Pag«4-THE NEWS-Jun«/July. 1983
WORLD BEAT
edited by Marta Garelik
Youth Aliyab is a major factor in easing absorption of Ethiopian youngsters in Israel.
Teacher Blames World’s
Evils On Jews
TORONTO (JTA) - A
federal judge is considering
an appeal against the
dismissal of a teacher in
Eckville, Alberta who taught
his public school classes that
Jews are responsible for vir
tually all the evils in the
world.
The appeal was filed by
Jim Keegstra, 48, who
doubles as Mayor of
Eckville, a village of 900 in
the heart of Alberta’s “Bible
Belt.” Several parents had
complained when their
children came home with
remarks such as “all Jews
are bad” and Jews are “an
evil group spreading an evil
religion.”
The local school board
warned Keegstra to stick to
the curriculum. He was fired
when he continued to preach
anti-Semitism. The five day
appeal hearing in Edmonton,
was attended by Hillel
Boroditsky, executive direc
tor of Edmonton’s Jewish
Community Council, and
Sheldon Chumir, a civil
rights lawyer who flew in
from Calgary. The judge
reserved decision.
Witnesses at the hearing
said Keegstra’s classroom
“gems” were: There is an in
ternational conspiracy to
rule the world by
Freemasons, international
bankers, Khazars, the Fa
bian Society, Bolsheviks,
Communists, but above all
the Jews; Jews enter a coun
try with the sole purpose of
gaining mastery over its
economy to seize political
power; six million Jews were
not killed in World War II;
Jesus Christ was not a Jew;
Zionism is a plot to brain
wash Christians; inflation,
wars and revolutions are
caused by Jewish controled
banks, lawyers and univer
sities.
After his dismissal, a
group of pupils circulated a
petition for his reinstate
ment because he “taught the
Bible.” His principal wants
him restored because he was
a “stimulating teacher” who
“provoked discussion.” The
Alberta Teachers Federation
defended Keegstra’s right to
keep his job. No Jews live in
Eckville which is 60 miles
from Edmonton, the nearest
Jewish community.
Jerusalem Court Sentences
American'Born Immigrant
JERUSALEM (JTA) -
Alan Goodman, a 39-year-old
American-born immigrant,
was sentenced to life im
prisonment by a Jerusalem
district court for murder and
attempted murder on April
11, 1982, when he fired an
automatic weapon at Moslem
worshippers on the Temple
Mount and later resisted ar
rest.
Goodman, who is from
Baltimore and was serving in
the Israel army at the time of
the shooting, had pleaded
not guilty on grounds of in
sanity.
Albany Synagogue Provides
Aid to Inner City Church
ALBANY, NY (JTA) - A
member of the parish council
of St. Patrick’s Church, who
is also the building manager
for Conservative Congrega
tion Ohav Shalom, has a pro
mpt explanation for the
presence in the synagogue of
a large wooden box with a
sign “Donations to St.
Patrick’s Food Pantry.” He
mentioned the needs of his
parish to friends at the
synagogue. On Jewish
holidays, the congregation
began collecting canned
goods for the parishioners.
The rabbi called to tell him
the church would get a check
for $1,000 from a synagogue
member who, according to
another anonymous con
gregation member, wanted to
make the gift as an example
of the Jewish tradition of
tzedekah.
Israel Places Second
In European Song Contest
JERUSALEM (JTA) -
Israel’s entry in the annual
Eurovision song contest won
second place, behind Luxem
burg. The audience in
Munich, where the contest
was held was visibly moved
and applauded boisterously
as Ofra Haza sang “Chai”
(Life).
An estimated 500 million
viewers here and in 25 other
countries watched the pro
ceedings that were televised
via satellite. Israelis were
particularly proud that their
country’s song won such a
high honor and that Haza,
the youngest of nine
Yemenite children from the
poor Hatikva quarter of Tel
Aviv, received a rousing
ovation. Nineteen other
countries were also
represented at the contest.
-This was the second year
that both Turkey and
Cyprus cast zero votes for
Israel’s entries. Most other
countries judging the contest
awarded “Chai” 6-12 points.
Peruvian Lawyer Demands
Expulsion ofPLO Agent
NEW YORK (JTA) - A
member of the Peruvian
Congress had demanded the
expulsion of Raji Burhum, a
Palestinian propagandist,
who has engaged in anti-
Semitic activities. The
legislator also asked the
government to explain why
the Palestine Liberation
Organization office is
operating in Lima.
Burhum, host and pro
ducer of the radio program
“Palestinoamericana,” has
been described by Peruvian
newspapers as “an agent of
the PLO” and as “a PLO
militant,” who uses his pro
gram on Radio Santa Rosa to
offer free copies of anti-
Semitic books like “The Pro
tocols of the Elders of Zion”
and “The Worst Enemies of
Our People.” He showed
journalists a leaflet signed
by Burhum, which urged
military and police officers
to “be careful of Masonry, a
Jewish device to enslave
you” and which claimed that
the “Jew will take over your
land and the land of your
countrymen.”
U.S. Delegations in
larmel Study Leaaona
of Lebanon War
TEL AVIV (JTA) - Two
American armed forces
delegations are in Israel, stu
dying the lessons to be learn
ed from the fighting in
Lebanon. One delegation
represents the U.S. Air
Force, the other is made up
of ground forces experts;
other delegations and ex
perts are scheduled in the
coming months.
An earlier refusal to allow
such study missions, impos
ed by former Defense
Minister Ariel Sharon as a
sign of displeasure with the
Administration’s attitude
towards Israel, has been
overturned by his successor,
Moshe Arens.
Prejudice in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)
— Jews rank second only to
homosexuals on a scale of
prejudices held by
Brazilians according to a re
cent poll conducted in 40
cities. Prejudice against
women was third.
International Book
Fair Held
JERUSALEM (JTA) -
The 11th International Book
Fair which drew about 60,000
people who browsed among
the 100,000 books exhibited
by 1,000 publishers from 36
countries.
The most expensive book
was a photocopy of a rare
Passover Haggadah which
survived in Germany after
World War II. Ten copies
were sold at $1,500 each.
Tid’Bits
GENEVA (JTA) -
Tourism from Switzerland to
Israel has increased by one-
third since January of last
year. Israel now ranks third,
after the U.S. and Japan, as
the favorite destination of
Swiss tourists outside
Europe.
BONN (JTA) - The West
German government has
assured Israel that it will be
invited to participate in
negotiations between the
European Economic Com
munity and Mediterranjean
countries over trade pro
blems arising from the
enlargement of the Common
Market, especially the im
pending entry of Spain into
the ECC.
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)
— More than 600 persons at-
t ended a Holocaust
memorial gathering where
Leonel Brizola, Governor of
Rio de Janeiro State,
declared: “We are reaffirm
ing our decision to defend
the values the Jews in the
ghettos and Nazi death
camps had died for.” The
memorial was held in the
Bialik Library, headquarters
of the Labor Zionist move
ment in Brazil. Other
dignitaries attending includ
ed Jamil Haddad, Mayor of
Rio de Janeiro and Yocov
Gotal, the Israeli Consul
General.
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