembly - was briefed on meeting with the Right Honorable Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, on the new Vatican Guidelines on Christian/Jewish links.Alan Rose met senior foreign officials.A \u2018meeting was held with the UJRA Residents\u2019 Committee and UJRA-supported programs were inspected.: WJC Highlights ® Dr.Nahum Goldmann was re-elected President.Philip M.Klutznik of Chicago was elected Chairman of the Governing Board, a newly- created position which is regarded as the second highest post in the Worid Jewish Congress.The Plenary Assembly also created an additional position of a fifth vice president of the World Jewish Congress to enable the election of Sam Norich, New York, as a candidate proposed by the Youth Caucus.® A constitutional change was adopted which will enable the World Zionist Organization to act as a full member of the WJC.Until now, the WZO has been an observer.The amended constitution gives the WJC an \u201copportunity for entering into special relationships with major Jewish organizations and to provide for the representation of such bodies on its various organs\u2019.Under this change the WZO will have four seats on the newly-created Governing Board and five seats on the new WJC General Council.The definition of the WJC's purposes was changed by the Plenary Assembly.The wording adopted states amongst its first purposes is \u201cto intensify the bonds of world Jewry with Israel as the central creative force in Jewish life and strengthen the ties of solidarity among Jewish communities everywhere\u2019.The consitutional changes were worked out by a special Committee on Organization headed by Monroe Abbey, Q.C.® A resolution was adopted affirming solidarity with Israel and \u2018rejecting emphatically the call for the establishment of the so- called \"secular state in Palestine\u2019, its only aim being the abolition of the State of Israel\u201d.® Another resolution endorsed \u201cthe need to establish with all possible speed a mutually acceptable institutional means for the consideration of the legitimate interests and concerns of Israel and the Diaspora which are now irrevocably and inextricably interwoven and interactive\u201d.© A resolution was adopted on Christian/Jewish relations, particularly in the new Vatican guidelines.© There were several other resolutions on a number of Continued Next Page [2d [ésnoness Lenin issues, such as Soviet Jewry, Jews in Arab countries, Cultural Programming.UNESCO.International \u2018Women's \u2018Year, \u2018Anti-Semi- tism, Internätional Humanitarian Law, Indemnification of Victims of Nazism by the Federal Republic of Germany.World Peace and Disarmament, Neo-Nazism and Neo-Fascism, Terrorism, Special Problems of the Jewish Community of Poland and others.© À special session of the Assembly was devoted to a symposium on \"Jerusalem and the Jewish People\u201d, which adopted a \u2018\u201cDeclaration on Jerusalem\u2019\u2019 pledging a commitment by Jews living outside of Israel to the unity and integrity of Jerusalem as the capital of - the State of Israel.Dr.Nahum Goldmann addresses the Assembly after being reelected to the presidency of World Jewish Congress.oc CJC President's Mess When CJC was among those who insisted we meet here in Yeru- shalayim (after the postponement of The Hague meeting) little did we know that the manifestation of solidarity between Diaspora Jewry and Israel would be so significant.Not only to Israel and to the free world but also to the Soviet Union and other countries where Jewish existence remains precarious.Indeed it is not only to the governments of those countries that we direct our concern, but to our fel, low Jews whether living there by choice or enforced confinement.Broad Principles This Plenary Assembly meets at a time when we must arrive at broad principles.A knowledge of the Jewish world, of course, precludes that our proposals will be necessarily acceptable to all of the groups which make up the rich spectrum of our Jewish people.Nevertheless, | feei that we who are gathered here can in good conscience affirm these basics which govern our Canadian attitudes as being axiomatic for all of us.First, we assert that the survival and security of the State of Israel is the most fundamental demand on the Jewish people.Second, we propose that we reaffirm the unity of our peoplehood, a partnership between Israel and the Diaspora wherein we work on parallel, but not subservient lines.Third, we emphasise that we represent a proud Jewish community which co-operates with other such communities.in giving effect to that partnership.Fourth, we attest that the Diaspora strengthens its Jewish identity by every means at its disposal.Unshakable Faith The Canadian Jewish Congress which has existed since 1919 and represents the totality of the Canadian Jewish community, has an _ unshakable faith in those fundamental tenets.-It is because of them that we have from its very founding been associated with the World Jewish Congress.Indeed, we are in microcosm what the World Jewish Congress must become in macrocosm.Our people must have at its disposal this democratic, independent world body within whose framework we can grapple with the awesome problems which face us.Canadian Jewry believes in the World Jewish Congress not only because it serves the Jewish people but also because it respects the independence and traditions of the communities and organizations affiliated with it.We reject categorically those critics who have recently denied both the power and value of the World Jewish Congress.We in Canada are the declared enemies of that disunity and confusion which unfortunately still plagues some aspects of Jewish international life.We believe that there must be one international Jewish organization, namely.the Monroe Abbey, Q.C., Chairman of the Drganizing Committee oq Structural and Constitutional Changes presets à new constitution.MARTH 1975 World Jewish Congress, through which we may function as the great Jewish family of the Diaspora in the international arena it \u201cis for this reason we are gratified that the Board of Deputies of British Jews has decided to affiliate with the World Jewish .Congress.We know that this was not an easy decision, given the history and the traditions of Anglo-Jewry.We congratulate the leadership of the Board of Deputies, and especially its current President, Lord Fisher of Camden, and his past colleagues, who have taken this historic step.We are delighted too, to witness the re-emergence of European Jewry within our councils.We believe that the Jewish communities of Western Europe are destined to make an increasingly important contribution to world Jewry.Shidach At this critical juncture of Jewish history, we can perceive no valid reason or obstacle which can- notbe overcome to bring about the affiliation of two most illustrious bodies to the World Jewish Congress.We look forward to and want to facilitate the early advent of the day when the B'nai B'rith and CRIF will be represented in the Congress family.We have found no abrogation of sovereignty involved in our affiliation.Rather, it has been a manifestation of our unity and solidarity with world Jewry.| need hardly add that Canadian Jewry is prepared to use its good offices to bring about this \u2018\u2019Shi- dach\u201d | will go further and say that the World Jewish Congress may well look to CJC as a model.For example, we have as delegates every recognized Jewish body including the Canadian Zionist Federation, and the B'nai B'rith whom we have enjoyed a 40 year association in community activities.Let me now turn to consider some of our activities which | be- Jieve will be of interest to this Assembly.| deal first with Soviet Jewry.Ever since the Brussels Conference \u2014 indeed even before it \u2014 Canada has been concerned with this grave problem.Soviet Union The saga of Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union is so dramatic that we have not yet seized on its full implication.We must continue to press for the emigration of those Jews who wish to leave and to demand that the Soviet Government desist from harassing and imprisoning those whose only \u201ccrime\u201d is their desire to live as Jews in the State of Israel.Towards this end we have been most active.There is every reason to believe that the mass demonstrations in Ottawa and throughout Canada in- October 1970, when Kasygin-w, sited Canada.wher 12,000 Jews : marched through the streets of Ottawa, whepçather, ta ns of PH foam arm 5 A nn RÉ =~ cube A | gra ac TE | ag pat 1 I os ic al elfe Gove! Gr I\" to | pra inne deep CON spretof ga Qu Pi fay of Sf pote Goperme and 200 (SSR bot fo lee fit 10 I theychoo Ye are through Broadeas manta vice, Mot content have co vith th Corpor religious Urionin and also grams o ishlistn ft Can the Eur ity foreign interna cm à nights for ul but ab thpey Prima! {he the temal they | opine exact sions Ment mean fimeg dese Cog Jing, Won Tagg ans iy Flow for | bey the Sven Math te 85s i .Bro: ; n ES te the Dis À tons - ratfeg BS of By, 0 df ges tan easy lory nl O-Jwry bp of Meg nt Lord pis ishis: Lt 1 oŸ Eure council sh com 098 ae easy ) World ol Je ve no thea out the striqus h Con pad À advent Brih | inte four ink it has vniy wy.) shin ad tthe wl | y er even on nn | sde 1 be: gst D first À a ge MARCH 1975 thousands were present at all public appearances.It made a significant effect on the decision of the Soviet Government by allowing Jews to leave in somewhat increased numbers.The Canadian government has expressed its deep concern for Soviet Jewry to Soviet officials and continues to do so.Our Prime Minister, our Secretary of State for External Affairs, and other members of our Federal Government, have intervened time and again for our brethen in the USSR bath in support of their right to leave and to return, and their right to live in freedom as Jews if they choose to stay in the USSR.We are pleased to tell you that through our efforts the Canadian ° Broadcasting Corporation, which maintains a Russian language service, now includes considerable content of Jewish interest.We have concluded arrangements with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast regular _ religious services to the Soviet Union in both Hebrew and Yiddish and also to broadcast Yiddish programs of cultural interest to Jew- ishlisteners in the USSR.European Conference Canada is a participant in the European Conference on Security and Co-operation.Canadian foreign policy is a reflection of our internal condition, nañely, concern and protection for human rights and fundamental freedoms for cultural and linguistic rights, but above all else, for the mobility of peoples.In our discussions with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the then Secretary of State for Ex- temal Affairs, Mr.Mitchell Sharp.they both have expressed the opinion that the West must exact humanitarian concessions from the Soviet Government if detente is to have any meaning:at all.Mr.Trudeau re-af- fimed this view when he addressed our own Canadian Jewish Congress-Plenary Assembly last June.Militant Stand As our colleagues of the World Jewish Congress know, Canada adopted a forthright and militant stance at the European Security Conference, calling for the free flow of people and ideas and for uninterrupted communication between linguistic groups within the two blocs.Canada has gone even further, and has advocated untrammelled joinder of families and that ease of communication which will lead to relaxed relatioss between peoples.This, of course, was in direct opposition to the Soviet view that detente is between States rather than peoples.The Canadian Government has made it clear, although it did not mention any specific ethnic group in Canada.that the fate of the Jewish community of the USSR would to a considerable extent be ameliorated by such policies and was a matter of real concern to Canada\u2019s citizens.At this time, the fate of detente is unclear.However, we in Canada will continue and indeed redouble our efforts to facilitate the flow of emigration from the USSR, to press the USSR to cease its barbaric, hereseen 9 of , the, + Jewish militants and to bring pressure on the government of the USSR to release those prisoners of conscience.Partnership We maintain, in partnership with the Canadian Zionist Fedey- ation and the B'nai B'rith, a Ca- nada-Israel Committee whose program includes regular meetings with the Prime Minister, the Secre- fary of State for External Affairs, the leader of the Official Opposition, other leading parliamentarians, senior members of the civil service and with important leaders in the non-governmental sector.We are presently expanding these activities, especially since the impact of Arab propaganda after the October War has .had an affect in Canada.even though we are in the unique position, as a western state, of being an oil-producing country.We are, however, not members of OPEC.We are giving attention to the situation which has arisen since Listening intently to remarks from the dais and floor are Alan Rose, National Executive Director; Leon Teitelbaum, Chairman, Eastern Region; Monroe Abbey,.Q.C.Honorary President; and Neri Bloomfield, President, Hadassah-Wizo Organization the Rabat Conference, with its semi-legitimization of the PLO in some areas of public opinion.We were disappointed \u2014 and we have told the government so \u2014 that Canada abstained on the substantive vote with regard to the PLO at the UN General Assembly.but we are confident \u2014 indeed, we have reason to know that Canadian policy remains unchanged.and that Canada will continue to maintain its close relationship with israel and seek true and lasting peace through direct negotiations between the parties.in conflict, leading to secure and recognized bor- > 1985, ERR LIRR ERIE AE A CONGRESS BULLETIN | have with me and propose to file with the Secretariat, a letter from John G.RoBerts-my Member of Parliament at home in which he explains Canadian policy in regard to the Middle East at some length and to which is appended a number of formal statements and documents by important members of the government, confirming these attitudes.Besieged People We all have lived for nearly three _ decades in a welter of crisis and we remain a besieged people.We have succored the remnant of the Holocaust; we have mobilized our efforts for the establishment of the State of Israel; we have supported Asrael throughout the atmosphere of crisis and war.We have done what could be done to rescue Jews in Arab countries, in which connection Canadian Jewry has played a not unimportant role, but one which cannot be further publicized at this time; we have re-es- tablished and expanded Jewish communal institutions.Pressures We have concerned ourselves with the anti-Semitism from the New Left.now stalking under the guise of anti-Zionism; we have battled neo-Nazism: we now are confronted with enormous pressures from the Arab world: we have concerned ourselves with all of these and with a host of other matters, all of which we have dealt with perforce as concurrent crisis.| would like to say a few words about our situation.unique for a ge to WJC Plenary Assembly in Jerusalem Western country, namely, the Canadian policy of multiculturalism.Toa considerable extent the Canadian Jewish Congress may be considered responsible for this policy.which stems from the position of the French language and cultute in our Federal system.Negative Reaction In 1963 the Canadian Government established a Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Bicultu- ralism.The Canadian Jewish Congress reacted negatively and publicly because it appeared that only the cultural and linguistic.needs of the English and the French were being taken into account, whereas one-third of our country is of neither English nor French extraction.When he announced a multicultural policy, our French Canadian Prime Ministersemphasised\u201d that this would help to break down discriminatory attitudes and cultural iealousies.Mr.Trudeau added: \u201cNational unity.if itis to mean anything in a deeply personal sense must be founded on confidence in one\u2019s own individual identity.Out of this can grow respect and a willingness to share our views, attitudes and assumptions.The overall objective of the new multicultural program is to foster cultural freedom in Canadian society.This means first and foremost.the promotion of a greater understanding among Canadians of the advantages of cultural diversity.The Jewish culture itself is one of the most interesting examples of a people who have taken the traditions of many different countries.« Page 3 weaving them into a fascinating fabric that is both strong and beautiful.However.there are many people in Canada who have yet to realize that within diversity lies a richness.In fact, cultural diversity is our greatest national resource \u2014 one which should be nurtured.Thatis the purpose of the new multicultural program.Gov.Support The Federal Government will support Canadian cultural groups which show a desire and a capacity not only to exist, but to flourish and contribute to Canadian life.\u201d Anticipated Jewish contributions seem to extend beyond Jewish community concerns per se.Speaking at a Canadian Jewish Congress luncheon in Toronto, the Prime Minister described the Jewish people as \u201crepresenting, in many ways, a microcosm of Canada, having an admirable record of community participation with great distinction.you have been able to protect and pass on from generation to generation your own priceless heritage as a people.\u201d In the words of the Prime Minister, Canada has two official languages, but no official culture.Consequently, the Federal Government is now funding multicultural projects other than formal education (which is under the Provincial jurisdiction).These have included exhibits of Canadian Jewish history, Yiddish periodicals, Yiddish theatre and other Jewish cultural endeavours in Canada.Thus, we see that Canada is now embarked # sb.Cont\u2019d on Page 4 «> Sol Kanee Dr.Leon Kronitz CONGRESS BULLETIN Edgar Bronfman MARCH 1975 Presidential Message (cont'a) on a unique cultural experiment of encouraging folk cultures within the Canadian mosaic.The special unique nature of this Canadian experience {s best seen in its relation: to the United States experience, with which it is totally at variance, Canadian Jewish Congress, through its Religious Affairs Department, is engaged in a far- reaching program to bring into focus the identification of the Jewish community as a faith community in its broadest sense, encompassing the entire gamut of shades and opinions within the Jewish community, and our various denominational groups, without in any .way interfering with the specific ideologies of any given group and without aiming at any kind of uniformity in religious thinking.Many Differences In spite of the many differences which exist within the Jewish community as far as the application of religion in daily life is concerned, there are many areas which arecommon to all, and itis in these areas that we strengthen the image of the Jewish community by developing the highest standards of religious observance; strengthening Jéwish religious education: .dealing with problems of inter- \"marriage.conversion and adoption; by encouraging religious responses on campuses; by training and supplying religious functionaries for smaller communities; and involving-ourselves in a myriad of other areas on which there is much agreement in principle but usually little common action.We propose to establish in Canada a CJC National Synagogue Council as the representative spokesman for the religious community.In these endeavours to create a.unified community without in any way compelling uniformity, to emphasise loyalty to one\u2019s own interpretation of Judaism coupled with equal reverence for the loyalty of others to theirs, some success has already been obtained in that in our representations to Government and Parliament, where the religious community is concerned.as in other areas, we speak with one voice.Major Concerns A major concern to us, as itis to the World Congress, is the development of a cordial relationship with Christian religious bodies, Roman Catholic:and Protestant.We have been successful in developing such a relationship with the Roman Catholic community in Canada through the Canadian Catholic Conference, a national organisation encompassing the senior hierarchy of the Catholic church in Canada.In these meetings what concerned us most was social action, human rights issues, and co-operation on such problems as poverty, welfare programs.We are part of the International Jewish Committee for Inter-Reli- gious Consultations and are in a position to exchange views on recent developments such as the promulgation of Vatican guidelines on Jewish/Christian links.Our contacts with the Protestant community have proceeded along similar lines.There was a problem in Canada with a publication of the United Church (a union of some non-conformist Christian denominations, to give a loose description) which was strongly anti- Israel.The matter has been handled on a national level and the situation, while improved considerably, is not yet wholly resolved.We recently participated in the international discussions with the World Council of Churches at the meetings last month in London, England, and, no doubt, Dr.Reig- ner will be dealing at greater length with this matter.A major concern of ours is the creation of a favourable climate within the Christian faith community on matters affecting Israel.In this area, the issue of Jerusalem, of course, has deep religious connotations.It will be of interest to note that the Canadian Catholic Conference, following a number of meetings between our and its representatives, made a statement on Jerusalem which stresses the ties of the City of Jerusalem to the Jewish people, and affirms the hope for a Jerusalem united.We are told that this resolution has been discussed with and approved by high authorities in the Vatican (though unfortunately not yet expressly so by the highest authority there).A Canadian Jewish Congress delegation recently met in Ottawa with the Catholic hierarchy concerning the Vatican guidelines.The Prime Minister, a Catholic himself requested our delegation to meet with him to discuss these guidelines.It is evident that Mr.Trudeau has a deep interest in this important aspect of our work.Jewish Education lturn now to a different problem \u2014 one hardly unique to us.Can anyone doubt today that in a world of increasing tolerance, Jewish survival cannot be guaranteed unless we are able to provide a basic Jewish education for our children?Dr.Goldmann has said that we are not likely to see a period of anti- Semitism in Western countries which will impel Jews towards a negative identity.| agree, of course.On the contrary, there may be perceived an ever-widening humanistic and open society in Europe, in the United States and in Canada which presents a profound challenge to Jewish survival.The by-product of this humanism is increased inter-marriage, acculturation and a generation emerging with a scant sense of Jewish identity, let alone knowledge.What hope other than biological survival in these circumstances can there be for a viable and creative Diaspora?Those of us with a deep religious faith will, of course.remain Jews.While it is true that there has been a modest renaissance in Jewishness amongst the young, we are nevertheless losing the battle.We do not have exact statistics, but consider for a moment estimates of the numbers of Jewish children attending day or afternoon schools.As of 1970, with a few exceptions \u2014 notably Iran and South Africa \u2014 the percentage was 50% or less! In South America it was only 28%.In Western Europe only 39% \u2014 and even in Canada and United \u2018States, the best estimate was only 50%!! Cont\u2019d on Page 18 Lo =e AT J] AC erp rpm eromreereroy\u2014ar\u2014 COMERESS BULLEN res x 1 ro 4 pres 05\u20ac de yang., rn shuren ay ie.ff | « A a : Ons.oe \u20ac eu A ni Fo ith he [PE ithe Ondan Reg Sp length >» sde ; mat © P.M.Pierre Elliott Trudeau was briefed on Religious Affairs me ; by Rabbis Jordan Pearlson (left) and Allan Langner (right).usa + .gous | - À Day in Ottawa deg 8 \" | ; The Rt.Hon.Pierre Elliott Trudeau received a de- no À TY legation of representatives from the CJC National Rets 8 ligious Affairs Department and the Canadian Catholic te ; Conference in Ottawa.So eB All smiles in the P.M.\u2019s Office are left to right Dr.Samuel Lewin, Rabbi Jordan Pearlson, Alan The visit to the Prime Minister was the culmina- Rose, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, Rabbi Allan Langner, M.Prupas, M.Seidman and H.Paperman.tion of a day-long conference held between the two pu groups in order to plan effective interfaith activities he dealing with issues of mutual concern particularly in \u201c| the field of social action.: i | The delegation outlined their plans for an on-go- Î ing association between Christians and Jews partic- | ularly in light of the guidelines issued by the Vatican | calling for the condemnation and elimination of anti- he Semitism.d | The group also met with the Rt.Hon.John G.Die- ; fenbaker, former Prime Minister, and invited him to u be guest of honour at the special seminar and convoy cation which the National Religious Affairs Commit- | tee is planning dealing with issues of Judaism and Human Rights.They presented Mr.Diefenbaker with a complete set of papers that were read at the McGill Internatio- A nal Colloquium on Judaism and Human Rights re- ; cently held in Montreal.Participants in the conference were Archbishop Antoine Hacault of St.Boniface.Manitoba; Bishop Bernard Hubert of St.Jerome.Quebec; Reverend Everett MacNeil, Secretary General of the Conference; and Michael O'Connell and Bernard Daly of the Canadian Catholic Conference staff.Representing the CJC National Religious Affairs Committee were Rabbi Allan M.Langner, Chairman of the Committee, .Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat (Montreal) and Rabbi Jordan Pearlson (Toronto); Moe Seidman, Melvin Prupas, Herbert Paperman, Alan Rose and Dr.Samuel Lewin.3 D ; | Chief Justice Bora Laskin (far right) met with Alan Rose, Melvin Prupas and Rabbi Allan Lang- i ner during the Ottawa visit.Delegation to Faulkner on War Criminals A delegation from CJC met with the Secretary of State, the Honorable Hugh Faulkner, to discuss war criminals residing in Canada.Emerging from the meeting was the fact that Mr.Faulkner had many personal associations and contacts with Jewish survivors of the death camps.He had spent six months of his life in a kibbutz in Israel and many of his colleagues in that kibbutz were survivors of Bergen-Belsen and other death camps.The delegation requested that action be taken to revoke citizenship of anyone accused of war crimes who had obtained citizenship under false pretenses and through fraudulent means, such as covering up a Nazi record prior to admission to Canada.Mr.Faulkner agreed to instruct Mr.Boucher, the Undersecretary of State and his Department to carry out a thorough investigation, in cooperation with Alan Rose, to see what action could be taken.Those in attendance from Montreal.Aba Beer, National Chairman of the Holocaust Memorial Committee, Lou Zablow, I.Veisfeld.Freda Anders and Nye Sem AY Tg \u201c 3 The Right Honorable John G.Diefenbaker (lef# held discussions with Moe Seidman, Rabbi Al- Alan Rose: from Toronto, Jacob Egit and Ben Kay- lan Longner, Dr.Samuel Lewin and Rabbi Jordan Pearison.; fetz.,.à © se nt.La d2 LELZN 211 diCHref 3ior ts .Tt Tote rT \u2019 T0 Gba Yan 3 Archives The first meeting of the Canadian Jewish Congress National Archives - Committee was held in Montreal at the Samuel Bronfman House.Attending the day-long session were representatives of institutions with expertise in the preservation of Jewish history in Canada who will be responsible for implementing-the structure of this new undertaking.The Committee is comprised of those who have already done a great deal of work in preserving Canadian Jewish history.They are Shirley Berman, Mr.& Mrs.M.Sidney Green and Hugo Leven- del of the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society; A.J.Arnold and Nathan Arkin of the Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada; A.Myer Freedman of the Jewish Historical Society of British Columbia; Evelyn Miller, Jewish Public Library, Montreal; Rachel L.Smiley, Collector of Archival Material, Quebec City: Dr.Charles Oler, Jewish Historical Society of Atlantic Canada; Dr.Stephen Barber, Past Chairman, CJC National Research, Library and Archives; Stephen Speisman, Archives Committee of CJC Central Region; Rabbi Jonathan Plaut, Windsor, Ontario: and David Rome, CJC Archivist.The Committee Chairman is Victor Sefton, Toronto.The National Archives will be part of the Canadian Jewish Museum that will be housed in the Samuel Bronfman House in Montreal, expected to open in late 1975.CONGRESS BULLETIN MARCH 1875 | \\ = Planning the formation of the National Archives are (L-R) Mr.& Mrs.M.Sidney Green, Hugo Levendel, A.J.Arnold, Nathan Arkin, A.King, Shirley Berman, Stephen Speismun, Saul Hayes, Victor Sefton, Rabbi Jonathan Plaut, Evelyn Miller, Dr.Charles Oler, A.Myer Freedman, Rachel L.Smiley, David Rome and Dr.Stephen Barber.Listening to an exchange of ideas for future planning related to the archives are Saul Hayes and Victor Sefton, Chairman CJC National Library and Archives Committee.der rth mean tem bb a fi ~~ CONGRESS BULLETIN MARCH 1978 ane Tne Tent Sud, ne ei, Soviet Jewry The Montreal Committee Letter-writing campaigns for Soviet Jewry, chaired by to Soviet Jews who have re- Beverley Bronfman, was quested contacts from per- recently reconstituted un- sons outside of Russia.In ad- dertaking projects to increa- dition, a Pen Pal Club is in se the awareness of Cana- operation for North Ameri- dian public to the plight of can youth to correspond with Soviet Jewry.children of Soviet Jewish ac- \u201cNow more than ever\u2019, tivists.says Mrs.Bronfman, \u201cthe A Speaker's Bureau and a Kremlin will be closely moni- Resource Library have been toring our activities.Our de- ©Stablished to provide the termination and continued community with knowl- zommitment to Soviet Jewry edgeable persons to address nust he made clear to them Meetings on the issue of and more important to every Jews in the USSR.The Re- Soviet Jew\u201d source Library consists of C istent with th films, slide shows, film strips _wonsistent wi ese and tapes which are avail- aims, the Committee has able free of charge.embarked upon several proj- A \u201cTelegram Bank\u201d has ects.Been organized for protests The Adopt-A-Family is to Soviet authorities in Ca- one such venture.Soviet L343 and the USSR.Jewish families who request A newsletter, \u2018Soviet it are being \u201cadopted\u201d by News\u201d, is published monthly North American families in to update current situations order to develop personal and to highlight activities relationships through letters, happening in Montreal.phone calls, protest letters, A conference, \u2018Soviet and the organization of any Jewry: A Call to Action\u201d, will, effort that may provide assis- be held Sunday, April 13.It oR SHTERN | UNJUSTLY tance to the families.will be a day-long workshop py Also planned are letters of to train representatives on 4 { encouragement to Prisoners action projects and activities > of Conscience and their rela- that their organizations can LA dl tives.undertake.UN .ul ~ : ; _ ; car Demonstrations above were organized protesting the kidnapping of Marina Temkin and the imprisonment of Dr.Shtern.Montreal Committee for Soviet Jewry hold a rap session at Samuel Bronfman House e Lage 8 ataTata AT So = a YIDDISH +\" ¢MARQH.1975 Editor's Note: In the last issue of \u201cCongress Bulletin\u2019' Prof.Arthur Lermer wrote a column in Yiddish dealing with \u2018Cultural Pluralism and the Canadian Jewish Community\u201d.Since then we have received many requests for an English translation of his views.We have decided to print the article once again in its entirety.Hoping nothing is lost in translation.Cultural Pluralism, a concept introduced by the late Prof.Horace Kallen, (New York University) into the terminology of modern Cultural Sociology.is.receiving ever- growing attention, particularly in countries composed of hetero- \u2018geneous ethnic groups such as the U.S.A.Switzerland, Israel, Belgium and Canada.In spite of the fact that there are very few absolutely homogeneous countries that are fully monolithic, in terms of their cultural and religious structure, the scope and significance of cultural pluralism \u2018is still far from being fathomed by cultural sociologists.The idea of complete identity between state and nation provides plausible support for extreme nationalists everywhere, because both terms \u2014 state and nation \u2014 are frequently abused by interchanging them as if they would simply be synonymous.Everywhere else, except in Anglophone countries, national entities are usually equated with ethnic groups which often embrace religious distinctions as well.Extreme, or coercive nationalism, can be defined as that type of nationalism that thrives, by degrading other cultures and usurping superior power from its majority position.If the nation of the so-called \u201ctyranny of the majority\u201d has any meaning it is most relevant to the ramifications of cultural oppression by the majority.Just as religious intolerance lowers the spiritual and moral level of a country.so does the stifling of creativity of minority cultures undermine the basic principles of Cultural Democracy.Cultural Democracy is reflected in mutual tolerance between groups.sympathetic understanding and a genuine respect for group diversities.It is philosophy that forms the very corner-stone of creative Jewish survival in alien surroundings.Over 80% of the world's Jewry live in the so-called \u201cDiaspora\u201d, so-called because the concept is a somewhat obsolete one for since the establishment of the State of Israel, \u2018\u2019Tfuzoth\u201d seems to be a better term.\u201cDiaspora\u201d stands for the Hebrew term \u201cCaluth\u201d, which implies compulsory exodus of Jews from their homeland.Since the rise of Israel to independence and its constitutional provision regarding the gathering of the exiles, according to which every Jew has free access to Israel and its citizenship living outside of Israel, ceases to be compulsory and is thus virtually a voluntary act.Hence \"\"Tfuzoth\u2019 expresses the Prof.Arthur Lermer present position of communities.outside of Israel much more precisely and succinctly.So overwhelming was the XIX Century monolithic image of the State that so-called emancipated Jews, particularly in the U.S.A, were ready to sacrifice their cultural identity in favour of complete assimilation, while retaining some (reformed) religious allegiance.The now infamous Cleveland 1885 Conference of Reform Synagogues adopted this notorious resolution.\u201cWe do not consider ourselves any more a nation, but a religious community, we see in Judaism a progressive religion which aims toward total rationalism.\u201d This ultra Cosmo-political approach widely influenced Eastern European immigrants as well, mainly the socialist oriented working class movement.By contrast a report published in 1973 by a task force of the American Jewish Committee (once a bulwark of assimilation) rejected the division of religion and culture, calling for a massive revival of Jewish identification within the American scene, thus rejecting outright the \u201cmelting pot\u201d theory of the past.While failing to define the new philosophy in terms of Cultural Pluralism, the report virtually accepts its basic premises.By comparison with the U.S.A.Canada\u2019s cultural tradition followed a completely different pattern.In 1912, the first French Canadian Federal Prime Minister, Sir Wilfred Laurier, compared Canada to a stained glass Cathedral window consisting of many different colours and shapes which form a bonafide whole.Following the second world war, when large scale immigration took place.a number of government leaders strongly urged newcomers not to forget their own cultural roots, languages and traditions.\u201cOnly then will new Canadians substantially raise the cultural level of the country as a whole.\u201d While {Cont'd on on back cover) \u201cTop: The Fourth annual Yiddish Festival organized by the Committee for Yiddish.CJC Central Region, presented the Winnipeg Jewish Folk Ensemble in Chai, a musical review, which depicts Jewish culture.Bottom: Attending Western Region Yiddish Conference (Standing Left-Right): H.Gale, J.B.Salsberg, D.l.Victor, Ben Pearlman, À.Eich- ler, W.Litwin.(Seated Left-Right): G.Skulsky, Prof.Arthur Lermer, Sara Rosenfeld, Sheva Zuker, Shani Levine, Prof.Seymour Levitan.iin eee \"ane hy lee, te Com.ue Be a Turibs Ve pre he XX of the ciated USA.oul Mpete ] some Ce veland Sra: TES x qu rel in gon ng ual tig a =\" 4% %4 MARCH 1975 CONGRESS BULLETIN Top & Bottom: Participants listen during Seminar Workshops dealing with methods of teaching the Holocaust Period to High Schools, pre-University, Elementary Jewish Day and Afternoon School and Camp and Organizational Institutions.Center: Leo Moss and Larry Gamulka, Co-Chairmen of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Commemoration Planning Committee, meet with Joseph Fishman, Sam Gens, Alexander Kornik, M.Rozprza, Henry Rubinlicht, Paul Schnall, Edgar Strauss, A.Trapunski, Paul Trepman, Issie Veisfeld, |.Pia- setski and Ruth Lazarus to plan future programs related to the Uprising.Remember Yom Hashoah is commemorated on the 27th day of Nissum or April 7-8 and all regions are urged to plan special observances marking the thirty-secend anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.80 Page 9 More than one hundred Jewish and non-Jewish educators attended a seminar on the teaching of the Holocaust Period held in the Samuel Bronfman House, Montreal.The keynote speaker was Professor Howard Roiter, Assistant Professor, Etude Anglaises Department, University of Montreal, whose subject was \u201cHolocaust Literature: Issues and Problems.\u201d \u201cWe must begin to tell today\u2019s students the untellable\u201d, Roiter said, \u201ceven if we run a great pedagogical risk, because in the teaching of the Holocaust we may be dis-orienting our students by telling them that overnight his citizenship can be \u2018cancelled and he can be hunted down like an animal.\u201d \u201cAs far as the Holocaust period is concerned\u201d, he continued, \u201cthere appears to be a form of collective amnesia, the only people who remember are survivors.Te many today, this period is remembered by a cipher, six million.We must begin to humanize this entire era and present a clearer picture of this period of history.\u201d Roiter pointed out that many stories left untold should \u201c surface in order to have an understanding of this period, and one of these areas was that of the Jewish Resistance Movement.\u201cWe must dig and bring to light\u201d, he said, \u201cthe unbelievable heroic work that was carried on by the Jewish Partisan Movement.We've heard about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.but there were more.For every one that we know about, you can be sure that there are fifteen we don\u2019t know about.\u201d Roiter also said that part of the teaching of the Holocaust would have to include many of the life-giving acts performed by non-Jews in order to save their countrymen.\u2014\u2014_ , .Page 10 ft © CENTRAL REGION The Toronto Yiddish Festival \u201875, sponsored by the Committee on Yiddish took place January 11th-January ~ 13th.The evening of January ~ 11th, an Oneg Shabbat was held at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue attended by over 400 persons: J.B.Salsberg presided and greetings were extended by Dr.Fred Weinberg.President of the Syna- Milton E.Harris gogue, and Milton E.Harris, Chairman of Congress, Central Region.An address was given by Prof.Barbara Kir- shenblatt-Gimblett of the Department of Folklore, Columbia University.The evening closed with remarks in Yiddish from Rabbi J.Benjamin Friedberg and a reception.The evening of January 12th, a performance was given at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in the Canadian National Exhibition by the Chai Foik Ensemble of Winnipeg.Appointments for Rabbis Rabbi Irwin Schild of Toronto was named Chairman of the Canada Israel Committee, which is sponsored jointly by the Canadian Zionist Federation, Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith.He succeeds Rabbi Dr.W.Gunther Plaut.Rabbi Sheldon Steinberg has been appointed chaplain by the Central Region of Congress to serve Mount Sinai Hospital.Toronto General Hospital, Sick Children\u2019s Hospital, Women's College Hospital, Queen Street Mental Health Centre, North York General Hospital, and the Don Jail.Dr.Robert Dis- enhouse is Chairman of the Chaplaincy Services.- Teach-In ; Sydney M.Harris, Q.C., CJC National President and B.G.Kayfetz, Director, CJC Central Region, were among those who addressed a recent Rally and Teach-in for Israel of the Beth Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto.Mr.Kayfetz also addressed a workshop of the \u201cJewish- Christian Dialogue\u201d at Trinity College, Toronto.on the theme \u201cSocial and Economic Aspects of Anti-Semitism in Canada\u201d and the high school classes of the Beth Tikvah Synagogue Talmud Torah on the subject of \u201cIs Anti-Semi- tism on the Ascent?\u201d and the Current Events Circle of Holy Blossom Temple.Jewish Education The Steering Committee for Soviet Jewry of the Canadian Jewish Congress recently held a Soviet Jewry Conference in Toronto, at- _tended by about thirty organizations representing a cross-section of Ontario J.B.Salsberg Jewry.It was chaired by J.B.Salsberg.Chairman of the Steering Committee for So- - viet Jewry, Central Region.There was a panel discussion on the theme of \u201cAfter Jackson.What?\u201d chaired by David Sadowski, Director of the National Committee on Soviet Jewry, with discussants Genya Intrator, Immediate Past President of Women for Soviet Jewry, Marilee Weis- man and Bert Raphael who recently returned from visits to the Soviet Union.Group sessions were held with resource persons available to give information and materials on telephone calls to Jewish activists, sending of _ parcels and money to aid families of dissidents in the USSR and broadening the scope of activities including demonstrations and programs of education.Participating were Carol Reiter, CONGRESS BULLETIN TER OLS Chairman of Group of 35's, Phyllis Spring.Chairman of Women for Soviet Jewry., H.Wayne Tanenbaum, President of Canadian Friends of Soviet Jewry, Maureen Gal- loon, Samuel Resnick and David |.Satok, Chairman of the National Committee for Soviet Jewry, who concluded the Conference by a discussion of the Jackson Amendement, its direction and its meaning and the role of Canadian Jews in the continuing struggle for the Jews inthe USSR.Soviet Jewry The Educational and Cultural Committee of the Central Region of Congress is sponsoring a Regional Conference on Jewish Education which will be held in Kitchener \u2014 April 27th.The schools in Ontario are being canvassed for program sug- -gestions and are asked to indicate their priorities from a number of topics submitted.EASTERN REGION Programs for two outlying communities were held.A Chanuka celebration was held at Ste.Agathe Jewish Community where Charles Lazarus, Montreal Star, discussed \u201cThe Work of Congress\u201d and \u201cThe Situation in Israel Today\u201d.Chairman was Mrs.H.Kazimirski and present were S.Stieber, President of the House of Israel Congregation, Mrs.Julius Belson, President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the House of Israel Congregation and Hadassah, Cantor M.Ruben and Alan Nadler.Lee Gertsma n Lee Gertsman.Chairman CJC Eastern Region Community Services Committee, participated in a community program in Cornwall.Rabbi Michael Kramer, spiritual leader of the Adath Israel Congregation in Montréal, and Ruth Lazarus also participated in the program.3 Religious Affairs A meeting was held to reconstitute the Eastern Region Religious Affairs Committee as part of the National Committee.Rabbi Wilfred Shuchat, who, as President of the Board of Jewish Ministers of Greater Montreal is ex-officio Chairman of the Committee, presided.The Committee will include representatives of the Synagogue Council of Greater Montreal, Board of Jewish - Ministers of Greater Montreal.Jewish Community Council (Vaad Hair), Rabbinical Council, Union of Orthodox Congregations, United Synagogue and Union of American Hebrew Congregations.The organizations named representatives to the Committee who were present at the meeting.Discussed was the general framework and composition of the Committee and possible inclusion of women\u2019s and youth groups; a report on steps taken jointly by the Vaad Hair and the Board of Jewish Ministers with regard to the implementation of regulations establishing the right of patients at all hospi- als 1o have kosher 1000 On, ATLANTIC REGION request; the establishment of a chapel and an information centre at the Olympic Village and a report on the program of the National Religious Affairs Committee.Attending the meeting were Rabbi B.Bloomstone.Rabbi Maurice Cohen and Rabbi B.Hauer (Board of Jewish Ministers of Greater Montreal): Rabbi Lester Ros- ner, Rabbi M.Zeitz (Rabbinical Council); M.Lerner, Herb Paperman, Moe Seid-\u2019 man (Synagogue Council of Greater Montreal}; Rabbi Isaac Hechtman (Jewish Community Council \u2014 Vaad Hair); William Abrams.Me- ver Shecter (United Synagogue); H.Fleming, Leon Scheim (Union of American Hebrew Congregations); E.Wolkove (Union of Orthodox Congregations) and Dr.Samuel Lewin.Central Agency A meeting of Officers was held discussing the proposed new structure of a central agency for Jewish education in Montreal.Guidelines were established under which Canadian Jewish Congress could participate in such a central agency.Leon Teitel- baum presided.N\u2018ACTION @D MARCH 1975 Soviet Jewry The Montreal Committee for Soviet Jewry sponsored the opening night of the appearance in Montreal of the ensemble of over 100 Russian Jews (singers, dancers.and musicians), who emigrated to Israel, The group we Beverley Bronfman was greeted by Mrs.Beverley Bronfman, Chairman of the Montreal Committee for Soviet Jewry.A number of organizations cooperated with the Committee for Soviet Jewry in selling tickets.~ The Committee contacted principals of schools to encourage the attendance of children.The ensemble appeared in Toronto for one » performance only.The Maritime section of the Eastern Region of CJC appointed Michael Marcus as Executive Director.Marcus was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, attended Queen's University and spent four years in Israel.- Along with the newly-ap- pointed chairman of the Maritime section, S.Paul Zive, he brings a new dimension of youth and vitality to the Atlantic Provinces.Plans are underway for several projects including a Maritime convention in May, Soviet Jewry, Adult Education, Holocaust and Youth programs.Programs will be emphasized for outlying communities of Saint John and Fredericton (New Brunswick) Charlottetown (Price Edward ts- land) and other smali centres \u201cin the Maritimes.A Memorial Dinner was held recently in Sydney, N.S., sponsored by the Israeli Bonds Organization and B'nai B'rith in tribute to the late Gordon Elman, a long time community worker and a former Chairman of the Atlantic Provinces Section of Canadian Jewish Congress.| } WEST 3 ol sted giheCo Hastern pod ine 01 gets i gay Tor esd pd She 4 Ben in ch i Art (rma ar Yi field N 2 Montres Tonto.Fa Two ted Henig Pak $ {Haired mnol Commit mins vis Pr que es ¢ nd the nm Hor Soy The hie heim Ulu Whip Mons bom te Re fin of fy § di of 0 5 MARCH 1975 WESTERN REGION A conference for Yiddish was held under the auspices of the Committee for Yiddish, Western Region.Present were delegates from twenty- one organizations, plus guests from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.Professor Seymour Levitan and Sheindel Levin, Vancouver; Ben Pearlman and Aaron Eichler, Calgary; Professor Arthur Lermer, National Chairman of the Committee for Yiddish, and Sara Rose- nfeld National Secretary.Montreal, and J.B.Salsberg, Toronto.Families Honoured Two hundred people attended the opening Saturday evening at the |.L.Peretz- Folk School auditorium.Chaired by D.| Victor, Chairman of the Western Region Committee for Yiddish.The main speaker of the evening was Professor Arthur Ler- mer.His topic was \u2018\u2018Principles of Cultural Pluralism and the Jewish Community in Canada\u201d.Working sessions started Sunday morning.The morning session, chaired by George Skulsky, Chairman, Winnipeg Jewish Cultural Committee, dealt with appointment of a Resolutions Committee, reports from the National Office and the Regions on the participation of youth in Yiddish activities.Sheva Zucker, a Yiddish teacher at the lL.Peretz- Folk School.who is a graduate of that school and of the I Jewish Teacher's Seminary in New York, reported the formation of \u201cYugntruf\u2019, a - group -of young people in Winnipeg dedicated to the fostering of Yiddish activity.The afternoon session was i| chaired by Ben Pearlman.- | Calgary Professor Lermer led a discussion dealing with the status of Yiddish in the country and on international levels.He reported on the World Conference on Yiddish to be held in Jerusalem in the near future.Jewish Education Yiddish in Jewish education was discussed.Aaron { Eichler, Principal.Peretz School in Calgary.and Rabbi Neal Rose, Department of Judaic Studies, University of Manitoba, presented an over-view of the state of Yiddish in education.This conference was a historic event.For the first time since the creation.of the National Committee a conference of this scope was held in the Western Region.\u2019 People like D.|.Victor, Chairman of the Western Region, Harry Gale, Secretary of the Committee, William Litwin, Executive Director of the |.L.Peretz Folk School, and many others performed yeoman service in helping to make the conference a resounding success.One hundred fifty Jewish pioneer families in Winnipeg were presented with \u201cGolden Circle\u201d scrolls by the Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada as part of the Winnipeg's Centennial Observance.Guest speaker was Dr.Jacob Marcus, Cincinnati, Director of American aN N À 5 Oscar Antel Jewish Archives.Oscar An- tel, a CJC National Vice President, brought greetings on behalf of the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council and the Canadian Jewish Congress which co-sponsored the celebration.The Honorable Saul M.Cherniak, Minister of Finance of Manitoba and a member of the Board of Governors of the Canadian Jewish Congress, representing the Premier of the Province, made the presentations on behalf of the Society to.Ruth Landes and Irene Frankfurter, descendants of the two oldest Jewish families in continuous residence in Winnipeg \u2014 Coblentz and Frankfurter \u2014 Who received them on behalf of all the pioneer families.Councillor Joseph Zuken.paid tribute to the Jewish pioneers and presented an hônorary citizenship certificate to Dr.Jacob Marcus\u2019 on behalf of Mayor Stephen Juba.Dr.|.Wolch, President of the Jewish Historical Society re- CONGRESS BULLETIN ceived a Centennial Participation Certificate.A Seminar on Jewish Education.held in Winnipeg sponsored by the |I.L.Peretz Folk School in cooperation with the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council, the Ra- mah Hebrew School, the Winnipeg Hebrew School (Talmud Torah), Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate.and the Rosh Pina and Herzlia Synagogue Evening Schools.The Seminar was one of several programs developed by the Jubilee Committee to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Peretz Folk School.Chairman of the day-long Seminar was Monte P.Nath- anson, Immediate Past President of the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council.During the morning session a panel consisting of school principals, George Goodman of Ra- mah School, Shimshon Hei- lik of Peretz Folk: School, Rabbi Shmuel Himelstein of Talmud Torah and the Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate, Ralph Troper, Rosh Pina Evening School, Acting Principal Leon Berger of Herzlia Evening School and Rabbi.Neal Rose of the Department of Near East and Judaic Studies, examined Jewish education from the point of view of its effectiveness.Emphasis was placed on the need for continuity through high school and into university.Dr.E.Lipsitz Dr.Edmond Y.Lipsitz, Director of Education for the Central Region of Canadian Jewish Congress, brought greetings from the national office of Congress.Directors Elected Forty-eight members were elected to the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Council from a list of nominees presented by Justice Roy J.Matas, Chairman of the Nominating Committee.@ CONGRESS; REGIONS; INACTION PACIFIC REGION At the recent annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews, Mr.Ted Cohen was elected a co-chairman for a three year term.Congress members elected to Executive positions of the Council are D.A.Freeman, Q.C., Paul Heller, Judge N.L.Oreck, Morris Saltzman and Ber- E.Lando nard Simpson.Elected to the Board of Directors were Dr.A.Bogoch, D.A.Chertkow, J.H.Cohen, Mrs.M.Grober- man, A.H.Jackson, Dr.J.Katz, E.Lando, \u2018Q.C., Chief Justice N.T.Nemetz and M.J.Wosk.Inter-Faith Action As aresult of an anti-Israel radio broadcast by a clergyman, an inter-faith relationship between church and synagogue is being formed.It is being established by the Joint Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith with the assistance of the Canadian Council of Churches and the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews.The Committee has had contacts with the Human Rights Commission of British Columbia.Mrs.Dennis Frankenburg is Chairman of the Joint Community Relations Committee.Guests of Hungarians Representatives of the Pacific Region of Congress were guests of the Vancouver Hungarian Community's Freedom Fighters cen:- memorating the 1956 annexation of Hungary by thé Soviet Union.During the program reference was made to the suppression of Soviet Jewry and its current struggle for freedom as being \u201ccomparable to that\u2019of the Hungarians\u2019.Page 11 CENTRAL REGION A meeting of the Joint Community Relations Committee of Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith, Central Region, was held in Toronto.R.L.Ronson, Vice- Chairman of the Committee, presided.Reports were given on correspondence with Mac- Lean's Magazine on an article about Blacks and Black visitors to Toronto: of members\u2019 reaction to an article in Toronto Life about Jewish builder-developers (JCRC members had been canvassed on both articles): of an interview with the editor and the publisher of the London Free Press with a deputation of the London Jewish Community Council on that newspaper's handling of news of Israel and Jewish interest; of the publicity and promotion for the motion picture film \u201cILSA\u201d on concentration camps (it was decided to screen the film but take no action): of a proposed Christian ethics course for Cornwall, Ontario, high schools (assurances had been received that the Department of Education would not approve a sectarian course); and on the content of the current National Lampoon Magazine.Holocaust - À meeting was held in Toronto to discuss programming and \u201caims of Holocaust Memorial activities.In attendance were the National Chairman of the Holocaust Remembrance Committee, Aba Beer of Montreal; |.Pia- \u201csetski and Max Goody, Chairmep respectively of the Eastern and Central Regional Committees, and Sabina Cit- ton, Jacob Egit, Saul Sigler and Central Region staff.The agenda included the establishment of a documentation centre and museums, compilation of oral history of survivors, education and concern over alleged war criminals residing in Canada. Page 12 \u2019 CONGRESS BULLETIN MARCH 1975 National Executive meet in Toronto Na N MIT; 3 S & RENAN fetes Sosa Panique se = Rene Top: Sydney M.Harris, Q.C., President; Prof.Perry Meyer, Q.C., Chairman, Na tional Executive Committee and Alan Rose, National Executive Director, outline plans dealing with current problems of Education, Immigration, Israel, Soviet Jewry a nd Religious Affairs.- Center (Left): Prof.Perry Meyer and Alan Rose ponder a proposal (Right): Committee Chairmen include Prof.Arthur Lermer, National Committee on Yiddish, Aba Beer, National Holocaust Committee; Victor W.Sefton, National Archives Committe; R.Gordon Marantz, National Youth Committee; and David Satok, National Committee for Soviet Jewry.Bottom: Attention is focused ona motion from the flooror rrr rrrrvir vernon ce nh a = .so L- .ys shea aaa tah ata a EY \u2018Th Jens ani Pose, recto {ong void Rath not on olthe! 0 inf wom itions ment\u2019 Rose fie in Roser, ation ts went tre Wo Plenary sal \u2018The Jews i 45000 asl Vgorou ined ! Near: ar AAC er CP Ir 0 CONGRESIHBVELETIN Roumanian Jews are Living Under Cordial Conditions \u201cThere is a flourishing Jewish community in Roumania today\u2019, said Alan Rose, National Executive Director of Canadian Jewish Congress, \u201cthanks to the devoted leardership of Chief Rabbi Moses Rosen who is not only the spiritual leader of the community but is also an influential public figure who maintains excellent relations with the government\u201d.Rose visited Roumania at the invitation of Rabbi Rosen, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of that country and went there after the close of the World Jewish Congress Plenary Assembly held in Jerusalem.\u201cThere are about 85,000 Jews living in Roumania and 45,000 of them live in Bucharest\u201d\u2019, Rose stated, \u201cand a vigorous social life is maintained including the publishing of a weekly newspaper in Roumanian and Hebrew\u201d.According to Rose there is freedom of religious expression guaranteed by the government and many other significant factors to show the viability and Jewishness of the community which has done a great deal to revive its traditions in the wake of the Nazi Holocaust.\u201cThere are many \u2018mitzvot\u2019 being performed there today\u201d, said Rose, \u201cand they are mostly due to the efficiency of the Federation\u201d.Rose said an extremely well-organized social service program is in operation.For example.there is \u201cMeals on Wheels\u201d which distributes kosher food to the aged and \u2018ill; clothing and relief department and medical facilities.There is also a kosher restaurant and a Yiddish State Theatre.Some financial support is Saul Garson 1930-1974 Halifax, Nova Scotia received from the government and relations between the government and the Jewish community are cqr- dial.Roumania is the only member of the Warsaw Pact which maintains diplomatic relations with Israel amd Golda Meir was a guest there when prime minister.Close ties also exist between Dr.Nahum Goldmann, President of World Jewish Congress, and Nicolai Ceacescu, Prime Minister of Roumania.While there Rose met with the leadership of the Federation and assured them that Canadian Jewry maintained an interest for the welfare of the Jews in Roumania.Dan- del Segal, President of the Jewish Community in Bucharest, recalled the warm reception that the Yiddish State Theatre received in Canada during a recent trip.Chief Rabbi Rosen has also been a frequent visitor to Canada.A devoted leader of the Jewish Community in the Maritime Provinces and Chairman of the Atlantic Provinces Section of Canadian Jewish Congress, Saul Garson will be missed byall.~ 5-F Wich 13 DETERIORATING STATUS FOR ETHIOPIAN JEWRY Discussions have been held with the Department of External Affairs on the rapidly deteriorating situation of the Jewish community in Asmara, the capital of the Eritrean Province of Ethiopia.The Eritrean insurrection appears to have adverse effect on minorities generally and on the tiny Jewish community in particular, in view of the strong religious connotations of the uprising.CJC was assured that the matter will be pursued with other interested countries concerned with protecting their citizens in the area.During the recent assembly of World Jewish Congress in Jerusalem, Alan Rose, met with a representative of the Asmarian Jews and will maintain contact with him regarding any change affecting the Jewish community in that country.The Jews of Ethiopia are mainly Falashas, estimated to number between 20,000 and 25,000.There are also about 300 \"white Jews\", i.e.non-Falashas.The Fa- lashas live scattered in many villages, but mainly-in the Gondar area.Those in Asmara are mostly of non-Fa- lasha origin and many of them still maintain their original British citizenship.There is a synagogue in Asmara.Canadian Jews Featured in American Jewish Year Book The 1974-73 issae of the \u201cAmerican Jéwish Year Book\u201d includes an article on the Jewish Commur'*y of Canada.written by Melvir Fenson of Winnipeg which also contains a.number of references to the Canadian Jewish Congress and its activities.Funding of National Organizations Proposed À plenary session of the National Budgeting Conference was recently held in Montreal to discuss arrangements for the financing of national organizations, including Canadian Jewish Congress and United Jewish Relief Agencies.The session was preceded by a meeting of the Steering Committee of the National Budgeting Conference.Congress-UJRA representatives were Professor Perry Meyer, Q.C., David Sa- tok, Nachum Wilchesky, Leon Teitelbaum, Morley Globerman, Isidor Wolfe, Monroe Abbey, Saul Hayes, 0.C., Q.C., Sigmund Unter- berg, Alan Rose, Steve Ain and Murray Brass.The meeting supported the principle of strong and effective national organizations.A new formula for financing national organizations from local communities was proposed.UJRA was given a supplementary budget of $200,000 in order to meet increased costs for support to Canadian immigrants.Inter-faith Programming Discussed in Israel During a recent holiday trip in Israel, Dr.Samuel Le- win, Director National Religious Affairs Committee, had several meetings regarding the coordination of programming inter-faith activities.- Lewin met with the Israeli Minister of Religions, Dr.Itzchak Raphael and officials of the Ministry of Religions, Mr.Israel Lippel, deputy Director General of the Ministry, Dr.Saul P.Colbi, Director of the Department for Christian Communities, and Mr.Michael Klein.Discussions were also had with Mr.Joseph Emanuel, Director of the Israel Inter-faith Committee and of the Association for Inter-faith Understanding in Israel.Both these committees are non-sectarian in scope.Extensive discussions were had with Dr.Arieh Tar- takover of the World Jewish Congress which is active in - ishinaulating interfaith programsin sraek ?oot anime . Page 14 Anyone for tennis?Not Israel it seems! Alan Rose, National Executive Director of Congress, in a discussion with Mrs.Jose Thomkins, Executive Director of the Canadian Table Tennis Federation in Toronto, followed by a letter, deplored the action taken by the Indian Government to exclude the Israeli Table Tennis team from the forth-com- ing games of the International Table Tennis Federation to be held in Calcutta, India, and asked that the Canadian Federation make its views known to the Indian Government.The letter stressed: \u201cWe are reliably informed that the Indian Government will not grant visas to the Israel team because \u2018diplomatic relations\u2019 do not exist between the two countries.In fact, Israel maintains a Consul General in India and a Trade Commissioner; hence, there is no validity to the excuse that the Israel \u2018presence\u2019 would in any way affect the existing situation between the two countries.Also, we believe that the reason which prompted the Indian Government to deny the Israel team visas was pressure from the Arab countries; indeed, the exclusion of the Israel team is a political\u2019 matter.\"As Canadians, we deplore tits action which could prevent the Israel team.a member in good \u201cstanding of the International Federation.from participating in an international meeting.This offends the canons of sportsmanship and is a flagrant breach of the International Federation's regulations.\u201cWe hope that the Canadian Table Tennis Federation, in concert with other Commonwealth countries, will make its views known to the Indian Government.We are given to understand that a number of other teams will not participate if the Indians maintain their stance.We hope that your Federation will adopt a similar position.\u201d Tetley goes to Bat for .Jewish Drug Companies The Honourable William Tetley.Minister of Financial Institutions, called the attention of the Quebec Press Council to an article in \u2018Nouvelles IHustrées\u201d\u2018 entitled \u2018The Invasion of the pharmaceutical retail trade by the Jewish drug merchants will be prevented.Jean Coutu is seeing to it.\u201d Tetley was indignant at the disparaging character of this article involving one of the ethnic groups forming the population of Canada and Quebec and specially at the title which linked the Jewish population with the drug merchants who aim to dominate the retail drug trade.\u2014\u2014 Tetley disputed the validity of the subtitle \u201cTo be Jewish and want to own.and control everything\u201d which left an impression no way justified by facts.After examining the article in question and the reply Tetley received from Quebecor\u2019's management.the Quebec Press Council is of opinion that: Even though the journalist who signed the article might have faithfully reported pharmacist Jean Coutu\u2019s remarks, the title of this article, \u201cThe invasion of the pharmaceutical retail trade by the Jewish drug merchants will be prevented: Jean Coutu is seeing to it\u201d, phasized ethnic considerations that did not constitute the essence of Coutu\u2019s observations but were rather an accessory part and tended to mislead the reader.The subtitle \"To be Jewish and want to own and control everything\" was utterly unacceptable in the context of the article and in connection with this situation, totally unrelated, as it is, to religious or ethnic considerations, implies discriminatory reference to the ethnic group in question.Moreover, certain comments in the article are ambiguous and may be interpreted as discriminatory remarks.Therefore, the Quebec Press Council blames the management of \u201cNouvelles Illustrées\u201d (for having allowed a discriminatory title and subtitle to be published and used) and expresses the hope that the said newspaper will refrain from publishing articles of the above type under headings prejudicial to any groups or persons whatever.was inappropriate because it em- ; CONGRESS.BULLETIN \u201cMARCH 1975 National JCRC meet in Montreal A meeting of the National Joint Community Relations Committee of Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith was held in Montreal.Mr.J.C.Horowitz, Q.C., of Toronto presided.Present were members from Toronto, Montreal and Hamilton.The agenda included reports on representations made by the Canadian Jewish Congress to the Secretary of State with regard to alleged war- criminals residing in Canada .Jewish/Christian relations and the impact of the new Vatican guidelines on Jewish/Christian links; Regional activities, inter-ethnic contacts including discussions held with the President of the National Black Coalition and on the participation of the PLO in U.N.Congress on Crime Prevention, which will be held in Toronto in September.A film produced by the League for Human Rights of B'nai B'rith entitled \u201cThe Oilmighty Dollar\u201d was shown to the members present.Manuel Batshaw, Director of Allied Jewish Community Services in Montreal, was appointed by Social Affairs Minister Claude Forget to head a committee examining conditions at Maison Notre Dame de Laval Detention Centre.- Yiddish - Canadiana At the request of the National Committee on Yiddish of the Canadian Jewish Congress, ap anthology was published in Buenos Aires entitled \u201c\"Canadiana\u2019\u2019, which comprises works of 38 Canadian Yiddish writers on Canadian themes.Plans are now being made to have this \u2018volume translated into English and French with the help of a grant from the multicultural program of the Government.The Committee ordered 400 copies of the book for use in Canada.Nazi Victims Urged to Register for Claims at URO For some time now negotiations have been underway for granting indemnification to those victims of Nazism who were unable to make any claims because they had left their homelands in Eastern Europe after the deadline set out in the Final Indemnification Law, i.e., December31.1965.The negotiations were carried on between Dr.Nahum Goldmann, on behalf of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, and former German Minister of Finance Alex Moeller, on behalf of Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, for creating a foundation to be financed by the West German Government.It seems now that these negotiations were successful and a bill is now before the Bundestag (German Parliament) by which the German Government would grant the amount of approximately $250,000.000.(according to the present exchange rate) for indemnification purposes.These funds would be administered by a foundation to be established by the Claims Conference.The location of the foundation has not yet been decided upon but the possibility of its being situated in Switzerland is being discussed.At this time it seems that every claimant will receive the same amount, a lump sum, as indemnification for personat-damages.Material losses will not be taken into account.The amount has not been mentioned.Although there are still some difficulties to be solved before the bill will be adopted by the Bundestag, it is hoped that the foundation will be established in the not too distant future.Therefore the United Restitution Orga- -nization (URO) Canada has decided to accept the registration of persons who would be eligible under the specification mentioned earlier.i.e., emigration from Eastern Europe after December 31, 1965 and persecution suffered under the Nazi occupation.Potential claimants may register in person at the URO, 279 Sherbrooke Street West, Suite 409, Monday through Friday.between 9:00 and 12:00 noon.The JCJ Research Publication dealing with Jewish demographic studies based on the 1971 Canadian census is listed in the highly reputed \u2018 \u2018Ropulation Index\u201d published by the Population Association of America.7 | fresnel There yams prie iis C whi (anadit samen pense emotion Hrougho Homi maybe fo assess book by pens quite | Inked by méfie ra ot lok pill ou fi the Ie cove Hetypes infor som wing ison | otempt ment of sense hi isa ze ET D Te vv amy \u2026 Is =m TT ! il ional * n the On: Pre: 1ldin Aflm ue for 4.Bi | Dob Le même : & = 15 that poe limp on fo Later on INO pas ol ( stil solves ado gi pda MARCH 1978 BOOKS .CONGBESS BULLETIN .Don't judge this Book by its cover \u2014 it's a Sleeper!! There is an old cliche which warns us against judging a book by its cover.A classic example of this is \u201cCanadian Jewish Archives\u2019\u2019 whichis a collection of early Canadian Jewish Congress documents from the years 1914- 1921.There is a possibility that a potential reader would be turned off by the cover of this jumbo sized paperback book because no where does it hint at the drama, suspense, and of course, high emotion that is pervasive throughout the entire book.Warning to the reader who may be superficially conditioned to assessing the content of a book by the slick appearance of expensive paper stock or exquisite type faces.Don\u2019t be fooled by the lack of these cosmetic traps and by the pages that look as if they were freshly pulled out of a typewriter.If the reader can get beyond the cover, the paper stock and the type written pages, they are in for some highly revealing and excitingreading.It is an unpretentious book.It does not editorialize, nor does it attempt a philosophical assessment of Jewish life during this seven-year period.It is a collection of everyday working papers that have been meticulously organized by David Rome which gives the reader a sense of urgency and commitment that prevailed in the Jewish community in their need to deal with crisis and problems of being a Jew in Canada.There are letters and documents which deal with the important period of the First World War, the Peace Conference, the formation of the Congress and early overseas relief.It contains enlightening information on the organization of Canadian relief for civilians stricken by World War |, on the organization of the People\u2019s Relief, of the Canadian Jewish Alliance (the Folks Fer- band), on the Zionist Organization, on Labor Zionism, on immigration into Canada, on the organization of U.S.Jewry, on Jewish concern with the Versailles Peace Conference and on conditions in war-torn Russia and the Ukraine.It was a time when $900 was considered a major victory of fund-raising.In the foreword of the book, Saul Hayes writes, \"This archival inventory has turned out to be a document of historic vibrancy.It recalls a pregnant period in the annals of Jewry and mankind.The first of the world wars, the uprooting and the scattering of scores of thousands of refugees, revolutions, the perfected racism and genocide of our century, the destruction of old worlds, the closing of epochs, the emergence to the forefront of the New World and the re-emergence from antiquity of the renascent State of Israel \u2014 all this is reflected in these documents.It takes the form of budding loyalties of seemingly ordinary Jewish men and women in Ontario towns, in Montreal sweat shops, in Jewish newspapers, on prairie cattle yards.The Congress Archives record the face-to-face meeting of Canada\u2019s Jews with their fellow citizens, with Canadian governments and parliaments, with civic organizations, law courts and with the media.They document the place Canada has won in the councils of world Jewry, in Israel, in international relief agencies, in the world struggle for peace, for Jewish rights and for human rights.\u201d There are lighter moments in the book such as Rome's description of credentials and letterheads.Some of the designs he describes are quite graphic in their detail, e.g., from the Social Democratic Party their letterhead has a hand holding a torch with lettering and symbol all in red; there is a credential written on the back of a meeting notice from Aguduth Iveriyah; a rubber stamp lyre is used by the Youth Dramatical Club; the Hebrew Free Loan Association seal is in gold and the letterhead itself is an education in Jewish ethics complete with slogans, history and lessons from the Talmud; the Canadian Hebrew Sick Benefit Society uses clasping hands; the Queen\u2019s likeness is imprinted on the stationery of the Victoria Hebrew Sick Benefit Association as is the King on the stationery of the King Edward Benefit Association; and from the Bakery and Confectionery Workers Union an extremely ornately engraved letterhead of face and symbols of strength and unity.The book pulls no punches and really tells it the way it was, including organizational conflicts; in-fighting; absconding of funds; Uptown Jews versus Downtown Jews; fund-raising by hundreds of devoted workers through pennies, nickels and dimes, and it is all told through daily ordinary working papers.Because of the honest presentation of this book there is a cold clarity on the position of women during that period.Not one woman is mentioned by name.The only record of their existence is in the reference to the type of letterheads used by the Hebrew Ladies Immigrant Protective Association, Hebrew Ladies Aid Society and the Hebrew Ladies Relief Society and the Welcome Club for Jewish Working Girls.However, there is mention of letters written to a number of unnamed ladies inviting them to cooperate in the welcoming of delegates to a Congress meeting.Really emphasising women\u2019s role in that period was the stand taken by the Zionist and Orthodox delegation on the issue of voting rights for women.\"The Zionist and their allies would not permit women to vote nor did they permit women to speak in defence of their position.\u201d Perhaps the women will fare better in the next issue of the Archives which has just come off the press.The book is available through Canadian Jewish Congress, 1590 McGregor Avenue, Montreal at a cost of $5.00 It's a Jewish \u201cLove Story\u201d, but better!! _ \u201cThe White House\u2018 by Sholem Shtern is a novel in verse which presents a sensitive portrayal of a young Jewish immigrant whe is stricken with T.B.shortly after\u201d he arrived in Canada.He is sent to the \u201cWhite House\u2019, a sanitorium in the mountains, to be cured.It is here amongst the white beds, white_ uniforms and the white snow that the young immigrant meets a cross-section of humanity who share this once dreaded illness with him.Shtern captures a high intensity of deep emotion with David Eisen has taken the diary he kept as a medical undergraduate and has turned it into a spirited book recalling the period between 1917 and 1922 when attending University of Toronto.almost catalogue precision.The book is a piece of Canadian Jewish life, which brings an awareness of the relationship between Jewish immigrants and French Canadian farmers.The description of this relationship is perceptive and warm.The mood of the book is both tragic and hopeful.Several of « ou «fr , Tard Hig by B.G.Kayfetz .David Eisen is a retired radiologist, a graduate of Medicine, University of Toronto, 1922.For some years he has been filling his retirement most constructively as archivist for the Holy Blossom Temple, diligently seeking out old registers, - tax rolls and directories from the 1860s and earlier, deciphering crabbed, mid-nineteenth century handwriting and harvesting .nuggets of early Jewish Toronto- niana.Now Dr.Eisen has made his direct and personal contribution to Toronto's fund of Jewish history.He has uncovered and edited for publication his own diary which he kept as a medical undergraduate at the University of Toronto from 1917101922.And what a fund of information it is! He recreates the atmosphere and spirit of the World War | years and after when the world was looking to Wooodrow Wilson for its redemption; when Jews placed tremendous hopes on the newly promulgated Balfour Declaration: don't have to be a To the patients die of their disease, leaving the rest of the patients and staff shaken for a long time afterward.More pervasive than death however is the theme of love between the sexes.Sholem Shtern has employed the form of the poetic novel to relate the biographies of his fellow patients.Yet everything is heightened by the ever present illness \u2014 colour, when the \u2018\u2019faise armistice\u201d was announced, premature by four days; when there was still a large monarchy in the centre of Europe with the hyphenated name of Austria- Hungary: when junior Zionist societies debated on whether land in the coming Jewish homeland should be privately owned or heid in common; when the Zionist idea and ideal, despite the beginnings made by the Second Aliya, were still untested and debatable con- -cepts: when the \u201cSpanish flu\u201d ran its deadly course through Canadian cities, killing more than fell in battle.All these events, ideas and many, many others are touched on in Dr.Eisen\u2019's charming student diary.He writes of his old neighbourhood on Bellevue Avenue then on the western margin of the Jewish populated area of the city.not out of nostalgia in an cver-ro- manticized glow as some writers do.for he was writing when he was living in it and not aware that it was \u201cpicturesque\u201d or \u2018quaint\u2019.It is free.therefore, of the sometimes idealized and idyilic touch when sound, natural detail, dreams, longings, emotions.Of course, the young man falls in love with his nurse and judging by the purity of poetic inspiration the book could only be autobiographical.The book was originally written in Yiddish and has been translated into English by Max Rosenfeld and sells for $7.50 rontonian to enjoy! one \u201crecollects in tranquillity\u201d, as he was merely keeping a day to day account of his doings.And the style of his writing is the style that all diaries of necessity have \u2014 a straight, factual narrative without embellishment or adornment.The inter-Varsity wrestling tournament, the famous \u201cconscription election\u201d of 1917, the anatomy quiz, the errands of mercy in the flu epidemic, the Jewish student campus groupings and regroupings \u2014 they are all there.There would be no use pretending that it hasn't a more direct interest for Torontonians than for others \u2014 the names, the streets, the institutions, the neighbourhoods; all have a tangible value to people raised in the area and Dr Eisen mentions many names of his contemporaries \u2014 Row colleagues in medicine, lawyers, politicians, communal leaders \u2014 and one jailbird {who goes unnamed) Unquestionably there is the factor of curiosity that may draw some readers.Cont'd.on Page 16, - STE TA AT ATA a ATR ESS TE AA AS Justice Minister, Otto Lang.was guest speaker at a meeting marking \u201cHuman Rights Day\" organized in Montreal \u2018by the Women's Federation of AJCS.Alan Rose, Executive Director CJC, was the summator.The major thrust of Lang's speech dealt with the proposal of Canadian Human Rights and Fair Administrative Commission.The legislation will be submitted to parliament this session.Its major role will be to serve as a coordinating arm of Human Rights in Canada providing information and education on how to deal with the prob- \u2018lems of discrimination.It will also place emphasis on the importance of individual cases and provide for an ombudsman type of function in relation to fair administrative practices.It has many other provisions related to the rights of individuals such as problems of privacy, fair treatment of women, legal aid programs, rights of native people, a better understanding of the law by laymen, restructuring the courts for family law and will call for more legal scholarship.Alan Rose delivered the summation address telling the audience that Human Rights should be commemorated rather than celebrated.He felt it was supreme irony to be celebrating human rights considering the revolting spectacle at the U.N.It was this organization who enunciated the Declaration of Human Rights, brought Israel into its legal existence and, yet, it was from their podium we heard ACEC oF Ba ELBIT LASTS Otto Lang and R ESS s=- Charles R.Bronfman, Raizel Macklovitch, Justice Minister Otto Lang, Alan Rose and Manvel Batshaw, were speakars during a Human Rights Day held in Montreal.\u2018we were a non-people.As a founding-member of the U.N., and as a country which consistently upholds the principle of its charter.he suggested that Canada seriously examine the kind of U.N.we are looking at today and analyze what its attitude should be towards this debasement of its principles.Rose also called for the establishment of a federal clearing house for human rights resource material.He felt that it was strange for the Jewish community to- be publishing federal and provincial enactments which were used by governments throughout Canada.It would be a collection.of material which would include Canadian enactments, history of Propose Amendments on Human Rights Bill 50 The Eastern Region and the Joint Community Relations Committee submitted a brief to the Parliamentary Committee on Justice to the National Assembly of Quebec.recommending a number of amendments on the \u201cAct Respecting Human Rights and Freedoms\u2019 (Bill 50).~The brief suggests that the Act include safeguards against discrimination on basis of marital status and 220000011 0D IDD FE pit vi 05 age; that all rights protected in the Act be subject to the same recourses and sanctions in the event of their violations; that a stipulation be included in the Act stating that \u201cany law or regulation contrary to the provisions of this Act, shall be invalidated unless it is expressly stated to be enacted not withstanding the provisions of this Act \u201c that a proviso be added \\Jequiring the Minister of RIP Justice to examine all existing and proposed legislation and report to the National Assembly any possible violations or.inconsistencies with the provisions of the Charter of Human Rights Commission, which would be established under the Act be strengthened to facilitate en- forceability including a right of appeal and provisions for damages as compensation for discriminatory acts\u201d, Shi, cf Cri 3013 fEnvaL - .human rights in Canada and also information on international human rights.Rose also suggested a voluntary component as part of the human rights commis- sion-He pointed out that human rights depend on individual citizenry and is too important to be left to government alone.It would be similar to the advisory council on multiculturalism or any of the other advisory councils in government domain.He said that the CJC was pleased with legislation that will make provisions for the protection of human rights that will help to eradicate bigotry and exploitation still existing in Canada.amongst all Jews.fo D Cy This issue of the \u201cCongress Bulletin\u201d introduces CJC\u2019s new insignia.Itis lovingly referred to as \u201cthe Bagel\u201d but is in fact a serious symbol expressing the contemporary role of CJC\u2019s coordinated interaction relative to Canadian and World Jewry.It was created by Paul Rosenbaum who skillfully adapted the letters of CJC inte.an ongoing series of stylized capitals encircling the Magan David interpreting a unified spirit clon ofthe MARCH 1978 CONGRESS BULLETIN ss .\u2026.rman of Book Month Committee.Se Paul Trepman, Armand Moyal, Shalom Hadaya, Consul of Israel, Montreal, Dr.Judah J.Shapiro and Leon Teitelbaum, Eastem Region Chairman listen to Mrs.Issenman.js in * D There were extensive displays in department stores, book stores |- shopping malls, universities and public libraries.Jewish Book Month A whole new dimension was added to Jewish Book Month with the involvement of the non-Jewish segments of the community throughout the Montreal area, suburbs and outlying regional communities.The theme \u201cKnow Thyself \u2014 Read Jewish Books\u201d was carried out to encourage reading of Jewish content books.The opening lecture launching Book Month was held at the Jewish Public Library, with Dr.Judah J.Shapiro speaking on \u201cSolving the Dilemma of Jewish Culture in North America\u201d.The lecture was followed by a question and answer period.Immediately after the lecture a wine and cheese reception was given for specially invited guests.: Throughout the Month there were lectures in Yiddish, French, English and Hebrew.À calendar of events in observance of Jewish Book Month was coordinated by Congress and mailed to Jewish organizations.and schools.In association with the Francophone community, a lecture was held at the Samuel Bronfman House, with Prof.Paul Racah speaking on \u201cLes Relations Entre les Fondations de la Science Moderne et la Tradition Rabbinique\u201d.Participating in the program were Michael Solomon.well-known Jewish author, and the Kinor Choir.A mobile library was set up to visit the communities of Sherbrooke and Quebec City.This was a first time endeavor and a great deal of preparatory work was put into this venture.Prior to Jewish Book Month, announcements were mailed to all Jewish organizations, synagogues, Jewish Day and Afternoon Schools, institutions, university and public libraries, and booksellers informing them of the dates and theme of Jewish Book Month and urging participation and involvement.Material, flyers and posters were disseminated throughout the Montreal area, suburbs and outlying regional communities. \u2018Pagdt Vatican Guidelines: A milestone was recently reached in Christian-Jewish relations.Guidelines have been prepared by the Roman Catholic Church's Commission on Relations with Judaism to carry out the declaration of the Second Vatican Council._ The declaration by the Ecumenical Council, Vatican Il, called Nos- tra Aetate (in Our Time) and which received-fiñal approval on Oct.28.1965.asserted that the death of Jesus cannot be placed upon \u201call the Jews then living, without distinction, nor upon Jews of today.\u201d The Guidelines state in part: © Jesus was born of the Jewish people, as were His apostles and many of His first disciples.- : The New Testament is profoundly marked by its relation to the Old.© Jesus also used teaching methods employed by the Rabbis of His time.® The spiritual bonds and historical links binding the church to Judaism condemn (as opposed to the very spirit of Christianity) all forms of, anti-Semitism and discrimination, which; in any case, the dignity of the human person would suffice to condemn.It is the same God, inspirer and author of the books in the Old and New Testaments who speaks both in the Old and New covenants.With respect to liturgical readings, care will be taken to see that homilies based on them will not distort their meaning.especially when it is a question of passages which seem ta show the Jewish people as such in an unfavorable light.Efforts will be made so to inst-' ruct the Christian people that they will understand the true interpretation of all the texts and their meaning for the contemporary believer Commmissions entrusted with the task of liturgical translation will pay particular attention to the way in which they express those phrases and passages which Christians, if not well informed, might misunderstand because of prejudice.This represents, in my,view, à marked advance in an area which hitherto, from the Jewish standpoint, was a breeding ground for anti-Jewish feeling and prejudice.Itis no historical exaggeration to state that over the centuries Christians developed a deep seated animus towards the Jewish people by virtue of the language employed in the Gospels which appeared to.implicate all Jews both during and after the crucifixion of Jesus.Thus the term \u201cthe Jews\u2019 used in John was taken as a blanket condemnation of all Jews.Likewise, the term \u201cPharisees\u201d became a mark of opprobrium associated with Jews.The verse in Matthew (unmentioned by the other Gospels) that \u201cHis blood be upon us and upon our children\u201d was quoted time and again by bigots and añti-Semitiat-; rebrands as justification of the slaughter of Jews.What the Guidelines, in effect.state is that henceforth a commission wili be established to instruct Christians that the term \u201cJews\u201d in John refers to the adversaries of Jesus.Similarly, the \u201cPharisees\u201d is not to be taken as a pejorative for Jews, but is a term for those among the Pharisees party.who opposed Jesus.\" (incidentally, Jesus himself, while not a member of the Pharisees, espoused Pharisee doctrines, e.g.belief in resurrection, something the Pharisees affirmed and which the Saducees denied.) While the Guidelines donot propose to \u201calter the text\u201d.it is indeed gratifying to note that positive steps will be taken to prevent a misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the Gospels, which, in the past, was the source of so much enmity towards the Jewish people and for which was paid so dearly in \u2018blood over the years.A second important feature is the statement that \u201cChristians must therefore strive to learn by what essential traits the Jews define themselves in the light of their own religious experience\u201d.It then adds: \u201cThe Old Testament and the Jewish tradition founded upon it must not be set \u201c against the New Testament in such a way that the former seems to constitute a religion of only justice, fear and legalism with no appeal to the love of God and neighbour.\u201d Misguided theologians It has been the practice in the past on the part of misguided theologians to establish the would-be \u201csuperiority of the New Testament over the Old to depict the Old as a book of stern justice (\u201can eye for an eye\u201d) and fear (the dire punishments for those disobeying the laws) and devoid of the \u201cquality of mercy\u201d and the blessing of love for God and neighbor.The fact is that the Old Testament is suffused with professions of love of God (\u201cthou shalt love thy Lord thy God with all thy heart, etc.\u201d\u2019} and of neighbor (\u201cthou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself\u201d.\u201cthou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart\u201d).By the same token one can point to passages in the Gospels where nothing less than eternal-purgatory is promised for non-believers.The Guidelines, therefore.suggest that henceforth no invidious comparisons be made between the Old and New Testaments.Rather.in its words, an effort should be made \u2018to acquire a better understanding of whatever in the Old Testament retains its own perpetual value since that has not been cancelled by the later interpretation of the New Testament\u201d.Moreover, it enjoins Christians in a remarkable statement to \u201cacquire a better knowledge of the basic components of the religious.traditions of Judaism.they must strive to learn by what essential traits the Jews define themselves in the light of their own religious ekreriepSPs 1 nov 1 5.0 hotiina CONGRESS.BULLETIN by Rabbi Ailan Langner Question of Israel What are the \u201cbasic components\u201d of the religious traditions of Judaism?What are the \u201cessential traits\u201d by which Jews define themselves?This is not spelled out that Judaism presupposes belief in one God is one basic component which Christians rea- \"dily accept as fundamental to the Jewish religion, which.after all.was the religion of Jesus.But are there other basic components\u201d of Judaism?Are there other essential traits by which Jews define themselves unperceived by Christians?The answer is that in addition to God and the Word of God (The Torah) the people and land of Israel form \u201cessential traits\u201d and \u201cbasic components\u201d.of the Jewish religion.- If Christians are to acquire a proper grasp of the \u201cessential traits\u201d and \u2018\u2019basic components\u201d they must: come to understand that Jews are not just a religious group devoted to abstract ethical principles, but a people of flesh and bones with historical and religious ties to their ancestral homeland.The land of Israelis notjust another piece of territory.The return to the land after centuries of exile was part of the fulfillment of the prophecies of Amos, Isaiah.Jeremiah, etc., revered by Jew and Christian alike.Indeed, this is also sensed in the words of Jesus in Jerusalem, The indivisible relationship \"which exists between the Jewish people .and the State of Israel is more than a mere act of solidarity in time of crisis and war, but is deeply rooted in the Jewish soul.Consequently, a deep appreciation of the way the Jews define themselves can only be perceived if due account is given to those \u201cbasic components\u201d referred to, butunmentioned in the Guidelines.Happily, some Catholic theologians have written extensively with great perception and insight on this matter, and one can only hope that the Guidelines will move others in that direction.Finally, the Guidelines very wisely state that the history of Judaism did not end with the destruction of Jerusalem, but rather went on to develop a religious tradition.Too many Christian thinkers in the past erroneously averred that all Jewish history for all intents and purposes terminated with the destruction of Jerusalem bythe Romans.In point of fact, however.Jewish religious tradition blossomed forth and flowered for centuries following the Roman disaster.+ The Taimudic Tractates replete with wisdom and ethical discussions on \u201cmundane matters,\u201d thereby breathing a moral dimension into daily affairs, were evolved after the Roman catastrophe.Later.the Gaonic works, philo-, sophers such as Maimonides, Ye- huda Helevy and Crescas illuminated the darkness which enveloped Medie val times.Judaism is still evolving and developing.It is by no means static and fixed.It is in the words of the sages \u201clike a well, flowing with ever increasin vigor.\u201d ; 3.4.1dcwr >.3 oi Thus, it is that the Guidelines are of momentous importance to Christians and Jews.They call for dialogue which presupposes that each side is prepared to know \u2018more of the other and anxious to increase and deepen its knowledge of the other.Dialogue demands respect for the other as one is \u2014 and, above all, respect for one\u2019s faith and religious convictions.For Jews, dialogue in due course will mean that Christians will come to regard the Jew not as a problem but as a resource.For centuries, allusions were constantly made to the Jewish problem\u201d.Hitler's diabolical \u201cfinal solution\u201d was, in effect, a way of.dealing with the purported \u2019Jewish problem.\u201d Jews havé problems as do all other people.But Jews, far from being a problem, have been part of the answer.A people less than one per cent of the world population have furnished mankind with great religions, great thinkers and great writers.Indeed, there has hardly been an area of creative human endeavor in which Jews have not made a positive contribution.For Christians, dialogue will mean that prejudices and suspicions developed over the ages will begin to dissipate.It will not happen overnight.And this is true of Jewish biases and suspicions.Recently.this writer attended a conference held in London, England, between the World Council of Churches and Jewish leaders from various parts of the globe.Moving experience It was a most moving experience to participate in a conclave where leading Jewish and Christian thinkers discussed scholarly papers on the role of power and its application in Jewish and Christian traditions.All felt enriched by the exchange of views.There was also a session on the Middle East in which\u2019 Jews and Arabs took part.Although the sessions were heated ones, they were frank and open.There was the feeling that all wished to move in the direction of \u2014c peace.It is essential for Jews to understand that although the anti- Semitic virus still exists, not all are afflicted by it.Even when others fail to stand by us they are not necessarily \u201c againstus.It-is time to lay to rest the \u201call the world wants Jews dead\u201d mentality, as expressed by a writer recently in Esquire magazine.Dialogue can do much to make many Jews understand that not all Christians are anti-Semites and thirsting for their blood.There is much goodness and spirituality in the world and it is not the monopoly of only one people.Dialogue can go a long way in bringing together diverse peoples with differing religions without erasing or-minimizing the differences yet transcending them for the glory of God and the betterment of mankind.4 à 4 oC \u201cMahbiitevs President's Message (cont'd.) The implication is catastrophic! Hundreds of thousands of Jewish children-in both the advanced industrial countries and the developing countries must inevitably lose not only their identities as Jews, but also any consciousness, tradition and heritage.We must, \u2018therefore, seek a remedy and we suggest that the Diaspora enter into a great partnership with Israel: we must mobilize the Diaspora for survival \u2014 education is survival in the same manner in which we mobilize material resources for Israel.Cooperation with Israel must not always and only be in an atmosphere of crisis and need.Indeed it dare not be so! The day must come \u2014 and soon \u2014 when the greater portion of the monies we collect will have to be, and will be able to be, devoted to education, culture and the maintenance of social services, rather than to satisfy the needs of economic existence and military \u2019 exigencies.October War Events since the October War have taught us the irrefutable lesson that Israel.without a strong and viable Diaspora, will remain in jeopardy.It is not only the State of Israel that may find itself in this condition if this situation is permitted, to~ continue, but the very House of Israel to which we all belong.While Israel provides the cultural tools whereby there will be effected a Jewish renaissance If the Diaspora.the Diaspora provides the pragmatic means whereby Jewish life will be preserved in Israel and in the world.God forbid that history record that while Is- real\u2019s survival was secured on the battlefields, the Diaspora died in empty classrooms.These demands on Israel for a new relationship for Jewish survival in the Diaspora call for statesmanship on both sides.We, Canadians, are firmly convinced that Israeli leaders and Diaspora leaders must come together within the framework of the partnership | have envisaged and described.Expresses Joy It is a truism that if there was no World Jewish Congress we would have to establish one tomorrow.This Plenary Assembly attests to its universality.Within this hail is a vast array of Jewish communities, including Roumania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.| cannot refrain from expressing our joy at seeing Dr.Kadel- berg and Chief Rabbi Rosen, who regularly grace our meetings.As a truly intemational organisation, untrammelled by any partisan ideology.the World Jewish Congress is a powerful instrument both for Diaspora Jewry and for Israel and under the inspired and inspiring leadership of Dr.Nahum Goldmann.it has performed great services for the Jewish people.to many of which | have already referred and which in any event need not be enumerated to this audience.\u2019 cont'd on Page 19 : TV 34 1x: - ad 7 pr mr iE \\é \u2014 \u2014- >» Js lies Taphon yn i jen [PEEL much W masi ( th the tow he ie i me One tings Joi! Tinsby ne Th pre BA Das 1 bring SHES fone ex #0 pu make me land! bring Ÿ praisexo Theo mad! member er hey This ph lense sent Wher i fg stan 1 wi Jess kit Posy Wishyw Fi for DER Today tinh Hig h Pat uty Fp, | ent in t Wen h he | Toga) i; hol gy sh fim te b gi Ting bey hi ip they Se: kof à À te Iney- ; êtes Un: age, da ithe Mob il \u2014 | he + hile | Co ! ot à phere Gare Ne \u2014 1 por ot wil tobe, tam MARCH, 19 TS CONGRESS BULLYYIN The Rich Endowment of Canadian Jews to World Jewry by Dr.Mishael M.Caspi, University of California, Santa Cruz Jewish tradition affords its highest respect to the book.As Rabbi Tarphon said, \u201cThe work is not upon thee to.finish, nor art thou free to desist from it.If thou hast learned much Torah they give thee much wages; and fruitful is the\" master of thy work who will pay thee the wages of thy toil.And know that the giving of the reward to the righteous is in the time to come.\u201d (Ahoth 2,21).One of the important undertakings of this year is the collection of Jewish manuscripts and rnicro- films by the National Library in Ottawa in cooperation with the CJC.This project was initiated by Mr.R.A.Davis, who has worked hard to bring into light these hidden sources of Jewish learning \u2014 some extremely rare, some never even published.His concern to make money available to this proj- ectand to grasp the opportunity to bring these pages to light is praiseworthy and notable.Cultural Roots The cultural climate of today Is marked by a return of many young - members of the Jewish faith to their heritage and cultural roots.This phenomenon deserves intense observation.We must present the old and the new together in order to provide the © young with the opportunity to understand their heritage and their role within this heritage.Such a presentation is-not simply an intellectual exercise but it is also a philosophical and theological process by which the youth can establish for themselves a RAISON D'ETRE.Ç Today's generation of youth is notinherently a member of society but is ready to rebuild society and to participate creatively and constructively in the destiny of its people.Indeed.the greatest moment in the life of Moses occurred when he commanded the people, \u201cYe shall be a kingdom of priets and a holy nation\u201d (Ex.19:6), accentuating the spiritual meaning of redemption.Such did not stem from the abolition of slavery, nor the giving of the Ten Commandments.Rather.it came when the Children of Israel began to perceive themselves in different terms \u2014 in their communal identity, in mutual responsibility, and in reflection on their cultural interests.Valuable Lesson Moreover, we may learn a valuable lesson from the history of the world's great nations.Among the factors that caused their cultures and languages to dissolve and their identities to be extinguished was their dependence on outside sources to subsidize their cultures.Jews never did this.They never looked to an external source nor requested recognition as an ethnic group.The Jews always subsidized their own culture.sought internal philanthropy to supply the funds needed to build cultural life.This is among the most important factors in the continued existence of Jewish culture.The Canadian Jewish Congress has initiated a project that, in the near future, will make Canada one of the important centers of Jewish scholarship and wiil designate for the Canadian Jewish Community a -very important place in the history of the Jewish people.The project, undertaken in cooperation with the National Library of Ottawa, is the collection of precious manuscripts and microfilm from the Eastern European World.10 Million Pages There are more than ten million pages of manuscript material in Eastern Europe, some of which is already in Ottawa and will soon be made available to study by scholars around the world.The National Library's uhdertaking of this project makes accessible to the Western World materials long sealed from investigation.Students and scholars of this generation now have the task of sifting and analyzing this material.In a broader perspective, the Nationa! Library has taken on the task of distributing and proliferating these pages of the history of our people.The Jews of Canada are the pioneers in this important project, through their contributions of time, effort, and money, but | should emphasize that Jews in all countries must partake and participate in this project.Only recently have we realized that we can preserve the austere academic rigor of this precious past and offer the fruit of our labor \u2018to the world community at large.As world citizens with a keen interest in Israel as homeland and Jewishness as heritage, the Jews reflect the whole achievement of man in world history.What better way to study world history.than to take the history of the Jewish people as a basis?This people has participated in every experience on every continent; man's total adventure can be epitomized in a study of the Jew.If we want to study concepts of justice, law, rectitude \u2014 the basic semantics of the fundamental text that has shaped Western civilization \u2014 Hebrew language and Jewish culture is a good place to start.Teach Children It seems to me that we often forget the debt we owe to our forefathers, and at the same time we need to be reminded of a very important commandment: \u201cThou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children and shalt talk of them when thou sitteth in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way.and -when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.\u201d (Deut.6:7).Although wg recite this prayer twice each day.as part of the \u201cShema\u201d we forget that we are responsible for two important duties \u2014 to pay the debt to our fathers, and to transfer our culture to our children.The way in which we fulfill our duty.our task, our debts, will determine whether our children and the future generations of Jews approve and praise our action or despair and reproach our inaction.As it stands today.the Jewish writings microfilm and manuscript project in the National Library in Ottawa is losing its vital momentum, primarily because of a lack of funds.Jews in Canada can repay the debt to their fathers and strengthen the Jewish identity of the new generation by providing needed assistance for this task.Funds must be found to publish a catalogue, seminars must be organized, and an individual in a consultative role must be designated.These are the first steps that must be taken to pay our debts.The collection must be made public and must continue to grow.The many pages still on their way are in jeopardy uriless the necessary funds can be raised.The enrichment of the collection is our continuing duty.Jews and Non-Jews Many people, Jews and.ron- Jews, are involved in this vital project, which is honored to bear the name of Saul Hayes who served for thirty years the Canadian Jewish community.We should not forget Dr.Guy Sylvester and Mr.L.F.MacRae of the National Library, and the honorable Hugh Faulkner, Secretary of State of Canada, all of whom have helped bring this collection into life, and, in spite of the lack of sufficient funds, have devoted their time and encouragement to those directly involved with the project.Here, we must make note of those who developed the idea of this project: David Rome.Saul Hayes, Alan Rose, Rabbi Bernard Baskin, Earnest Sabloff, and many more.it is important to mention that Mr.Sabloff worked when no one believed the present level of achievement possible.There are, of course, numerous others who worked to see this project develop and continue to put their effort into its progress, building the collection into one of the finest in the Western World.| am acquainted personally with one of these individuals, Mr.Jacob Lowe.| know him as a learned person, and | have no doubt that his involvement will be beneficial to this unique project.Great Work The Torah tells us that when Moses and the Children of Israel faced the Red Sea, pursued by the Egyptians, they cried out to the Lord.God replied to Moses: \u201cWherefore criest thou untp me?Speak unto the Children of Israel that they go forward.\u201d (Ex.14:15).This story must serve as our example.It is up to us, without dependence on outsiders, to preserve our culture, and make available these pages of manuscript to scholarly study.Let us rise up together and take advantage of this opportunity.As this article began with the saying of Rabbi Tarphon, let me end with his saying, too: \u201cThe day is short and the work is great, and the labourers are sluggish, and their wages are high, and the householder is urgent.\u201d Our reward is waiting for us in the worid to come, but our confidence that the Ottawa collection will not stagnate, that the proper funds will be given, this is the .reward of this world, and the debt that we pay to our forefathers.\u201cThe day is short, but the work is great.\u201d The Old Country in Photos \u201cThe Old Country\u201d by Abraham Shulman is a collection of photographs showing the lost world of Eastern European Jews.\u2019 The book includes photographs taken over a period of sixty years, between 1860 and 1920, ata time when life in the old country.in the so-called shtetl, was at its peak.\"Despite its uniqueness\u2019, writes Abraham Shulman, \u201cthis album of Jewish life in the shtetl is at the same time a document that belongs to the Family of Man.The life in the settlements, which we are used to calling the shtetl, and which was limited to a geographic area and to a specific time, nevertheless was a part of human life.What makes it stand out was the particularity of its experience.\u201d This particularity is captured by two hundred photographs, all of which originally appeared in \"The Forward\u201d, the well-known Jewish daily.They are divided into eight sections, each depicting a different aspect of Jewish life: The Shtetl, Dave Eisen's Toronto But anyone interested in the general picture of the locally raised generation of an immigrant Jewish community, its relations to the Jewish institutions and the institutions of the \u201chost-country\u201d (to use a rather inadequate jargon term) will find its contents absorbing.One can sense certain feelings despite the absence of subjective passages a filial devotion to the Orthodox Jewish way of life antl its rules but an impatience with what is felt as its rigidity (as a youth and student he attended both the neighbourhood shul across the road and the parental Galitzianer Synagogue on Teraulay Street).One can also sense à real feeling of involvement in all that is going on aroænd him on the campus, in the science lab, in the municipal and federal election campaigns, in the politicking within not one, but two Jewish campus groups (\u201cThé Toronto Hebrew Students Association\u201d and \u201cThe Menorah Society\u201d).He gave English lessons to a Jewish immigrant who was an anthologist of Canadian Yiddish poetry (though this is one annotation the otherwise thorough Dr.Ei- sen does not note).He was present at the famous convention of Cana- President's Message I suggest.with some modesty, that world Jewry might well emulate our experience in Canada.We require a World Jewish Congress which includes and represents every major Jewish community, every major Jewish organisation and every shade of Jewish opinion.Such is the nature of our Canadian Jewish Congress.This must be one outcome of this historic General Assembly \u2014 our first in Israel.If we leave here without achieving the total unity of Diaspora Jewry, we will be answerable to our consciences and to history.Let us seize on our presence here to do something great: let his- PO Children, Women, Hasidim, Work.Religion, Secularization.and a A Family Album.\u2018 The photographs, along with Shulman\u2019s introduction, provide a view of a world that has vanished forever.But even though it has vanished, the world of Eastern European Jews is important today.As Isaac Bashevis Singer writes in his Foreword, \u201cThe great majority of the Jews in this country are descendants of the people depicted in these photos.The book will contribute to their search for identity.It will, at least in part, answer the question: \u2018Who am 1?\u201d Born in Warsaw, Poland.in 1917, Abraham Shulman was for many years a writer and essayist for \u201cThe Forward\u201d.He is the author of three books of essays, as well as short stories, and he now makes \u2019 his home in Brooklyn, New York.Published by Charles Scribner's Sons on November 25, 1974 ($12.95).(Cont'd) dian Zionists in 1919 which dethroned Clarence de Sola and enthroned Archie Freiman.He had trouble being admitted to Officers Training since he was technically an \u201cenemy alien\u201d, (having come from Austrian Galicia at the age of three); he participated in student wrestling and in debating (another form of the same sport perhaps.he went to the Gaiety Theatre, a burlesque house (he \u201creally didn't care for the show .but wanted to be with the bunch\u201d); he promenaded along what was then Toronto Jewish Main Street \u2014 Dundas Street from Spadina Avenue to University Avenue; he was vitally interested in and noted all that was going on about him \u2014 for which * his readers today should be.very grateful.A The book was published by Canadian Jewish Congress, thanks to a grant from the Multicultural Program of the Department of the Secretary of State.It sells for $3.50 and itis available from the Toronto office of the Congress, the Judaica shop of Holy Blossom Temple and the Negev and Zuckers Book Stores in Toronto, and some downtown book outlets.(Cont'd) tory record that this Sixth Plenary Assembly marked a new chapter \u201cfor Klal Yisrael.Even as Canadian Jewry is a cohesive, vigorous and devoted community, so let us in the World Jewish Congress continue to emulate Canada\u2019s action and concern for the welfare of Jews wherever they may be.We call-on this Plenary Assembly to embark on twin programs for survival \u2014 a continued maobiliza- tion of resources for Israel and a new mobilization of resources for education.These are our two great goals: survival in Eretz Yisrael and surviv- alas Am Yisrael.An Apology.The December issue of Congress Bulletin inadvertently omitted O.R.T.from thelist of cooptions to the Notional Executive Administration for 1974 to a t és 19772.2°\" Cultural Pluralism, cont'd these sentiments.and quite vague ideas found ample expression, a sound legal base for multiculturalism was still lacking.Finally the official breakthrough took place in 1972 when Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, proclaimed cultural pluralism as Federal Government policy (previously recommended by the B & B Commission).He not only provided his moral support, but offered considerable financial aid as well.Later on, a special ministry for cultural pluralism was established for the implementation of the comprehensive program.A variety of ethnic organizations received grants for acceptable projects, falling within the programme of cultural pluralism.Thus the country moved from a level of tolerance towards a policy of active support of ethnic organizations aiming at the preservation of their cultural identity.Jewish communities throughout the country are responding to the opportunities with vigour, because they sense the importance of this historical development for Canada as a whole and Jewish peoplehood in particular.A legitimate question arises, as to whether the policy of multiculturalism may not accentuate ghet- toization and mutual isolation of ethnic groups Skeptics magnify the alleged danger.Such consequences would indeed be disastrous to Canada.However, a properly conceived policy of cultural diversification should not result in alienation but rather in inspiring creativity as well as respect for cultural growth.Minority cultures are not substitutable but highly complimentary to majority cultures.By retaining their own cultural heritage the harmonizing effect as vividly envisaged by Sir Wilfred Laurier, is certainly far superior to imposed assimilation.Minority cultures can most certainly thrive in the framework of our two official languages \u2014 English and French \u2014 as part of the Canadian mosaic.Some, who may be ready to accept the principles of cultural pluralism, seem however to be disturbed by serious doubts about their application to Jewish life, because of the apparent, as well as exaggerated cultural divisions existing within the Jewish community.The philosophy of Cultural Pluralism fits the needs of the Canadian Jewish Community.Our own culture is a par excellence plural one and that gives it strength.Not only must we be concerned about Hebrew and Yiddish, but deep respect and appreciation of positive Jewish creativity in non- Jewish languages is of prime importance in our struggle for cultural survival.Vast emigration that commenced at the turn of the XX Century scattered Jews over wide continents and exposed them to new powerful cultural influences.The tragic impact of the Holocaust and its aftermath, these and the establishment of Israel changed the entire cultural composition of the world\u2019s Jewry.The once rich repository of Eastern Europe is no longer.The inspiration and know-how which stemmed in the past from rich cultural life of the Shtetl has disappeared.Before the Holocaust most Yiddishists in their eagerness to strengthen Yiddish, were rather hostile, or at best indifferent towards other Jewish Cultures.Hebrew was then falsely considered by many as a pure liturgical language.The quest for two national languages, Yiddish and Hebrew.did not seem to command great appeal.Yiddish culture, after losing its once powerful Eastern European base was neglected in North America even before the Holocaust and mistreated in Israel as well.Yiddish was thus rapidly heading for extinction.Apparently when faced with the declining sense of meaningful cultural identification of American Jewry an unexpected revival of interest in Yiddish culture set in.Especially to the really magnificent Yiddish literature.A growing appreciation of the creative role of Yiddish, as one of the pillars of our plural culture, is evidently gaining support.Jsrael will host a World's Conference on Yiddish in 1975 supported by the Israeli Minister of Education, the World.Jewish Congress, etc.The awareness that both national languages form a powerful instrument in the struggle for survival and viable * identification is gaining increasing support.The rising demand of Yiddish courses at numerous North American universities is indicative of the considerable awakening that is under way.To think, however, that as Hebrew became the vernacular of Israel, Yiddish can regain its position in the \u201cTfuzoth\u201d (Diaspora) of the lingua franca, is simply Utopian! Nevertheless the revival proves how deep the roots of Yiddish still are and to what extent it can ne » 282 588 21% - = & | \u20ac >: Bi 2+0x| = = OO N= Ty = 2 zow 3 = Sore zx 4 x = MF dF moœooo; ê =» 45 5 eS à r x D z 3 o mm; $1 moo $s 7 zc | ii \u2014 moO; = > œ _» à #5 Zz ë 3 | = 5 7 @ ° nN \u2014 5 = | omy o E | ox s = À z g > Pg Co 3 | mo} 3 ; & | $ , | | g 3 ; | | 3 ® : help to raise the level of Jewish existence even without serving as a vernacular.Yiddish should never be pitted against Hebrew, nor Hebrew against Yiddish and either of them against other languages in which Jews find creative expressions as Jews.\u2019 It follows that a consistent policy of cultural pluralism in general and in Jewish life in particular will help to sustain and foster our national aspirations.- - We would have expected all provinces to emulate the federal multicultural policy.However, so far there does not seem to be any tangible response to the challenge.Especially painful is the seemingly cold shoulder with which the Quebec Government treats this matter.Given Quebec's traditional positive attitudes towards minority cultures, itis surprising indeed to witness the indifference towards the policy of cultural pluralism.It is after all in Montreal where the largest and oldest Jewish community is vitally interested in an enlightened policy of cultural pluralism.Let us take full advantage of Canada\u2019s unique Cultural Democracy and assist in developing the most enlightened policy of Cultural Pluralism of our country.\u2018 arris, a.c., MESSAGE TO/.* H CONGRESS March 1975 "]