Where Will the Children Go Next Year?

Where Will the Children Go Next Year?

I had the opportunity to visit the wonderful town of Haifa and spend a day visiting the “Hand-in-Hand,” bilingual pre-school. As I mentioned in previous blogs, Hand-in-Hand is the unique, multi-cultural school system that seeks to build bridges between the Jewish and Arab communities from earliest childhood. The pre-school in Haifa, which receives no support from the municipal government, started three years ago with 14 children. This year, they opened their doors to an enrollment of over 60, along with an enviable waiting list of over 90 children. Their tuition is significantly more than the seven dollar a day Garderie (pre-school) in Quebec. And yet, parents are turning to the school in droves, committing to make the world a better place while maintaining their own family’s strong and rich identity – Jewish, Muslim, Christian and in Haifa, Bahai.

The city of Haifa is a very special place in Israel.  The over 3000 year old city is home to a large port, energy and power production (including two large nuclear reactors), the world famous Technion University, the world Centre of the Bahai religion, a population of close to 300,000 and is often touted as a model of peaceful coexistence between the many faiths that call the city home.

Jews remain in the majority of Haifa, while at the same time the significant Arab population represents a very strong, affluent and important part of the cities life and culture. Jews and Arabs live in the same buildings, work together in the same hospitals and hi-tech companies and have, barring the occasional flare-ups, live in peace with their neighbours.

Why is there a question of where the children will go next school year? Status quo is only as good as today’s current events. It does not represent vison. Nor does it speak to the future. It assumes that if things are good today, they will be good tomorrow. However in the Middle East, we know that the landscape can change on a dime. We have seen this countless times; the most recent example was the Gaza war of last summer. Haifa has not yet granted the permit for the school to open a Kindergarten class for next year. So where will these children go next year is a real issue facing their parents and the dedicated educators every day. Will then enter the general system or will they continue in this unique educational environment?

The Hand-in-Hand school system is controversial. There is the obvious fear of intermarriage between Jews and Arabs and the fear of a confused identity. These same fears, however, exist in every location and in every community. There is no sector that can pat themselves on the back and say they have no-intermarriage with non-Jews in their community. And if they tell you that, they are obviously lying. The truth is, according the Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, the overwhelming majority of cases they refer to as “intermarriage,” take place between Jewish men and women from the former Soviet Union whose “Jewish” status is questionable. And in these cases, more often than not, the woman thought she was Jewish to begin with.

I am a strong believer that the ultimate location where values are conveyed and transmitted in the home.  When I began teaching 25 years ago, I believed just the opposite.  I erroneously thought that my and the school’s influence was stronger than the homes. Now I realize that educators, in addition to imparting information and teaching children how to think, can change children’s lives and influence them in a positive way — but 99% of the time, in the arena of values, home trumps school. If parents want to protect their children from intermarriage, the best way to accomplish this is to create an environment of pride and love of being Jewish and a love for Am Yisrael – the Jewish Nation. No school can ever strip a child of this.

What a school like Hand-in-Hand can accomplish though, is to pave a way for better communication, collaboration and a spirit of true peace in the future.

Status quo is never good. It may save you a headache today but you may suffer a migraine tomorrow. The children of Haifa deserve more than just, “Stats Quo.” We would never accept it in Montreal, why should they?

Rabbi P.

The photo above shows Rabbi Perton, standing with Dr. Merav Ben Nun, Community Organizer for Haifa, Hand-in-Hand community. The banner in back of them calls on the Municipality of Haifa to grant the school a permit to open a Kindergarten class for the next school year.

Shalom from Israel

Shalom from Israel

I arrived to Jerusalem several hours before Shabbat on the tail end of what is being referred to as the Blizzard of the Century. While Montrealers would sneer at such a classification, Jerusalemites who never deal with weather below 10 degrees were in a state of panic. “Jerusalem of Gold,” was turned to “Jerusalem of White,” and they didn’t know what to do. One large building, thinking they found a solution to clearing the snow, used their fire hose to melt it. They learned the hard way that water freezes and they had themselves an even bigger problem.

Snow Jersualem 2Shabbat came, the snow melted and I had the opportunity to visit with my children, pray at the Western Wall and enjoy the peace that a Shabbat in the Holy City brings.

Today began the “business,” part of my trip. As our members are aware, I will be leading a trip to Israel in July of 2016 for boys and girls and their families who celebrate their Bar & Bat Mitzva (B’not Mitzva) at Beth Zion. The B’not Mitzva’s trip will more or less be free and the family’s trip will be subsidized. This is all thanks to a generous anonymous donor who has made this possible. In addition to continuing the “Bridge-Building,” activities from my trip in November, I will be spending a significant amount of time planning and meeting with people who will be assisting in the B’not Mitzva trip. Today I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the JNF – the Jewish National Fund who will be helping with the Bar & Bat Mitzva trip. They have so many exciting ideas to make the trip, the once-in-a-lifetime event it will certainly be. I also took the opportunity to enjoy the spring-like weather (I had to get that in) and rent a bike and explore Tel Aviv (who says rabbis can’t do normal things?).

Tomorrow will be a very exciting day. I will be visiting the Yad-B’Yad – Hand-in-Hand School in Jerusalem. They are the school system that seeks to break down barriers by having Jews and Arabs go to school together. I am interested in finding out of it works or if it’s just a token-gesture at peace. I also want to see what ideas I can take back with me to Montreal. I look forward to writing about the visit tomorrow night.

Till then, Lila Tov – Good night from Israel.

Rabbi P.

The Final Day of the Mission to Build Bridges

The Final Day of the Mission to Build Bridges

The last day of any trip is usually the busiest and today did not disappoint. I began the day at the Knesset where I had been invited to visit by Member of Knesset, Yuli Edelstein, the Speaker of the Knesset. MK Edelstein is a very busy man and literally runs the floor of the Knesset along with his own responsibilities being an official in the Likud Party. I was lucky to briefly greet him and then tour the Knesset with his senior assistant, former Montreal Kollel Torah Mitzion rabbi, David Tzviel, a close friend of mine.  While there I was introduced to several committee members and sat in during discussions on the role of women in Israel, a cause that I personally am very passionate about. While there I also had the opportunity to greet and rekindle my friendship with former Israeli Consul General Joel Lion.

Following the visit to the Knesset, I went to Hadassah hospital to visit with Beth Zion member Shelly Rothman-Benhaim and her family. I arrived the same time as the Canadian Ambassador to Israel; Vivian Bercovici was visiting with the family. Ambassador Bercovici, a child of survivors is committed to making sure that Shelly’s brother Howie is not forgotten about by the Canadian government. The report I received today while visiting was more optimistic than I had heard the last time Shelly and I spoke. Howie is slowly being woken from his medically induced coma state. They are cautiously optimistic that while there will be permanent damage; hopefully he will regain much if not all neurological functions. Please continue to pray for Chaim Yechiel Malka that he should have a Refuah Shelema- a Compete and Speedy Recovery. Amen.

As my world-wind, four day trip draws to a close, I am amazed at how much was accomplished. Whether it was meeting with families of victims of terror, visiting hospitals, meeting with an Imam, Rabbis, Druze communal leaders, attending an Ambulance dedication ceremony, touring a famous settlement located on the “Green Line,” giving a blessing to a sick Druze child, visiting a bullet ridden synagogue, meeting dignitaries or praying at the Western Wall; it was an honour and a privilege to represent Beth Zion and the membership every step of the way. I want to thank the Shul for making this trip possible. I look forward to sharing in person in the very near future highlights from the trip and concrete steps that we can take as a community to continue the bridge building that was begun during this special mission.

To Settle or Not to Settle, That is the Question?

To Settle or Not to Settle, That is the Question?

One of the most striking sights in Israel is the constant building you see everywhere you go. Aliya and large families feed a constant stream of eager buyers into the housing market. Israel is booming. This is why it was so striking when I visited the settlement of Tzofiya and the construction, except on temporary short-term trailers was at a standstill.  The government is no longer issuing permits to build new housing in the community. Tzofiya is a settlement that has a great deal of political history. According to the international borders, the “Green Line,” goes straight through this town. Half being on the “”Israeli” side and the other half being on what is referred to as the “West Bank,” or by others as “Occupied Territory.” In order to avoid this problem, Ariel Sharon moved the “Line.”  Literally. He built a fence outside of the town, built a road and declared that the “Line” was on the other side of the fence. Whatever you want to say about Arik Sharon, he was certainly creative.

While visiting Tzofiya I was struck by how the residents, the “settlers,” didn’t fit my preconceived notion of their lives and values. They are passionate Zionists who believe in settling the land. At the same time they recognize that their community (at least the half on the western side of the line) could one day be on the chopping block as part of any final agreement with the Palestinians for a Two State Solution. When asked how they felt about this, their response was that at the end of the day, Israel has never annexed the West Bank and it always was a part of Israel that could be given up for peace.

Tzofiya is a settlement that would be considered politically centrist. What about the dozens of settlements that are located in the “West Bank?” Should we be building there? Is it helpful to the peace process or does it do more harm than good? Does it really matter because G-d promised us Israel and why should we care what the world thinks. These are just a few of the strong opinions out there when it comes to the settlement issue. When I was younger I was caught up in the passion of the Gush Emunim settlement movement. I wanted to live in the city of Hebron with the 100 idealistic Jewish residents surrounded by 60,000 Arab residents. But now I question whether it’s the right thing to do or not. My personal opinion is evolving as I process current events and issues of peace and security that are a constant in the lives of Israelis.  I look forward to discussing this with members of Beth Zion in the coming weeks and months as we watch history play out before our eyes. I look forward to heated debates and strong conversations.

A Day of Building Bridges

A Day of Building Bridges

In Israel the city of Acco is unique. It is one of the only cities where the Jewish community and the Arab Islamic community live in peaceful coexistence. They live in the same buildings and often go to the same schools. When Ramadan ends the Arab community prepares hundreds of kosher meals so the Jewish community can break the Ramadan fast with them. When Yom Kippur ends, the Jewish community extends the same invitation and hosts the Arab community to join their break fasts.  Truly a beautiful and special city. One of the people responsible for this is Sheikh Samir Assi, the Imam of the al-Jazaar mosque. Today I had the opportunity to discuss with him race relations, what Jews and Muslims have in common and how we can join together to bring peace. He urged me to reach out to Muslim clerics in Montreal claiming that for every fundamentalist, there are ten moderates who are afraid to speak up but would be receptive to an extended hand. I am looking forward to accepting his challenge.

Later in the day I also had the opportunity to visit and pay a “Shiva Call” to the Druze family whose son died at the hands of terrorists at the Har Nof Massacre. I never knew that 99% of the Druze serve in the Israeli army; a larger percentage than the Jewish citizens. I visited with the parents, uncles, brothers and cousins of slain police officer Zidan Saif. The walls of their home were decorated with pictures of the men in the family proudly wearing their Israeli army uniforms. The one message they wanted me to share was that the government and the world Jewish community should never forget their loyalty and sacrifice that they make for the State of Israel. They serve Israel with love and dedication and want that to never be forgotten.

The day concluded with visits to two more Druze homes. In one home I met a Druze soldier who was convalescing after his arm was injured in a recent terror attack. I was brought to a second home because their daughter is very sick. When the family heard that I was going to be in their community they asked for me to come to their home and bless their daughter for a Refuah Shelema. I am bringing her name along with the injured Druze soldier’s name back to Montreal to add to our Mishaberach list at Beth Zion.

Today was a wakeup call for me that we can find partners on the other side of the table. Peace is elusive but not impossible. We need to be brave, be willing to take risks but as Sheikh Assi told me, “Never give up Tikva (hope).”

After a Peaceful Shabbat…

After a Peaceful Shabbat…

Shavua Tov. I hope everyone in Montreal had a wonderful Shabbat. After spending Shabbat in Jerusalem, I would like to echo the famous words of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.” Jerusalem being home. This morning I had the privilege of Davening the Shabbat morning services at the Kotel. What a beautiful Minyan made up from Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Hasidic, Unaffiliated and Secular Jews, all joining together at the Western Wall to pray together in a spirit of Jewish Unity.

Unfortunately Shabbat ends and the real world returns. I would like to reflect on a tragic event that took place in Jerusalem tonight. There was an arson attack on a bilingual school in the Pat neghbourhood. By “bilingual,” I mean Hebrew and Arabic. Scrawled on the building was graffiti stating, “Death to Arabs,” Kahana was right” and “There is no coexistence with cancer.” Our nation has been on the receiving end of anti-Semitism for as long as we have existed as a people. How dare we ever become racists! It is offensive to every man, woman or child who perished in the holocaust that we should use the same words that Nazis used towards us. Yes there are serious issues of peace and coexistence at this moment. But let us never ever become the perpetrators of racist violence or intimidation.

Tomorrow I will be traveling to Acre (Akko) and meeting with Sheikh Samir Assi, the Imam of the al-Jazaar mosque in the city. I hope to ask him for his thoughts on what we can do to begin building bridges instead of tearing them down. I look forward to returning to Montreal with a mission and a vison for our community as to how we can play a role in bringing much needed peace between the Jewish and Islamic communities.