The UN stands by blindly
On the grounds of the United Nations headquarters in New York City is, along with the appropriate inscription from Isaiah 2:4, a sculpture of swords being beaten into plowshares, a gift donated to the UN by the former Soviet Union.
Yet UN officials, after recently discovering a Hamas cache of rockets hidden within a UN facility in Gaza, proceeded to immediately return them to Hamas terrorists.
Since the end of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, the terrorist organization Hezbollah has been able to re-arm itself with upward of 60,000 rockets and missiles, many if not all of which are embedded within the Lebanese civilian infrastructure, all while under the watchful eyes of UN observers and contrary to the 2006 truce conditions.
Perhaps it would be more appropriate if the “swords into plowshares” sculpture was replaced by one showing a UN worker handing a rocket launcher to a terrorist.
Ralph Schleichkorn
Montreal
CIJA needs a broader view
Michael Diamond’s commentary (“CIJA must choose its battles carefully,” July 24), is nothing less than jaw dropping.
As a refugee lawyer representing hundreds of Hungarian Roma, I have never seen a refugee claim refused because of free mobility rights in the European Union. That’s because there are none. Citizens from EU countries cannot remain in another EU country beyond three months unless the person is employed or is otherwise self-supporting. Given the discrimination and evictions of Roma in France and Italy, how would Roma “feel more comfortable” living illegally and facing harassment? They are also barred from seeking asylum.
Further, the notion that Hungary appears “to be invested in improving the situation for Roma,” has been flatly rejected by the Federal Court. Intentions and changes are two different matters. The Harvard School of Public Health asked the United Nations to investigate possible pre-genocide conditions in Hungary. One in five Hungarians supported the anti-Roma and anti-Semitic Jobbik Party in the recent election.
Yet, our government insists that Hungary is safe, and, as stated by the Federal Court a few weeks ago, engaged in cruel and unusual treatment in cutting health coverage. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs offered almost unconditional support of the government’s position.
Moreover, the view that CIJA should only stand up for Jewish interests is very troubling. This view is out of sync with the community, contrary to Jewish values of tikkun olam, and short-sighted. We must insist on a tolerant and just society for all.
Maureen Silcoff
Toronto
On Rav Kook and Zionism
Full marks to Martin Lockshin for his insightful analysis of the life and religious philosophy of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook (“Israel’s first Ashkenazi rabbi respectful of the non-religious,” July 24).
Rav Kook’s philosophy of Judaism on contemporary Israeli attitudes toward Arabs was arguably superseded by that of his son, Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook. It was the younger Kook who transformed his father’s theology into a militant Zionism that divides Israelis to this day.
Lockshin notes that Rav Avraham Kook saw the secular-dominated Zionist enterprise in pre-state Palestine as an important stage toward the redemption of the Jewish People. According to Lockshin, Rav Kook’s concern was with the Zionist community’s peaceable evolution alongside its Arab neighbour.
Israel’s victory in the Six-Day War caused a radical transformation in the status of Rav Kook’s philosophy. The reunification of Jerusalem and Jewish control of Judea and Samaria and Gaza were interpreted by his students as meaning that they were themselves living in the messianic age and that the Jewish redemption might be at hand. Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook expounded on this new theology. As Rosh Yeshiva of Mercaz ha-Rav Kook (succeeding his father), Rabbi Zvi Kook influenced a generation of prominent religious and political figures who believed that the arrival of Jewish redemption would be speeded through the establishment of Jewish communities throughout the “occupied territories.”
Among the most fervent adherents of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook’s messianic Zionism were founders of Gush Emunim, whose controversial settlement activity remains a major cause of disagreement among Israelis.
David Goldberg
Toronto
Muslim rage must be checked
What is happening with regard to Muslim rage in Calgary and throughout the world represents the second stage of jihad – now that there are enough Muslims in major cities, they are exercising a more violent posture which focuses on promoting Jew hatred and ending Israel’s existence – a non-majority-Muslim country in the heart of the Middle East incenses most Muslims.
It is my observation that the leftists on campus and in the community are championing the jihad and use the Palestinian cause to advance their own politics of hate for Western forms of democracy, peace and good government.
It seems to infuriate some people that Jews and others in the community will now defend themselves against destruction. One aspect of a solution is to make sure that the following message is taken seriously by newcomers: “Welcome to Canada. Please park your hatred at the door.” On campuses we need more intelligent activism against leftists, anarchists and Islamists
Gary Gerofsky
Dundas, Ont.
Coverage of Israel unfair
Everyday there are reports of the death of civilians in Syria, Iraq, Kenya and Nigeria. More times than not the news releases are no more than a trailer on CNN or a small item on one of the back pages of a newspaper. Why is it that when the deaths are Palestinians in Gaza are there front page headlines and around the clock coverage on television, with picture after picture of demolished houses and funeral processions usually featuring deceased children?
It is often stated that being anti-Israel is not necessarily being anti-Semitic. That is a proposition I entirely reject. I cannot prove that the motivation of TV networks and daily newspapers are anti-Israel or anti-Semitic, but then why else the excessive reporting and coverage if not to cast the state of Israel in an unfavourable light?
I do not think that anyone can argue that lives of Palestinian civilians are in any more important than the lives of Arabs in Syria or Christians in Nigeria.
The coverage of Israel’s incursion into Gaza makes mention only in passing that Israel’s attack is in response to thousands of rockets launched into Israel, aimed entirely at civilian populations. No country in the world would have tolerated the flow of rockets for as long as Israel did, until it did finally as it had every legal and moral right to do and retaliated.
Bert Raphael
Toronto
Jewish life in Vienna
I read the article (“Jewish life in Vienna is thriving,” June 26) with great interest and was expecting to read about the great upsurge of Judaism in Vienna. There is a city park called Augarten, and about 25 years ago the government of Austria gave permission to build a Jewish school on those grounds where Jews were once forbidden to enter.
The result? The Ronald Lauder Chabad School for Jewish children.
Today there are close to 500 Jewish children attending this school which was made possible by the generous grant of Ronald Lauder when he was the U.S. ambassador to Austria. The Austrian government matched this amount.
This school has the most modern facilities, a special floor built for gymnastics, glass windows, and four floors for classes. There is a shul there as well and other recreational rooms.
There is also a Jewish university with many buildings and many faculties in another area where over 300 Jewish students attend from all over Europe where they can achieve their degrees in many varied subjects. Judaism is a prominent subject as well where many students are exposed to Judaism for the first time in their lives.
The writer referred to a “Jewish campus that includes a day school” but certainly being that this is the pride of Viennese Jewry, more should have been written about the upsurge of Jewish life in Vienna. The future of Viennese Jewry lies within the four walls of this school.
Rebecca Aisenbach
Montreal
Birthright and the March
A debate of sorts was started between Avrum Rosensweig and Eli Rubenstein as to what or whether an activist obligation ought to be expected or imposed on students who have participated in the program (“March and Birthright plant a seed,” June 26).
Rubenstein emphasized the “planting of a seed… that in many if not most cases takes root and blossoms in a multitude of positive directions” while Rosensweig came down on the side of an obligation to give back once Birthrighters return home.
Rubenstein did not quote statistics, but rather anecdotal information. I, therefore, assume no statistics exist as to the impact of the experience. I would suggest a longitudinal survey process be put in place immediately to prove or disprove which approach might work best.
One might also experiment a little by requiring or asking some returnees to speak at synagogues as a contract entered into before leaving to gauge their response and to compare the impact of this Poland/Israel experience to the current one on the students.
March of the Living and Birthright are perhaps the most innovative and important social initiatives of our times. We hope that these initiatives will positively influence our youth and perhaps others at an age and stage when they are still forming their own identities and attitudes to Judaism and its values, the Holocaust, Israel, and Zionism.
Given the importance of the initiatives and the potential impact not only on those who participate but on those with whom they share it, isn’t it important that we know the answer to the question?
Ron Hoffman
Toronto