October, 2013
  
Greetings from ARZA Canada
 

Secret Medicine


Not only does Israel discreetly treat Syrian victims of their country's civil war in Israeli hospitals, but Israeli doctors have secretly gone into the camps of Syrian refugees to provide them with first class medical care.

 

 

  

 

Robert Fulford: Israel's secret doctors

 

 

They move "under the radar," in the words of a clandestine organization in this field. When they treat Syrians in Israeli hospitals, they make sure no visiting journalist learns details that will identify the patients to authorities back in Syria.

Usually, Israel is glad to announce when it contributes to emergency relief. The case of Syrian aid is different.

 

 

Click here for more!

Hatikva Forever

 

Hatikva is controversial for many reasons - two being that its tune seems to have been copied from a Czech symphony, and its Zionist theme is said to alienate non-Jewish Israelis.  But this article suggests that Hatikva's theme of longing and redemption and its melancholy tune are timeless, in contrast to militaristically upbeat anthems of most other countries.

 

 

 

Visit here to read Benjamin Kerstein's Article

 


 
Wednesday October 2, 2013
Israel's Policy Priorities in the Changing Middle East
  

Israeli Consul General D.J. Schneeweiss

  

on Wednesday, October 2, 2013
7:30 p.m. at Holy Blossom Temple

Co-Sponsored by ARZA Canada

 

With the Middle East once again monopolizing headlines in the news, it's difficult to assess the impacts on Israel.

 

The civil war already raging in Syria threatens to expand further beyond its borders, and with it the risk of chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands.  The conflict in Egypt risks becoming civil war.  And, with this background of regional instability, Israel and the Palestinians are attempting

to negotiate peace.  As the cloud of a nuclear Iran still looms overhead. Certainly

we need someone to help us to see the key factors and trends re-shaping the region

and what that will mean to Israel.

 

 



  
  
Prime Minister  arrives in New York 
netanyahu Prime Minister Netanyahu arrives in New York to address the UN as President Obama prepares for exploratory contact with Iranian President Rouhani.  Bibi's mission is to ensure that Iran takes concrete steps to stop its nuclear weapons program before the West softens sanctions.
  
Update from Israel.
Rabbi Rick Jacobs Israel Trip Update
Rabbi Rick Jacobs Israel Trip Update

  
Sports - World Judo Champion

   

Having recently won the World Judo Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Yarden Gerbi is the top-ranked female in the world.  Go to the 2:00 mark of this video to hear Hatikvah played for Yarden Gerbi, Israel's first gold medalist in Judo

 

 

Find out more here.

 

 


 

Yom Kippur 2013
Yom Kipur - Tel Aviv - 2013
Yom Kipur - Tel Aviv - 2013

 

It's legal to drive on Yom Kippur but few people do.  Even in secular Tel Aviv the kids take over the streets.

 

 

Size Doesn't Matter see more!

 

 

 


 

Sunday October 6, 2013
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For Israel's Sake:
Raising the Voices of Progressive Zionists in Canada with Peter Beinart   
  


  
  
WUPJ Statement
   
The World Union for Progressive Judaism representing 1.8 million affiliated Jews in 47 countries calls upon the Jewish Agency and the State of Israel to re-consider seriously the decision to close down  Operation Dove Wings. 
 
This program has successfully brought  7,000 Ethiopian Jews ( Falash Mura or Zera Israel) to live in Israel. Unfortunately, nearly 5000 have been left behind. Many of those, who have been waiting for years to join family already living in Israel are now destitute and are living on charity handouts. The excuse given has been that many of those left are not halachicly Jewish; but all of those who have been previously accepted go though a year  conversion program, even though many  can show matrilineal Jewish decent.

The living conditions in Gondar are harsh and those waiting have few or no  resources. Mothers wait to join children already accepted, siblings their brothers and sisters, The decisions to accept or refuse migration to Israel appears arbitrary and in many cases very unfair, dividing families and committing those left behind to a life of poverty and misery.

Having successfully brought so many Ethiopian Jews to Israel surely the Jewish Agency and the State of Israel could provide a sympathetic gesture and fly those left behind  to live in the land of their dreams.
  
Mike Grabiner                               Dr. Philip Bliss                                                                        Chair, WUPJ                                 WUPJ Advocacy Committee Chair 

  
  
Wednesday October 16, 2013
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"The Jewish Advocacy Challenge: Feeling Good or Doing Good... Why We Can't Have It Both Ways"     
 
Shimon Fogel  
CEO ,CIJA  Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs  
Oct 16 2013 7;30pm at Holy Blossom Temple
 


  
  
A Word of Hebrew

   

We all know that Rosh Hashannah is the Jewish New Year.  Here are a few other expressions that use Rosh (ראש), the Hebrew word for head.

 

Went to his/her head (felt superior) - Alah lo (lah) la-rosh - עלה לו (לה) לראש

 

Dense person (literally sweet potato head) - Rosh batatah - ראש בטטה

 

Feel really good, or get a little drunk - Tofes (tofeset) rosh - תופס (תופסת) ראש

 

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