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| Remembering the Shoah |
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(l-r): Hon. Jason Kenney; Anna Heilman, Holocaust survivor; Rabbi Reuven Bulka, Co-president, CJC; Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Sylvain Abitbol Co-president, CJC; Bernie Farber, CEO CJC; Eric Vernon, Director of Government Relations & International Affairs, CJC.
This past April, Prime Minister Stephen Harper made an unannounced visit to the death camp complex of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The PM laid a wreath before the Killing Wall Memorial, where thousands of prisoners were shot, and prayed for the victims of the Holocaust. In a book of remembrance Prime Minister Harper wrote:
"We are witnesses to the vestiges of unspeakable cruelty, horror and death. Let us never forget these things and work always to prevent their repetition. Lord, bless the souls of those who suffered and perished here and deliver them from evil."
CJC wrote to the Prime Minister upon his return to Canada, expressing deep gratitude for his moving visit to the camp, noting that for him to take time from his official business to "pay homage in this way to the victims of Nazi tyranny, Jewish and otherwise, was an extraordinary act of human kindness befitting a world leader whose actions are guided by principle and morality."
Commenting on the importance of his mission, CJC Co-Presidents Rabbi Reuven Bulka and Sylvain Abitbol said at the time, "As antisemitism and Holocaust denial continue to confound our best attempts at their eradication, your sensitivity and understanding are shining lights in the darkness. We commend you again for bearing personal witness at this place of consummate evil, a journey which is trying but ultimately necessary if we are to prevent any recurrence of such monstrous inhumanity in the future."
In reporting on this story, the Canadian Jewish News featured an exceptional photograph of Prime Minister Harper kneeling before the Killing Wall Memorial. CJC framed a copy of this front page of the CJN and on Friday, November 7, two days before the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, and in conjunction with Holocaust Education Week, CJC presented the Prime Minister with this tangible token of our deep appreciation. With Co-Presidents Bulka and Abitbol were CJC CEO Bernie Farber, Government Relations Director Eric Vernon and Ottawa-resident Anna Heilman, the last living survivor of the plot to blow up Crematorium IV at Auschwitz-Birkenau in October 1944.
In a private, moving presentation, Co-Presidents Bulka and Abitbol acknowledged in both official languages our deep appreciation to the Prime Minister for his visit to Auschwitz and our gratitude for his ongoing friendship and support of the community. Hon. Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism joined the presentation ceremony.
Please see the CJC Photo Gallery below for additional photo.
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Jewish War Orphans Celebrate 60 Years in Canada
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 The best way to describe the mood at a lively gathering of 50 Jewish War Orphans in Montreal in late October was gratitude. Gratitude to the Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) which, against all odds and virulent public opposition, brought them to Canada in 1948 from Eastern Europe. Gratitude also to Canada for the opportunity that they were given to start new lives, and gratitude for the outstanding success that their children and grandchildren have achieved. As one orphan quoted by The Montreal Gazette said: "This how we defeated Hitler." Not surprisingly, the event captured the attention of the national press. Journalists mingled with war orphans who were delighted to tell their stories and keep the memory of their struggles and triumphs alive for future generations. What Paul Herczeg, one of the event organizers, described as a quiet, simple affair, was in fact an animated, joyful celebration occasionally interrupted by moments of sad reflection as orphans remembered their loved ones who did not survive the death camps. The reunion was also bittersweet as this may be the last gathering of the group. Many of the war orphans are well into their 70's and 80's and another gathering is said to be unlikely. The story of CJC's struggle to open Canada's doors to these war orphans is preserved for posterity in the exceptional work being done by the Director of the CJC Charities Committee National Archives, Janice Rosen. At a time when reviewing Canadian immigration policy is the subject of much discussion the story of the CJC`s Jewish War Orphans program stands as a testament to how the Jewish community rallied to save the lives of more than a thousand orphaned Holocaust survivors. They came here with no family and no possessions yet established themselves as resourceful, hardworking and successful Canadians. Those that gathered in Montreal to remember 60 years of hardship and triumph remind us that a few good men and women can change lives forever. The heroic determination of CJC`s Ben Lappin z"l, Saul Hayes z"l, Sam Bronfman z"l, Ben Kayfetz z"l and others whose efforts helped bring these orphans to Canada, has been rewarded by the extraordinary achievements of those whose destiny they changed forever.
Please see the CJC Photo Gallery below for additional photos. Photo: (L-R) Nick Sebastien, Joe Fellner, Tommy Strasser and James Indig share a joke while greeting each other in Montreal |
Building Bridges --- A Unique Opportunity
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On October 28, 2008 Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) launched a new Jewish-Somali community friendship initiative along with UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Canadian International Peace Project (CIPP).
The initiative will bring together members of the Jewish community who are established professionals in their fields to act as mentors for young Canadian Somali university students or recent graduates. Some of the fields of interest include law, medicine, business and accounting. The mentoring program will be administered by CIPP, but CJC and UJA will help to organize the program and recruit mentors. The Canadian Somali community is the largest African diaspora community in Canada. It is also one of the country's largest Muslim communities, making it an important breakthrough for interfaith bridge-building. The objective of the initiative is to help young Somali Canadians become successful in various professional fields and then assume greater leadership roles in their own community. This will help this relatively new Canadian community build stronger advocacy and leadership skills that can be passed down to future generations and strengthen their position in Canada. A number of Somali-Canadians in Toronto have already expressed interest in participating in this project. A process is now underway to determine selection criteria and program design. While the mentoring program will begin in Toronto, it is expected to expand to Ottawa and Edmonton, cities with significant Canadian-Somali communities. As a community that experienced its own growing pains when we first arrived in Canada, Canadian Jewry knows only too well how important learning from the successes of others can be to helping build our own successes. We have been able to contribute significantly and more effectively to Canadian society because of the strength of our leadership. Through the mentorship program, CJC takes on the responsibility to share our experience with others and to help them do the same, further strengthening Canada. If you know anyone in a professional field who might be interested in becoming a mentor as part of this project, please email Cindy Osheroff at cosheroff@on.cjc.ca. This is the first of what we hope will be many opportunities to continue building our friendship and connection with the Canadian-Somali community.
Photo: (L-R) James Morton, Past President, Ontario Bar Association and Board Member of Canadian International Peace Project; Mark Persaud, President, Canadian International Peace Project; Bernie Farber, CEO, Canadian Jewish Congress; Howard English, VP, Corporate Communications, United Jewish Appeal of Greater Toronto; Digal Hiao, Canadian Somali Congress (CSC) |
| Fighting Racism: A Message of friendship
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The Gala Noir et Blanc Au-delà du racisme is an annual event which honours organizations and individuals who have distinguished themselves in the fights against racism and discrimination. Enza Martuccelli, Community Relations Director for Canadian Jewish Congress Quebec Region (CJCQR), gave a warmly-received speech to approximately 400 guests at the event which was presided over by Ghislain Picard, Innu Regional Chief of Quebec and Labrador of the Assembly of First Nations. CJCQR applauds the efforts of the Gala Noir et Blanc Au-delà du racisme which serves to break down barriers that have been erected in our hearts and minds.
The discrimination that many people still face in accessing employment, housing, health care, culture and education threatens the gains we have made throughout the years. Combating ignorance and recognizing difference as a fundamental element of society should be our collective and individual priorities. More than ever, we need to mobilize and educate ourselves in order to promote dialogue and celebrate diversity.
In joining with the Gala Noir et Blanc Au-delà du racisme, the CJCQR is proud to share in the fight against racism and to pay homage to the men and women who have devoted their lives to the promotion of pluralism and equality. We warmly salute the creators of the Gala Noir et Blanc Au-delà du racisme for their contribution to the promotion of an open and generous Quebec - one that is sure of itself and its future.
Photo 1: (L-R) Pearline Jones, Le Net Boys and Girls Club of Lachine; Velda Bourne, Member of Executive of the Quebec Federation of Nurses; Billy Two Rivers, Kanawake Mohawk Community Elder; Enza Martuccelli, CJC Director of Community Relations
Photo 2: (L-R) Georges Konan, President of Gala Noir et Blanc; Ghislain Picard, Innu Regional Chief of Quebec and Labrador of the Assembly of First Nations; Yoland James, Quebec Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communites
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An Attack on One is an Attack on us All --- Part 1
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Canadian Jewish Congress Pacific Region (CJCPR) has long been concerned with the proliferation of hate and bias crime in British Columbia and has been a strong proponent of government support to combat these crimes. It is for this reason that CJCPR issued a joint statement with S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society) in the wake of a violent hate-motivated attack of a gay man in downtown Vancouver, offering support and solidarity to the victim and the Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual (LGTB) community.
CJCPR recognizes that an attack motivated by hate creates fear for other members of that group and seriously undermines the foundation that our society is built on: democracy, equality, respect for diversity and the rule of law. CJCPR commended the Vancouver Police Department for recommending this be treated as a hate crime as the gay community has long suffered discrimination and abuse. While Canadians have made great strides in recent years, hate crime statistics reveal that members of the LGTB community are still disproportionately targeted. CJCPR will remain a constant voice for education and enforcement against racism, antisemitism and hatred against all groups in our society.
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| An Attack on One is an Attack on us All --- Part 2 |
In the early morning hours of Sunday, September 28, unknown persons smeared fecal matter on the front glass doors of the Devi Mandir Hindu Temple in Pickering.
The incident brought an immediate reaction from Canadian Jewish Congress Ontario Region, (CJCONT) which issued a press release condemning the attack as well as a letter of support to the congregation. It is a longstanding policy of CJCONT to speak out when the places of worship of other faith communities are targeted by acts of vandalism and mischief. We do so because, in the face of such occurrences, it is the duty of responsible communities to express their solidarity with the victim and their support of the diverse multicultural fabric of Canadian society.
In its press release, Canadian Jewish Congress Ontario Region regional chair Frank Bialystok stated that "the desecration of a house of worship is a matter that should draw the sharpest condemnation from all corners of civil society. Our community understands all too well what it feels like to have our religious and community institutions treated in such a fashion. No community should be forced to bear such disrespect."
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CJC Photo Gallery
WWII Jewish war veteran Manny Gottlieb proudly poses with a "We Love our Troops" pin sponsored by CJC and UJA Federation. The popular pins were inspired by a heart-warming speech given by CJC Co-President Rabbi Reuven Bulka at last year's Remembrance Day commemoration on Parliament Hill.
Bernie M. Farber (centre) attends a performance of Through Roses with Alan Sheffman (l), City of Vaughn Councillor and Hon. Joe Volpe (r), Liberal Member of Parliament
Meeting with the Prime Minister are (l-r) Bernie Farber, CEO CJC; Rabbi Reuven Bulka, Co-President CJC; Sylvain Abitbol, Co-President CJC; Eric Vernon, Director of Government Relations, CJC.
Bernie M. Farber (seated 2nd from left) attends a Sukkah gathering at which he congratulated Conservative Cabinet Minister Hon. Peter Kent (standing) on his electoral victory
File photos from CJCCC National Archives of the Jewish War Orphans Journey to and Arrival in Canada.
A few of the younger orphans boarding a bus in Europe en route to Canada 
War Orphans group in London train station en route to Canada, September 1947
Social worker Ethel Ostry, orphan girl, and Saul Hayes, CJC Executive Director
The first group of Montreal orphans at the Montreal reception centre for the orphans on Jeanne Mance at the corner of Mount Royal. Social worker Joe Kage of JIAS is with them.
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Letters to the Editor
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Congress Amcha is always interested in your feedback. Please feel free to email your comments or suggestions to jkerbel@on.cjc.ca. We will try to include them in future editions.
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