|
|
May 30, 2003
March sends hope to Israel
Hundreds walk along Oak Street, then join the party at Talmud
Torah.
PAT JOHNSON SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN
Hundreds of Vancouver Jews and other Israel supporters marched
up and down Oak Street Sunday morning in the annual Walk With Israel.
The event began at Beth Israel Synagogue, with comments from political
and religious leaders – Jewish and Christian – and carried
on to Schara Tzedeck Synagogue, then along Oak to the Louis Brier
Home and Hospital, and back to Vancouver Talmud Torah elementary
school, where a family-oriented spring fair raised spirits and funds.
The biblical torrent that drenched the city a day earlier dried
up long enough to permit a comfortable stroll for several hundred
participants, some of whom carried signs supporting Israel and waved
small Israeli flags.
The morning began with the Richmond Jewish Day School choir entertaining
the crowds, followed by Cantor Steve Levin leading the Canadian
and Israeli national anthems. Rabbi Charles Feinberg of Beth Israel
led a prayer for the victims of violence in Israel and hope for
the future.
Although the march came a day after the celebration of Yom Yerushalayim,
the Israeli holiday marking the reunification of the Holy City in
1967, it was not a week of happiness, said the rabbi. The previous
weekend, five terrorist attacks had shattered the hope that the
American-led "road map" to peace would bring any quick
resolution to the protracted Middle East conflict.
"This has been a week of sadness," said Feinberg. "The
acts of violence know no bounds."
Stephen Owen, member of Parliament for Vancouver-Quadra, brought
greetings from the federal government, which he said has been one
of Israel's greatest international allies since the state's inception
in 1948.
"This is not always a simple task in a complex and complicated
world," he said. Owen noted he is a member of a new, informal
group of MPs who meet regularly with representatives of the Jewish
community and asked the marchers to contact him with concerns.
"I invite you all to use me as a communications conduit,"
said the Liberal politician.
Daniella Givon, who emceed the pre-march rally, said the day's events
were a sign of unity among Jews of all stripes.
"Whatever our personal political views are, we are united in
our love of Israel," she said. Left or right, all participants
were there early on a Sunday morning to offer support and hope to
the Jewish state, she said. Hope, said Givon, has been an integral
part of Jewish existence for thousands of years and is reflected
in the Zionist hymn "Hatikvah" ("The Hope")
which became the official anthem of Israel in 1948.
"Hope is what we bring to the Walk With Israel today,"
she said.
In addition to Jewish participants and community leaders, a strong
and visible contingent of Christian Zionists also participated in
the march.
Pastor Gideon Chiu of the Church of Zion, a Richmond-based Christian
congregation, offered thanks to the Jewish people for what he said
was the gift of the Bible.
"Thank you for giving us the scriptures," said the pastor.
He invoked the names of Jewish matriarchs Ruth and Naomi and said
the covenant God made with the Jews is integral to his own Christian
vision.
"If He did not keep his covenant with Israel, there would be
no hope for Christians," said Chiu. "Your God is our God;
our people are your people."
After the march, Vancouver Talmud Torah students, staff and parents
welcomed guests to the school's annual spring fair, with midway
rides, food concessions, home baking, booths with a wide variety
of sale items and even an "antiques roadshow" appraisal
service.
Pat Johnson is a native Vancouverite, a journalist and
commentator.
^TOP
|
|
