For decades, the Montreal Jewish community, an amalgam of all sorts of Jews, lived together in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect, despite the outward differences between us. Though there were some issues that divided the various segments in the community, there were more that united it. Shabbat was one of those unifying issues.
The YM-YWHA was established “for the purpose of developing young men physically, mentally, and morally” and is “proud of its Jewish identity.” Its stated mission is “to be a central force in the Jewish community, responsive to the needs of its individuals and families, by providing, in a Jewish ambience, quality services that promote the social, cultural, recreational, physical and intellectual needs of our members and users.”
The Y has now announced that its plans to open on Shabbat. We are not as angry as much as hurt. It is saddening that the leadership of the Y – our brothers, carriers of those very same sacred responsibilities as us – is deaf to the call of maintaining our tradition and of having the Y closed on Shabbat.
We protest this blatant violation of the Holy Shabbat.
Rabbi Saul Emanuel
Executive Director
Jewish Community Council of Montreal
Kudos and thank you to Michael Crelinsten and the board of directors at the YM-YWHA for their courage in opening the Y on Saturdays. Despite the condemnation, they knew they would receive, they are to be commended for putting people above politics, opting for access and diversity.
This community centre has chosen to recognize that there are different levels of observance within the community and that those who keep the Sabbath are not “more Jewish” or “better Jews” than those who don’t. If the Y is truly to be a community centre, then it must serve the entire community. By offering all members this choice – to participate or not on Saturdays – the choices of all Jews are respected.
To feel slighted by this policy is to believe that one’s level of observance is the only acceptable way and to insist that all Jews must observe the way you do. Mordechai Bulua accuses the Y of “forcing this new policy down our throats” when this policy does not prevent him from observing his Judaism as he wishes (“Y Shabbat opening,” Letters, Sept. 17). Ironically, it is the old policy of closing on Shabbat based on the beliefs of a portion of the community that actually fits his throat analogy.
Mark Gross
Montreal
Like Marvin Stenge, I, too, have been a Y member for over 20 years, however, I support the Y’s decision to open on Saturdays (“Y Shabbat opening,” Letters, Sept. 17). I was very pleased at the forthcoming change and very upset that non-Y members and self-appointed spokespeople for the community are trying to reverse the new policy. I gathered 60 signatures of current Y members supporting the decision in only four days. The vast majority of those I met were overjoyed to sign the letter of congratulations and said it was about time. A petition of non-members from cyberspace is completely irrelevant (“Petition urges Y to stay closed on Shabbat,” Sept. 24). Why should these people prevent the Y from serving the whole Jewish community and not just the Orthodox? There are already many women’s-only fitness classes and segregated swimming pool hours every day to serve those members.
The Y’s Saturday opening will not only serve those members like myself who exercise daily, but will also help to retain members who have joined recently and are frustrated with the current policy. Even more important, it will help attract community members who have never joined and have gone to competing fitness centres. Young people who wish to exercise on Saturdays are forced to join other fitness centres, thus being exposed to greater chances of meeting a non-Jewish spouse.
How is it fair that Orthodox non-Y members who would never use the Y on Saturday should prevent the non-Orthodox majority from receiving services from their community centre?
Hershey Dwoskin
Hampstead, Que.