Choose refugees wisely

If, as Bernie Farber believes, Canada should become an “open haven for refugees fleeing persecution,” (“Jewish groups urge Ottawa to help Syrian refugees”), then we should concentrate on bringing in the groups who most clearly qualify as persecuted: Syrian and Iraqi Christians and Yazidis.

War in one’s homeland is not an automatic ticket to refugee status, and eventual citizenship, in Canada. After all, there were plenty of ordinary Germans who wanted to leave Germany at the end of World War II. Where Canada’s government failed was not in refusing to let in more of them, but in failing to let in any Jews at all five years before.

Steve Mitchell

Toronto

Jews do not vote blindly

A letter to the editor claimed that Jews have blindly voted Liberal for the last 100 years (“Who is best for the Jews?”, Sept. 10) but in the same issue, columnist Howard Adelman writes, “Why the Tories are winning the Jewish vote.” I take issue with both these views.

Jews do not vote blindly. The only blind devotion is the view that because Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been vocal about his support for Israel, Jews should vote Conservative.

Without a doubt, Harper’s support of Israel has been outstanding.

But what about Harper’s multi-billion dollar arms deal with Saudi Arabia, whose human rights abuses include beheadings? Or the fact that this same government sold the Canadian Wheat Board to a company that is also, in part, owned by Saudi Arabia.

Harper’s lack of leadership on issues such as climate change, support for the scientific community in environmental research, veterans affairs and missing aboriginal women has been abominable. Canadian Jews should not be blinded by one issue only.

April Laufer

Toronto

United Church responds

The United Church of Canada is concerned that the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus understands our actions in relation to justice and peace in Israel and Palestine to be a barrier to interfaith dialogue here in Canada (“Christians and Jews”).

We remain committed to dialogue with people of all faiths, in the spirit of the affirmations made in our 1997 statement, Mending the World, in which we have laid out the framework for our engagement in ecumenical and interfaith relations.

The recent actions of the General Council are consistent with United Church policy since the 1970s, and with the call of partners in Israel and Palestine who seek justice and peace through non-violent means. Our partners include Jewish voices who have denounced continued expansion of illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, house demolitions and other violations of the human rights of Palestinians. The actions of the General Council reaffirm United Church policy calling for safety and security for Israel within internationally recognized borders. The action does not target Israel. Rather, the focus is Israeli policies and practices relating to the occupation of Palestinian territories.

Partners in both Israel and Palestine insist that it is only with the end of occupation that any real possibility of coexistence, reconciliation, and economic co-operation will be generated. With the General Council action, the United Church joins with many other organizations and people around the world who view economic action not as a measure of coercion or punishment, but as a peaceful, non-violent way to press for change that will bring about peace with justice for Israelis and Palestinians. Such actions call us as consumers and investors to end our complicity in government and corporate policies and practices that maintain the occupation and its terrible cost in the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians.

We acknowledge the challenges that our differences on these difficult issues create for maintaining dialogue. Nevertheless, we would value opportunities, formal or informal, to engage in conversation with the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus and with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and to discover areas of concern we may share. It is our hope that we can continue to be in dialogue with all who pray and yearn for justice and peace in Israel-Palestine.

Gail Allan, Co-ordinator
Ecumenical, Interchurch and
Interfaith Relations, United Church of Canada

Toronto