Dear Friends,

The period before Pesach is usually the busiest time of the year. Pre-Pesach preparations are so demanding that they take over our lives.

And by the time we get to Pesach, we are often too exhausted to fully appreciate what Pesach really means, or should mean.

We know that Pesach is the Festival of Freedom. What we do not know is: what is the meaning of freedom? If it means the freedom to do whatever one pleases, that is problematic, to say the least, if for no other reason than human beings have shown a capacity to perpetrate the grossest of evils with that freedom.

Surely, such an exercise of freedom is not something to celebrate.

At the risk of sounding preachy, it seems clear from the various insertions in the Haggadah, that the freedom which we celebrate on Pesach is the freedom to embrace higher responsibility; what we often refer to as "Torah," which itself means directional teaching.

So, contrary to what we have been led to believe, we do not celebrate freedom on Pesach. Instead, we celebrate what we did with that freedom. In other words, it is not the freedom to choose that we extol; it is the choice that we made in our freedom.

This message rings true with great resonance in our time. In Canada, we enjoy unprecedented freedom. But there is little over which to rejoice if we use that freedom to say stupid or insulting things, or to engage in destructive behaviour.

But there is much to rejoice over using the freedom we have to uplift each other, to enhance each other, to reinforce each other.

It is a golden opportunity we dare not pass over!

All the best to you for a meaningful Pesach.

Rabbi Reuven P. Bulka,

As we sit around the Passover table this year, the Sudanese genocide in Darfur continues with impunity.   The numbers are staggering: 2.5 million people displaced, some 400,000 killed, thousands of small farming villages levelled, and 4 million people dependent on international food aid.

The suffering endured on a daily basis by civilians is almost unfathomable.  Yet we are called to consider it as we reflect on our own suffering as slaves in Egypt.  We are compelled to act as we remember Moses going before Pharaoh and, speaking for God, saying 

Indifference to the plight of the Jews during Holocaust left an indelible stain on humanity.  As Jews, we cannot stand idly by as the tragedy of Darfur unfolds before us.  To do so would be to close our eyes to the true meaning of Passover and the responsibility freedom entails.

David Katzman

In order to understand what is currently happening in Saskatoon, we must also share unpleasant truths with each other and our children.  The Chinese of Moose Jaw, Sask., used tunnels to avoid contact and abuse from their "superiors."  Ukrainians, like other Slav communities, were not welcome and relegated to the poorest housing and worst jobs.  Jews endured restrictive educational quotas and were compelled to set up their own businesses when no one else would hire them.  But the worst treatment was saved for the First Nations.

A small but telling example: First Nations ranchers were not allowed to sell their livestock because non-First Nations ranchers did not want the competition; the permission of an Indian Agent was required just to slaughter an animal. David Ahenakew was born into this toxic system, was molded by his education and his experiences as a soldier, and returned to Saskatchewan determined to make life better for his people. And he did.

He was lauded by First Nations and non-First Nations alike, receiving the Order of Canada and many other honours.  It is useful to understand that he was, literally, in a league of his own within Saskatchewan and even national First Nations politics.

In the wake of Ahenakew's ejection from the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Senate in 2002, the City of Saskatoon invited interested organizations to sponsor a touring Anne Frank exhibit.  Approximately 30 organizations, many of them First Nations, enthusiastically responded and our citizens attended in the tens of thousands, exceeding the totals recorded in Vancouver, Calgary and every other venue.  First Nations leaders took part and were moved to tears.  Our congregation was also invited to an FSIN Pow Wow, which culminated in approximately 1000 First Nations and non-First Nations sharing a collective Hora.  A bridging group was set up by congregational president Susanne Kaplan and the relationships initiated continue to this day. 

From my perspective, the overwhelming majority of Canadians, both First Nations and non-First Nations, are extremely proud of the positions relative to Ahenakew's re-instatement taken by Minister for Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall. 

Of course, Jews and non-Jews are troubled by a number of unanswered questions and unfathomable decisions.  Five years ago, rather than accepting Ahenakew's resignation, the FSIN expelled him.  Now, the FSIN has reinstated Ahenakew and refuses to reverse that decision.  Ahenakew has for now refused the appointment, but said he will reconsider once the charges of wilful promotion of hatred against him are concluded.  It is important to remember that his expulsion by the FSIN from the Senate was for what he said during his hateful tirade - not because of any court decision. Unfortunately and most significantly, I am unaware of a single action taken by Ahenakew to demonstrate either genuine remorse or a change in his attitudes. 

In 2002, FSIN leadership was absolutely unequivocal in its repudiation of racism, regardless of who spewed the venom.  It was easy to meet with First Nations leadership and collaboratively plan for events that would unite all citizens. 

David Katzman is the President of Congregation Agudas Israel in Saskatoon

Quebec author Robin Philpot and noted French journalist Pierre Péan were among the organizers of a recent Montreal based symposium entitled "Media and Rwanda: the Difficult Search for the Truth." Among other things, the conference proposed to challenge the accuracy of the 100 day genocide in 1994 against Rwanda's Tutsi population and moderate Hutus.     

On March 27, 2008, Canadian Jewish Congress, Quebec Region joined Humura, and PAGE-Rwanda, a Tutsi association of parents of victims of the genocide in Rwanda, in a press conference held to condemn this form of genocide denial. The multi-organization press conference was covered by local media and even merited attention from the Kigali Times.

During the briefing, a representative of each organization addressed the crowd. Adam Atlas, Vice-President of CJC, QR noted that Congress would condemn any conference based on the denial of historical facts. He added: "The questioning of the historical truth of the genocide in Rwanda is absurd, perhaps even an expression of hatred. No future in Rwanda can be envisaged without historic recognition of the genocide".

For his part Paulin Nteziryayo, Vice-President of PAGE-Rwanda stated that "Academic debate to help clarify history is always welcome. The suggestion that hundreds of thousands murdered for being Tutsi is not genocide is a vile misrepresentation of history and must be rejected".

Subsequently, on April 7, 2008 CJC, QR was invited to participate in the commemoration activities surrounding the 14th anniversary of the 100- day genocide. Michael Cohen, a newly appointed Officer of the Region participated in a special ceremony commemorating the genocide. A full text of Mr. Cohen's remarks is available online. Community Relations Director Enza Martuccelli was also present on behalf of the Region.

In picture: Adam Atlas, Vice-Chair of the Executive of CJC, QR at the podium during the conference

Photo courtesy of The Windsor Star

Windsor's population of 200,000 consists of one hundred and seven ethnic groups. We are a city of immigrants. Our Jewish population is a small but integral thread of this harmonious human tapestry.

One Friday, a group of radical Lebanese Muslims, supporters of Hezbollah, a banned terrorist organization, erected an enormous poster displaying leaders of Lebanon, and right in the middle, larger than the others, was Nasrallah. The caption read: "Leaders of Lebanon, men of peace."

It was an outrageous act. The Jewish community contacted the police, all three levels of government, CJC, CIC, and CIJA to discuss strategies. Our mayor of Lebanese descent, Eddie Francis, expressed his outrage at the poster and worried about any negative action against us. There had been none. We were to keep him informed.

Many members of the Arab, Muslim, and Lebanese communities publicly announced their shock at such a despicable act and demanded the poster be removed. By the end of the weekend, hundreds of Windsorites expressed their anger and joined in the demand to remove the poster.

It came down two days later, but those responsible boasted that their point had been made. Nasrallah, the man who had begun the Israel/Lebanese war in 2006, and who was responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people, was a man of peace!

After the incident, people had many questions, but one thing was perfectly clear: Windsorites, all one hundred and seven ethnicities of us, stand together. We all live here, and we ALL get along.  

We Windsorites could certainly teach the United Nations a thing or two!

They, the survivors, have so much to remember of parents, relatives and friends ­- that were. They remember the complex fabric of a life which was intertwined with the threads of love, laughter and tears.

In speaking to students, the survivors bear witness to atrocities that mortal man cannot conceive nor understand. Their tireless commitment to Holocaust education is the most meaningful of memorials to all who perished. By imparting the lessons of the Holocaust, they ensure that future generations will live in a world of acceptance, peace and understanding.

Co-sponsored by Calgary Jewish Community Council and Mount Royal College, with the support of both the Calgary Public and Calgary Separate School Boards, the Holocaust Symposium is seen as a valuable educational tool for social studies teachers, many of whom bring their students year after year. Annually, almost three thousand grade 12 students participate in the program, which this year takes place from May 5 to 7.

The students learn about the historical context of the Holocaust from a Mount Royal College or University of Calgary historian. They view the Thames Television documentary "Genocide," and then have the opportunity to hear testimony from a Holocaust survivor and ask questions. Each of the survivors emphasizes the importance of judging others on their actions, not on the colour of their skin, their religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. They urge the young people to work to make this a better world free of prejudice and free of hate.

For most students, it is the meeting with a survivor which is the most meaningful part of the program. Unfortunately, that is the segment which is increasingly difficult to fulfill. As Holocaust survivors age, fewer are able to speak of their experiences and the window of opportunity to hear eye-witness testimonies will soon draw to a close.

Howard

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BTW I also love the name "Amcha". Good work

Ohara

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Yours truly,

Sheryl

Avi