The article “UJA, CJC sever ties with Winchevsky Centre” (Feb. 10) dismayed me. I am a lifelong member of the organization, as were my parents. I have been, and will continue to be critical of some of the policies of the Israeli government, but I will never advocate for Israel’s annihilation.
In “Canadian Jews urged to speak on Israeli issues” (Jan. 27), it is stated that “Anat Hoffman has a message for Canadian Jews: Israel is ‘too important to be left to Israelis. The Jews here have a right and a duty to voice their hopes for Israel.’ If they don’t, she warned, ‘they may wake up one day and see an Israel they absolutely cannot relate to… Israel is a state of all the Jews, whether they live there or not, and reflects on all Jews.’”
When speaker Hajo Meyer expressed his hopes at a Winchevsky Centre event, it was his own opinion. He does not speak for me nor for many of the members of the United Jewish People’s Order, which was indicated by the low turnout of members of the organization at the event.
The action of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Canadian Jewish Congress to disassociate themselves from the Winchevsky Centre brings up a moral issue. Should the entire organization and its 85-year history be punished for the words of one person who is not even a member? Should Sodom and Gomorrah have been destroyed for the actions of a few citizens? Abraham was able to negotiate with God on this issue. I certainly hope that federation and the CJC are serious about leaving the door open for discussion.
Sol Hermolin
Toronto

 
I must say that Winchevsky Centre guest speaker Hajo Meyer’s talk was refreshing, as was the centre’s courage in putting it on (“UJA, CJC sever ties with Winchevsky Centre,” Feb. 10). What isn’t refreshing, and for that matter, rather stale, is UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s and the Canadian Jewish Congress’ bullying. They don’t speak for this Jew.
Robert J. Allison
Toronto

The article “UJA, CJC sever ties with Winchevsky Centre” (Feb. 10) makes reference to the Canadian Jewish Congress’ expulsion of United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO) in the 1950s due to allegations that it was Communist and under the control of the Soviets. More specifically, the catalyst for CJC expelling UJPO was its campaign against (West) German rearmament.
While this was indeed in line with Soviet objectives, the real problem for CJC was that UJPO’s campaign had resonance throughout the Jewish community, as no Jewish person in his or her right mind was at ease with the idea of rearming Germany less than a decade after the fall of Hitler (nor did a lot of non-Jews feel comfortable with the idea).
Of course, in the climate of the Cold War, the West wanted West Germany in NATO as part of its front line against the Eastern Bloc, and the CJC, obligingly, thought it was more important to align itself with the Canadian political and military establishment and show its loyalty to it than to represent actual Jewish public opinion, so out went UJPO, which, at the time, was actually the largest affiliate within the CJC.
Andy Lehrer
Toronto