Judaism and the right to die

Dr. Hershl Berman wrote (Letters, Dec. 11) that opiate use does not shorten life. I concur completely.

All of those who are familiar with such use can attest to the fact that when used properly and carefully, opiates can provide much needed relief of pain and suffering and provide compassionate comfort without compromising life expectancy, which may be curtailed as part of the illness, but not because of the treatment. 

Dr. Michael Gordon
Medical Program Director, Palliative Care, Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto

Seeking millennials

In Rabbi2Rabbi, the topic was, “How can shuls reach millennials?” (Dec. 11). I think a more interesting question is where are the millennials? 

Many Jews intermarry or simply assimilate and remove themselves from the Jewish community. This is well known and often spoken about. What is less often mentioned is the low birth rate among non-Orthodox Jews. The Pew report on Jewish Americans states that non-Orthodox Jews have only 1.7 children per adult.  That low birthrate alone guarantees the disappearance of non-Orthodox congregations. Shuls cannot reach millennials who were never born. 

Abe Margel
Thornhill, Ont. 

Rescue vs collaboration

The title of Gaylen Ross’ article (“When rescue is not collaboration,” Dec. 4) is misleading. The so-called rescue of Transylvanian Jews attributed to Reszo Kasztner is a misrepresentation of historical facts as I personally know them. As a child growing up in Israel my grandfather, Yechiel Shmueli, told me what happened in Kluj in May 1944. 

Before the Jews of Kluj were herded into the brick factory, which was used as the ghetto on the way to Auschwitz, they were told by Kasztner, who knew their true destination, that, “We were being taken to Kenyermeze to work… Brothers, you should know that the Hungarian authorities have decided to empty Kenyermeze of its population, and all the Jews of Hungary are going to be placed there until the end of the war.” This in fact was the testimony my grandfather gave at the trial of Malchiel Gruenwald in Jerusalem in 1953, when Kasztner had charged Gruenwald with libel.

“Kenyermeze” was a mythical place meaning in Hungarian “meadow of bread.” This explanation lulled the Jews of Transylvania to believe that they would be safe if they got on the trains. If Kasztner really believed this then why did he have to spirit his friends and family out to Switzerland following his agreement with the Nazis? It is obvious that he was willing to lull the Jewish community into co-operating with their murderers in order to save those for whom he cared or who could afford it. Some argue that had the Jews been told the truth, many could have been saved as the border between Hungarian-controlled territory and Romanian-held territory was relatively open and they could have simply walked the 20 kilometres to safety. 

Nobody can offer a redeeming answer as to why Kasztner testified in the defence of SS officer, Kurt Becher, at the Nuremberg trials. There is little doubt that the recent attempts at rehabilitating Kasztner’s reputation are directly due to the fact that his granddaughter, Merav Michaeli, became a member of the Israeli Knesset and used that influence to mobilize a revision of history through books and movies. Sadly, Jews are aware of the use of historical revisionism as a tool of the enemies of Israel. Here it is merely a tool to sanitize a figure who may not have been a villain, but may have facilitated the murder of thousands of innocents through his self-serving, misleading actions 70 years ago.

Steve Samuel
Toronto

Jews playing hockey

Jay Teitel’s wonderfully written story, “The rabbi who wouldn’t backcheck” (Dec. 11) was a joy to read. Combining any aspect of religious Jewish life with hockey is no easy task, but the author accomplished this effortlessly with grace and humour.

My only question is, now that Rabbi Kalbfleisch is gone, does that mean a space has opened up in your hockey game? 

Barry Lubotta
Toronto

Shuls help the homeless

We were pleased to see the article, “Shuls help homeless with Out of the Cold effort,” (Dec. 11) about some of the synagogues in the GTA that are participating in Out of the Cold programs this year. However, we were disappointed that there was no mention of the unique First Interfaith Out of the Cold program. Although not held in a synagogue, this program is a partnership of Congregation Darchei Noam, First Narayever Congregation as well as the Newman Centre at University of Toronto and community members. 

Another synagogue-based Out of the Cold program is organized by Beth Sholom Synagogue starting Jan. 6.

The First Interfaith Out of the Cold program has been operating since 1996, joining an existing program in a church at Bathurst and Bloor streets. When the original group needed new resources, Congregation Darchei Noam, a Reconstructionist synagogue with a strong commitment to social justice, came forward to offer new volunteers and financial help. With their participation in the organization and management of the program, the First Interfaith Out of the Cold program was inaugurated. Since that time, the program has moved to St. Matthew’s United Church on St. Clair Avenue West and is run by a dedicated steering committee consisting of members of the partner organizations and the community, who also provide the funding.

During the coldest months of the year, from the first week in November to the last week in March, on Thursday from 3 p.m. until Friday at 8 a.m., 75 volunteers provide a warm and friendly welcome to 120 guests with a hot, home-cooked, three or four course meal, socialization activities, foot care, nursing care, clean used clothing, a safe, quiet place to sleep for 60, a hot breakfast, a bag lunch, and a TTC token upon leaving in the morning.

We thought your readers might like to hear about other programs that are offered by shuls in the city. For more information, please visit www.firstinterfaithoutofthecold.com

Steering Committee, First Interfaith Out of the Cold
Toronto