News – Page 243

From the Mamluks to today

suleiThe above display at the Tower of David Museum shows a variety of characters typical of Jerusalem in the 19th century in front of a fountain. Jerusalem’s water system was restored during the rule of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent; fountains (sabils) were built throughout the city, providing water to its residents and to visitors for generations. (photo by Hamutal Wachtel courtesy of Tower of David Museum Jerusalem)

Running water is still a luxury. For most of history – and still in many parts of the world – there has been a constant struggle to locate and maintain water resources. Certainly, this has been the history of inland Jerusalem, which, for thousands of years, has been important to merchants, travelers, pilgrims, politicos and residents alike.

When the Egyptian Mamluks came to Jerusalem in the middle of the 13th century, they found the public water system in need of rehabilitation. To relieve the weary and the thirsty, Mamluk rulers constructed a series of sabils, or free public drinking fountains.

Perhaps the Mamluks repaired or built these esthetically pleasing drinking and washing (i.e. Muslim ablution) facilities out of a heightened sensitivity to the under-privileged. The Mamluks themselves apparently began as young captured or bought slaves, forced to fight, especially in Egypt. While they did not establish social welfare ministries, the Mamluks nevertheless gave alms to ensure water, food, medical care and even (madrasa) education for the poverty-stricken.

The Sabil al-Shurbaji demonstrates this charitable approach. Abed al-Karim al-Shurbaji, the sabil’s endower, was an apparently wealthy Jerusalem resident who lived at the end of the 17th century. In 1686, he had the following welcoming, non-denominational inscription installed on his fountain: “Abed al-Karim al-Shurbaji built the sabil so that thirsty people might drink, hoping through this deed for reward, blessing and charity from Allah the Glorious. Beloved respectful one, set out to date it, and say [it is] a drink from Paradise or a spring.”

In addition to providing regular water flow for his sabil, al-Shurbaji built a cistern nearby in order to have water during droughts. The commissioned sabil was actually a single room with a double window on the northern side, covered by a shallow pointed dome. Compared to the ornate designs ordered by earlier Mamluk rulers, Sabil al-Shurbaji’s architecture is simple.

According to Dr. Avi Sasson, Jerusalem had some 30 sabils, from the nucleus of the Temple Mount to the surrounding city and beyond. Suleiman the Magnificent – sultan from 1520 to 1566 – built all his sabils at street intersections and at central sites around Haram esh-Sharif, the Temple Mount. Medieval sabils were built on the Temple Mount. Starting in the early Ottoman period, sabils began to spread into the city, following housing development outside the Old City walls.

Sabils appeared in three forms: built into a wall; free-standing, sometimes looking like a kiosk; and stylized tanks that required refilling, as they had no constant source of water. In the first two types of sabils, the drinking water came from reservoirs, cisterns or aqueducts. Exquisitely chiseled, these stone fountains sometimes incorporated carved items from other sites, such as the Roman – Prof. Dan Bahat says Crusader – sarcophagus or stone coffin used as a trough at Sabil Bab al-Silsila (Fountain of the Chain Gate), or the Crusader door frame on the Harem’s (1482 CE restored) Sabil Qaitbay (Fountain of Qayt Bay).

photo - The Mamluks’ Sabil Qaitbay (Fountain of Qayt Bay), located on the Temple Mount, was built in the 15th century. Note the contrast between the modern metal trough and the ornate Crusader stone door fixture used as a step — The Mamluks’ Sabil Qaitbay (Fountain of Qayt Bay), located on the Temple Mount, was built in the 15th century. Note the contrast between the modern metal trough and the ornate Crusader stone door fixture used as a step. *(photos by Deborah Rubin Fields)*

While researchers know of the existence of 10 sabils on the Temple Mount, Sabil Qaitbay is one of two sabils on the Temple Mount noted for its unique shape. The 1482 CE fountain – which is actually the rebuilding of an earlier sabil of Mamluk Sultan Saif al-Din Inal – has an ornately carved stone dome. Highly stylized Quranic inscriptions run along the top of the structure. Lacking its own water source, the fountain required refilling. The entrance to the fountain structure was from a set of rounded stone stairs on the east side.

The eight-sided Sabil Qasim Pasha originally got its water from an aqueduct. Water streamed from openings in the marble slabs. Today, the sabil gets its water piped in from the al-Aqsa Mosque water system.

Suleiman the Magnificent’s sabils are probably the best known. In the past year, the Jerusalem Municipality has restored Suleiman’s Sabil Birkat al-Sultan. The sabil’s stones are now clean and there are spouts for drinking fresh water. Runners in Jerusalem’s Marathon this year could stop at this 480-year-old fountain to quench their thirst.

According to a 2009 article in Sustainability by Jamal Barghouth and Rashed Al-Sa’ed, documents show that early in the Mamluk period, Baibars (in 1267 CE) and Mohammad Ibn Qalawun (in 1327 CE) conducted water restoration projects. Rulers, however, soon discovered that keeping Jerusalem water flowing was a demanding job.

Upset over their lost income, private water carriers not infrequently sabotaged the aqueduct along its Judean Desert edge. In addition, south of Jerusalem, farmers diverted the water flow to irrigate their fields. To protect the water, rulers stationed guards and soldiers along the line, but that did not totally stop daring water thieves. Even the severe punishments for those caught tampering with the water system did not completely deter people. Eventually, the Ottomans proposed a different tack: in exchange for leaving the line alone, farmers and towns were given tax breaks.

Accumulated waste material in the open-air aqueduct eventually caused complete blockage. Suleiman the Magnificent reportedly cleaned the aqueduct and undertook many other restoration activities. Later Ottoman rulers were left to instal a closed line.

Eventually, however, the Ottomans abandoned the whole system, forcing Jerusalemites to draw water from wells and local pools until the eventual British Mandate installation of a modern water system. While the Gihon Water Company, established in 1996, lacks the artistic and charitable sense of early sabil builders, it nevertheless reliably supplies fresh water, as well as sewage and drainage services, to about a million people, including Jerusalem residents and those living in Abu Ghosh and Mevaseret Yerushalayim.

Deborah Rubin Fields is an Israel-based features writer. She is also the author of Take a Peek Inside: A Child’s Guide to Radiology Exams, published in English, Hebrew and Arabic.

Sources (further reading)

Poverty and Charity in Medieval Islam: Mamluk Egypt, 1250–1517 by Adam Sabra (2006), part of Cambridge Studies in Islamic Civilization
“Sabils (Water Fountains) of Jerusalem from the Medieval Period to the Twentieth Century” by Avraham Sasson in Water Fountains in the Worldscape (2012), edited by Ari J. Hynynen, Petri S. Juuti and Tapio S. Katko, published by International Water History Association and KehräMedia Inc.
“Sustainability of Ancient Water Supply Facilities in Jerusalem,” by Jamal M. Barghouth and Rashed M.Y. Al-Sa’ed in Sustainability 1(4) (2009)
Jerusalem of Water: The Supplying of Water to Jerusalem from Ancient Times until Today by Yad Ben Zvi for HaGihon Water Company Ltd. (in Hebrew)

קמפיין חדש

המרכז לענייני ישראל והיהודים בקנדה יוצא בקמפיין חדש לבקש מהממשלה הפדרלית להגדיל את תקציב הביטחון להגנה על הקהילה היהודית

המרכז לענייני ישראל והיהודים בקנדה יוצא בימים אלה בקמפיין חדש וחשוב, בניסיון להגדיל את תקציב הביטחון להגנה על הקהילה היהודית ברחבי קנדה. הקמפיין מיועד לממשלה הפדרלית שמחזיקה בתקציב במיוחד למימון הביטחון של קהילות שונות בקנדה (שנקרא אס.איי.פי). התקציב המיוחד מאפשר בין היתר לבנות גדרות ביטחון להגנה על מתקנים ומבנים שונים בקהילות, הצבת תאורה חזקה וכן מצלמות מחוץ למבנים.

הקמפיין כולל בין היתר שליחת אימיילים לשר לביטחון הציבור בממשלה הליברלית, ראלף גודייל, ולחברי הפרלמנט האזוריים, כדי לתמוך בהגדלת תקציב הביטחון של הקהילות השונות, כדי להגביר את האבטחה במוסדות היהודיים באמצעות כלים מודרניים. “זו תמיד העדיפות העליונה של נבחרי הציבור בקנדה”.

מנכ”ל המרכז לענייני ישראל והיהודים בקנדה, שמעון פוגל, מציין ביתר כי לפי ‘סטטיסטיק קנדה’, בכל יום מתרחשים בממוצע שלושה פשעי שנאה ברחבי קנדה. מרבית פשעי השנאה מכוונים נגד חברי הקהילה היהודית. פשעים אלה גורמים לנטל תקציבי גדול מאוד על הקהילה היהודית וקהילות אחרות, שמפעילות בין היתר מרכזי דת ופולחן, בתי ספר דתיים יחודיים ומרכזים קהילתיים. הקהילות השונות נאלצות לשאת בעלויות הגבוהות של אבטחת חבריהן.

המרכז מזכיר לחברי הקהילה היהודית להצטרף, לתמוך ולעקוב אחר בפעילויותיו הרבות והמגוונות באמצעי המדיה השונים, בהם פייסבוק, טוויטר ואיסנטגרם.

מצטערים טעינו: תושב ונקובר שישב עשרים ושבע שנים בכלא שלא בצדק יקבל שמונה מיליון דולר מבריטיש קולומביה

טעות משפטית קשה עלתה לתושב ונקובר כעשרים ושבע שנים מחייו אותם בילה בכלא הסגור. בית המשפט העליון של מחוז בריטיש קולומביה הורה לממשלת המחוז לשלם לו שמונה מיליון דולר על העוול הגדול שנגרם לו.

איוון הנרי (69) נעצר על ידי משטרת ונקובר והורשע בעשרה סעיפים של תקיפות מיניות, אותן ביצע כביכול בנשים בחלק המזרחי של דאון טאון ונקובר, בין השנים 1980-1982. ב-1983 נגזר דינו בבית המשפט המקומי והוא נכלא מאחורי סורג ובריח כאמור לשנים רבות. הנרי טען לחפותו בכל אותן שנים והוא עירער בכל פעם שהתאפשר לו על האשמות כנגדו. המשטרה המקומית והפרקליטות של בריטיש קולומביה המשיכו לחקור במשך שנים רבות, את מעשי התקיפות המיניות באותה עת באזור המזרחי של הדאון הטאון. האחראים על אכיפת החוק הגיעו לבסוף למסקנה היוצאת דופן, שקרוב לוודאי שהנרי לא קשור למעשי התקיפה ואכן ונגרם לו עוול משפטי. לאור זאת הפרקליטות והמשטרה הודיעו לבית המשפט לעירעורים, כי לא יתנגדו עוד לערעור מחודש של הנרי על פסק דינו. על כן בית המשפט לעירעורים של המחוז קבע לפני מספר שנים, שהפרקליטות ביצעה טעות משפטית חמורה והאשימה את האיש הלא נכון (הנרי), בביצוע התקיפות המיניות בראשית שנות השמונים בוונקובר. בפועל התברר לאור המשך החקירות, שחשוד אחר באותה פרשה בשם דונלד מקרי, הוא היה אחראי לתקיפות המיניות נגד הנשים. מקרי נפטר בינתיים והנרי המשיך לשבת בכלא שנים על שנים.

לאחר קבלת עירעורו ושיחרורו מהכלא בשנת 2010, הגיש הנרי תביעה אזרחית נגד ממשלת המחוז ומשטרת ונקובר, בטענה שהפרקליטות סירבה לחלוק את האינפורמציה והמידע שבידה עם ההגנה בזמן משפטו, דבר שיכל להביא לזיכויו המוחלט. בית המשפט העליון לערעורים של בריטיש קולומביה פסק לו בימים אלה פיצויים בגובה של שמונה מיליון דולר. האם היה שווה להנרי לשבת בכלא עשרים ושבע שנים, לצאת לחופשי ולהפוך עתה למיליונר – לא בטוח בכלל.

Many benefits of fair trade

Zack Gross on the way to see some fair trade sugar cane in Peru. (photo from Zack Gross)

According to Zack Gross, there is child labor and slavery associated with the production of chocolate, sugar and coffee – as well as with other commodities, from sport balls to clothing, crafts and carpets.

Gross, who is the fair trade outreach coordinator at the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), was speaking at a fair trade event held on May 29 by the Women’s League of Congregation Etz Chayim and the Winnipeg chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) at the synagogue.

MCIC is a coalition of about 40 international development organizations funded by both the provincial and federal governments, which helps support its member organizations’ overseas projects and educates Manitobans about global issues.

Gross grew up in Winnipeg and attended I.L. Peretz Folk School, where he was first introduced to social justice issues. He has worked in the anti-poverty field internationally for nearly 50 years. He is the current president of the Canadian Fair Trade Network, a national organization based in Vancouver, and, last fall, Fair Trade Canada honored him with a lifetime achievement award.

At the Etz Chayim event, Gross spoke about the growing fair trade market, including that it has recently become more mainstream and now has many items that are kosher-certified.

“Much of my work is making presentations to interested audiences, but I also meet with local businesses, government representatives, and any others who can help to increase fair trade purchases and procurement,” he said.

Fair Trade Manitoba is a program of MCIC. “We also have a Fair Trade Winnipeg steering committee, which is working with City Hall toward Winnipeg becoming a ‘fair trade city,’ a designation Brandon and Gimli in Manitoba have already reached,” said Gross.

“Fair Trade Manitoba began as a collaboration of people involved in local schools, unions, faith groups and NGOs who share a vision of creating a better world. Manitoba is seen as a leader in fair trade. Earlier this year, we organized a national conference that attracted over 350 people and, last month, we had 13 people, including my wife and myself, travel to Peru to visit fair trade co-ops (producers and processors).

“But also, in a less sensational way, fair trade can help poor farmers find new markets and make more money, so they can have schools and clinics in their communities, can use better environmental methods in their production, can use safer equipment and can contribute more to their local and national economies.”

Fair trade can also help create economic opportunities for women and youth who have no capital, he said.

“When people are shopping – what we call ‘voting with your dollars’ – they should look for the fair trade label when buying coffee, tea, sugar, chocolate, tropical fruits and many other products,” said Gross, who advised that consumers visit cftn.ca/products-companies for more detailed information.

He also suggested people make their schools, campuses, faith groups, workplaces and events fair trade, and referred those interested in doing so to fairtrade.ca.

Yelena Maleyev was a key member of the local NCJW in putting this event together.

“We are passionate about educating the public about global issues that affect us locally, like child slavery and human trafficking,” she said. “The Women’s League shares our passion for organizing educational events, so it was a perfect partnership.”

At a local event last year, NCJW focused on increasing awareness of human trafficking and child slavery. This year’s event continues that effort, as fair trade can reduce the incidence of both.

“There is a need for fair trade purchase decisions in our daily lives to ensure we reduce our harmful footprint on the world,” said Maleyev. “Keep in mind that purchasing fair trade not only helps the environment, it provides humane working conditions for those in the supply chain, ensures a living wage for the workers, does not allow for exploitation of women and children, and yields sustainable growth in the economies where these companies are located.

“The goal of ending child slavery goes hand in hand with the global goals of abolishing extreme poverty, protecting our environment and supporting women and families in the developing world. Children are the most vulnerable citizens of our world and, to protect them, we must ensure we do not support corporations that exploit them. If we, as consumers, make conscious purchase decisions daily, we can directly impact the economic sustainability of ethical corporations.”

About the Etz Chayim event, Gross said, “Ultimately, what struck me was a comment by one attendee … ‘Anyone who knows their Torah should be a strong supporter of fair trade.’ Amen to that!”

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Raising awareness of abuse

Earlier this year, Winnipeg’s Jewish Child and Family Services (JCFS) premièred the short film Not in My Family, to raise awareness on the topic of elder abuse.

JCFS executive director Al Benarroch greeted the approximately 150 attendees that filled the Berney Theatre of the Asper Jewish Community Centre on Feb. 13.

“This film serves as a springboard for discussion and to help educate groups on how they might handle the issue of elder abuse,” said Benarroch. “It also provides a lot of valuable resources available in our community. Along with the film, we’ve created a kit with a booklet that provides information and also a discussion guide with some specific questions to be used following the viewing of the film. We envision this package having widespread application as a tool for organizations and professionals who work with seniors, who are educators, and other community professionals in regular contact with seniors, either individually or in groups.”

Developed by the JCFS, the project was funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program. The 13-minute video is available from the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Manitoba website (weaadmanitoba.ca/resources.asp?t=4), as is the accompanying resource guide.

Following the screening was a panel discussion with Jamie Kinaschuk from A & O Support Services for Older Adults Inc.; Sharon Tod, chair of the elder law section of the Manitoba Bar Association; and Dara Maternick, coordinator of Prevent Elder Abuse Manitoba.

“Every situation is different,” said Tod. “So, you have to tailor the answer to the particular problem. It’s an excellent resource to have a lawyer that you trust. The other thing I will urge you to do is make sure you have everything in place early on in the process. I’m talking about powers of attorney. Because, if you do it while you are fully competent and can assess properly who is the best person(s) to be your attorney, that is way better than what we often see in my profession, which is someone who is already in the early stages of dementia and in a vulnerable position who is then talked into appointing someone as their attorney … who is the exact wrong person for the job.”

According to Canadian research, between four and 10% of seniors are subject to some form of abuse. In addition to that, experts believe that, for every report of elder abuse, there are another four cases that are never reported. Most of the seniors who reach out for help say they are being financially abused.

Maternick said the best way to deal with the problem is through a team approach that respects the individuals and their choices. “We are proud to be here today in partnership with the JCFS to launch this valuable resource,” she told attendees. The film and its guide were highlighted at World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) events.

As Benarroch opened the discussion for audience questions, an elderly woman asked how to deal with abuse by home-care workers.

Kinaschuk suggested contacting her case supervisor, saying that, if she fails to get somewhere with that route, she can always call their supervisor. Benarroch advised that she contact the JCFS to have their social workers help guide her through the process of launching a complaint if need be.

Another audience member shared his situation. “My father’s been taken for $95,000 in the past two years, sending money to Jamaica and Dubai,” he said. “While he has been talking about giving me power of attorney, he has the full capacity to do it himself. Where would I go with that?”

Tod suggested that the son talk to his father’s lawyer, and then went on to share a story about one of her own clients. “He was at a stage where he was vulnerable, but competent, so we couldn’t force him to do things he didn’t want to,” she said. “So, I sat down with him and his son. We had a discussion.

“It’s difficult to talk about, because he was embarrassed that he had been taken for this money. But, we did, we sat down and talked about it and, ultimately, what we did was, he agreed voluntarily that his son would take over his affairs under the power of attorney, and the son took a number of steps to prevent the father from being contacted by these scam artists again.”

The steps, according to Tod, included the son changing his father’s phone number to unlisted, having all of his father’s mail redirected to his home and ensuring that his father had access to only one bank account with a limited amount of money in it, so that, if he was taken advantage of, at least the loss would be limited.

In another situation, Tod was appointed with the power of attorney, to prevent a son from threatening his mom for money. “Now, when the son came to her, she could say that she doesn’t know where her bank is anymore, that he would have to talk to her lawyer,” said Tod.

Tod spoke about capacity and how difficult it can be to determine, pointing out that it is part of a lawyer’s responsibility. “Before we have people sign documents, we have to make sure we are comfortable that the clients understand what the documents mean,” she said. “But, there are different capacity tests for different legal documents that you sign.

“It’s even difficult for doctors to determine someone’s capacity. Some doctors say someone has capacity while other doctors disagree. It also depends on the specific thing you’re looking at. People may have fairly good cognitive function, but their judgment may be impaired.”

Family members or social workers usually end up making these determinations and, if there are concerns, a doctor should be consulted.

Kinaschuk pointed out that, when the abuser is a family member, it catches one off guard. “You don’t expect a family member to be the abuser, so your guard isn’t up,” he said. “In this case, in the film, the grandson is telling grandma, ‘No, you’re wrong, you didn’t give me the money.’ And, she’s like, ‘Maybe I didn’t.’”

Even when an abuse situation is identified, Kinaschuk added, it is still very difficult to take action, as the victims come up with excuses for their abusers. “They’ll say things like, ‘He or she is having a tough time. They just need a little help until they get a job.’ And, it goes on and on. We provide support, discuss options and help them recognize what’s going on, but it is up to them to take it further.”

According to Maternick, it takes a lot for people to reach out for help. “The type of circumstance for elder abuse will be different for everybody,” she explained. “It becomes very difficult to answer these questions because you need to dig into the situation to understand what’s happening. There’s complexity with all these issues.”

Maternick suggested that a good place to start is by calling the senior support line. “The reason that line is so important is because it allows you to access information and resources to better understand what your options are,” she said. “There is no single answer that’s going to apply to every situation.”

In British Columbia, the Jewish Seniors Alliance can be reached at 604-732-1555 and a list of where to go for help, including for instances of abuse, is available at jsalliance.org/resources/where-to-go. Among the contacts listed by the JSA is the B.C. Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support’s elder law clinic (604-437-1940 or via bcceas.ca).

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

Help strengthen community

Anyone who has visited a synagogue in continental Europe or South America can attest that – even in liberal democracies welcoming of diversity – the Jewish community is an at-risk minority requiring extensive security measures. While Canada is relatively safe for Jews, Statistics Canada data nevertheless show that, of the on average three hate crimes per day in Canada, our community is the most frequently targeted.

Canadians outside the Jewish community are often surprised to learn of the significant security measures required in our synagogues, day schools and Jewish community centres. And, although security concerns are a commonplace reality for Jewish institutions, members of our own community are often shocked to discover the enormous price tag that comes with such requirements as security guards, cameras and enhanced locks.

Many community institutions struggle to foot their security bill. Fortunately, the Government of Canada’s Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) helps certain eligible institutions offset some of the costs of external security measures. SIP both helps communities afford vital protection and sends a strong message that the government stands with at-risk minorities.

Indeed, it’s not just the Jewish community that has benefited from SIP. While our institutions are disproportionately affected by hate crimes, Sikh gurdwaras, Islamic mosques, Hindu temples and Christian churches have also been targets. Without SIP, institutions in these diverse communities would be on their own in financing security upgrades.

CIJA’s priorities are guided by feedback from our community, and we have heard from many across the country that community security is a foremost concern. This is why CIJA recently launched an online campaign to call on the federal government to significantly expand SIP to better protect at-risk communities:

First, the federal government should increase SIP’s budget. In Canada, $1 million is available through SIP to vulnerable communities each year. In comparison, £11 million ($20.4 million) is available in the United Kingdom to secure their synagogues and Jewish day schools alone.

Second, the federal government should allow funds to be used to finance the cost of both external and internal measures such as security guards, interior cameras and access controls. These types of protections are effective but expensive. By helping offset their costs, SIP would prove even more helpful to at-risk communities.

Finally, the federal government should make SIP more accessible to institutions with modest resources, including places of worship that serve smaller or lower-income congregations. At present, SIP includes a 50/50 funding formula that leaves many vulnerable institutions unable to access support through SIP simply because they do not have the capacity to match funds. Unfortunately, these are often the institutions most in need. By amending the program to allow for needs-based approval, more of the most vulnerable Canadians would receive protection.

These are all reasonable requests that are attainable through a concerted advocacy effort on the part of our community. You can join thousands of others across Canada by joining CIJA’s campaign. It will take just two minutes and a visit to cija.ca/sip.

Jason Z. Murray is chair of the Local Partner Council, Pacific Region, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

Religions meet at VST

Dr. Marc Gopin of George Mason University and Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan of Vancouver School of Theology at the VST event Encountering the Other: An Inter-Religious Conference. (photo from Laura Duhan Kaplan)

Encountering the Other: An Inter-Religious Conference took place at the Vancouver School of Theology (VST) May 15-17. The initiative of Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan Kaplan, director of Inter-Religious Studies and professor of Jewish studies at VST, the conference examined how religious traditions can deal with difference and meet one another in a pluralistic society.

Thirty scholars and artists gathered for the two full days of learning about approaches to the “other” in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, indigenous traditions, Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism.

The conference opened with the keynote address The Journey Toward Less Violence and More Empathy: A Scientific and Spiritual Convergence by Dr. Marc Gopin, director of the Centre for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University. Gopin has long been a leader in analyzing obstacles and opportunities for religions to be peacebrokers.

Over the course of the conference, there were talks on such issues as the ongoing encounter between indigenous peoples and Christianity; the Sufi poet Rumi and his views of other religions; universalistic resources from the Hindu tradition; the interaction of Buddhism, Confucianism and Shinto in Japan; relations between the three Abrahamic religions; and the portrayal of Christianity in the Quran.

Kaplan offered a presentation on what she views as the “deep ecumenism” of Chassidic teacher Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810). According to Rebbe Nachman, “no place in the circle of the universe is empty of God, all wisdoms express divinity,” she explains in her talk. “All are unique frequencies of Divine music that emanate from a single source. The source flows like a river between banks of polarized opinion. The biblical villain Pharaoh represents the stubborn seeker whose extreme opinions separate people. Only someone like the biblical hero Moses, who can be silent in the face of conflict, can stand up to Pharaoh.” Among other questions, she asked attendees to consider how this spiritual reality behind ordinary life could be helpful in inter-religious conflict resolution.

Another talk of particular interest to Jews was Searching for the Sacred Other in the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict by Lynn Mills. Mills, a Christian speaker, spoke of the numerous peace activists and conflict resolution organizations that are refusing to give up on finding peaceful resolutions to the conflict. She argued for the strength of approaches based on the thoughts of Jewish philosopher and early Zionist Martin Buber (1878-1965); specifically, Buber’s concept of “I and Thou,” which stresses direct, reverent meetings between people, free of intellectual and emotional baggage. According to Mills, this idea is “threaded throughout non-violent peacemaking initiatives in the region” and, she writes in her abstract, that “it is only when we cease to view the other as an enemy and instead see them as a sacred other that a true and lasting peace can be achieved.”

Kaplan said Mills’ talk was notable for the lack of controversy it engendered among listeners, as well as the sense of hope and optimism it offered.

On the Monday evening, the conference featured a presentation by Fossil Free Faith – a panel discussion on religious activism and climate change led by a Quaker, an Eastern Orthodox Christian and a Jew. And, on the Tuesday, three different bands took the stage for a world music concert – the Jewish group Sulam, the Indo-Japanese group Naad and Franco-Arabic musician Emad Armoush.

Matthew Gindin is a Vancouver freelance writer and journalist. He blogs on spirituality and social justice at seeking her voice (hashkata.com) and has been published in the Forward, Tikkun, Elephant Journal and elsewhere.

Saving community’s stories

Calof family festive meal, spring 1942. This is but one of the thousands of photos that have been collected and preserved by the Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia. (photo by Cyril Leonoff; JWB fonds, JMABC L.13866)

The Jewish Museum and Archives of British Columbia (JMABC) has launched a new campaign called Sustainers of the Archives. The B.C. Jewish Community Archives contains an unmatched collection of material documenting the more than 150-year history of Jewish life in the province, from family mementos to the founding documents of major organizations.

Housed in a secure, climate-controlled 3,000-square-foot facility in Richmond, the collection includes 750 oral history audio and video recordings, extensive photographic collections, as well as art and artifacts. This invaluable community asset is managed by a full-time professional archivist, and access to the material in the archives is available to researchers and other interested parties through the offices of the JMABC.

The purpose of the Sustainers campaign is to invite members of the public to become friends of the archives by making an ongoing financial commitment. These funds will help the JMABC preserve the archives for future generations, as well as help the JMABC achieve its mandate: to tell the story of Jewish life in British Columbia. To become a Friend of the Archives, visit jewishmuseum.ca/become-a-sustainer. For more information, visit jewishmuseum.ca or contact the museum at 604-257-5199.

Healing one’s self, the earth

Born to Ukrainian Orthodox survivors of the Holocaust, Dr. Eva Pip knows all too well the long-lasting effects of war. Her parents were imprisoned in labor and concentration camps as punishment by the Nazis for harboring Jews on their farm.

“My mother was never a fully functional human being again,” said Pip. “She had a number tattooed on her arm that she was always trying to conceal. She felt that, if someone saw it, they’d think less of her. Her greatest fear was of being sent back.

“She had terrible nightmares for the rest of her life. At least once a week, she would scream in her sleep, as though she was being murdered. I’d have to run to wake her up. She had a lot of old injuries and scars, and an improperly healed collar bone and breast bone.”

photo - Dr. Eva Pip — Dr. Eva Pip *(photo from Eva Pip)*

Pip’s mother came to Winnipeg by train from Halifax. Her mother did not choose to come to Canada; it was simply where that week’s ship from Germany happened to have been bound. The previous week’s ship went to Australia.

Several years later, Pip’s mother was able to sponsor her husband to come to Canada. He could not get out of Germany when the war ended and the forced labor camp in which he was held was disbanded, as he was wounded and not yet medically fit to be cleared to come to Canada. He finally came in 1949.

Pip was born the next year though her parents never wanted a child. The war had taken the humanity and warmth from them and they found it difficult to cope with basic daily life.

“In many ways, both of my parents were like children,” said Pip. “They could not make decisions, they could not take proper control of their lives, they constantly lived in some past world before the war had happened.

“There must be thousands and thousands of these silent casualties that are not recorded or even recognized. This damage did not stop with the people who personally experienced war atrocities. It affected their children, too, such as myself, who grew up in essence without parents to love and nurture them, to teach them, to respect them as human beings that they have brought into the world.

“My parents never once hugged or kissed me. We had very little food to eat. Often, we ate out of garbage cans. My mother made my clothing out of scraps and bits because she could not afford to buy me anything. My father did not want to support us, although he lived with us.”

Pip’s father worked as a painter for a billboard company, Universal Signs, which was owned by Max Gardner – who was Jewish and who Pip said took pity on her family – until he retired at the age of 66.

“The Gardners were our benefactors,” said Pip. “They gave us their old furniture for our home and did many kind things to help us out. They almost adopted me.

“Our next door neighbors on Manitoba Avenue in Winnipeg’s North End happened to be the parents of Dr. Harry Medovy [a well-known pediatrician and academic]. Although he had already left home long before we arrived, his mother was very kind to us and often shared her home-made Jewish holiday food with us.”

Later on in life, Pip has, in turn, helped out with various Jewish women’s and seniors organizations.

Growing up in a home that did not encourage friendships, Pip developed a very rich interior life, and found empathy and compassion for other beings in her North End environment.

“I developed a passion for nature, for the earth, and felt incredible sadness at what was happening to our environment,” she said. “I felt the hardships of the creatures around me that had even less than I did. I could feel their voicelessness and powerlessness from those who could kill on a whim and who were unmoved by the suffering and injustice we inflict on the companion spirits God gave us to accompany us during our brief time on this earth.”

This view led Pip to her career choice. She wanted to speak for those who could not and to raise awareness of how damaging and destructive people’s actions are for our planet.

Regarding any desire to have a family of her own, Pip said, “You cannot miss something that you have not had. I have lived alone all my life. The advantage of this is that spiritual development becomes a much more important life path, without the distractions of family and its problems and demands.

“My work became my family. I obtained my PhD from the University of Manitoba in 1977. At that time, being a woman in science was hard. I was able to go to university only because the National Research Council supported me with scholarships. I worked very hard and got good grades.”

Pip taught at the U of M for three years before transferring over to the University of Winnipeg, where she has been teaching for 37 years. This year, Pip is retiring, though by no means does she intend to spend her days resting. She plans to continue writing and publishing pieces on the environment and working in her large rural garden.

Pip grows most of her own food because she knows it will be clean and free of chemicals.

“I’ve always loved tomatoes,” she said. “That interest has grown into my trying to preserve heritage varieties, as these are rapidly disappearing and are an irreplaceable part of our collective culture. I also grow heritage potatoes and heritage varieties of flowers, giving away much of what I cannot eat. I also harvest wild foods on my land.”

Instead of having a cottage, which Pip views as harmful for the environment, she buys land of ecological value and donates it to wildlife preservation institutions. She has donated most of her land to the Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation.

“I hope there is never such a monstrous exhibition of human cruelty and vice in our world again [as was the Second World War],” said Pip. “I hope we never again have millions of damaged human beings in the aftermath. I hope we can make peace with each other, that we can recognize that we are all equal, that we do not look down on each other and pretend we are better, that we do not rob each other of our right to life and right to God, and that we make peace with our Mother Earth.

“For these things to happen, human nature needs to change, our values and our dollar worship need to change. I fear that it will be too late by the time we and our leaders realize this. When it is time for me to hand in my dinner pail, I wish to face God and feel confident I have done a good day’s work.”

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.

אליפות העולם בלקרוס

נבחרת הנוער של ישראל בלקרוס. (צילום: אתר האליפות)

נבחרת הנוער של ישראל בלקרוס תשתתף באליפות העולם שתיערך בקוקוויטלם ביולי

נבחרת הנוער של ישראל בלקרוס (לגילאי 19 מינוס) שכמעט אף אחד לא ידוע על קיומה, תשתתף באליפות העולם שתיערך בעיר קוקוויטלם, בין השבעה לשישה עשר בחודש יולי הקרוב. המשחקים יתקיימו ‘בקוקוויטלם טאון סנטר פארק’ שכולל ארבעה מתקנים עם דשא סיננטי ושני מתקנים עם דשא טבעי. המשחקים המרכזים יערכו בפארק באצטדיון ‘פרסי פרי’ שמכיל כארבעת אלפים מקומות ישיבה.

משחקי אליפות העולם לנבחרות נוער בלקרוס מתקיימים מאז שנת 1988. קנדה כבר אירחה (בקוקוויטלאם) את האליפות של שנת 2008. האליפות האחרונה התקיימה ב-2012 ובה ארצות הברית ניצחה בגמר את קנדה. האמריקניים אגב זכו בכל האליפויות של לקרוס לצעירים עד היום.

ארבעה עשר נבחרות תשתתפנה באליפות הקרובה: המארחת קנדה, ארצות הברית, אוסטרליה, אירלנד, מקסיקו, אנגליה, גרמניה, ישראל, הונג קונג, טיוואן, דרום קוריאה, סקוטלנד, סין ואירקווי נשיונלס (שמורכבת משחקנים צפון אמריקניים ממוצא אינדיאני).

המשחק הראשון של האליפות יערך בין המארחים הקנדיים מול הנבחרת החזקה של ארצות הברית, שכרגיל מועמדת לזכות באליפות, בשבעה ביולי. נבחרת ישראל תקיים את משחקה הראשון בשלבים המוקדמים של האליפות מול נבחרת הונג קונג, בשמונה ביולי (בשעה עשר בבוקר). המשחק השני של ישראל מול נבחרת טיוואן יערך בעשרה ביולי (גם כן בעשר בבוקר). המשחק השלישי של ישראל מול נבחרת גרמניה יערך באחד עשר ביולי (גם כן בעשר בבוקר). המשחק הרביעי של ישראל מול נבחרת מקסיקו יערך בשניים עשר ביולי (גם כן בעשר בבוקר). לאחר מכן יתקיימו משחקי רבע הגמר, חצי הגמר והגמר – שיערך ב-16 ביולי בשעה ארבע אחר הצהריים.

דיוויד בלאט ינסה לעזור לנבחרת קנדה בכדורסל להגיע לאולימפיאדת ריו דה ז‘ניירו

המאמן האמריקני-ישראלי, דיוויד בלאט, מונה בימים אלה ליועץ מיוחד של נבחרת הכדורסל של קנדה לגברים. בלאט צפוי לעזור לנבחרת הקנדית בהיערכות לקראת הטורניר הקדם אולימפי שיערך בין במנילה בירת הפליפינים, בין החמישה לעשרה ביולי. בלאט אמור להגיע לקנדה בעוד כשבועיים. הנבחרת הקנדית נכנסה למחנה אימונים מרוכז בן שישה ימים החל בסוף השבוע האחרון, בהיכל ‘אייר קנדה’ בטורונטו. לאחר מכן ב-17 בחודש הנבחרת תטוס לאיטליה להשתתף בטורניר של משחקי אימון בטורניר עם שלוש נבחרות: סין, קרואטיה ופורטו ריקו.

הנבחרת הקנדית מקווה לזכות באחד משלושת המקומות בבית א’ בטורניר, שיאפשר לה להשתתף באולפיאדת ריו דה ז’ניירו שתתקיים במהלך חודש אוגוסט. נבחרת קנדה תתמודד מול הנבחרות של סנגל וטורקיה. בקאדר של הנבחרת הקנדית בראשות המאמן הראשי, ג’י טריאנו, והמנהל הכללי, סטיב נאש, שניים עשר שחקנים: תשעה ממחוז אונטריו ושלושה ממחוז בריטיש קולומביה. נבחרת קנדה בכדורסל נחשבת לנבחרת מהדרג הבינוני בעולם ומדורגת במקום העשרים ושישה בעולם. לנבחרת אין הישגים של ממש בכל שנות פעילותה.

בלאט (57) כמאמן וקודם כן כשחקן עטור הישגים בינלאומיים, הוחתם לאחרונה לאמן את קבוצת דרושאפקה מהליגה הטורקית. תקציבה של הקבוצה הטורקית לעונה החדשה נחשב לגבוה במיוחד ועומד על כשלושים מיליון יורו. עם תקציב כזה ובלאט, ראשי הקבוצה מצפים שהמועדון יזכה בכל התארים בליגה הטורקית ובמפעלים האירופאיים השונים.

בלאט אימן עד לאחרונה את קליבנלנד קאבלירס מהאן.בי.איי. קודם לכן אימן בין היתר את: מכבי ת”א, נבחרת רוסיה, אריס סלוניקי, דינמו מוסקבה, אפס פילזן, בנטון טרוויזו, דינמו סנקט פטרסבורג, הפועל גליל עליון ומכבי נתניה. כשחקן הוא שיחק בין היתר: במכבי חדרה, עירוני נהריה, הפועל ירושלים, הפועל גליל עליון, אליצור נתניה, אטלנטה פרו-אם ומכבי חיפה.

Interfaith volunteering

Among her volunteer work, Heather Fenyes started Think Good, Do Good with her cousin. (photo from Heather Fenyes)

Heather Fenyes is a full-time volunteer. She is actively involved in Saskatoon’s Jewish community, as well as with a number of organizations on the national Jewish scene. In 2011, she and her then nearly retired cousin, Jan Gitlin, started the organization Think Good, Do Good to create opportunities for people to engage in acts to improve their community.

A teacher by education, Fenyes has spent many years volunteering at the local Hebrew school, at Agudas Israel Synagogue. “We’re a pretty small community and we punch way above our weight class,” she told the Independent.

“Even when I do things with respect to the Jewish community, while Think Good, Do Good is absolutely non-political, there is spill-over in both directions,” she continued. “Because things I care about aren’t compartmentalized, so the kinds of philosophies we work with, with respect to coexistence, apply to what I want for Israel and what I want in Think Good, Do Good, and in my own community.”

As Fenyes’ kids were growing older, she recognized they were probably going to leave Saskatoon once they finished high school. Unless she created something more tangible to keep herself busy, it would be a difficult time.

“My Judaism tells me that we’re not bound by thoughts, but compelled toward to action,” she said. “We have to do good things. I’ve always wanted to work with that philosophy. I’ve always been a passionate believer in social justice and collective responsibility and, frankly, good deeds.”

Fenyes decided a good place to begin was to pay a visit to Judge David Arnot, head of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, explaining to him that she wanted to find a way to work with him as a volunteer.

That initial meeting has resulted in some annual activities that incorporate Muslim-Jewish outreach, Holocaust education and school events that often revolve around Raoul Wallenberg and the concept of “the power of one.”

“We have an annual Holocaust memorial event in which we reach out to 2,000 students over a period of time,” said Fenyes. “I’m married to a refugee whose family escaped Budapest in 1956 during the revolution, after having survived the Holocaust.”

Fenyes has been spending a lot of time in classrooms, leading various lessons on citizenship, reminding students that, with all of our rights come just as many, if not more, responsibilities.

“I do a lot of conversations in classrooms about the things we take for granted and the things we are responsible for,” she said. “Part of this is just for the lesson itself, and a part of it is with the hope that teachers get this new curriculum, for K to 12 classes, in the very near future.”

For the past three years, on March 21, which is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Gitlin and Fenyes have chosen 250 elementary students who they work with on citizenship and take them to the university campus – with their Think Good, Do Good buttons on – to speak with students in the halls. “They approach university students and ask if they have done something good today,” said Fenyes. “I learn infinitely more from these K to 12 students than I teach them.”

While teaching one of the classes, Fenyes met a young student who said he was from Gaza. Fenyes suggested they talk about hummus. “I have a lot of friends from the Middle East and we have an ongoing discussion about who makes the best hummus,” she said.

“This young man was enthralled and we had this adorable, non-substantial discussion about hummus … and the teacher was standing looking anxious in the corner…. She said to me about a week later, ‘You cannot believe what happened Heather. Not long before you’d been in the classroom, this young man had been telling me about his family’s discomfort with Jewish people and his strong negative feelings towards Israel. When you left the classroom, he had a change.’ She said if she hadn’t seen it herself, she wouldn’t have believed it.

“He approached the teacher and shared how moved he was by having met me and asked to write a paper … and, it was on coexistence or getting to know our neighbors … something completely opposite to the things he’d been saying before.

“You know how we say, ‘To save one life’? I’m not saying that at all, but, if I changed one young man’s way of thinking, that’s a world.”

Fenyes is very aware of the immigration statistics in Saskatchewan and the challenges they pose. “If we don’t create some infrastructure and have conversations like you and I are having right now, and set up educational opportunities, we are going to be another failed example,” she said. “It’s not just that we need to do it because it’s the right thing to do. We need to do it because, otherwise, we’re going to live in a different kind of community.”

This understanding really hit home when Fenyes’ son received a death threat while studying at Western University. Fenyes did not need that wake up call, but it did remind her of why she was in classrooms and making connections with people of all faiths.

Fenyes said they have learned from experience that, if the Jewish community alone puts on events such as the annual Raoul Wallenberg program – which this year took place on Feb. 5 – they do not have the same impact. Therefore, they have given the Catholic and public schools the mandate to organize the event. This year’s program featured a young man who was born in Congo and lived in Kenya before immigrating to Saskatoon as a refugee; he just graduated from high school last year.

“In a city where we have two separate systems, the Catholic and the public school systems work together,” said Fenyes. “The superintendents from each have been meeting, which is a great image and reality, to plan this event. One year, it’s in a Catholic high school. The next year, it’s in a public one.”

On another front, Fenyes is looking forward to finding ways to work with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

“I think that what we are doing in Saskatoon as a city and community is really impressive,” she said. “I hope we can infect others with some great kind of ailment – Think Good, Do Good. My kids tease me that I live my life with rose-colored glasses. They might mean it as an insult, but I take it as a compliment.”

Rebeca Kuropatwa is a Winnipeg freelance writer.