Students debate Israeli issues

JANNETTE EDMONDS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

Should Israel immediately dismantle the security fence it is building? Should the state withdraw from the United Nations? These are usually debates that rage among the ranks of politicians and media pundits. But close to 40 local Jewish high school students took the issues to task at the recent 12th Annual Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (JFGV) School Debates.

The Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC) was scene to 14 debating teams who argued these topics, as well as whether Canadian Jewish communities should set aside a subsidy to provide a one-year educational experience in Israel for Canadian Jewish youth. There was no overall winner but rather a winner from each debate.

The trophy for the senior level, Grade 12 students, went to Hana Nagel and Benjamin Stern from Vancouver Talmud Torah who debated on subsidizing an Israeli educational experience for Canadian Jewish youth.

The intermediate level debates (grades 9 and 10) took on the topic of Israel withdrawing from the United Nations. Vancouver Hebrew Academy successfully argued that Israel needed to be part of the world assembly despite the UN's anti-Israel leanings so that Israel would be able to bring up its issues and have its voice heard. Winning one of the trophies for this debate level were Sarah Clyde, Shaina Sara Tauby, Loren Vernon and Zlata Gurevich.

"Israel would gain nothing by leaving," purported Tauby. "Israel needs a voice and the UN membership allows access to knowledge about its Arab neighbors. Israel can also debate its detractors on the world stage."

The other two winning teams at the intermediate level were Bar Laniado, Phillip Chamberlain, Rochelle Palmer and Avi Glazner from Vancouver Talmud Torah E, and Adam Fine, Jonathan Davis and Jonathan Hollander from the Jewish Saints team.

Three debates were held simultaneously in different rooms of the JCC for the junior level of Grade 8 students. Tackling the topic of Israel's security fence most successfully were three teams – Talmud Torah A, with members Sivan Havusha, Casey Goldstein and Alan Schweber; Shaarey Tefilah, with members Daniel Friedlander, Daniel Milner and Saul Koffman; and Pacific Torah Institute B, with members Noah Loudon and Aharon Feldman.

"There is a great need for the security fence," said Feldman. He continued by insisting that Israel can no longer take the "mental and physical toll of terrorism." His team argued that Israel was building the fence as a last resort to save lives.

"Tonight's debates addressed Israel's current problems," said moderator Geoffrey Druker. "And as we all know, Israel has a tough PR thrust and we hope the discussions will not end with this evening."

Other moderators for the debates were Eyal Lichtman, Bernard Pinsky and Helen Pinsky. The event was conducted with the help of emcee Sandy Wohl and 15 judges. It was presented by the JFGV, the JCC, several other organizations and www.shellyposen.com.

Jannette Edmonds is a Vancouver freelance writer.

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