Jul 4, 2017 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
It has been a long day but we are finally here in Israel. All of the participants are happy, safe and feeling the connection with Israel.
We arrived in Tel Aviv and were met by the guides. We then traveled by bus to the Galilee where we are staying at the Ein Gev Kibbutz. All along the way our guide Lior, pointed out historic sites and shared history of the region. After settling into our rooms, we made our way to the Kibbutz dining hall for dinner (where we celebrated being in Israel with a special L’Chaim) followed by a campfire on the shores of Yam Kinneret (Sea of Galilee).
Tomorrow is a busy day, Rosh HaNikra on the Israel/Lebanese border to go Jet Boating. Afterwards, we travel to Tzfat (Safed) to experience the mystical city and then we will explore the Golan Heights on All Terrain Vehicles.
Enjoy the attached pictures. Laila Tov – Good night from Israel.
Rabbi P.
May 23, 2017 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
Arriving at the famous King David Hotel, you immediately knew that this was not an ordinary Shabbat. Security was tight and each person entering was checked and double-checked. This was due to the fact that on Monday, President Donald Trump will be staying at the very same hotel I was celebrating Shabbat with our Premier (unfortunately the Premier is being kicked out of the hotel in deference to the President). After being allowed to enter, I felt right away that I was in an oasis of Quebec and Montreal.
Our Premier, Philippe Couillard is leading a delegation to Israel to bolster trade and collaboration with business leaders from Quebec. He is the first sitting Premier to take such a step. He should be congratulated for his efforts to support Israel and to not give in to the BDS movement that seeks to hurt Israel and weaken trade with the West.
Shabbat was celebrated with Zemirot (traditional Shabbat songs) led by a group of Israeli soldiers who make up an a-capella group. One of the people sitting at my table (a non Jewish businessman from Quebec City) commented, “my son is attending McGill while these boys, when they are not singing are serving their country. I only wish my son would feel such a dedication to a loftier purpose.”
The Premier spoke (while wearing a Kippa) about how wonderful it is to be in Israel and to support the country. He commented about his willingness to take the trip in spite of certain elements that may frown on it, “because I would rather lose in the polls than to compromise on what I believe in – I believe in the State of Israel and want to support it in any way possible.” I felt a great sense of pride being with him and hearing such positive words about Israel.
On Monday I will have the opportunity to spend an hour with the Premier at the Hand in Hand School and look forward to hearing from him his thoughts and impressions on Israeli society, culture, education and how he and I can collaborate in the future with the Jewish community in Quebec and Beth Zion Congregation.
May 2, 2017 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
Yom HaAtzmaut in Israel
Last night and today, Am Yisrael celebrates Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel Independence Day. Although I am participating in a conference with Cardinals and Bishops in Tevaria, the special nature of the day has not been lost. Bishops wish me, “Chag Sameach,” with blessings that I should enjoy my “Feast of Independence.”
Last night I decided to see how the city of Tevaria (the conference is being held nearby) celebrates Yom HaAtzmaut. Not knowing where to go or what to do, I jumped in a taxi and simply asked, “Take me to where the celebrations are going on.” We arrived a few minutes later in the center of town where the streets were closed and the entire town square was full of thousands of people celebrating our 69th year of independence. Children were running around blowing bubbles and twirling coloured lights, while their parents listened to live concerts and feasted on Israel’s national food – barbeque. I stood there soaking up the energy and the excitement of the most resilient nation in the world. Even when there are countless enemies out there who threaten to wipe us out, the people know how to appreciate and celebrate what they have – a homeland.
In Montreal each year we have our own special celebrations. Evening events with Kollel Torah Mitzion and a community rally at Philips Square. At Beth Zion, during our services this morning we recited the Hallel prayer, recognizing the miracle of having or own country. What an honour it was this morning to recite Hallel in the place that we in Montreal focus our celebrations and prayers towards.
I will write more lately about the amazing ecumenical conference I am attending; however for now I want to wish everyone a Chag Sameach! May we have the opportunity one day to celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut together in Israel.
Am Yisrael Chai!
May 1, 2017 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
We arrived in Israel at 10:00 am Monday morning, May 1st. As soon as we got off the plane you could tell that today was a different. Anyone who has ever travelled to Israel is used to seeing soldiers everywhere. Today however, they were all dressed in their more formal, “dress uniforms.” There was also a more sombre atmosphere in the air, with all of the flags being flown at half-mast. Today is Yom HaZikaron, the day when Israel and world Jewry remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice so we could have a place to call home. Today we mourn 23,544 fathers, sons, mothers and daughters (we added 97 more names in the past year).
As 11:00 am drew near, people started to nervously wait with dreaded anticipation for the traditional air-raid siren that sounds thought Israel that marks the minute of silent reflection. I was still in the airport, one of the busiest places in Israel and the instant the siren went off, everything stopped. There was no movement, parents held their children, porters stopped carrying bags and the conveyor belts that whir constantly delivering luggage to those waiting anxiously for their bags, ground to a halt.
The same scene was playing out throughout the country. Cars on the highway stop wherever they are and the drivers get out and stand in solemn attention, not only paying tribute to the fallen soldiers, but feeling a sense of solidarity with Jews of every walk of life who were doing the same thing – showing appreciation to the young men and women who nobly gave their lives.
I haven’t been in Israel for Yom HaZikaron since 1990. And while in Montreal we recognize Yom HaZikaron, in Israel the day takes on a whole new meaning.
Yehi Zichram Baruch – May their memory be a blessing and a source of inspiration for all of us. May their families find comfort in the fact the they have never been forgotten. Am Yisrael Chai!
Nov 15, 2015 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
The world is still reeling from the terrible massacre that took place in Paris this past Friday. So many victims of terror. So many injured. So many families lives destroyed through acts of terror. Every person with a beating heart and a soul mourns the loss of life and stands in solidarity with France in their time of mourning. Beth Zion Congregation in Montreal, Canada, extends its condolences and offers prayers on behalf of those injured in the terror attacks and for the families who lost loved ones. May God give them the strength needed at this difficult time.
As a Rabbi and a humanitarian, I was pained to read a quote in the Jerusalem Post from Rabbi Dov Lior, the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba in Israel. Lior commented in relation to the recent terror attacks in France, “The wicked ones in blood-soaked Europe deserve it for what they did to our people 70 years ago.” According to the Talmud, prophecy ended with the Prophet Malachi who died about 2500 years ago. Rabbi Lior’s opinions are his and do not represent authentic Judaism. Allow me go one-step further. Rabbi Lior’s hate filled message is the antithesis of authentic Jewish values and ideas.
The Jewish Nation that has been the target and the victim of pogroms, holocausts, terrorism and massacres. We need to be the first to speak out against acts of atrocities. We need to the first to wave the banner of humanitarianism and compassion. To pour salt in the wounds of the Parisians is not just wrong, its evil. Lior is not a prophet and cannot speak on behalf of God as to why events such as the Paris massacre took place. If we want to know what God has to say about this event, we simply need to open King David’s Psalms. In Psalm 145 the great king and poet wrote, “God shows mercy on all of his creations.” We need to emulate King David, an authentic Jewish leader and not take direction from false prophets.
Feb 27, 2015 | Rabbi Perton's Blog
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.
