Portrait was offensive

Letters

Editor: I was a volunteer at the Jewish Book Festival on Nov.17. At that time, I was deeply shocked and offended to see the portrait of Svend Robinson hanging in the Zack Gallery. Now, I'm ashamed and angry.

I have, since then, spent a week in Israel with Canadian Hadassah-WIZO on a solidarity mission.We were greeted as heroes everywhere we went just for being there. Our first stop was the trauma unit in Hadassah Hospital. In the cramped space, we heard how the trauma team treated the most critically injured of the previous day's terrorist attack on a public bus. We visited once-vibrant young men still in hospital recovering from horrendous injuries suffered a year ago in separate suicide bombings. We met with mothers whose children had either been killed or terribly injured. We talked with Israelis about how they have to go on with daily life under such strain, never knowing when or where the next attack will come from. The bomb shelter was included in our tour of a day-care centre. I am at a loss for words to describe just how horrific that was.We heard how isolated and alone Israel feels despite the fact that we are all mishpachah (family). We said we are right behind you, writing letters, holding rallies and wearing buttons.

Frankly, I don't want to hear any clap-trap about artistic merit or censorship while Israel is fighting for its and our life. Quite simply, that portrait of Svend Robinson should never have been displayed in a Jewish community centre. I can only hope that Ambassador Haim Divon didn't hear about it.

Ginny Soronow
Richmond

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