Taking care of our own

Editorial

Oy, what a year it's been. Middle East affairs have been at the centre of world concern – not only the spiralling disasters in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Israel's latest effort to defend itself from jihadist attack.

At home, domestic politics have taken a shift to the right, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper having an opportunity almost from the beginning to demonstrate a new course in Canadian foreign policy. Condemned as Bush Lite by critics, Harper's approach on the Israel issue, at least, has impressed Canadian Zionists.

While we are rightly grateful to have allies like those in the federal Conservative government, we must not lose sight of the allegiances of some of our seemingly best friends. Christian fundamentalists such as Stockwell Day, whose unceasing support has helped solidify backing for Israel in our federal governing party, are motivated in part by a theological construct that can be interpreted as being at odds with Judaism. While support is welcome and gratefully received, the time may come when we are called upon to reciprocate in ways that are inconsistent with our worldview, a possibility we should be conscious of while building bridges to other communities.

Locally, the Vancouver-area Jewish community has mobilized with tremendous force to rally support for an embattled Israel. This is expected and laudable. But international events have eclipsed some important local concerns and this New Year should be an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to the matters in our community that still require attention.

A brilliant emergency fund-raising campaign initiated at the start of the war with Hezbollah merged seamlessly into the annual CJA Campaign. The campaign leadership and the innumerable volunteers deserve our sincerest appreciation. But while a tremendous mobilization for Israel has been realized, we still await the mobilization that will resolve the needs we see throughout our local community. There are organizations doing great works – or trying to - here at home, which remain desperately underfunded. In times like these, Jewish Canadians are expected to prioritize Israel's safety and security, but we must also never lose sight of the tikkun olam required closer to home.

Indeed, the marvellous success of fund-raising campaigns can themselves have unintended divisive consequences. Programs like Tickets to Inclusion ensure that individuals and families within our community are not excluded from some of the pricier events taking place around town. But measures like this cannot deflect the reality that full participation in community life is often measured by monetary contribution. This is a conundrum that has been openly addressed for several years now in this and other Jewish communities, but we need to rededicate ourselves to finding genuine solutions to this exclusivity. If there were simple answers to these problems, we wouldn't need to spell them out; they would have been implemented long ago. All we can suggest is a community-wide commitment to doing the right thing.

Inclusiveness is a recurring theme when we annually reflect on our community's conduct. Monetary contribution is one barrier to inclusion. Discrimination based on a variety of characteristics is another. This is a community of immigrants – from Eastern Canada, from Eastern Europe and elsewhere. We are a community of people who include those of different denominations and degrees of observance, marital and parental status, sexual orientation, physical ability and many more qualities of diversity. Opinions in our community are diverse – a fact that is not always reflected in official statements and public discourse. While klal Yisrael is one, b'nai Yisrael are many. As a newspaper, we will strive to reflect this and encourage the community at large to do the same.

L'shana tovah.

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