Are Montreal Jews passive?
Today, I was at a screening of Jenin: Massacring Truth, which was hosted by the CIJR. The movie was interesting and thought-provoking (albeit with a clear bias), and afterwards the conversation among the dozen-odd attendees turned to how to show it to a wider audience, particularly a wider Jewish audience. Someone suggested hosting it in a synagogue, another said that it would never happen because Montreal Jews are "passive." The bitterness in his voice was shocking. If only those Montreal Jews would stand up and DO something! If only they'd be more vocal and supportive of Israel!
The statement went unchallenged, as everyone silently nodded their heads. Those passive Montreal Jews...
I was disturbed at this statement, because I don't find Montreal Jewry passive at all. They donate to Israel. Almost all the Jewish households I know either donate to Israeli charities or have a tzedakah box (where you collect spare change and then donate it to Israel when it gets full).
The Montreal Jewish community sends its youth to Israel to experience the country first-hand. They fund the Birthright Israel programs, letting young Jewish adults travel to Israel for free. They support the March of the Living, which I participated in as a high-school student. Montreal routinely sends the most students from a single city in the world! (249 in 2008, according to this source.)
Montreal Jews educate their children in being Jewish. According to this source, there were 7,000 students enrolled in 33 Jewish schools in 2009. (Caveat: I don't know where they get their numbers.) I went to one of those schools, and we definitely learned about the history of Judaism in general, and of Israel in particular.
Yes, granted, Montreal Jews don't go out on protest marches or even pride marches, flags a-waving and voices raised in chant. That might be because the average Montreal Jew is 41 years old. Let's face it: when you're in your late 30s and early 40s, you show your support by donating money, influencing business and politics where you can, and writing letters to the editor. You don't start shouting the street and screening controversial movies in your synagogue.
Is the Montreal Jewish community passive towards Israel? Hardly! Just because they're not setting up tables next to the Palestinians on campus doesn't mean they're not doing their part. Or at least, that's the way I see it. Anyone else have any thoughts?
The statement went unchallenged, as everyone silently nodded their heads. Those passive Montreal Jews...
I was disturbed at this statement, because I don't find Montreal Jewry passive at all. They donate to Israel. Almost all the Jewish households I know either donate to Israeli charities or have a tzedakah box (where you collect spare change and then donate it to Israel when it gets full).
The Montreal Jewish community sends its youth to Israel to experience the country first-hand. They fund the Birthright Israel programs, letting young Jewish adults travel to Israel for free. They support the March of the Living, which I participated in as a high-school student. Montreal routinely sends the most students from a single city in the world! (249 in 2008, according to this source.)
Montreal Jews educate their children in being Jewish. According to this source, there were 7,000 students enrolled in 33 Jewish schools in 2009. (Caveat: I don't know where they get their numbers.) I went to one of those schools, and we definitely learned about the history of Judaism in general, and of Israel in particular.
Yes, granted, Montreal Jews don't go out on protest marches or even pride marches, flags a-waving and voices raised in chant. That might be because the average Montreal Jew is 41 years old. Let's face it: when you're in your late 30s and early 40s, you show your support by donating money, influencing business and politics where you can, and writing letters to the editor. You don't start shouting the street and screening controversial movies in your synagogue.
Is the Montreal Jewish community passive towards Israel? Hardly! Just because they're not setting up tables next to the Palestinians on campus doesn't mean they're not doing their part. Or at least, that's the way I see it. Anyone else have any thoughts?