|
|
April 23, 2004
Silver lining in Montreal attack
Canadians, united in revulsion, raise funds to help school rebuild
library.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Moriah Whitley has avoided watching the news since the Sept. 11,
2001, terror attacks. But while surfing channels recently, she was
stunned by the images of the firebomb attack on the United Talmud
Torah Jewish school in Montreal.
"I've lived in libraries all my life and I almost cried,"
said Whitley, a branch assistant at the library in Williams Lake,
B.C. "I was horrified. I just couldn't even comprehend what
I was seeing. My first instinct was to help."
The next day, library patrons were talking about the images of burned
books and destroyed classrooms. They wondered if Whitley knew where
they could send donations. Whitley contacted the B.C. Libraries
Association and was directed to the Vancouver office of Canadian
Jewish Congress, who gave her an address where donations will be
gratefully received.
"I've been handing out the address," said Whitley, who
noted that about a dozen patrons independently raised the issue
with her. On top of those who raised the subject out of the blue,
Whitley has notified other library associates throughout the province
of where donations can be sent.
A recent Globe and Mail article reported that Joan Eaton,
a teacher-librarian at Glenrosa Middle School in Westbank, B.C.,
also offered to ask her colleagues to help restock the Montreal
school's library. In the April 10 issue, Eaton is reported to have
sent out an appeal on a school-librarian's discussion group and
been inundated with responses.
"The library is the heart of the school," Eaton is quoted
as saying. "Without a well-stocked library, kids are shortchanged.
We didn't want to see that happen to those kids."
The experience, as horrifying as the impetus was, has reassured
Whitley that even in remotest British Columbia, people share her
outrage and pain at the attack on Jewish Canadians.
"Everybody is just sort of bewildered," she said. "Why
is this happening? How could this happen?"
She can't estimate how much money has been sent to Montreal because
of her efforts – she has distributed the address, not collected
funds directly – but the small acts of kindness demonstrated
by Whitley and her colleagues have been replicated by Canadians
of all walks of life in the aftermath of the disaster.
David Birnbaum, executive director of Canadian Jewish Congress,
Quebec Region, has been moved by the response from Canadians.
"Out of this deplorable incident has come a collective statement
of solidarity, hope and concern from Canadians of all walks of life,"
he told the Bulletin. "It cannot be overstated how important
this has been for the Jews of Montreal and especially to the students
and their parents."
In addition to the support of Whitley, Eaton and B.C. regional library
patrons and staff, support has come from the Catholic archdiocese
in Quebec, the province's largest trade union, the Canadian Federation
of Teachers, which represents a quarter-million educators, and,
just for example, a Saskatchewan wheat farmer who wanted to help,
Birnbaum said.
"It sends the most important message that, in a sense, it happened
to all Canadians," added Birnbaum. "It's profoundly reassuring
to us."
Despite the touching response from Quebec Jewish leaders, Whitley
said it was never her intention to make a big deal of her effort
and didn't seek out media attention.
"You have people in your community who need help, and you help,"
she said. "I just can't imagine not helping."
Donations can be made to the UTT Library Fund, in care of Federation-CJA,
1 Carré Cummings Square, Montreal, Quebec, H3W 1M6. For information,
call 514-345-2600.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
^TOP
|
|
