BULLETINTH

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Tevet/Shevat/Adar 5768 Vol. 18, No. 3 January/February 2008

Deadline for the next Bulletin is February 10, 2008This Page is Sponsored by Mickey and Lucillie Narun of Toronto.

Website: www.saskatoon.uscjhost.net

Congregation Agudas Israel 715 McKinnon Ave, Saskatoon S7H 2G2 (306) 343-7023 Fax: (306) 343-1244Rabbi Emeritus Roger V. Pavey Hazzan Neil Schwartz President: David Katzman

RaoulWallenberg

ServiceWednesday, January 16th, 2008

10:30 amJewish Community Centre

A remembrance service paying tributeto a man who is credited with savingmore than 100,000 Jewish lives during

the Second World War.

All Members of the Congregation areinvite to attend. Invited guests

include civic, provincial and Swedishrepresentatives.

Shabbat Family DinnerFriday, January 18, 2008

Jewish Community Centre

Shabbat Service 6 p.m.led by the Hebrew School & Sisterhood Members

Dinner to followSponsored by the Agudas israel Sisterhood

Tickets and Reservations are a must!Call early.

Seating is limited to the first 144 people. $50 per family (upto and including high school students) - $20 single adult -

$15 students - $8 children 12 & under - Under 3 freefor Reservations call the Centre: 343-7023Pick up your tickets in advance from Myla.

THE SISTERHOOD'S ANNUALTORAH FUND LUNCHEON

Sunday, February 10th, 2008TIME: TBA

Special Guest Speaker - DAVID OLESKERof the Jerusalem Center for Communications and Advocacy Training

David Olesker brings an entertaining mix-ture of humor and activism training. Basedin Jerusalem, Olesker travels to North

America often to share his expertise in com-municating Israel's messages in an effectivemanner. His presentation is perfect for Israel

Join us for the REGIONAL JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF CANADA“ISRAEL at 60” YOM HA’ATZMAUT MISSION - May 1 - 11, 2008

$4,500 per person (double occupancy) Includes Airfare Toronto-Tel Aviv (economy class), Fivestar hotels, Touring in Galil & Negev, Site Visits to Projects supported by UJA of Canada, Gala

Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations in Jerusalem with Canadian delegations

For information, applications and itinerary please contact: Perry Romberg atpromberg@uiafed.org; tel (416)636-7655, ext. 240 or Steven Goluboff 373-9436,

s.goluboff@shaw.ca

activists looking to sharpen their communi-cation skills.

The Mission Statement of Congregation Agudas IsraelCongregation Agudas Israel is a spiritual, religious, educational and social home com-mitted to deepening the quality of Jewish life in Saskatoon and district. We are anevolving link in the historical traditions of the Jewish people. We are a progressive,democratic and sensitive congregation responding to the widest spectrum of Jew-ish thought and practice.

Written at the 2002 Kallah by the members of Congregation Agudas Israel

Editorialby Steven Goluboff

2This page is sponsored by Arnold & Claire Golumbia of Vancouver

FROM OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY

MAZEL TOV AND CONGRATULATIONS TO:Ran and Rachelli who recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Tamar

Karen-Or and Lior who celebrated the birth of their 2nd

daughter, Alma, a sister to Naomi.Lou and Ruth Horlick on the birth of a granddaughter, Abby,

daughter of Simon and Margo Horlick of Vancouver.

CONDOLENCES TO:Irene Blum, daughter of Martha Blum on her recent death on

December 12th, 2007.

Barry and David Singer, Carol Stolar and the entire extended family on the recentdeath of their mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Julie Singer

on December 11th, 2007.

WELCOME NEW MEMBER:Jack Sandbrand

A THANK YOU:Receiving the “We’re Proud of You” award on behalf of my family was an amazing

experience. My entire family is honoured to have it bestowed upon us.We are all especially grateful on behalf of our father who was very proud of

his roots. I personally am grateful to have had an opportunity to say, inpublic, some things about my dad that I was unable to say at his funeralbecause of all the emotion at that time. Thanks to all of you for making

this happen. - Jack Brodsky

Thank you for the honour and privilege to serve you as friend and Shabbat Custodian.Also, a big thanks to all for patience in teaching me about your kosher kitchen and cooking.I feel very warmly welcomed and it is a pleasure to be here.

My love and appreciation goes out to the elders who have been pillars of this community.A deep and special fondness goes out to Petty, June, Grace, Patricia, Roger, Steve, Albert,David and Suzanne, David and Susan, Marsha, David Green and other smiley faces whosenames I forget, please forgive me. A big bouquet goes to Karen and Ava for inviting meinto the kitchen and believing in me to do the job.

Since the cold winter months are upon us now and so many have braved the freezingweather to start their cars to make it here each Shabbat morning, I hope to warm yourhearts with hearty soups and casseroles. I have received many compliments for the foodI have prepared and I thank you for the love and encouragement.

I am not a certified chef, as some have said, but I do have a few noteworthy mentors.My immediate mentor is Tauno Lindner a gold seal chef from Saskatchewan TourismEducation Council. He's been very kind and patient with advice and recipes as well asappetizing ideas to balance and flavour with herbs and spices.

Much of my cooking I have learned through trial and error. It has been interesting andchallenging not using meat or meat stocks, but using healthier vegetarian foods which area better choice. I hope I will continue to nourish and comfort your souls with flavourfulmeals that you would enjoy. May the new convert and visitors from around the worldcome and enjoy them also.

I also thank my occasional helper and friend Tara, my mom, and most of all the God ofAbraham, Isaac, and Jacob for such time as this to be a part of your community.

Love, Donna

Alma

We have justcompleted anotherexciting year in ourcommunity, inSaskatoon and inS a s k a t c h e w a n .

Everyone seems to be optimistic and excitedabout the great potential that aboundsaround us. From the SaskatchewanRoughriders winning the Grey Cup to abooming economy, a new government whichwill have to prove itself as being worthy ofthe electorate and a small but vibrantcongregation that continues to strike out inpositive directions with new and innovativeprograms. 2008 brings us to the 60th birthdayof the State of Israel and to its ongoingstruggle to gain peace with its neighboursand to deal with its own internal challenges.The largest delegation ever from Saskatoonwill travel to Israel in May to share in theactual 60th birthday party. Several of ourchildren will embark on the March of theLiving at the same time and will have theopportunity to connect with our group at agala party. Thank you to Jen Scharfstein forher insight and experiences as she describesher “Israel Adventure”. As our President hasalready said in his column, we grieve theloss of two of our most senior members,Martha Blum and Julie Singer. Beautiful andmoving eulogies may be read in this issue.We hear more about FRAP from Joanne Jaffeand may read the Muslim communitiesstatement about that organization. It iscomforting and hopeful that we seem to sharea common belief in the need for dialogueand understanding. However, I am dismayedwhen I read that sixteen Canadian Palestiniangroups from across the country have sent aletter to President Mahmoud Abbas statingtheir objection to a two-state solution anddemanding an end to the Jewish state. Theletter states that “we believe that Israel willattempt to redefine the conflict with thePalestinians as being only about endingthe occupation of Jerusalem, the West Bankand Gaza...” It continues: “we specificallycaution you against any recognition ofIsrael as a ‘Jewish’ State. Such arecognition would give Israel the facade ofmoral and legal legitimacy...” I hope thatother Arab and Muslim groups across thecountry will express their opposition to thisletter and state publically that this is anuntenable and unjust position. Regardlessof the justice and injustice perceived on bothsides of the conflict, the only future for peacelies in both the Israelis and the Palestinianscompromising on many issues, toocomplicated and diverse to discuss at this

continued on page 17

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From the President’s Keyboardby David Katzman

Hazzan’s Notes by Hazzan Neil Schwartz

continued on page 16

Our congregation hasbeen saddened by theloss of two members.Martha Blum and JulieSinger were both well

known in the Jewish and local communities.On behalf of our community, I sincerelythank those members who volunteer toassist both the deceased and the families ofthe deceased on this difficult but inevitablepath. Hazzan Schwartz is both qualified andgenuinely desiring to serve those who areill. We hope that family and friends willnotify our Hazzan so he can visit, either inthe home or in the hospital.

All the advertising and special programsto attract new members mean nothing unlesseach one of us genuinely respects and caresfor every other member of the congregation.I saw this in action at a recent Shabbatmorning service. Some congregants realizedthat we could not all sit around a singletable for the Kiddush luncheon. Leaving afew people at one table while the rest of uscrowded another table was intolerable. Asecond table was dragged over. A Kiddush

luncheon is more about fellowship than food(although I must say that the food has beenterrific, particularly Donna’s soups).

At our most recent Board meeting, therewas unanimous support for us to hostmembers of the Muslim community to a mealand a dialogue at our synagogue. This isanother small step towards Tikkun Olam, theHealing of the World. Again, this ishappening because some of our memberscare enough about this issue to dosomething. CAI is committed to thereligious, spiritual, educational, cultural, andsocial needs of our members, as well asproviding support to Israel and Tikkun Olam(the Healing of the World). If somethingneeds to happen, and you want to be part ofmaking it happen, your Board is there tosupport your endeavours.

I want to thank Nim and Shirley for aninspiring evening mourning the loss ofYitzhak Rabin and celebrating his vision forpeace in Israel and the Middle East.. Thiswas a youth led program, and the futurelooks bright with such leadership emerging.I also thank the Shaw family and friends who

organized another outrageously successfulChannukah play. Sisterhood provided greatlatkes and the Book Fair offered a fabulousrange of material (thank you, Patricia andRoger).

I continue to urge everyone who hasn’tbeen a regular attendee to try one service amonth. Invite some friends and make it botha social and a religious experience. Fridaynight is just under an hour, starting at 6:00,and we provide a little wine and little gnoshafterwards. Hazzan Neil’s Shared Shabbatmeal on Fridays has been very successful,both socially and religiously. Please phoneNeil and be a part of davening and dining.It is a wonderful way to transition into theweekend. Saturday morning’s Torah serviceis, of course, a little longer but members stillfind lots of time afterwards to enjoy a greatKiddush and each other’s company.

There is a growing desire to organizeanother Kallah. At our last Kallah, werecognized what we truly valued. Weidentified what need to continue and whatneeded to be stopped. We developed the

Our BulletinEditor hasencouraged me touse this space to“Say whatever is onmy mind and in myheart”, so I am

going to take him up on that.What is on my mind is the success of a

new program which I have launched withthe encouragement of the Board and RitualCommittee – our monthly Shared Shabbatdinners after our early Friday eveningservices. For our first dinner in Novemberwe had over thirty people, and for oursecond dinner (despite the conflicts manypeople had during the holiday season) overtwenty people were able to attend. Ourdairy/veggie pot-luck Shabbat dinner hasbeen tasty and well-balanced, and we hopeto use our synagogue Web-site to organizethis shared dinner in future months.

Like the Sisterhood Shabbat dinnercoming up on January 18th, the early FridayEvening service involves whatever childrenare present, and I have been reading a storyduring this shortened service. There hasbeen talk of a short program during or afterdinner, but so far people seem to just enjoychatting leisurely. The Shared Shabbatservice and dinner in February will be onthe 8th, and we look forward to seeing you

there!What is in my heart is a deep sense of

gratitude to Rabbi Pavey for all the supporthe has given me in every aspect of my workhere. We met during the weekend of myinterview, and at that time he expressed histop two concerns that the new SpiritualLeader have integrity and be scholarly. Aswe regularly discuss the many issues whicharise for which I seek his advice, he oftenasks me, “Where is your own integrity onthis issue?”

Strong and close relations between aHazzan and a Rabbi do happen, and so dostrong relations between a new leader andan Emeritus, but they are not the norm.Rabbi Pavey has gone out of his way toensure that this transition is a smooth one,and I would like to share some examples.

During my very first weekend inSeptember, the Gitlin’s and Rabbi Paveymade sure that I participated fully in thatwonderful wedding. During the social hourafter the funeral of Rev. Colin Clay’s wifePatricia, Rabbi Pavey introduced me to theminister who was organizing theRemembrance Day service at Credit UnionCentre, and to the University Chaplain whowould facilitate my becoming the JewishChaplain for the University.

When the opportunity arose to teachsome Army commanders and soldiers about

Jewish-Muslim relations, Rabbi Paveypassed on to me the privilege ofparticipating in that extraordinary program.While he will convene the “Bet Din” or“Religious Court” to formalize ourconversions, Rabbi Pavey has made me afull partner in teaching these candidates theirJewish history, customs and liturgicalknowledge.

As questions have arisen about religiousprocedures and policies, Rabbi Pavey hasaugmented the role of the Ritual Committeeto give me good advice about my concerns.The most recent example of his support wasduring the funeral of Martha Blum, for whichhe confirmed Irene’s understanding that Iwas to lead the service while he did the mainEulogy. It is not my nature to have assumedthat this was going to be the case, and Iappreciate his vote of confidence.

So I will say publicly in this forum thesame as I said during my Mi Shebeirach forRabbi Pavey during his Retirement Servicein October: “May God grant you long yearsof good health and strength to enjoy life,and may you continue to enrich our lives asthe beneficiaries of your knowledge andcaring for our community,” and I inviteeveryone who reads these words to say:“Amen.”

4

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Saskatoon

Leila Goluboff

Martha was an extraordinary humanbeing. For more than half of her long andproductive life, Saskatoon was her home.She brought to it, along withher beauty of face and form,professional acumen as apharmacist, musical expertise,foreign languages, fluency,teaching skills and award-winning writing abilities. All ofthis bounty was willinglyshared with everyone whoselife she touched. And especiallymine.

My admiration for Martha isenormous. At the age of 40 sheset out on a journey to a newcountry after living through unimaginablehorrors. She mastered the English language,taught music, taught French andparticipated in the city’s theatrical, musicaland operatic activities for many decades.She made friends in every field of culturalendeavour in Saskatoon. All this wasaccomplished while raising a family, togetherwith her beloved husband Richard. Her lifeas a role model extended well beyond her

children to every person she met. Andespecially to me.

Martha contributed a short essaydescribing her life up to theage of 85 to CongregationAgudas Israel’s “Heritageand History” book. Here iswhat she wrote about thecountless talks she gaveabout her experiences as aHolocaust survivor.

“I consider this as myabsolute obligation: tospeak the truth accordingto my experience andlearning, no more and noless and I will continue to

do so as long as I am able.”And Martha did so, until very recently.

It was a great privilege for me to accompanyher to Ottawa in 1999. She was one of fiftyHolocaust survivors who had madesignificant contributions to Canada throughtheir work in science, art or politics. I wasso proud of her. It was truly humbling tocome back “home” and be a spectator whileMartha was honoured by the University of

AA TTribute to Marribute to Martha Blumtha Blumby Gladys Rose

Saskatchewan for a life filled withachievement.

Martha was a life-long learner. She wasa valued student in Rabbi Roger Pavey’sclass where she added immeasurably to thediscussions. Her remarkable memory ofJewish life spanned the events which sheshared with her Chassidic grandparents inRoumania through the time the Blums livedin the new state of Israel and beyond.

The 60th anniversary of the state of Israelwill be celebrated in May, 2008. Here areMartha’s words:

“It was for us, the left-over Jews, comingfrom a world of destruction where life,property and good name was taken, wherescenes of nightmarish intensity will beindelible, and where God Himself was indoubt, it was for us a desperate hopefulfilled.”

Martha was an exceptional and poeticwriter. Her words continue to convey formany of us, our joy in the state of Israel.Especially mine.

Martha – your memory will be a blessing.

Our Mother, JulieSinger diedpeacefully in hersleep during thenight of December18th at 92 years ofage, having lived afull life. Bycoincidence, this

is also the Hebrew calendar day, 9th of Tevet,on which her husband, Arthur Singer, died31 years ago.

How Julie got to live most of her life inSaskatoon is an interesting story, as she was

born and grew up in Brooklyn, New York!She had trained to be a commercial artist.Then one summer, she and a cousin decidedto travel across the continent by train tovisit relatives in Vancouver, Canada. On theway, they stopped in the beautiful resorttown of Banff and spent some time in theBanff Springs Hotel, When they were inthe elevator they were approached by acouple of good looking young men, whowere also on vacation in Banff. Addresseswere exchanged and one of the men, ArthurSinger, who came from Saskatoon, actuallyfollowed up by writing to Julie. It was thatchance meeting in the elevator and thoseletters that eventually led to their gettingmarried in 1936 (71 years ago).Julie moved to Saskatoon after their wedding(which was in Brooklyn), and her parents,Sophie and Benjamin Cohen moved here tooand opened a retail children’s clothing store,The Juvenile Shop. Just a few years later,World War II broke out. Arthur, joined theCanadian Army’s Dental Corps, andeventually was stationed in Europe, servingwith the troops in England, France, Belgium,Holland and Germany. So for two and a halfyears Julie had to look after me and my veryyoung brother David while my father wasaway. She also volunteered at the Canadian

“USO” serving coffee and doughnuts to thesoldiers based in Saskatoon. Early in thewar years, before Arthur went to Europe,the family was stationed in Edmonton,Alberta, but then returned to Saskatoon andstayed there. Barry came along after thewar.

Saskatoon had about 50,000 people whenwe were kids. There were only about 200Jewish families, but they formed a veryactive Jewish community. Many of Julie’sfriendships also came from the Jewishcommunity and activities, in which she wasactively involved. Julie was a convener forthe two Hadassah cookbooks and workedat the annual Hadassah bazaar for manyyears. She also worked behind the sceneson the play, The Women, and helpedproduce variety shows. In one of whichDavid Stollar and I sang “You Got To Havea Little Mazel” when we were 12 years old.Julie also continued to draw and paint,focusing on still life paintings - andespecially with floral subjects. Some of herpaintings were shown at the SaskatoonExhibition and some were used for makingnote cards.

Julie did not have brothers or sisters, butfound her place in the larger family

Julie Singer - a Eulogy by daughter, Carol Stolar

continued on page 14

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Martha lived through most of the20th.century, the most tumultuous time inJewish history. The Holocaust destroyedthe heart of Jewish life and creativity inEurope, and the establishment of the Stateof Israel re-established the possibility thatJews could live again in hope. The20th.century was a hurricane for Jews. AndMartha lived at the eye of the storm. Shewas born in the last summer of Europeancivilisation, she lived through years ofdestruction and despair, saw the new Israel,and at the end knew years of peace andcreative satisfaction. We cannot controlwhat life does to us, but we can control ourresponse to what is done to us. We can livein fear and despair; or we can live in courageand hope. And that is what Martha did. Sherefused to give in, she rose abovedisappointment, she made her life. As amodern Rabbi has said, It is not what lifegives to you, it is what you give to life. AndMartha was generous in her gifts to life.

She was born in l9l3 in Chernovits. Herlineage was Hasidic, but her parentsrepresented, as did she later, the best ofEuropean cultured intellectual Jewish life,at home in the sciences and in the arts, withwondrous riches to give to their world. Sheand her older brother Wilhelm grew up in ahome that, despite the uncertainties ofhistory, imbued her with a confidence in thehuman reason and a belief in the possibilitiesof the arts and music to enrich human life.

When she was 17 she met Richard,destined to be her partner, husband, friendand lover for more than 65 years in Prague.Both families loved music, were dedicatedto the sciences, and, though notconventionally religious, retained a Jewishloyalty. They married in 1936 beneath thehuppah.

While Richard studied mathematics,Martha studied pharmacy and languages inUniversities in Bucharest, Prague,Strassburg and Paris. Martha describedherself as young, idealistic and crazy. Justas war came they returned to Chernovits,now in Rumania, where Martha’s mothergave refuge to Polish Jews fleeing theGerman and Soviet threat, and where inMartha’s bedroom 20 of them held YomKippur services in 1939. Later, they wereboth interned. Martha survived the warbecause she was a well qualified pharmacist.Richard was sent to concentration campsas a laborer, and kept on escaping. With theend of war, they found each other again inPrague. But their world was destroyed,religiously by the German army, secularlyby the Red army, and they found their way

Martha Blum - a Eulogyby Rabbi Roger Pavey

to the new beacon of hope inPalestine, then Israel.

In 1954 Richard accepted a Chairat the University of Saskatchewanin Mathematics, and he andMartha came to Saskatoon. Thiswas Martha’s home for the rest ofher life, where she raised herdaughter Irene.

Martha taught music andlanguages at the U.of S. Thebreadth of her intellectual andcultural interests plunged her intoSaskatoon’s intellectual society.She played piano and was a pillarof the Saskatoon Symphony,attending concerts regularly till thevery end of her life. She read widelyand had an unremitting appetite forlife. Not a davener, shenevertheless knew her Jewishtradition, was steeped in it andloyal to it. She was too much theintellectual ever to be an orthodoxJew, too much the indefatigableresearcher and thinker to beconfined by Judaism, but she wastotally and deeply Jewish to herfingertips. She came to our weeklyLunch and Learn sessions at theSynagogue from the very start,and was a knowledgeable andconcerned participant indiscussion: indeed, that discussion was anessential spice in her life.

Most of all, Martha wrote continuallythroughout her life. When she was 86 shepublished her first novel, The Walnut Tree,followed by Children of Paper, and, only lastyear, The Apothecary (how appropriate fora pharmacist!). Her work was honored by aSaskatchewan Book Award. Though fiction,her work was a eulogy and an elegy for theworld of her ancestors, the Jewish world ofEastern Europe. Her work was recognisedby the U.of S. by the award to her of anhonorary D.Lit., an award richly deserved.It is typical of Martha that her novels werewritten in English, the 6th.of her 8languages!

Martha retained her incisive mind and herjoy in living until the end. She was workingon her 4th.novel when she died. Thoughincreasingly frail physically, she continuedactive mentally till the end. The sheerbreadth of her interest and encyclopedicknowledge was breath-taking. But above all,she was a woman of broad sympathy andsweet temperament. She could havesurrendered to the bitterness of so much ofher life and shrivelled into self pity. She

didn’t. She loved life, she made so manyfriends, she was always interested in people.

We shall all miss Martha. We mourn herleaving us: but we celebrate the joy andblessing of the years that we were privilegedto share with her. She was granted a longlife, and it was a life well lived. And when were-read her books our goodbye to her willnot be farewell but lehitraot. Zekher tsadiklivrakhah.

May the memory of a good woman be acontinuing blessing!

This Page is Sponsored by Elizabeth Brewster

For Martha

Martha, a wise woman, said to me,when I had a decision to make"Everything is in the shema."

Yes, I think,the shema includes the voice of God.It includes the necessary listeningand Israel the listener.It includes the great Unityto which we belong.It includes, heart, breathing, strength,whatever talent we have.It includes love.It speaks to usat home and away from homemorning and night.

Everything else, it has been said,is comment on the text

And Martha was good at comment

Elizabeth Brewster

Editor's note: Elizabeth Brewster is awell published and recognized poet and amember of our Congregation "

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the talks.

January 6thHana’s Suitcase(video and discussion)

"The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkinsa review by Rabbi Roger Pavey (conclusion)

THE BULLETINEditor-in-Chief .......................... Steven GoluboffYouth Editor .................................... Shira FenyesAdvertising Manager ...........................Ron GitlinCirculation Manager ..................... Myla DeptuckProof Reader ............................... Bruce CameronLayout & Graphic Design .............. Janet Eklund

Cost of this issue with mailing ................. $1200Advertisements ...................................... $30/issuePage Sponsorship ........... $20/issue or $100/yearIssues Published ............................................... 105Issues/Year ........................................................... 6If you are happy with the Bulletin and enjoy reading it, pleaseconsider sponsoring a page ($20/issue or $100/year). ContactSteven Goluboff or Ron Gitlin.

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Printed at Saskatoon Fastprint

In my thinkingabout the issuesfor religious faiththat ProfessorDawkins raises, Iwant toconcentrate on

two areas. I want, first, to consider what iscalled the Anthropic Principle (in its “strong”form), and, second, the implications forbelief in God of quantum physics.

The Anthropic Principle in its weak formstates that the Universe seems to bestructured to produce intelligent andpurposive consciousness, the proof beingthat if it weren’t, we wouldn’t be here toobserve it, and we patently are. This is notquite a redundant statement of the obvious–we are here because we are here!-but it reallydoes not get us much forrader. However, the“stronger” form of the Principle is moreinteresting.

The basic forces of the Universe thathold everything together and enable it towork are gravity (by far the weakest!),electro-magnetism, the strong and the weak.The last two apply on the sub-atomic level,but are tremendously important. The valuesof all of them are very precisely calibrated,so that a very tiny variance would havecatastrophic consequences. Indeed, in thecase of the strong force that holds the atomicnucleus together, the calibration is soprecise that no variation occurs to twohundred decimal places! It is true enough,as Dawkins correctly says, that changeoccurs in biological evolution by sheerchance the immensity of time ensuring abenign result. But in the case of the strongforce the assumption of chance is so mindboggling as to require a deeply “religious”faith! It begins to look suspiciously asthough someone or something is “cookingthe books” and deliberately setting the

coordinates precisely to produce what wehave: a universe seemingly directed toproducing us. The bad word “teleology”-purpose- forces itself back into the equation.

Quantum physics also has an intriguingpart to play in our thinking. Light is carriedby photons. But photons oddly function aseither a wave or a coherent particle, or,astonishingly, as both. And we cannotpredict which way it will go. What we haveis potential which at some specific timeconcretises or “collapses” into an event. Itfollows that there must be an infinity ofpossibilities in an infinity of paralleluniverses; and if an event accords with thelaws of physics, what can happen willhappen somewhere: if not in our universe inanother one. Not all those universes will bewelcoming to life or consciousness; mostwill not. However, in a set of infinity therewill be a sub-set of an infinity of universesthat are welcoming. Again, is somebody,somewhere, “cooking” the books? And,again, as to chance, consider the oldconundrum of monkeys hammering away atthe keys of their word processors: wouldthey, purely by chance, replicate the worksof Shakespeare? Of course they would, butthe time required is a lot longer than theuniverse will survive before the protondisintegrates, taking everything else withit.

Let us consider, too, Heisenberg’sindeterminacy. This is the reason we cannotpredict the “collapse” of the photon as awave or a particle. There are states that areincompatible, that is, the more accuratelywe know one of them for example, position,

the less accurately we can know the other,say velocity. It is also true that, at themicrocosmic level, things can come intobeing out of nothing and nowhere, providedthat they cease to exist immediately.Energycan be “borrowed” so long as it ispaid back At the Planck level all sorts ofweird things can happen. It follows that atotally abstract God concept such as that ofMordechai Kaplan, where we are using theword to refer to a force that tends towardsalvation, is perfectly compatible withBuber’s personal God of relationship thatwe experience when we honestly encounterothers as I-Thou, in a mutuallytransformative experience. So asophisticated God can also be a God we canmeet, and in the meeting be transformed.

One thing I agree with Dr.Dawkins on:agnosticism is not an honest response,however tempting and seemingly rational itmay be. Aristotle’s law of the excludedmiddle applies. Either there is a God or thereis not. Dawkins can demolish theanthropomorphic image easily enough. But,popular though it may be ( and it is), it is notthe concept that we need have. And grantedthat, it is perfectly rational to believe in God(it all comes down to what you mean by theword!), and not in the least rational not to orto waffle in suspense.

I would recommend this book hugely. Itis entertaining and provocative in the bestsense. But it is not the last word. A morehumble author might perhaps have put aquestion mark in his title. And to thatquestion, The God Delusion?, I wouldanswer No. And even if God were a delusion,maybe we need the opiate. Marx may havebeen more right and more compassionatethan he thought.

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HADASSAH CARDSTo Jean Scharfstein - get well from Grace

GoluboffTo Dr. and Mrs. J. Sapoznikawe - in

sympathy from Kayla HockTo Ruth Gonor and family - in sympathy

from Mark and Wendy DitloveTo Joan Caplin and family - in sympathy

for QueenieTo Steven Goluboff - congratulations for

Canadian Physician of the YearTo Ron Gitlin - get well.

Hi everyone andbest wishes for agreat 2008.

Hadassah-WIZO members can be proudof our very productive autumn: a deliciousPot Luck Dinner, the launch of our RaffleDinner Ticket sales, several CommunityTelephone Directory planning meetings anda very successful Youth Aliyah Luncheonand Fundraising Campaign. Thank you allfor your generous support. My thanks, too,to Leona, Mary, Robin and JenniferHesselson for looking after the luncheonevent in my absence! Good job. We can’trest on our laurels though. Our hard work tosustain our CHW projects in Israel will carryon with the continuation of the TelephoneDirectory Project and the organizing of thisyear’s Silver Spoon Dinner in May. I lookforward to working with you all.

In November, I had the honour ofrepresenting Saskatoon at the NationalExecutive Board Meetings in Montreal. Itwas the “shot in the arm” I needed to get meexcited about Hadassah-WIZO once again.The National Office Staff and the dedicatedvolunteer leadership from all across Canadaare an exceptional group of women and theenergy at the meetings was amazing. Thetwo days of meetings were packed withinformation and exciting new directions forCHW (Canadian Hadassah-WIZO and theChildren, Healthcare and Women itrepresents). The launch of the newHadassah-WIZO website: www.chw.ca wasannounced. It’s great. Check it out!

Several centres reported on special“Celebrate Achievement” events tocelebrate the 90th Anniversary of CHW byhonouring exemplary women in their cities.I’m proud to say that in Saskatoon we’vebeen doing that for 17 years already withour Sterling Award presentation at the SilverSpoon Dinners. A delightful (too short)session with other chapter presidents gaveme the opportunity to learn about projectsand events in other centres and to voice thepride and concerns we all seem to share.Even the big cities are facing challenges oflower membership and fewer volunteers fortheir giant projects (like bazaars). The up-side is that new, creative fundraising ideasare surfacing and I met several young,enthusiastic, new chapter presidents and leftfeeling very hopeful about the future of ourorganization.

I was most impressed by the amazingspeakers at the meeting. Firstly, a young

Rabbi from Montreal, Rabbi ChaimSteinmetz, spoke eloquently about theimportance of passing on our love for Israelto our Jewish youth. He cited a study doneon North American Jews’ attitude to Israel.Shockingly, only 54% of the under-35-year-olds in the study said they were comfortablewith the concept of a Jewish State and overhalf of them said that the destruction of theState of Israel would not be a tragedy. RabbiSteinmetz believes that educating ourJewish youth is vital. His simple answer isto take young people to Israel and showthem. (ie: projects like Birthright) and thelong answer is to teach them about Israel asa Homeland (a safe haven for Jews; pride inthe country’s many accomplishments inscience and technology etc.) and Israel as aHolyland (place our religion wasestablished; the place that inspired theprophets and still inspires us today). He saidthat average non-Jewish Canadians havelimited understanding and just don’t knowmuch about Israel so we each in our ownlittle way must be advocates for Israel.

The second featured speaker was BrendaKattan, World WIZO, Public AffairsChairperson. Originally from Britain andnow living in Israel, she is an awesomeambassador for World Jewry and an amazingspokesperson for us with WIZO. She spokevery eloquently about her passion for Israeland the challenges it faces. The mission ofher department is to correct the distortionsand negative media projection of Israel, tobring the truth to our members and then inturn to the wider world. Mrs. Kattan hasrepresented WIZO and Israel at the 2000 UNSymposium on the Status of Women and atthe 2001 UN Conference on Racism inDurban S.A. (WIZO has had UN ObserverStatus since 1957and WIZO and Hadassahare the only two Zionist organizations withthis special status.) She is often the lonevoice supporting Israel at UN sponsoredconferences and her stories of “Israel-bashing”are very disturbing. (She said thatin 1948 there were 6 Arab countries in theUnited Nations and now there are 55 Muslimcounties represented there.) In contrast, shealso spoke about the very successful GoldaMeir Leadership Centre in Haifa which isattended by non-Jewish women from Africaand Asia who come to learn how to beleaders.

Her message was that “ Internationally,Israel strives to be more than just tolerated.We want and need to be fully accepted.”

And lastly, Calgary’s Ruth Ullmaninvited every CHW member to the NationalConvention, Nov.15-18, 2008 at the HyattRegency in Calgary. It is going to be afabulous convention featuring famousWestern Hospitality and inspiring keynotespeakers.(ie: Margaret Wente, Globe andMail columnist, and Gail Asper) Mark yourcalendars, ladies, because I’m determinedto take a large Saskatoon delegation withme to this Convention!

Next Chapter Meeting: Sunday, Jan.6,2:00 at Leona Wasserman’s, 210Smoothstone Crescent

Silver Spoon Work Bee: Sunday, Feb. 3at the JCC at 1:00 p.m.

Silver Spoon Ticket Sale Wine andCheese: Monday, March 3, SheratonCavalier (tentative)

This Page is Sponsored by Saskatoon Hadassah WIZO

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Sisterhood Newsby Karen Dawson

Kol Ishah: A Woman’s Voice, Listen to her voice (Genesis 21:12)By Dr. Anne Lapidus Lerner

A woman’s voice—a vehicle forexpressing wisdom and creativity or thesiren song of seduction that must besilenced? We are blessed to be part of acommunity where women’s voices indeedare heard, whether in prayer or in teaching,in counsel or in writing!

How often do we open the sacred textsof our heritage and listen in vain for thevoices of women? Often we do not hearthem because they actually are absent.Occasionally, however, it is because we areso accustomed to hearing women’s silencethat we can no longer hear their sound.

Listen to the words of Eve, the first

woman recorded in the Bible, who speaksfour times: in conversation with the serpent;in response to the double accusation madeby Adam and God (Genesis 3:13); and atthe birth of her sons (Genesis 4:1, 25). Eveis the more powerful human in this story,and the one with the most to say. Each timethe tone of what she says is different; eachtime she makes us listen.

The shrewd serpent tries to entrap thestill unnamed woman (Genesis 3:2-3). Hefeeds her false information and sheresponds with the best data she has – stillhesitating, carefully considering herchoices before she acts. Doubly accused by

both adam and God, the woman says, inwords crafted to match God’s three-wordindictment, “The serpent duped me and Iate.” The newly named woman, suddenlyoutside the garden, bears a son and claimsGod’s creative power. Finally, before sheslips from view, Eve acknowledges the birthof Seth in an emotion-laden speech naminghim as the replacement for the murderedAbel. We learn a great deal from isolatingand examining her recorded speech.

While there are elements of Eve we maychoose not to emulate—as with everycomplex biblical character—we can learnfrom her to recognize our own strengthsand to take risks in our own quest forknowledge.

Dr. Anne Lapidus Lerner is director ofthe Jewish Women’s Studies Program andAssistant Professor of Jewish Literature atthe Jewish Theological Seminary.

Please remember to mark your calendarsfor the WLCJ Shabbat Family Dinner onFriday January 18, 2008! We hope to have agreat turnout this year, and look forward toone of the few Fridays we may all haveShabbat dinner together! CAI Sisterhoodwelcomes visitors, friends and families tojoin us for this great traditional event in ourcommunity. Please RSVP reservations toMyla 343-7023.

Library Newsby Patricia Pavey

New Acquisitions,December, 2007

For Adults:The Contemporary Torah: a Gender-Sensitive Adaptation of the JPSTranslation. 222.105208 CON

The Wisdom of Judaism: an introduction tothe values of the Talmud, Rabbi DovPeretz Elkins. 296.1206 ELK

Jewish Women: a comprehensive historicalencyclopedia (CD ROM) CD ROM JEW(Please ask me personally for this item)

Inventing Jewish Ritual, Vanessa L. Ochs.(How to make your own practice more

meaningful through renewing, reshapingand even creating new rituals). 296.4 OCH

The way into Tikkun Olam (repairing theworld) by Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff. 296.36DOR

Discovering Jewish Music by MarshaBryan Edelman. 780.89924 EDE

The New Jewish Baby book: names,ceremonies & customs: a guide for today’sfamilies, by Anita Diamant. 296.44 DIA

The Quotable Jewish woman: wisdom,inspiration & humor from the mind andheart, ed. By Elaine Bernstein Parnow.808.8992 QUO

For Children andYoung Adults:

A shout in the Sunshine by Mara W.Cohen Ioannides.Set in the bustling world of 15th centuryGreece. Two Jewish communities clash,and they learn to live together throughcourage and human kindness. J FIC IOA

J Girls’ Guide: The Young JewishWoman’s handbook for coming of age, byPenina Adelman, Ali Feldman andShulamit Reinharz. J 296.708352 ADE

The Kids’ Fun Book of Jewish Time byEmily Sper. J 296.43 SPE

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A Muslim Statement on Reconciliation and Peaceby Joanne Jaffe

After our introduction to the Fellowship forReconciliation and Peace (FRAP) in the lastbulletin, some of you may have beenwondering how the Muslim members ofFRAP have presented the group to theircommunity. The following is the column thatappeared in the Newsletter of the IslamicAssociation of Saskatoon this fall thatexplains how the Muslim members of FRAPbelieve that work towards peace,reconciliation and justice is consistent withtheir faith tradition. It was followed by a listof peace resources on the Middle East,which we will present in a later edition ofthe Bulletin.

Fellowship for Reconciliation and Peace(FRAP) – (Saskatoon)

A few people (Christians, Jews andMuslims) who have been affected by thedisastrous situation in the Middle Eastdecided to work towards reconciliation andpeace amongst the people in Saskatoon andthereby also in the Middle East.

The Fellowship for Reconciliation andPeace (FRAP) came into being in 2002 andhas been active in bringing aboutreconciliation and peace. Our very firstactivity was an inter-faith vigil tocommemorate all those who have died in theMiddle East as a result of the conflict.

In the beginning Christians in the groupstepped back from the leadership positionto create space for the Jews and Muslims tomove towards reconciliation. We, themembers of FRAP, came to know oneanother and without minimizing our diversityor uniqueness grew to honour andappreciate our common ethical values andprophetic traditions. Inter-faith activitieswere carried out to celebrate the JewishPassover (Pesach Seder) at the UnitarianCentre and the Muslim Eid-ul-Adha at theIslamic Centre to expand the circle of

fellowship to include other Jews, Muslimsand Christians and other concernedindividuals and to take the message of peaceto the community at large in Saskatoon.Presentations to the Making PeaceConferences in both Saskatoon and Reginahave also been made.

FRAP is unique in the commitment itsmembers have towards their own respectivefaith traditions, the integrity, honesty andopenness demonstrated in dealing with theissues involved and the level of trust andrespect we have in one another.

FRAP adopted its Statement of Purpose onFebruary 27, 2005. It reads:

“FRAP (Fellowship for Reconciliation andPeace) works together to think, to healand to organize support for Muslims andJews, Israelis and Palestinians, involvedwith and concerned about the PalestinianIsraeli conflict.

FRAP is a group that offers the freedom tothink and act from hope, peace, love, andcommunity. FRAP promotesunderstanding, action and communitythrough dialogue within and betweenthese communities.

FRAP creates opportunities forreconciliation and for awareness of thehuman cost of the violence in thisconflict. FRAP takes a strong standagainst all violence and works for peace.”

So many innocent children, women andmen throughout the region are suffering inthe most grievous manner as a result of theongoing conflict. These are our brothersand sisters. They have endured so muchbloodshed, hunger, hardship anddeprivation. Their hopes for peace and for

the future have been repeatedly dashed.The daily lived-experiences for the greatmajority of these innocent civilians are onesof fear, uncertainty and unremitting sadness.Recent events in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon,and elsewhere further demonstrates that theneed to find an alternative to the seeminglyendless cycle of violence is more acute thanever.

Some of us in Saskatoon determined thatsince we are safe, and have the privilege ofnot living in fear, that we should help createspace for justice, reconciliation and peaceto grow, amongst us here and, by extension,to our brothers ands sisters in the MiddleEast. We are encouraged in our work by thefact that there are thousands of people inhundreds of groups around the worldstriving towards this very same purpose.

The Muslim members of FRAP recognizethat our involvement in this group isconsistent with both the Qur’an and theSunnah. We are reminded that the Qur’anstates:

“Those who believe (in the Qur’an), andthose who follow the Jewish (scriptures),and the Christians and the Sabians, anywho believe in God and the Last Day,and work righteousness, Shall have theirreward with their Lord: on them shall beno fear, nor shall they grieve.” S. 2, A. 62

Furthermore, we are told:“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly forjustice, as witnesses to God, even asagainst yourselves, or your parents, oryour kin, and whether it be (against) richor poor: For God can best protect both.Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lestye distort (justice) or decline to do justice,verily God is well-acquainted with all thatye do.” S. 4, A. 135

continued on page 16

10This Page is Sponsored by Effie (Brook) & Harry Gordon of Vancouver

On October 30th a group of people from oursmall but active Jewish Community inSaskatoon, gathered at the home of ourcommunity Shlichim join with peoplearound the world for the solidarity day forthe kidnapped soldiers. We were there toremember, to support and to learn moreabout your husband and the two othersoldiers who were abducted. Among othervideos, we were fortunate to have aninterview you had given to a media outlet.We were all touched by your words, andyour apparent love and devotion to Ehud.We are a small but vibrant community, andafter watching your interview, we wish todo something to bring awareness to yourcause. Petitions will be signed and letterssent to those we believe can make adifference. In the meantime we wished tocontact you, to let you know how much youtouched us. Your love for your husbandEhud, inspired me to write the followingpoem. You have traveled far and wide,speaking about Ehud and your love for him.I am certain your words have reachedhim. This poem is my imagined response toyour words, what he may desire to say toyou. I hope it moves you as much as youhave moved so many with your words.

-Natasha Stubbs & The Jewish Communityof Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

A poem by Natasha Stubbs forThe Israeli Abducted Soldier’s wife Karnit Goldwasser

A Soldier’s Repose

Ah, my wearied bones ache to hold you once moreBut these manacles weigh them downMy tired eyes long to behold your smiling graceBut they remain closed lest I lose hope at what lays before meEndless days without youIn the suffocating darkness of uncertaintyOnly the memory of usOf what once was and what shall beOnce I break free from those that wish to tear me asunderMy loveMy lifeMy soulWait for meI will return to you no matter the distanceNo matter the obstaclesDo not despairYou are my very essence and I yoursOur very beings entangled and inseparableThough I am captive in enemies handsI shall embrace you againKiss away your tearsFor nothing shall keep me from youMy loveMy lifeMy soulWait for me

January 13th - On the menu: Coffee, Bagels

and the Israeli movie Three mothers– the story of triplet sisters who were born in Egypt and came to Israel with their father after their motherdied. They were raised together as almost one person and now after 60 years they are living in the samehouse again. This is a story about self-scrutiny, mutual surety and the tension between the generations.

February 2nd - On the menu: Coffee, Bagels

and the Israeli movie Beaufort– the movie tells us the true story of the 22 years old outpost commander and his troops in the monthsbefore Israel pulled out of Lebanon. This is not a story of war but of retreat, this is a story with no enemy,only an amorphous entity that drops bombs from the skies while terrified young soldiers must find a wayto carry out their mission until their vary last minutes on that mountaintop.

10 a.m. - JCC

Breakfast Club

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Israel is amazing. I have already beenhere for three months and it feels like a week,preferably not the first week because I wasreally homesick then. The first three monthsession is called Israel Experience and isdesigned to give us an idea of what it is liketo work in Israel and live on our own. (Withthree other girls also on the program) Mytime began in Kfar Saba and I wasvolunteering at the local Fire department.After about two months I transferred to BeitIssy Shapera, which is a center for mentallydisabled children. I worked in the fundraisingdepartment. It was really rewarding to knowthat I was helping to raise money so thatthe children could get the attention atschool that theyneed. I loved knowingthat I was helpingbetter the community.

I have done manyvery exciting thingsduring my time here.In late October ourgroup went toMamshite, which is inthe middle of theNegev (desert). Westayed at the Beduincommunity there. Igot to see howdifferent people livein Israel and it wasreally neat. During ourstay there we drankthe traditional tea withthem, played drums,rode the camels andslept in tents. It wasquite the experience, to say the least. I also

Adventures in Israelby Jen Scharfstein

got the opportunity to go toEilat for the weekend. I went inearly November and it was thebest weekend so far in Israel. Iwent with my three roommatesand we relaxed on the beachand checked out the amazingshopping down there.

On November 25th wemoved out of our apartmentsand moved to Jerusalem forfour days. It was like our mid-term vacation. On the 28th wemoved to Bat Yam, just southof Tel Aviv. The 28th was thebeginning of our second

section,CommunityVolunteering. The firstthing we did when wegot to Bat Yam wasmove into ourapartments. Carryingthree, incredibly heavy,bags up four levels isnot my idea of a goodtime. It is 88 stairs toclimb, too many for myliking. In my newapartment there will be6 girls, all volunteeringin different placesthroughout Bat Yam. Itis quite the experienceto be with so manypeople in oneapartment.

My communityvolunteering project is

teaching English in a religious elementaryschool. We will work one-on-one with thestudents and actually be able to watch themprogress. I can’t wait. It should be veryrewarding to know that you are the reason

that a child can speak another language. Iwill be working in the school four days aweek for 5 hours each day. Along withvolunteering we also have Ulpan (Hebrewlessons) twice a week. So hopefully I won’tget my parents lost when they come to seeme, or at least if I get them lost it will be onpurpose.

In early December I will be going on athree day hike through the mountains inEilat and sleeping outside. WOW. Otherthan volunteering and learning Hebrew Ihope to travel as much as I can and get themost out of these three months in Bat Yamas possible.

One of the things I am enjoying a lot hereis the opportunity to visit with Saskatoon’sprevious areivim. I have been so lucky to beable to spend time with everyone, evenNatan when he was in Israel for his brother’swedding. It is so amazing to have family Ican count on so far away from home.

Hanukkah is bound to be amazing herein Israel. On the first night our group wentto the assumed grave sites of the Macabeesoldiers. It was really cool. We sang songsand lit the first candle. The history of thesite alone was so moving, and the fact thatwe celebrated this festival on the place ithappened is even better.

Until next time: Hanukkah Samach andLehetraot

Jen with Lior & Keren Or’s Naomi.She is 2.

Jen with her roommates Meira and Arielle.

Humble yourself here,and you won’t be

humbled hereafter.- Ben Zoma

From Our Tel Aviv Deskby Keren-Or & Lior

12

YYYYYOUTHOUTHOUTHOUTHOUTH

This Page is Sponsored by Dr. Joe & Colleen Golumbia of Sidney, B.C.

As usual, so much has happened aroundhere since the last issue that it is hard todecide what to write about, not to mentionthe events that will probably make theheadlines from the moment this article issent until you all read it. The mostsignificant political event that cannot gowithout mentioning is the Annapolissummit.

So much has been said and written inthe media – by journalists and politicians –about Annapolis: Should the Israelis havehigh or low expectations about the summit?Should the Palestinians have high or lowexpectations about the summit? Whogained more? Who took the biggest risk?Which leader – of the three – is less popularat home and thus will find harsh oppositiontrying to implement what was agreed in thesummit? Is Abu Mazen strong enough? IsPM Olmert (un)popular enough? And soon…

Inevitable comparisons to previoussummits were a rich resource for radio andtelevision debate shows, going as far backas the first Camp David talks between Sedatand Begin, through the Oslo accords andof course the second Camp David talksbetween Arafat and Barak. One of the mostworrying issues was – and still is – will theoutcome of these current talks also sparkanother cycle of violence like itspredecessor. Apparently none of thecomparisons seem to fit, as was to beexpected. Every cycle of peace talks – orinitiative – stands somehow independentof the others although all are chain-linkedto the same endless conflict.

It is also somewhat unfair to compare, inmany senses. The talks with Egypt beganwith an unbelievably dramatic gesture inthe form of Sedat’s sudden visit toJerusalem in 1977. The vicious enemies thatonly four years earlier were at each other’sthroat – the Yom Kippur War – were nowready to meet and talk. No matter how muchone might admire the current leaders onboth sides – and not many do –unfortunately they are worlds away fromthe charisma of Sedat and Begin.

The comparison to the year 2000 talkswith Arafat also seems to lack fairness. Theundisputed leadership and legitimacy thatArafat enjoyed in the Palestinian street was– and it seems like it will be in the future –unprecedented. Yet, faced with what thenPM Barak called “revealing his true face”,Arafat found that even he had his own limitsand did not sign an accord to end the

conflict – no matter who it was we shouldblame. Although it is true that Abu Mazenhas hardly a tip-of-the-iceberg of whatArafat had – in terms of legitimacy – it doesnot mean that he is incapable of carryingout an accord. The main difference betweenthen and now, apart from the change inleadership, is the fact that beyond the majorissues that involve the conflict, now thePalestinians themselves are split into two,with Hamas reigning in Gaza. This is whatseems to draw smoke in the eyes ofAnnapolis. It is hard to imagine how anagreement can be implemented without firstsolving the “Hamastan” that has becomeof the Gaza strip.

On the Israeli side, an example of thecomplexity of the current talks is the dailyreality of the southern town of Sderot andits neighboring settlements. On a daily basisthe town’s inhabitants – that number a littleless than 20,000 – suffer “Kasaam” rocketattacks and shells, launched from thenorthern Gaza strip. It is hard to imagine –even to Israelis living in Tel Aviv, Jerusalemand Haifa – what it’s like to live at aseconds-away alert 24 hours a day. Kids inbus stations, classrooms live in constantfear and suffer psychologically not tomention that every now and then someoneis hurt or dies from such attacks. What doesthis prove to the Israeli public? Probably,on the most basic level, it proves that evenafter the full withdrawal of IDF troops andJewish settlements – a deeply contradictoryevent that former PM Sharon carried out in2005 – the Palestinian Authority not onlyfailed to implement an autonomy, but theHamas has taken over with a policy ofdeliberately targeting civilians.

The reasons for the current situation inGaza go a long way back, of course. Israel,

and even the US, have their share ofresponsibility but the fact remains that whatthis proves to Israelis is that it isn’t hard toimagine what might happen if the Gazaexample will spread to the West Bank,leaving millions of Israelis exposed to rocketand shell attacks. What then? Will we beforced to shoot back without considerationat civilian targets, like the Hamas? Can weallow ourselves as a society to act as such?The Gaza situation proves the answer tothese questions as a pretty big “no”. What,then, is the alternative? A broad militarycampaign in Gaza - undoubtedly causingmore death and destruction on both sides -that might solve the problem temporarily?Harsh questions. The answers aren’t“black” or “white”…

60 years after the partition plan – a two-state solution with an “international”Jerusalem - was approved by the UN (butdisapproved by all surrounding Arab states,inciting the War of Independence), we’restill struggling to find a way for these twopeoples to live side by side, peacefully. Onething is probably certain; both sides do nothave the privilege of not giving negotiationa chance. Let’s just hope this time it willlead to a little bit of peace and quiet.

Keren-Or, Lior & Naomi

#35 22nd Street E. Saskatoon, SK

Website: www.saskcent.com(306) 975-7926

SASKATOON'SARTS & CONVENTION

CENTRE

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

WHAT HAPPENED 60YEARS AGO IN THESTATE OF ISRAEL

January: Jewish Agency representativeGolda Meyerson (Meir) visits the U. S. tourge Jews to furnish funds for Palestine.

February 4: Dr. Chaim Weizmann arrives inNew York.

March 11: When a car filled with explosivesblows up in the courtyard of the JewishAgency building in Jerusalem, 12 people arekilled, among them Arie Leib Jaffe, one of thefounders of the Zionist movement. Born in1876, he was the director of Keren Hayesodfrom 1926.

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Please forward your e-mail address to the synagogue office to help withcommunication: jewishcommunity@sasktel.net

Mah Chadash (What's New)by Shirly and Nimrod Solomon

Shalom everyone! We want to start byinforming everyone that the winter is here,and we don’t know if you noticed but it iskind of cold outside, we heard that there istalk that this is the worst winter in the last15 years- we can hardly wait...

The last two months have been full ofevents; on October 30th we had the WorldSolidarity Day for the Israel’s abductedsoldiers. The event was very moving, wewrote a letter to the soldier’s families, read aprayer for their health, watched a few shortmovies about the soldiers and theirabductions and signed a community letterof support. This cause was very importantto us and was held in Jewish communitiesall over the world on the same date. Wewould like to thank all those who came andparticipated. We have sent the letter withall the signatures and photos of the eventto the families in Israel, hoping that in somesmall way we helped by saying how muchwe care. MAY THEY RETURN TO THEIRLOVING FAMILIES SWIFTLY ANDSAFELY.

At the beginning of November we tookpart in a Shlichim convention in New York.It was great to see all of our friends from alldifferent places most in the USA. We came

back with a lot of new ideas but the mostimportant thing we came with is theknowledge of how lucky we are to be in theJewish community in Saskatoon. For such asmall community so much happens in here,so many great people are involved inworking for the community, we were sohappy to represent Saskatoon and ourcommunity at that convention.

Hanukkah is a busy and beautiful time ofthe year here. It feels like the festival of lightsin all the homes we visited, we would like tothank everyone who invited us and let usshare the holiday with them. We had awonderful experience, and playing in themusical was so much fun and the wholefamily fun day was a great experience for us.

On the last day of Hanukkah we held theYitzhak Rabin memorial ceremony. It startedwith lighting the full Hanukkiah byrepresentatives from all of our communitygroups, which spread light over the wholeroom for the ceremony. We would like tothank everyone who came, helped andparticipate in the ceremony, it means a lotfor us.

We sent some of the pictures and videosthat were taken during the ceremony to theJewish Agency offices in Jerusalem and theyreplied with so many compliments and toldus that creating such a ceremony for thememory of Yitzhak Rabin is an importantevent that is not done in every community,they sent us a big Yishar Koah so we wantto share the Yashar Koach with all of you.

We would like to share with you one ofthe songs that was used in the ceremony, it

is called “Ki ha’adam etz hasade”; Maximand Jardena Gertler-Jaffe sang it in Hebrewin a very touching performance:

For the human is like the tree in a field,like the human, the tree grows too; like thetree, the human is chopped down,and Idon’t knowwhere I’ve been and where I’llbe, like the tree in a field! For the human islike the tree in a field, like the tree he strivesupwards; like the human, it burns in fire,and I don’t knowwhere I’ve been and whereI’ll be, like the tree in a field!I loved, and I hated too, I tasted this andthat; I was buried in a plot of dust, and Ifeel sour - sour in my mouth, like the tree ina field! For the human is like the tree in afield, like the tree he’s thirsty for water; likethe human, it stays thirsty, and I don’t knowwhere I’ve been and where I’ll be, like thetree in a field!

In the next months we will be bringingback the Israeli movies in the Breakfast Clubmeetings, the first movie will be in January13th, Sunday 10 am and is called ThreeMothers. It is a poignant tale of the livesof triplet sisters, born in Alexandria to thepalace midwife and raised in Israel,The film which follows the lives of the threesisters and their families in Israel, with manytwists and turns, challenges the meaningof marital loyalties and sibling relationships.The second movie, on February 3rd, isBeaufort it is about an IDF unit stationed atthe Beaufort post in Southern Lebanon andtheir commander, who was the lastcommander on the Beaufort castle beforethe Israeli withdrawal in 2000. We would liketo invite you all to watch those movies andspend a Sunday morning having cofee andbagels with us.

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C H A R T E R E D A C C O U N T A NTS

14

This Page is Sponsored by Dr. Jeff Stein

Do you hear the people sing?Lost in the valley of the night,It is a music of a people who are climbing to the light,For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies,Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

Do Do Do Do Do YYYYYou Hear ou Hear ou Hear ou Hear ou Hear TTTTThe Phe Phe Phe Phe People Sing?eople Sing?eople Sing?eople Sing?eople Sing?by Shira Fenyes

children, 9 grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren! She had a close relationshipespecially the ones close by- reading tothem, singing with them and baby sitting.She enjoyed home decorating for herselfand her friends. She also liked to play bridgemah jong and canasta, “walking the bridges”and other activities with the “girls” (all herdear and good friends).

Even after she had a stroke and sufferedfrom other chronic illnesses her attitude wasalways positive. When she could no longerlive on her own, she made Spruce ManorSpecial Care home into her “apartment” andenjoyed sitting in the common space andcommenting on the weather, the passers byand how the staff was doing. It is said thatin advanced years, basic temperament and

personality characteristics emerge - and withJulie that meant smiling, cheerful gentlegreetings, showing off her family picturesand singing songs from the 1920s and 1930especially show tunes.

In her last years, my brother Barry had aspecial relationship with our mother. Hisdedicated attention and love surelyenhanced her little world. The family wishesto acknowledge the staff at Spruce ManorSpecial Care Home in Dalmeny for theirattentiveness, kindness and caring thatmade our mother’s last years comfortable.

Devoted wife, mother, daughter, artistand community worker. Julie Singer’smemory will be for a blessing.

Julia Singer... from page 4

surrounding Arthur - the Singers. She wasespecially close with Arthur’s sister, RaeAarons. Rae was like the sister she neverhad. The whole family lived close by. Julie’shome was about two blocks from hermother’s, two houses away from Auntie Raeand Uncle Marvin Aarons, and one blockaway from Arthur’s parents. Her homewelcomed a lot of family gatherings,especially when aunts, uncles and cousinsvisited from Edmonton. Julie and Arthureventually moved into an apartment buildingdowntown, again with her mother, SophieCohen, the Aarons and Grandma Singerclose by. Julie enjoyed being in the centerof things, walking to the bank, City Hall andthe Library.

Julie was always most proud of her 3

The powerful words of Les Miserables.The words that filled my mouth, my time andmy life for the first three months of school.

I was thankful to be cast as one of thelead roles of the production. Fantine wasthe name of my character; a determinedmother working the streets to earn moneyfor her child, Cosette. Soon into the play,she is diagnosed with severe illness andpasses suddenly, leaving beloved childunder the care of a generous man, Jean ValJean. The story is based on the life of theman, who lives literally through a battle tosave the young girl and to survive thedifficult times of the French Revolutionhimself.

Participating in the musical gave me notonly a chance to sing but to explore a newfound interest of acting. It gave me achallenge and a chance to work towards agoal. Spending lunch hours blocking outscenes and after schools singing with thefull cast, my life was slowly taken away fromme. I went to bed each night with the day’srehearsed blocking in my mind, going overit in my sleep. I awoke each morning with“yesterday’s” tune in my head, annoyingthose around me. My life was Les Mis, butin reality, the complete opposite.

I was lucky enough to get to know manyof the cast members. We were a tight groupand like a team, we became closer as theproduction neared. Each lead, secondaryand chorus member added something to theshow. One member had the ability tomotivate the group as could one cast

member’s illness bring each person down.Not only did we depend on each other’sattendance but each other’s enthusiasm andencouragement. Each performancedepended on the life in ‘Gavroche’s’ voice,and the sparkle in Val Jean’s eyes. We wereone big family, working towards somethingas one.

The months of rehearsal suddenly cameto a quick halt and suddenly, we foundourselves on stage in a revolution, over-made-up, crying out to a eager audience.With no costume direction, 60 peoplemanaged to put together outfits right out ofthe French Revolution. Each character’svoice began to shine and the excitement ofthe cast rose to a new level. Everyperformance got stronger, as our longworked project was slowly worked into amasterpiece. Each night, I left the schoolpainted white as a ghost, inspired by thevoices of my fellow cast members and lifted-up by the enthusiasm of the audience.

The musical was not onlya presentation of WalterMurray’s talent, but theshowcase of a dedicatedgroup of kids. Each member

gave him/ herself to reach a level ofperformance we challenged ourselves toachieve. Together, we created a show thatbrought tears to our own eyes. I cannotspeak for my fellow cast members but thewords of Les Mis will continue to inspireme. If I just close my eyes, I am back onstage, with friends at my side, singing thewords of a people filled with a never endinghope…

“Will you join in our crusade?Who will be strong and satnd with me?Somewhere beyond the barricade,Is there a world you long to see?Do you hear the people sing?Say, do you hear the distant drums?It is the future that they bring whentomorrow comes.”

Editor's Note: As well as Shira Fenyes,Maxin and Jordana Gertler-Jaffe were partof the cast.

15This Page is Sponsored by Dr. Syd & Miriam Gelmon of Vancouver

The newestversion of “TheSound of Miracles”,p e r f o r m e dexclusively for ourd i s c e r n i n gS a s k a t o o n

audience, is another very unique anddelightful adaptation of the Chanukah Story,sung to the familiar tunes of “The Sound ofMusic”. The play was met with suchoverwhelming acclaim that Rogers andHammerstein still wish that they had thoughtof this way first.

The story is the same as in 2003: Thenarrator, Natasha, ably transports theaudience back to 165 B.C. during the reignof the oppressive Syrian King Anitiochus.Jews were being forced to become pagansand bow down to idols. Families like thebrave Maccabees chose to defy the edictsand fight back, but others, like the BenTrappsteins, took the easy way out andbecame like the Greeks, adopting Greektraditions and names. All the Captain’sathletic children had even taken Greek nameslike Manos, Sardinia, Athena, Opa, etc,(curiously similar to restaurant names inSaskatoon. No wonder Hannah wassuddenly very hungry when introduced tothe children.)

Act 1: Jewish students and leaders, evenin the outer regions of the kingdom, worryabout the assimilation, singing “How DoWe Solve a Problem like Antiochus?” TheRabbi suggests that we “re-Jew-venate”them, one family at a time in his powerfulrendition of “Claim Every Goldberg”. Hesends the beautiful Hannah (armed with aJewish Survival Kit - a guitar case crammedwith Candle Sticks, Kiddush Cup, Siddur,Kipot, Matzoh and Manischewitz wine) tobe the Governess to those Ben Trappsteinchildren in the hope that she can charm theheathen Captain back to Judaism.

Act 2: Hannah meets the Olympic-athletes-in-Training children and theiroverbearing father. She manages their nameswell but is horrified by the dinner menu:Greek salad and pork souvlaki.

Act 3: The children, frightened bythe sounds of fighting in the streets,take refuge in Hannah’s bedroom. Shecalms them by reminding them of allthe wonderful aspects of Judaism,singing “My Favourite (Jewish)Things” and they happily beg her toteach them to be Jewish again. Thecurtains, made from Prayer Shawls,inspire her to take on the task.

Act 4: The children want to learn but theSiddurim are in Hebrew and that’s Greek tothem. Hannah delightfully teaches them aquick and fun way to learn Hebrew bysinging “ Aleph starts. It sounds like Ah.Beit, you use to catch a fish......” until all aremerrily joining in. Caught in the act by thedashing Uncle Max, they agree to performat his Underground Jewish Talent Festival.(After all, the Captain is away....)

This year, in a particularly clever artisticcoup, the play incorporated the standardChanukah pageant element by integrating aspellbinding song performance by theHebrew School students and a hilariousstand-up comedy routine by Katie andRishona as acts at the Festival. The Festivalfinale featured the astounding “all-in-one-family” singing group: The Ben Trappsteins.Hannah, thrilled that she has successfullyrekindled the light of Judaism in the children,lights a menorah in tribute, using the old-standard oil can. As their Festival act, thefamily sings a special loving song to theirgrandmother “ Zaida’s Wife”. The Captainarrives and is so moved by the affectionpaid to his mother that his heart melts andhe joins his family on stage, singing his wayinto the hearts of everyone. So inspired ishe that he announces that they will go andjoin the Maccabees in their revolt and re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

In the final act, the family is on their waybut, alas, the car won’t start. The Captain isskeptical but once again Hannah convinceshim to “have faith”. She uses her trusty oilcan under the hood and the car does start.It was THE OIL!! It was A MIRACLE!!

Again the ingenious use of a clever timewarp (using a car to join the Maccabees)

allowed the playwright to illustrate that thestrength of our Jewish traditions, theimportance of religious freedom, thetimelessness of our faith and the wonder ofthe miracle in the time of the Maccabees arestill vital and relevant even in our moderntimes. Fabulous!

As in past Chanukah musicals, theshowcased talent was stupendous. “TheSound of Miracles” introduced many new-to-us “Stars”... specifically: Jenn Richardsas Hannah, the beautiful, devout JewishGoverness; Hazzan Neil Schwartz as theRabbi and also as the loveable, zaftic BubbeBen Trappstein; Ari Avivi as the dashing,albeit misdirected, Captain Ben Trappstein;Rick Brown as the enterprising Uncle Max;Narrator, Natasha Stubbs; and Shirly andNim Solomon, Rishona Avivi and KatieDawson who joined the ranks of the athleticBen Trappstein children along with RobinSasko, Rebecca Simpson, JordanaJacobson, Mary Cameron and Shira Fenyes(who amazingly doubled as Yeshivabuchors). Noah Simpson had a charmingcameo role as the family chauffeur. In a finedisplay of expert multi-tasking, Bryce Saskomanaged the lights, the music, the propsand the curtains. The audience was terrific,singing and laughing along with (or at) thecast.

In the current trend to “Going Green” thismusical and this review were all recycled.The one notable difference was the absenceof Linda and Arnie Shaw who were onholiday. Robin Sasko took over as directorand producer and she made it all happen sobrilliantly. A successful Chanukah Musicalwithout Linda? Now that’s a Miracle!!

The Arts in the Jewish CommunityArts Review by Seymour Shoze

I, Seymour Shoze, have always taken my job as Community Arts Reviewer very seriously. Unfortunately, the weight of this hugeresponsibility has finally taken it’s toll. What I’m referring to is my regretful inability to do critical reviews for both of the two major

musical events that have taken place in our community this fall: The Klezmer Music Festival Nov. 25, and the Chanukah Musical “TheSound of Miracles”Dec.2. Both were sensational musical extravaganzas, bursting with entertainment value and teeming with awesometalent. Both attracted large, appreciative audiences. Both showcased overwhelming creativity - the one, the musical compositions ofDavid Kaplan, Leon K. David, Daniel K. Laban, David K. Leon and Monty Floyd and the other, the delightful parodies of Linda Shaw

and Company. I have chosen to review the latter in this column (a difficult decision) because it was accompanied by FOOD.

Seymour Shoze Review of“The Sound of Miracles”

This Page is Sponsored by Myrna H. Levin of Winnipeg16

This Page is Sponsored by Frances Bernbaum of Winnipeg, formerly of Saskatoon

SASKATOON810 Circle Dr. E 2105 8th St. E.

at Millar Ave at Grosvenor933-1986 955-1989

And further:“And those who, when an oppressivewrong is inflicted on them, (are notcowed but) help and defend themselves.The recompense for an injury is an injuryequal thereto (in degree): but if a personforgives and makes reconciliation, hisreward is due from God: for (God) lovethnot those who do wrong. But indeed ifany do help themselves after a wrong(done) to them, against such there is nocause of blame. The blame is onlyagainst those who oppress men withwrong-doing and insolently transgressbeyond bounds through the land,defying right and justice: for such therewill be a grievous penalty. But indeed ifany show patience and forgive, that

would truly be an exercise of courageouswill and resolution in the conduct ofaffairs.” S. 42, A. 39 - 43

We recall as well from the Ahadith that ourProphet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

“You will not enter paradise until youhave faith; and you will not complete yourfaith till you love one another.” (Muslim)

The Prophet (PBUH) also said:“Do you know what is better than prayer,fasting and charity? It is keeping peaceand good relations between people, asquarrels and bad feelings destroymankind.” (Muslim and Bukhari)

Insha-Allah, the work done by FRAP willpermit for greater understanding,

FRAP... from page 9

Mission Statement that has served us sowell; CAI is here to provide for the widestexpression of Jewish observance. Shouldyou wish to be a part of organizing a secondKallah, please contact me at your earliestconvenience.

Finally, our adult’s Purim Party (Saturday,March 22) is a highlight in the annualcalendar. Great costumes, greatentertainment, and great food make this anideal event to invite some Jewish or not

reconciliation and peace amongst thepeoples of Saskatoon. This in turn, togetherwith the work done by like-minded peoplein the Middle East and around the world,will serve to help create opportunities forjustice, reconciliation and peace for all thoseaffected by the conflict.

FRAP is inviting people of all faiths toconsider our statement of purpose and, ifyou agree with it, join us in our efforts tohelp create justice, reconciliation and peace.

For more information about FRAP, orabout how you can become involved, pleasecontact any of the following FRAP members:Hamid Javed (373-5421), Daniel Kuhlen (242-3230), or David Russell (665-8542).

friends for a memorable evening. Nim andShirley would be oh so pleased to have afew of you phone them up to volunteer tobe part of this very creative process (eachsuccessive event is more brilliant that thanthe preceding brilliant event but that’s whatwe do).

As always, I invite your comments,observations and questions(dl.katzman@sasktel.net or 955-3563).

President's Keyboard... from page 3

UNITED SYNAGOGUE CONVENTION REVISES STANDARDSTHAT GUIDE AND REFLECT CONGREGATIONAL LIFE

At its recent biennial convention inOrlando, the United Synagogue of Con-servative Judaism voted to accept revisionsto the standards that guide the lives of itsmember synagogues.

These new Standards for CongregationalPractices, updated for the first time in 17years, re-emphasize some of ConservativeJudaism’s core beliefs as they clarify others,said Ed Rudofsky, who chairs United Syna-gogue’s standards committee.

Congregational rabbis, who make the de-cisions on Jewish law for their congregations,are expected to consider the decisions of theCommittee on Jewish Laws and Standardscarefully before making rulings but are ex-pected as well to take the unique circum-stances of their own synagogue into con-sideration.

The standards reflect the traditional in-terpretation that only Jews may be membersof Conservative congregations, but also em-phasize that we welcome non-Jewish family

members warmly and value their contribu-tions to our synagogues How they are inte-grated in synagogue life is up to the rabbiand laity of each congregation, operatingwithin the framework of Conservative Jew-ish law. “As in so many other areas, we rec-ognize that each family situation and eachcongregation is different, and that there islikely to be diversity in how the rabbi andlay leadership, working together, approachthese issues,” Mr. Rudofsky said.

“However, what should be emphasized isthat the United Synagogue believes in pas-sionate outreach – edud – to non-Jewishspouses of Jews, and that our goal is to en-courage and support conversion toJudaism.”

Another major revision made in the stand-ards, reflecting the traditional Jewish empha-sis on education, is the statement that con-gregations should provide formal and infor-mal educational programming for all agegroups and also support the local Solomon

Schechter day schools as much as possible.“The standards have been revised to make

sure they reflect the movement’s contempo-rary values,” Mr. Rudofsky said. “They area clear statement of what it means to be aConservative Jewish congregation.”

The full text of the revised standards areavailable at http://www.uscj.org/Revised_Congregation5973.html.

The poor does for thehost more than the host

for the poor.- Joshua b. Hanania, Leviticus Rabbah

17

The Saskatoon Jewish Foundationgratefully acknowledges the following contributions:

As my father

planted for me

before I was born,

So do I plant for

those who will

come after me.from the Talmud

Your contribution, sent to:Saskatoon Jewish FoundationCongregation Agudas Israel,

715 McKinnon Avenue, SaskatoonS7H 2G2

will be gratefully received andfaithfully applied.

TO GREETING FROMSASKATOON JEWISH FOUNDATION

Marge Berman Best wishes for a speedy recovery June AviviSteven Goluboff Mazel Tov on being honoured as June Avivi

Saskatchewan’s Family Physician of the YearJean Scharfstein Get well wishes Elizabeth BrewsterIrene Blum With condolences on the loss of Elizabeth Brewster

your mother, Martha BlumIrene Blum In memory of Martha Blum June AviviSinger Family In memory of your mother, Julie June Avivi

NATE & GRACE GOLUBOFF FUNDIrene Blum With condolences on the loss of Steven, Leila, Sarah

your mother, Martha Blum & Shaina GoluboffIrene Blum With condolences on the loss of Grace Goluboff

your mother, Martha BlumBarry & Janice Singer With condolences on the loss of Steven, Leila, Sarah,and Family your mother, Julie Singer Shaina & Grace

GoluboffDavid & Cheryl Singer With condolences on the loss of Steven, Leila, Sarah,and Family your mother, Julie Singer Shaina & Grace

GoluboffCarol & David Stolar With condolences on the loss of Steven, Leila, Sarah,and Family your mother, Julie Singer Shaina & Grace

Goluboff

GLADYS & GERRY ROSE FUNDJean Scharfstein Get well wishes Glady RoseSaul Gonor Condolences on the loss of your Gladys Rose

brother DavidPauline Laimon In memory of your sister, The Rose Familyand Family Beatrice HatklinGlady Rose Thank you Naomi Rose &

Stan SinaiSteven Goluboff Mazel Tov on being named the Naomi Rose &

Sask Family Physician of the Year Stan SinaiRabbi Roger Pavey Mazel Tov on your retirement Naomi Rose &

Stan SinaiPetty Landa Mazel Tov on your 90th birthday Naomi Rose &

Stan Sinai

ELAINE & SHERWOOD SHARFE CANTORIAL FUNDSteven Goluboff Mavel Tov on being honoured as Sask Elaine & Sherry Sharfe

Family Physician of the YearRabbi Roger Pavey Best wishes on your retirement Elaine & Sherry SharfeHazzan Neil Schwartz Welcome Elaine & Sherry Sharfe

CLARA GOLUMBIA FUNDSteven Goluboff Mazel Tov on being honoured as the Arnold & Claire

Sask Family Physician of the Year GolumbiaSteven Goluboff Mazel Tov on being honoured as the Joe & Colleen

Sask Family Physician of the Year GolumbiaPetty Landa In honour of your birthday Joe & Colleen

GolumbiaRabbi Pavey Mazel Tov on being named Rabbi Joe & Colleen

Emeritus of Congregation Agudas Israel GolumbiaSaul Gonor & Family Condolences on the loss of your brother Joe & Colleen

Golumbia

This Page is Sponsored by Gladys RoseThis Page is Sponsored by Lois & Walter Gumprich of Vancouver

time. We are pleased to welcome DavidOlesker from the Jerusalem Center forCommunication and Advocacy Training whois on a North American tour. He willhopefully speak at the Torah FundLuncheon on February 10th. He will sharewith us his perceptions on the Middle Eastfrom “the ground” and will be prepared toanswer questions and concerns from abroad perspective. However, we are not so

naive as to think that one “expert” will haveall the answers, nor will we all agree with hisassessment.

On a lighter note, Seymour Shoze hasreturned to review the latest Hannukahmusical, another in an ongoing series ofBroadway adaptations of the historicMacabean struggle two thousand years ago.Our annual Sisterhood Shabbat dinner willbe the first highlight of our 2008

Editorial... from page 2programming and I assume that many will signup early for that wonderful community event.The next two months will determine whetheror not Hazzan Schwartz’s creative andinnovative early Shabbat services and SharedShabbat dinners will continue or possiblylead to a blend of early and 8 pm services. Itis incumbent upon our members tocommunicate their preferences on thisinitiative. Have a wonderful 2008.

This Page is Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Jewish Council

YahrtzeitsJanuary 4/5 Tevet 26/27Avraham Abelevsky Jan 4 (26)*George Meyer Jan 5 (27)Irving Schulman Jan 5 (27)Charlotte Fine Jan 6 (28)Solomon Katzman Jan 6 (28)*Bessie Trager Jan 6 (28)*Bert Scharfstein Jan 7 (29)Isadore Singer Jan 7 (29)Joseph Sugarman Jan 7 (29)Michael Sklar Jan 9 (Shevat 2)Chaim Reznick Jan 8 (3)*Edward Burns Jan 8 (3)William Shear Jan 8 (3)*

January 11/12 Shevat 4/5Shimon Tzalkovich Jan 11 (4)Mizal Isaakov Jan 11 (4)Chaye Goluboff Jan 12 (5)Reuben Gitlin Jan 12 (5)Sonny Ludwig Jan 13 (6)Walter Zion Jan 14 (7)*Estelle Gladstone Jan 14 (7)Benjamin Tadman Jan 16 (9)*Rebecca Shore Jan 16 (9)*Joseph Switzer Jan 17 (10)(Girl) Neuman Jan 17 (10)Ethel Scharfstein Jan 17 (10)Sadie Brand Jan 17 (10)

January 18/19 Shevat 11/12Charles Feinstein Jan 18 (11)Jacob Waldman Jan 18 (11)*Sondra Resnick Jan 18 (11)*Chaim Friedman Jan 18 (11)*Annie Golumbia Jan 19 (12)*Joseph Bender Jan 19 (12)*Clara Adilman Jan 19 (12)*Rose Gonick Jan 19 (12)*Pearl Gurstein Jan 20 (13)Lillian Freidman Jan 20 (13)*Louis Spector Jan 20 (13)*Louis Shore Jan 20 (13)*Saralee Plachte Jan 20 (13)Seco Resnick Jan 22 (15)Abe Avivi Jan 22 (15)David Claman Jan 23 (16)Harris Holzberg Jan 23 (16)*Sam Raisen Jan 23 (16)Nathan Goluboff Jan 23 (16)*Susan Cherry Jan 24 (17)*

18

January 25/26 Shevat 18/19Lida Isaakov Jan 25 (18)Albert Viner Jan 25 (18)*Sam Hearn Jan 25 (18)*Gitta Gootnik Jan 26 (19)Nathan Siskin Jan 27 (20)Isadore Korber Jan 27 (20)*H. Glick Jan 28 (21)Hyman Tabachnicoff Jan 28 (21)Meyer Gurstein Jan 29 (22)Morris Burtnick Jan 29 (22)Ethel Katzman Jan 29 (22)*Baruch Levington Jan 31 (24)Sarah Laimon Jan 31 (24)*Joseph Dunn Jan 31 (24)Abraham Guttman Jan 31 (24)Joseph Gonick Jan 31 (24)*

February 1/2 Shevat 25/26Vera Rabinovitch Feb 1 (25)Freda Katz Feb 1 (25)*Male Tzalkovich Feb 1 (25)Bertha Kuenstler Feb 2 (26)Percy Shore Feb 2 (26)*Sol Freidin Feb 2 (26)Esther Freidin Feb 2 (26)Jessie Kay Feb 2 (26)*Sam Rabinovitch Feb 3 (27)Perl Kleyman Feb 3 (27)*Abraham Trager Feb 3 (27)*Fanny Sugarman Feb 4 (28)*Jack Schwartz Feb 5 (29)Morris Danenhirsch Feb 6 (30)Benjamin Faibish Feb 6 (30)Fanny Nisenholt Feb 6 (30)*Harriett Kaplan Feb 6 (30)*Herman Mahlerman Feb 6 (30)*Sarah Altman Feb 7 (Adar 1)*William Adilman Feb 7 (1)*

February 8/9 Adar 2/3Lily Salz Feb 8 (2)Ronald Trute Feb 9 (3)Millie Diamond Feb 9 (3)*Hazel Buckwold Feb 10 (4)Wolf Meth Feb 12 (6)*Charna Gersher Feb 12 (6)(Boy) Bressler Feb 12 (6)Shirley Scitz Feb 12 (6)Rose Wolfe Feb 13 (7)*

Frances Melamede Feb 13 (7)Dana Unknown Feb 14 (8)Annie Altschul Feb 14 (8)*

February 15/16 Adar 9/10Sadie Chertkow Feb 15 (9)Itta Golumbia Feb 16 (10)*Gussie Sklar Feb 16 (10)*Moses Burt Feb 17 (11)Samuel Kaplan Feb 20 (14)Harry Helfgott Feb 20 (14)Leah Meth Feb 20 (14)*Harry Sarlin Feb 20 (14)*Clara Gertler Feb 20 (14)Jacob Golumbia Feb 21 (15)*

February 22/23 Adar 16/17A.J. Weiner Feb 22 (16)Yetty Goodman Feb 22 (16)Lorraine Sklar Feb 24 (18)Lillian Levitt Feb 24 (18)Baby Segal Feb 25 (19)Tiby Mathews Feb 25 (19)Rosie Sellinger Feb 25 (19)John Goodman Feb 25 (19)*Ed Vickar Feb 25 (19)*Malka Schmuck'vich Feb 26 (20)Reva Hock Feb 26 (20)Mendel Pepper Feb 27 (21)*Jacob Rabkin Feb 27 (21)Gertrude Chertkow Feb 27 (21)*Morris Gurstein Feb 27 (21)

February 29/March 1 Adar 23/24Freda Epstein Feb 29 (23)Harry Bondar Mar 1 (24)Yenta Shafer Mar 1 (24)*Harry Aaron Mar 1 (24)*Goldie Wolfe Mar 1 (24)*Rebecca Segal Mar 1 (24)William Sklar Mar 2 (25)*Fanny Shore Mar 2 (25)Max Taylor Mar 3 (26)*Keile Bodovsky Mar 5 (28)William Katz Mar 5 (28)*Nathan Gladstone Mar 6 (29)

19

This Page is Sponsored by Clarice Buckwold

Pictures from theRabin Memorial Ceremony

THE 2007 B’NAI BRITHSILVER PLATE DINNER

by Randy Katzman, PresidentB’nai Brith Lodge 739

Once more, the 2007 B’naiBrith Silver Plate Dinner was anoutstanding success. Our GalaDinner was supported by 759 ticketpurchasers who thoroughlyenjoyed the whole evening. Thisyear, our dinner was held andsparing no expense, our DinnerChairman, David Katzman arrangedfor 3 large screens and an enhancedaudio system so that every attendantcould easily see and hear all of thewonderful speakers.

Our M.C. for the evening was ourown witty and charming Dr. AllanRosenberg who entertained the menthroughout the evening and had all usattentively smiling, laughing and eagerlyawaiting his next story.

The prestigious WE’RE PROUDOF YOU AWARD was presented by ourown Ron Waldman to our most deserving award winnerJACK BRODSKY who humbly accepted the award on behalfof his deceased father Nate Brodsky and himself.

Our Dinner Chairman, David Katzman presided overthe presentation of over $40, 000 to local charities includingthe Children’s Health & Hospital Foundation, the Future inMind Campaign, the Schizophrenia Society, The PersephoneTheatre Youth Program, Care & Share, the Saskatoon ZooFoundation, and King George School.

Jack Brodsky and RonWaldman

Winner of $5000Lars Nissan withDavid Katzman

MC AllanRosenberg

L to R: Allan Rosenberg, Ron Waldman,David Katzman, Hazzan Neil Schwartz andRandy Katzman"

L to R: Malik Hemani, Bryan Ricards of the TheChildren's Health and Hospital Foundation andMirza Kssam. Malik and Mirza, Vancouverinvestors, were major sponsors of thepopular Scotch Bar.