AROUND OUR REGION : CAPE BRETON
speaker, as she had been the Yom Hashoah guest speaker throughout the Atlantic provinces. Her book, Double Threat deals with Canadian Jews, The Military, and World War 2. Canadian Jewish soldiers faced antiSemitism not only from Nazi Germany but within the ranks of the armed forces and from doubting politicians. She presented slides and provided information some of which was quite surprising as was the fact that only 3 young people out of approximately 1000 students in a Toronto high school recognized Anne Frank. Bessner also provided copies of the Canada Times, this one titled Remembers. It is a Veterans’ Week Special Edition that highlights historical moments of Canadians in service of their country. Sydney Shulemson from Montreal trained as an RCAF pilot. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his courage and innovative techniques. Out of some 50 sorties, he is believed to have taken out at least 13 enemy vessels. He was one of the most decorated Jewish Canadian servicemen of the Second World War. He was made an instructor. He did not receive a Promotion... There were 2 events that day, the other was a parade in Sydney commemorating The Battle of Britain. Thus, we had a smaller but very interested group who attended from the local community that day. As history moves on we see one kind of understanding transform into another... I sense people are becoming aware of the rise in anti-Semitism, what with the shooting of Jews in a San Diego area synagogue, a Democratic Congress woman alluding to “the Benjamins” and of course the New York Times Cartoon... Recently, Bret Stephens, An American journalist, editor, and political commentator responded to a statement about Jews and criticism on the Bill Maher Show stating that we do not object to criticism; we object to demonization! Do not say we have nothing... yet one does feel vulnerable... ***
As I write this article today, I realize it is Mother’s Day. I recently discovered in my closet a small box left behind by my mother. It contained an assortment of pins. It says so much about her ( and my father ) and many of their generation. Inside the box were 2 Magen Davids, one inscripted with Zion in Hebrew letters, a Life Member pin for Hadassah Wizo, a tie clip adorned with a siddur whose cover moved to reveal the 10 commandments, a Youth Aliyah Guardian pin, 2 Canadian Hadassah Wizo president pins, a National Membership Award pin for Hadassah Canada, and 3 other designs of Canadian Hadassah Wizo pins. There were also Nova Scotia tie pins. My father always flew 3 flags from a flagpole at our cottage on the Mira River. The Canadian, The Nova Scotian and the Flag of Israel. It was a natural response for my mother to serve her Jewish community. She did not think twice. My father was braver than I think I would be today in these times. He did not demur when identifying himself as Jewish. With a generation like this behind us...Do not say we have nothing. S PHOTOS: (1-3) Beautiful Day! (4) Ellin Bessner (5) Tootsie (6) Magen David Hadassah Wizo pin and Tie Clip (7) Joan Elman (8) Seder (9) Frank Elman (10-11) Kiddush with special guests Ellin Bessner and Naomi Rosenfeld (12) Seder
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SPR ING 2019
Shalom
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