JULY 3, 2014 Comment 10 Connect with us: E-mail: cjninfo@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/TheCJN Twitter: @TheCJN
C hanges are upon us. Awhile back, Open Window Bakery closed its doors in Toronto. The Negev Bookstore no longer exists there. In June, a major Jewish gathering praying on behalf of the kidnapped Israeli teenagers was held up in Richmond Hill, Ont., north of the city. The new editor of Canadas major Jewish newspaper was born in 1980, and the leaders of two of the countrys largest Jewish organizations, Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto/UJA and Bnai Brith Canada, are retiring. The State of Israel is now underwriting programming in the Diaspora, and more Jews live in Israel than outside of it. There is nothing subtle about these changes. Open Window had the finest cream cheese in the city, and Negev had the greatest selection of fine prayer shawls and Judaica. They are both gone. Rallies and prayer vigils in the past were gener- ally held in central Toronto, but now our communitys larger assemblies are trek- king northward. At 34, Yoni Goldstein, is likely the youngest editor of The Canadian Jewish News ever, and that has impacted the style and demographic of this publi- cation. Community leaders Ted Sokolsky and Frank Dimant were born shortly after the Holocaust, around the time of the establishment of the State of Israel. They led when the Diaspora played a significant fundraising role in the development of Israel, when many major volunteers were survivors or individuals who had fought in World War II and Israels wars. What now? Where do we go to find well-whipped cream cheese for less than a fin, and what do we do when we need a new kippah for less than a 10-spot? Are we to expect a further unfurling of the Jewish community northward? Or is it possible that lonely northerners will decide to re- turn to their parents stomping grounds farther south? With the advent of younger publicists, writers and social media directors, will the Toronto Jewish communitys news- papers and social media sites deal less with anti-Semitism, the Holocaust, the State of Israel and security, and the world allowing increase intellectual, cultural and economic material such as pieces on alternative forms of Judaism, Jewish rap and symphonic compositions, debates on meditation versus prayer and kosher gourmet cuisine? And what of our new leadership? A recent media release stated that Frank Dimants major success was fighting anti-Semitism. Will Bnai Briths newest leader have the same agenda, or will he/she pursue the proliferation of community-based Alzheimer care buildings, something Dimant oversaw brilliantly? What of the newest iteration of the Toronto federation? Will it expand its cadre of agencies or create a different model whereby all local Jewish services and facilities find a soulful home on north Bathurst Street? Is there a professional out there who has the skill and dexterity to fundraise as Sokolsky has done, or will the UJA machine require some subtle or not-so- delicate tzedakah adjustments? Now that Israel is in the midst of revers- ing the financial relationship between them and us, where does the Diaspora fit? With our shrinking Jewish population and increase in intermarriage, as well as an uptake on aliyah from places like France, Mexico and the United States, where will our funds be spent and on what? Will our new Toronto leadership manage a closer relationship between us and Eretz Yisrael, or will it scramble to consistently remind our new gen- eration of Jews that should they need Israels right of return, it is there for them tomorrow, and that we are blessed to be sending our 19-year-olds to university and not to battle. We are staring through the proverbial window of time, watching the wheels of the clock spin round. Nothing rests. Every- thing changes. If only, however, we could be guaranteed of one thing an affordable container of savoury cream cheese. P.S. So long you old boxers. Thanks for a most absorbing match. n Avrum.rosensweig@veahavta.org Cream cheese and the Jewish future Avrum Rosensweig T he case of the Pusuma family, refu- gees from Hungary now hiding from the Canadian government in church sanctuary, is an international embarrass- ment for Canada. It has also caused a great deal of shame within our Canadian Jewish community. Jozsef Pusuma, his wife, Timea Darcozi, and their six-year-old daughter Lulu came to Canada in 2009 following a harrowing and life-threatening experience in their hometown of Budapest. Jozsef, Roma by birth and with a Jewish father, was a hate crimes investigator for the Movement for Desegregation Foundation. Founded by the only Roma member of the European Union Parliament, Viktoria Mohacsi, it was then the leading domestic monitor of the many hate crime attacks against the Roma in Hungary. Sadly, 20 per cent of Hungarians sup- ported the fascist Jobbik party in the last elections. Jobbik is virulently anti-Ro- ma and only slightly less anti-Semitic. Despite this record, Ottawa has deemed Hungary a safe country under new Conservative refugee legislation. Jozsefs work was becoming well-known in dangerous circles. And, on a quiet July afternoon in Budapest, Jozsef, Timea and then-18-month-old Lulu were viciously attacked by four black-hooded men, prob- ably members of the dreaded Hungarian Guard. Jozsef and Timea suffered numer- ous injuries; Lulu was shielded by Jozsef lying over her taking all the blows. They were told to leave Hungary or next time it would be worse. They fled to what they thought was a wel- coming Canada. But here they faced other horrors. An unscrupulous lawyer scammed them of their life savings and, as he alleged- ly did with other refugee claimants, mis- managed their case. He did not present any evidence before their refugee hearing he didnt even attend. This lawyer is presently facing disciplinary hearings before the Law Society of Upper Canada. The Pusumas, as a result, were ordered deported, and the Harper government hardened their hearts against any appeal. Seeing a return to Hungary as a death sentence, they instead took sanctuary inside a Toronto church. They have been there for almost three years. Thankfully, our community has taken up their cause of obtaining a temporary residency permit. I am, however, not re- ferring to the organized leadership of the community. In this case, the grassroots, the rabbanim, the Jewish schools, are showing leadership, while the well-fund- ed advocacy groups sit mutely by. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Af- fairs (CIJA), our alleged advocacy voice is ominously silent. Astonishingly, it actually forbade the Canadian Jewish Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants (which it helps fund) to use their own letterhead when the group decided to write a strong letter of protest to Citizenship Minister Chris Alexander in support of the Pusumas. Meanwhile, Toronto-area children from The Toronto Heschel School and the Temple Emanu-El school have undertaken projects in support of the family. Synagogues includ- ing Holy Blossom Temple and Congregation Darchei Noam, as well as rabbis and many others, have shown their support. Recently, a large rally in front of Chris Alexanders offices in Ajax, Ont., saw a myriad of faith communities in attend- ance. That day, 20 of us blew the notes of the shofar in hopes that, like Joshua in the Torah, we could bring down the hardened walls of Alexanders heart. CIJA is not the only Jewish advocacy group to turn its back on this vulnerable family. Not a word has been heard from either Bnai Brith or the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Some have speculated that our Jewish advocates refuse to make waves, given our governments strong support of Israel, even if it means that a little girl has spent over two years in a virtual prison. This is not the Jewish way. Our history has taught us we cannot remain silent in the face of darkness. Our own tragedy tells us we must shine the light of justice and righteousness in dark places. Saving the Pusuma family speaks directly to our timeless Jewish values. Its time for Jewish leadership to lead and join those in our community who walk with justice. n Its time for Jewish leadership to lead Bernie Farber