Week of Dec. 4, 2014

Caring for each other

I applaud Morris Zbar and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto for the essential work that they do (“We have no choice but to care for each other, Nov. 20). I read with interest about the General Assembly conference of the Jewish Federation of North America and the focus on “the world is our backyard.”

However, what came immediately to mind was the piece by Dov Harris, “The dignity Holocaust survivors deserve,” (Nov. 6). Surely the plight of these aged fellow Jews who miraculously survived the Holocaust, now living in Ukraine and in dire poverty, deserve our chesed. Surely these Jews in the twilight of their lives should at least be afforded the basic essentials of life. How on earth can they be ignored?

Colin Romain
Thornhill, Ont.

Jewish and democratic

My question for Michael Diamond (“Can Israel be Jewish and democratic,” Nov. 27) is: if the organizational structure of Israel is like the democratic countries of the western world, what exactly is “Jewish” about that? Allowing citizens to practise Judaism in its many forms, is that “Jewish?” Or are the underpinnings of the democratic state of Israel that you envision really closer to what might be considered a universal or human code?

Brian Kirsh
Toronto 

Some best friend

It is said that Jordan is Israel’s best friend in the Arab world. How then can one explain that the Jordanian Parliament, on Nov. 19, opened a cabinet meeting with a moment of silence for the two Palestinian murderers who slaughtered five Israelis in a Jerusalem synagogue the day before. At least we know the Muslims who danced in the streets of Gaza to celebrate the murders admit they are enemies of Israel. 

Bert Raphael
President, Jewish Civil Rights Foundation of Canada, Toronto

A brave project proposal

I really appreciate Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz’s article (“Rabbis are not God: a lesson from the Freundel scandal,” Oct. 30). If only more people in the world were more humbly reflective about their daily human fallibilities and equally self-accountable as Rabbi Steinmetz strives to be.

Yet, every Yom Kippur, we read about Jonah and we also read the parshah (Leviticus 18, 1-30) that deals with sexual appropriateness. Every Yom Kippur, I only hear rabbis discuss Jonah and the whale. And every year, I wonder why rabbis lack the courage to discuss what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Why do our rabbis continue to be part of the problem and perpetuate the taboo, not to mention the weight of silence and shame then sadly inherited by all the victims? 

Surely if one rabbi in South Africa can champion the Shabbat Project, I am certain that one rabbi can back the Be Brave Project to great results. Imagine if every rabbi talked to his or her congregants about some aspect of Leviticus 18, 1-30 on the Day of Atonement. They could discuss the myth that sexual assault only happens to others, or not to nice Jewish girls, not to our daughters, and certainly not to our wives, or not by or to Jewish men, not to mention the myth that we have no homosexual children and adults who we need to feel welcome among us.

We as a community have to be more responsible about the conversation. How else do we then step into areas of support and prevention with true success?

 So I ask: would Rabbi Steinmetz accept my challenge? Will he embrace the Be Brave (Day of Atonement) Project so it’s in place by Yom Kippur 2015? Wouldn’t that be a honest way to begin the New Year? And would every other rabbi in Montreal if not across Canada who reads The CJN be willing to step up to this task? 

I’m sure every victim young or old, every perpetrator sitting in silence who is equally shamed from seeking proper help, every affected family trying to find a better way, every Jewish school wanting to give to every Jewish child the deserving trust of all the preventive and/or supporting measures that can be taught in a classroom, every counsellor sworn to secrecy in the field, as well as every Jewish community women’s and children’s outreach project would also be indebted to your leadership and support.

Marina Mashaal
Montreal