A personal reflection on returning home to Israel at war – Chorvat Barzel (Sword of Iron)

By Cantor Emeritus Beny Maissner

 

Cantor Emeritus Beny Maissner will also share his reflections and more at the L’Chaim program with Jack Kugelmass on Thursday, May 2 at 5:00 pm. 

Since October 7, I was yearning to be in Israel, to help, however I could, and to be part of the difficult times our people are living through. I was finally able to go in March and spend three weeks volunteering and visiting. I will attempt to express my observations and the deep feelings I experienced, although, it is extremely difficult to put them into words.

My daughter, Shira, and I arrived at Ben Gurion airport on March 17. The airport was unusually empty. Its walls were splashed with pictures of the hostages. This was our first encounter with the undercurrent of a tense and uneasy spirit that had overtaken the country. Nonetheless, the hustle and bustle outside of the arrival area and in the streets of Tel Aviv seemed as if nothing had changed. This paradoxical existence accompanied me throughout the three weeks of visiting and volunteering, in different capacities and programs.

WEEK ONE

One of those programs is SAR-EL. This organization is associated with the IDF. It places volunteers from around the world on army bases, to help out and ease the burden of soldiers and reservists. We spent one week at the IDF supply base CHATZERIM, near Be’er Sheva. The daily routine reminded me of my own days in the IDF—early to rise, praying, a quick breakfast, and the official ceremony of raising the flag. After I was identified as an Israeli veteran, I was given the honour to be the first to raise my flag. Needless to say, I was very emotional.

The working tasks were not physically strenuous. Sometimes even boring. But the feelings of togetherness and being in the midst of action brought people of different backgrounds closer together. So much so, that within a few days, I had several new friends. As an extra bonus, I met people from Toronto who recognized me.

A highlight of that week was a visit to OFAKIM, one of the places that suffered greatly on October 7. There was a party with refreshments and entertainment for the soldiers and reservists coming out of Gaza for a few hours of break. This celebration was donated by incredible teams of volunteering Israelis, who represent every sector of Israeli Society—religious, secular, Charedi, Jews, and non-Jews. Naturally, I mingled with many of the young soldiers, telling them my own IDF story. They were all so kind and warm and expressed their appreciation for our being there and supporting them during these horrific days.

When I asked their opinion on the outcome of the war, their eyes lit up with a sparkle of convinced triumph that the war would end with the complete destruction of Hamas. My eyes teared, as I witnessed their determination, their fighting spirit, and the sacrifices they are willing to make to come out victorious.

To conclude the week, we visited the renewed Diaspora Museum in Tel Aviv, now named ANU (We): Museum of the Jewish People. The museum’s motto is Who are we? What makes us, the smallest nation on earth, the largest family in the world. All aspects of Jewish background, ethnic culture, achievements, and diversity are splendidly presented.

SAR- EL was an incredible experience for me. I highly recommend it to you.

WEEKS TWO AND THREE

My wife, Hope, joined me in Israel for the next two weeks, which were filled with mingling with family and friends and participating in other volunteer activities.

My perception of the paradoxical existence of Israel’s two moods was deepened. On one hand, people are always glued to the news and feel morbid with every announcement of a fallen young soldier. The current situation in Gaza and the Northern Front constantly occupies their minds. Uncertainty and unresolved questions related to when and if evacuated families will return to their homes linger in every heart. However, life continues with vigour and regularity in every corner of the country. Theatre, concerts, opera, and other cultural events take place as if nothing is threatening their existence. Coffee houses and restaurants are filled to capacity so that one cannot even make a reservation.

Israelis seem to live a double life. But the full spectrum of Israeli society is convinced of N’NATZEACH B’YACHAD together we will win.

Additional volunteering experiences during these weeks were extremely painful, but fulfilling as mitzvot that I was privileged to undertake.

A dear friend of mine developed an unconventional rehabilitation technique, which has been very successful in devastating situations where doctors have no other strategies or medicines to offer. I went with Yechiel to Tel Hashomer, the largest rehabilitation center, and met a critically wounded soldier who was shot in Chan Yunis. The details are too gruesome to describe. He was paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own. With the guidance of my friend, I showed him how to inhale and exhale using his diaphragm. Using loud Cantorial vocal demonstrations, to the laughter of the patient in the next bed, we worked together for over two hours. He fought fiercely like a lion and showed some positive results by the end. I was privileged to bless and hug this patient. We shed tears together and with members of his family.

Also, while helping my friend Yechiel in his unusual technique of rehabilitation, I revisited a young boy who was critically wounded a few years ago in the tragedy in MEIRON on LAG BAOMER. Thirteen-year-old Elazar was buried under a pile of people for hours. The tragic result was total brain damage and an inability to breathe on his own. I met Elazar and his family on my previous trip to Israel, in November of 2022. I made Elazar laugh, nonstop, and the parents asked for me to visit again. The joy Elazar demonstrated with his laughter when he saw me walk into the apartment, made me feel blessed and honoured to be there. This time, we worked on making vocal sounds. As a Levi, I asked his father, an orthodox Rabbi, if I could invoke the Priestly Blessing. This was a sacred and holy moment for all of us.

Hope and I visited Hostage Square a few times, witnessing the sadness and helplessness of the families. I had a chance to talk about one particular hostage, Omer Shem Tov, who was named at the square. I remembered carrying his picture during one of the Toronto rallies. I also brought warm greetings on behalf of our Jewish community of Toronto. This was deeply appreciated by visitors and the Israeli public, who were present at the time.

In another effort to help, Hope and I worked in a warehouse full of contributions from around the world that needed to be distributed to displaced families throughout Israel. Sorting endless items of all kinds, for inventory, organizing, and filling order requests, was a satisfying and meaningful way to contribute.

Finally, I carried with me to Israel two heavy suitcases of clothing, medical supplies, and many other items that were requested by the headquarters of the LONE SOLDIER. I delivered these in Jerusalem’s main office, to a very appreciative group of Lone Soldier volunteers. This too, gave me a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Of course, I would not pass up the opportunity to visit Fredzia Marmur. Michael took us for a short visit, which Fredzia greatly appreciated.

FINAL REFLECTION

There were so many equally moving moments during the three weeks I spent in my beloved Israel with family and childhood friends, talking, discussing, and dreaming of solutions to the problems Israel faces. Witnessing how life has halted and yet continued, how it is mourned and still celebrated, and how it is subdued and also boisterous reminded me of the resilience and beautiful spirit of our people and our people’s connectivity throughout the world. We are all part of Israel’s destiny and Israel is part of ours. We may be a small people, but we are one big family. Am Yisrael Chai.

 

Reflections on “An Open Letter To Canada’s Political Leaders” (Published in The Globe and Mail April 2, 2024)

By one of the authors of the Open Letter, Barry Campbell MP (1993-97) Holy Blossom Member

 

The recent immigrant was leaving my Riding office on Eglington and turned to say something more: “Mr. Campbell” he said, “When I came to Canada that was the first time I could sleep through the night unafraid”. I was very proud of Canada at that moment and in serving as a Member of Parliament. What that new Canadian said to me stayed with me for 30 years.

I thought about that immigrant last summer as I read about the strife between Sikhs and Indians in Canada and in the Eritrean community here who have seen their picnics and public meetings broken up by agitators from one faction or another. I thought about that immigrant when I read that Cineplex had to pull South Asian films from theatres because of drive-by shootings. I thought about the truckers blocking bridges and occupying Ottawa. I thought of the anti-vaxxers preventing doctors from entering hospitals and I began to write to Canada’s political leaders asking them to put aside partisanship and acknowledge that we have a problem which is a threat to the very social fabric of Canada.

Then the horrific events of October 7th took place and we started to experience the explosion of hate after that.

It shamed me that the Canada that immigrant described, the Canada I was so proud of on that day 30 years ago, was disappearing. Jews were afraid, but I knew that we did not have a monopoly on fear in the Canada of 2024. The letter I was writing moved from polite to urgent urging specific steps, among them the investments of time, money, and other resources necessary to understanding and reversing this dangerous trend.

The letter had to get out there.

I knew from collaborating with The Globe and Mail a few years ago (to secure funding for the surviving victims of thalidomide) that the Globe understands its responsibility as a national institution to use its platform and convening power to highlight important national issues. I also knew from the earlier work that when the Globe engaged on an important national issue they would stay with the story.

I approached the Globe about the letter, and they immediately agreed to publish it once I had signatures. They had been getting more and more concerned about the same issues the letter was focused on and about the void in political leadership to address it.

With the Globe’s promise, I set out to get signatures.

This wouldn’t be a petition but a letter to be signed by a range of concerned Canadians. I had written the letter with the important input of a very small group of people. We worked hard to craft a letter that could be widely endorsed because the problem was about more than what one community was enduring. And I sensed that making the letter about one community might cause some to dismiss it as “not my problem”.

As circulated, the letter stated that divisions over complex and often controversial current events are deep, and passions often run high. This, we said, is a sign of a vibrant, healthy democracy, except when divisions manifest themselves as intimidation, harassment and other behaviours that silence others’ voices or impede the free expression of their views. We asked that the right to just go about your life without intimidation and fear be restored as well as the right not to be forced to take a stand.

The letter did not take sides on any specific event or issue, including the Israel-Hamas war. We were optimistic that, expressed this way, the letter could be widely endorsed and be a constructive step towards promoting greater empathy and respect among Canadians of all different experiences and viewpoints. We wanted signatures to be a public demonstration of a shared commitment to safeguarding a culture of respectful dialogue and discourse in Canada.

There wasn’t time for the pitch to potential signatories to be scientific or national, as I was relying on my own network and a few friends to publicize the letter with people I didn’t know. In order to be most effective, we needed the letter to be endorsed by representatives from many communities and other concerned Canadians.

The “yield” was actually pretty high (50 signatories from less than 100 approached). The solicitation of support took place over an intense few weeks. People we approached needed to absorb and consider the initiative. Some in corporate or community organizations needed to consult internally before signing. Some wanted to talk about and understand the genesis of the initiative and the goals. Some needed to know who else would be signing. Some wanted to know that this would be more than just a letter – that there would be follow-up steps. Some signed quickly and with no questions perhaps reflecting who asked them or strong identification with the content of the letter. Some we approached were still mulling about signing when the letter was published. Some did not reply to the “ask” and it was unfair to guess why that might be. Some said they would endorse the letter after it was published.

Reflecting on this fraught time, some were shy about signing their name. Others saw signing as a way to do something when they had been feeling powerless in the face of what they have seen happening. No one we spoke to disagreed with the content or spirit of the letter.

Contacts we approached in the corporate sector applauded the letter but reported that they were taking “a pause” on signing things. This “correction” has seen them move from signing everything to signing nothing. (The former was not sustainable, the latter will not/should hold.) Some called after publication to say they regretted not signing.

I stopped when we got to 50 Canadians – clergy, ex-politicians, community leaders, arts leaders and other concerned Canadians.

The letter appeared in The Globe and Mail on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, titled: An Open Letter to Canada’s Political Leaders – for the sake of the country’s future. Alongside it the Globe Editorial Board published a powerful Editorial Board statement titled; The defence of civility rests on all of us. The letter and companion Editorial were given great prominence in both the online and print editions of the Globe. In the print edition, the letter and editorial sat side by side taking up the entire Editorial page, something which is truly unprecedented. The Globe also published an article describing the origin and context for the letter.

The Globe did what they promised.

There was a very positive reaction to the letter and companion editorial.

Media interviews (radio, TV and online), subsequent to publication consisted primarily of interviews with five ex-politicians who had signed. I was not insulted (much) to be ignored. This project wasn’t about seeking recognition. I had done my best. I’d done something and having the letter printed was like sending a child off, having done your best, holding your breath and waiting to see what would happen.

The story the media wanted to focus on was political discourse and to make the story only about how politicians speak to, or about, each other. Some of those interviewed were successful in steering the conversation back to the broad principles in the letter. The letter asked for more than civility among politicians. Opposition Leader Poilievre and Prime Minister Trudeau making nice wouldn’t make a huge impression on all the groups screaming at each other. The letter makes an urgent call for all political leaders to acknowledge and address the increasingly hostile and combative public square in Canada.

The more interesting story than why former politicians signed the letter, is perhaps why the Ghanaian Canadian Association signed or the Baha’i community or a Canadian of Japanese ancestry? She shared with me her reason for doing so, and that reason takes us all the way back to the racism of the 1940s that led to the internment of Japanese Canadians in 1942. She read the letter and thought that in 1942 if Canadians had come together as we were now, it might have changed things. This reason was a sobering history lesson. As Jews, we are not the only ones who ask: ” What if?” or think: ” If only…”

The feedback I have received is that many Canadians have been waiting for someone to say what we and the Globe said on April 2nd. Fear, frustration and concern are widespread. Canadians are not alone in the anxieties they are feeling and are hungry for the tools to address that and for more of us to model behaviours that take us forward. The letter appears to have had particular resonance in Quebec.

There were comments that there were not enough people of colour who signed. Would someone know from the names? One of the people who signed has a very common name and he’s Black. People of colour were approached to sign. They wanted to; but were constrained by policies where they work etc.

Too few women is another and a fair comment; but again the outreach was not scientific. The number of women who signed does not tell you how many were asked. If we waited for the right balance (and who decides what that is?), we may never have published. The letter is a start.

There should be opportunities for others to now endorse it or, better still, to support initiatives underway consistent with the principles in the letter. Meaningful work is being done to address matters we are concerned about. More is coming to light and more needs to be done.

The Federal Budget announced a raft of anti-hate measures. The House of Commons passed a unanimous motion condemning anti-semitism. These are all a start with more to be done.

As the Globe editorial stated, responsibility lies with all of us. We can each model better behaviour. It has been remarked that the inter and intra-community coarseness we described is seeping into everyday encounters.

My work is mostly done. It is on all of us now to listen to each other’s narratives and work to understand each other’s pain and fears. We need to move past “what aboutism” to empathy; but draw a line at intimidation, obstruction, fear and hate. It is time to resume the work of building the Canada that new Canadian spoke about 30 years ago.