A Tent of Protest and of Hope


Along the trees and bougainvilleas that line a residential street near downtown Jerusa- lem, stands an open-flapped tent. Over the entrance is a huge four-digit number, tal- lying the number of days that Gilad Shalit remains in captivity at the hands of Hamas in Gaza. At this reading, it’s more than 1,700 days – about 4-1/2 years. Just meters from the official residence of


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the tent was set up by Gilad’s parents, Aviva and Noam, who have vowed to camp out there, holding vigil until their son is freed. “We leſt home four months ago and start-


ed by foot to Jerusalem from the north of the country and we’ve been sitting here ever since,” says Noam, whose son was kidnapped, while serving in an IDF patrol near the Gaza Strip in 2006. Te tent is plastered with posters and


placards bearing messages of support from across Israel and the world. Believed to be held in solitary confinement in Gaza, Gilad has had no visitation by the outside world. “We keep demanding the International


Red Cross to gain access,” says Noam, “but unfortunately they are not able to put any pressure on Hamas.” While Hamas demands the release of


hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel in exchange for Gilad, diplomatic efforts to secure his release are at an impasse, raising


Noam Shalit and David Bale


the fear among family and supporters that Gilad will be forgotten over time. “Our goal is to put pressure on our prime


minister,” says an agonizing Noam, “because the decision is totally in his hands. Unfortu- nately there is only one alternative: to free Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, in- cluding hard-core prisoners with blood on their hands.” Many Israelis view capitulation as an in-


vitation to more kidnappings and hostage taking, but not everyone. “Our experience tells us the majority of Israeli people – from the leſt and the right – support the release of Gilad aſter so many years,” insists Noam. Israeli opera singer Naomi Lifshitz volun-


teers in the tent, greeting visitors. “Gilad,” she says, “has taught us the 11th Commandment: don’t abandon or desert. Brotherhood re- quires you to bring back Gilad at any price.” fn


The Visionary and the Collector


Theodor Herzl and David Matlow were born a century apart. One is the visionary who prescribed the national liberation of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland; the other is a Toronto lawyer and keeper of one of the world’s largest collections of Herzl re- lated paraphernalia, 2,000 items in all. To celebrate Herzl’s 150th birthday, Matlow put a portion of his


collection on public display at Beth Tzedec’s Reuben and Helene Dennis Museum, including postage stamps, books, documents, photos, postcards, posters, paintings, a Herzl bobble head, and even a giant Rubik’s Cube rendering of Herzl. An expanded version of the exhibit is set to open next at Baycrest. What started with a single poster 20 years ago has grown to


include one-of-a-kind revealing artifacts. “Te exhibit shows there were meetings, planning and instru-


ments of a state in creation that were assembled prior to World War I,” says Matlow. “Tat’s long before [Herzl’s] vision was ever realized.” Matlow also has a vision: to get the collection exhibited in a U.S.


museum. Like the Zionist visionary, the collector too has the will to make his dream a reality.


fn MOVIE MAVEN by Jack Ferdman The Top 5 Jewish Movie Characters of All Time


The possibilities are endless, as are the criteria. I looked for characters that are central to the film’s theme. Here are my picks — let the debate begin. 5. David Greene (School Ties, 1992) This often forgotten film conjures ideas of hiding one’s faith amongst the unified majority. David struggles with his faith and its placement within the WASP Ivy league school where he has been recruited to play football. Does he lose his identity for the love of sport and assimilating with new friends? Abso- lutely not. Internal angst fills David, and Brendan Fraser’s performance guides the conflict throughout the movie. 4. Yentl Mendel (Yentl, 1983) Jewish struggles of a different kind are at the core in this not-so-great film about a 17-year-old Barbara Streisand (yeah right) trying to befriend a group of Yeshiva boys. She disguises herself as a man, falls in love and sings about her troubles throughout the film. The “character” she portrays is one of Jewish exclusion: a struggle for her to be educated in the same man- ner as her male counterparts. Ideas of faith, tradition and the gender swapping of Babs make Yentl a very memorable character in a very forgettable film. 3. Avram (The Frisco Kid, 1979) If you are looking for a hidden gem of a film, this is it! This movie is where the Wild West meets Judaism.


Photo: Avi Kagan (top left) Gene Wilder Barbara Streisand


Gene Wilder is brilliant as a klutz rabbi, but his passion for the Torah, his love of the future bride he has never met, and most importantly his interaction with a bank robber cowboy, played by a young and brilliant Harrison Ford, makes his nonsense believable and hysterical at the same time. He completely transforms the rough and tumble Ford along the way, teaching him about faith, compassion, love and understanding — a true rabbi! His warm heart, puppy dog gazes and perfect timing make Wilder’s Avram a classic! 2. Moses (The Ten Commandments, 1956) This one is obvious. How can you forget Charlton Heston, the man who saved the Jewish slaves from Yul Brynner? His persecution, faith in G-d, compassion and his leading of the Israelites to the Promised Land are all reason enough to put him on this list. Actually, I just don’t want a plague sent my way! 1. Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof, 1971) Undeniably number one! Topol’s Tevye encompasses all that is Jewish. The audience totally connects with him. We value his belief and inner discussions with G-d, we feel the devotion to his family, we empathize with his stub- bornness and, of course most of all, we understand his Tradition. He sings “If I Were a Rich Man,” but we are richer for having Tevye within all of us.


fn Winter 2011 friday night 13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48