Letters: April 10, 2008

Canadian, U.S. Conservative Judaism

Even though I will not agree with all approaches authorized by the Conservative movement in dealing with critical social topics of our time, such as homosexuality and egalitarianism, I am proud to belong to a movement that chooses to engage such issues that affect numerous Jewish lives (“Conservative shuls move to secede from USCJ,” CJN, April 3). I am encouraging my congregation to remain within the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism because of my belief that what the Jewish world needs today is a serious traditionalism moderated by a need to be as welcoming as possible, within Jewish tradition and law, to an increasingly diverse community. That much of American Conservative Judaism is more liberal than the reality reflected in many of our Canadian congregations is more reason to remain within the fold, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), to allow our strengths to influence the greater Conservative Jewish world and to recognize that we can learn from those with other perspectives as well.
Rabbi Philip S. Scheim
Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am Congregation
Toronto

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Throwing out baby with bath water

As a past president of Adath Israel Congregation, and also a past president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Ontario region, I have a unique perspective on the current issues of secession (“Conservative shuls move to secede from USCJ,” CJN, April 3).
The beauty of the United Synagogue is the ability for big shuls to help little shuls. Most organizations need to re-examine themselves periodically. It’s good for the soul and helps them to re-energize. But it seems to me that my shul has thrown out the baby with the bath water.
Morris Adams
Toronto

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Learned to excel at She’arim

I graduated from She’arim Hebrew Day School last year (“She’arim to close its doors in June,” CJN, March 20). At She’arim, I learned that I can overcome any obstacles that may be thrown my way. I acquired many skills and learning strategies that I would not have picked up elsewhere. Most importantly, I learned that teachers can be your best friends. They help you when you are at your lowest and are happier than anyone you know when you have excelled. She’arim has taught me how to excel at everything I can do. Never again will I be the girl at the back of the classroom who is made fun of and doesn’t understand the lesson.
Closing She’arim is the wrong decision. At She’arim, students learn skills that can’t be taught at a regular day school. Financial problems should not be influencing the future of the special education. Together, we can help influence a change in this decision.
Naomi Max
Toronto

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Where is the community’s Jewish heart?

I can’t believe that the decision was made to close She’arim Hebrew Day School (“She’arim to close its doors in June,” CJN, March 20). Where is the Jewish heart of our community that we can find money for bricks and mortar and put the needs of children second? Why was there not a major fundraising campaign for Sh’earim?
She’arim successfully met the needs of children with learning disabilities. Its students developed feelings of self-worth. Every educator know that children with good self-images learn more easily.
No child should be left behind. We have heard that before. She’arim was the guarantor of that mantra.
Leah Feinman
Toronto

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Machal reunion

This year, what is probably the final reunion of the Machal (Haganah) takes place, with a Yom Hazikaron service at the Machal Memorial in Sha’ar HaGai. Unfortunately, there are some people here in Toronto (and I’m sure elsewhere in Canada) who cannot attend. Some can’t attend because of infirmity, but more sadly, some are unable to attend due to lack of funds.
A suggestion for an activity in recognition of the State of Israel’s 60th anniversary: that individuals planning to attend a mission to Israel or UJA Federation of Greater Toronto make it possible for some of these “old soldiers” to attend this final reunion of those who put their lives on the line to make the first anniversary possible.
Wilf Mandel
Thornhill, Ont.
[email protected]  

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Ahenakew’s reinstatement

The Jewish community over the past few years has reached out to First Nation communities to establish a rapport so that there is a better understanding of the problems facing Jews and First Nations. It is, therefore, disappointing that the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has reinstated David Ahenakew as a senator. Whether or not at his forthcoming trial he is convicted of hate crimes is irrelevant. He has stated that Jews are a disease, that they currently control the media and that the Holocaust was justified because it was Hitler’s way of preventing the Jewish control of Europe. Rightly, he was stripped of his Order of Canada.
The federal minister of Indian affairs, Chuck Strahl, and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall condemned Ahenakew’s reinstatement, a retrograde step that disregards the pain and suffering that Ahenakew inflicted on the entire Jewish community.
Bert Raphael
Toronto

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Agnon meets king of Sweden

One of the most revealing, humbling and noble anecdotes about the late S.Y. Agnon was his reaction when he first heard that he had won the Nobel Prize in literature (“Meet S.Y. Agnon,” CJN, editor’s desk, March 27). Having just earned fame, indeed eternal fame and a fortune, his thoughts turned to the upcoming encounter with the king of Sweden, who would personally award him the prize. He remembered the rabbinic benediction that one says upon seeing a monarch, and he said, “I finally have the zechut [merit] to say a brachah in front of a king.”
Eli Honig
Toronto

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Canadian, U.S. Conservative Judaism

Even though I will not agree with all approaches authorized by the Conservative movement in dealing with critical social topics of our time, such as homosexuality and egalitarianism, I am proud to belong to a movement that chooses to engage such issues that affect numerous Jewish lives (“Conservative shuls move to secede from USCJ,” CJN Toronto and Internet edition, April 3). I am encouraging my congregation to remain within the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism because of my belief that what the Jewish world needs today is a serious traditionalism moderated by a need to be as welcoming as possible, within Jewish tradition and law, to an increasingly diverse community. That much of American Conservative Judaism is more liberal than the reality reflected in many of our Canadian congregations is more reason to remain within the fold, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ), to allow our strengths to influence the greater Conservative Jewish world and to recognize that we can learn from those with other perspectives as well.
Rabbi Philip S. Scheim
Beth David B’nai Israel Beth Am Congregation
Toronto

 

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Judaism’s primacy

In “My chance to mould young minds” (CJN, March 27) Jean M. Gerber said that Judaism is based on a code of laws and so comparable to Islam, obscuring Judaism’s primacy and Islam’s derivative nature in this regard. She also said that Judaism has no priesthood, forgetting the hereditary priesthood constituted by the kohanim.
Howard Damie
Montreal