HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1977-06-08, Page 2A
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1977
BRUSSELS
ONTARIO
Serving Brussels and the surrounding community.,
Published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
. by McLean Bros. Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Dave Robb Advertising
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
ABC
Subscriptions (in advance) Canada $8.00 a year. Others
$14.00 a year, Single Copies 20 cents each.
_ Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association
*CNA
gBrussels Post
A job to be done
The Post is in receipt of a letter from Councillors
Tom Pletch and Malcolm Jacobs in which a number
of the actions taken by council and by councillors and
officials during recent weeks are recalled and
commented on.
Since the letter adds little to what already is on the
record and perhaps would contribute to a reopening
of the differences that have been of such concern not
only to the council but also to citizens of Brussels
generally we trust the writers will not be critical of us
if their letter not published..
As we indicated in last week's issue the important
thing now is, not to dwell on all the confusion and
anger of the fast month.
What we said last week is equally true this
week and we quote.
"But the important thing now, is to not dwell on
all the confusion and anger of the last month.
Brussels council is back to full strength, and we
sincerely hope, back to .normal.
"All council members have to put the recent past
behind them and get on with the job that they were
elected six months ago to do.
"And that job is to run our village in the most
economical and fairest way possible. The council has
many important items of business to attend to ... a
budget and tax rate for 1977 is the first of those.
"We're sure it's the wish of all the ratepayers of
Brussels that they begin- to work together and get on
with the job that we know they are capable of
doing".
Learn to swim
Everybody in the water - it's National Water
Safety Week!
Swimming is one of the best ways to. improve
muscle tone, exercise the whole body and smooth
unwanted bulges after a wirrer of inactivity. It's a
good way to get in shape for the summer and also a
lot of fun.
Learning to swim?
There are all levels of instruction in courses that
meet Red Cross Water Safety standards. These
programs are for the young and old, the healthy and
disabled. Give Red, Cross a call to find where these
courses are being taught in your community.
Interested in safe boating?
No time likenow to start learning. There are three
approved 16vels of instruction for Rowing, two for
CanOing, and one for Power Boating. Take your pick
and enjoy this water sport safely.
Interested in;sUrvival?
Who isn't! There's - a special 'survival swimmer
program for weak swimmers; bUt methods of
survival are taught in all the Red Cross Water Safety
programs as they relate to the Skill being learned.
Interested in backyard pools?
Call Red Cross to find Whether the backyard' pool
operator's coUrSe is offered in your community . The
Course can mean life or death for children and
non-swim rners.
This is National Water Safety Week. Keep safe
and haVe fun in the water by taking a Red Cross
course.
WATER SAFETY WEEK JUNE 5 - 11 1977
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Saul Cohen was so excited he couldn't
sleep all night. Flying non-stop from
Montreal to Tel Aviv, Israel, Saul Cohen
talked almost non-stop for nine hours.
But who could blame him? He was going
to Jerusalem. And for Jews everywhere
that means going home. Besides, he was
about to become a grandiather - any time
now.. His daughter was already in the
hospital.
A half hour before landing, the flight
attendants asked us to fill out a white card
for the immigration people. Under our
names was the question - nationality.
My eyes accidentally shifted to Saul
Cohen:s card just long enough to see him
Write in large, bold letters: JEWISH.
"Saul," -I said, "I thought you were a
Canadian, born and bred in Montreal."
"I am a Canadian. That's my citizenry.
But by nationality I'm a Jew. I'm first of all
a Jew and then a Canadian."
I sensed right then that Saul was giving
me a clue for one of the radio programs I
was going to do. For one of my
assignments was to nail down the identity
of the Jewish people. To find out who
exactly is a Jew. To learn what makes a
person a Jew. Does the word mean only
some sort of religious denomination? Is it
purely a religious tag? Or does it involve a
race? a nationality? a citizenship?
There's no easy answer. Even when
David Ben Gurion, the first prime minister
of Israel, asked the question, the matter
proved so difficult it wound up in the Israeli
courts.
When our Boeing 747 finally flew over
the land of Israel, the passengers, started to
sing and clap their hands. Partly, I think,
because the long trip was over. But mostly,
this plane full of Jews had reached their
Promised Land.
When we landed, the airport loud-
speaker called out Saul Cohen's name. His
daughter had just had her baby - a boy.
Saul raised his arms in total joy. A baby
boy! A grandson!
My wife and I had reason to rejoice too.
The .baby boy: meant Saul's invitation was
now 'good. In eight days we would attend
the baby's "brit", the circumcision
ceremony in the couple's apartment.
Saul's nephew, Utti, picked us up at the
airport. He was like so many of the young
people came to meet in Israel during the
next three weeks, titti was young; Mini and
wi oodry, In g shappe, Fast walking. Straight
talking, He was part f a young nation of
tvorkers - hard workers in this pioneer
country. No frills and fancies. He wore blue
jeans jeans were almost the national
uniform of Israel, besides the army
uniform,
Yes, every man in Israel between the
ages of 18 and 50 has to spend two months
of every year in the army. Even the girls
can, and often do, volunteer their time in
the army. •
Utti drove us the forty miles from Tel
Aviv to Jerusalem. And on the way, I asked
him my question, "Utti, what are you? Are
you a Jew or an Israeli?"
Without any hesitation, he said, "I'm an.
Israeli. I'm a sabra, born in the state of
Israel."
A sabra is a cactus plant that's prickly on
the outside and sweet on the inside.
Utti went on, "What have I got to do
with the Jews of Russia or Poland or
Germany; New York or Montreal. I can't
speak Yiddish. I've never wandered about.
I wasn't even born when the holocaust
happened. My parents were Jews. My
ancestors were Jews. But I'm an Israeli.
I don't keep the Jewish dietary laws. I •
don't go to the synagogue. The sabbath for
me is just a day off."
I knew Utti was different from his uncle
alright. Utti was secularized. Israeli
nationalized. Pioneering. Vigorous.
Dedicated to the defense of his country and
its very existence. Utti's Jewishness was
wrapped up in the state of Israel. Saul's
was in his conservative Jewish observances
in his synagogue and in his way of life.
Eight days later I saw Saul's grandson
circumcised according to the ancient rite
established with Abraham over 3,000 years
ago. Here I saw the beginning of the life of
a Jew, whether he's in Israel or in
Montreal. Whether he's secularized or
observant.
I watched the rite of the covenant- the
promise of God that says, "You will be my
people, my special people." And the cut of
circumcision marks that relationship.
Saul Cohen held his grandson in his
arms. The rabbi wore his white hospital
surgical coat. A whole crowd of friends and
relatives pressed into the small living
"'room. The room rocked in sounds of
prayers and ritual. The fever and fervour of
the noise pitched. The sound peaked. And
when the cry of the baby joined in - at the
moment of circumcision the women
screamed in a falsetto voice, The relatives
shouted and sang. All in joy for this new
son of Israel andqor this little baby who
had now become a Jew.
God's sign and mark were now on him.
That rite had closed the generation gap
between Saul and his nephew. For both
Saul and Utti knew that this rite of
circumcision bound them both together. It
bound them not only to each other, but to
God.. It marked and set them off from all
the other peoples of the earth.
glirripse of what it Means
to ibheada thjey rstwfi.
. Amen
by Karl Schuessler
Who is a Jew?
ESTAWISHED
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