Turkey Celebrates Jewish-Muslim Peace
(cont’d from preceding page)
Empire. The Ottomans con
tinued serving as a refuge to
persecuted Jews to the very end
of the Empire.
In 1923, the Ottoman Empire,
defeated in World War 1, was
dissolved and replaced with the
Republic of Turkey. Although
modern Turkey is a secular
nation, its population today is
99% Muslim. Jews continue to
live and thrive there.
In modern Turkey, Jews have
served in the Parliament and are
integrated into the life of the
country. During World War II,
Turkey, still reeling from its
defeat and dismemberment in
World War I, remained neutral.
Not only was Istanbul a hotbed
of political intrigue, but the
entire Turkish nation became a
safe haven for Jews who could
cross its borders. Turkish med
ical centers and universities were
filled with Jews, fleeing Nazism.
One Turkish diplomat has a tree
planted in his honor as a “Right
eous Gentile” at Jerusalem’s Yad
Vashem. In 1953, only four years
after Israel’s War of Indepen
dence, a new synagogue was
constructed in Istanbul, a pre
dominantly Muslim country.
This was of particular signifi
cance because at Israel’s creation
100.000 Turkish Jews, deeply
committed to Zionism, uprooted
and moved to the Jewish state.
The Jewish community in
Turkey now numbers some
26.000 people, 25,000 of whom
live in Istanbul. There they
maintain several Jewish schools.
two Jewish hospitals and two
Jewish homes for the aged as
well as numerous youth and
social groups.
The Jewish world is focusing
on Spain in 1992. Most Jewish
organizations are sponsoring
tours to Spain during the Quin-
centennial commemoration of
the Spanish Expulsion. The
Jewish community of Turkey,
along with Muslim friends, have
created a foundation to encour-.
age American Jews to visit the
land that rescued the exiled
Sephardi Jews, from Spain in
1492 and from Portugal in 1497.
Beginning this year of 1992 and
for the next five years Turkey
is rolling out the red carpet to
Jewish visitors from abroad. I
was privileged to be among a
small group of American rabbis
invited to Turkey this past
December who saw the beauty
of the country, the warmth of
the people and were able to
dialogue with them in critiquing
their five-year celebration.
In 1992 we look back 500
years to Spain and recite the
“Kaddish.” We look to Turkey,
the nation which rescued our
people, and we recite the “Kid-
dish” of joy. This is a milestone
year, celebrating 500 years of
Muslim-Jewish peace and har
mony. Hopefully, as the Middle
East peace talks progress, 1992
might also be a milestone year
as Arab Muslims and Jews
struggle to find ways to live
together in peace.
Enjoy an Unique Experience
Page 3-THE NEWS-February 1992
^^UNIBRS
By Simon Estroff
I returned on Jan. 1 from
another successful three-week
stint in Israel. It was a truly
remarkable experience. I arrived
there on Dec. 9, joining 16 other
eager volunteers, to go to Ash-
dod Naval Base, overlooking the
beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
Yes, I did have a room with a
view and a breeze. This group
of eager men and women did
light duties such as landscaping,
painting, office work, warehouse
duties and, of course, kitchen
duties. While we were there, the
Base had their annual inspection
and passed with flying colors.
The General thanked us for all
we did to help and we were very
proud of this accomplishment.
The food was excellent and
healthy too. Many new friends
were made. Most of the soldiers
spoke very good English.
There was plenty of free time
when we could visit as a group,
Masada, Ein Gedi and Arad as
well as Jerusalem. Each trip was
with a professional guide and in
a modern bus. On the weekends
we were free to leave the base
and make our own plans. We
were also offered home hospi
tality and I elected to go to
Pardess Ghana again.
When our three weeks were
Simon Estroff,
dressed in fatigues,
at Yad Vashem.
nj
Three of the
young Israeli
soldiers: (L to R)
Chezzi, Elon, Yossi.
up, the base had a lovely farewell
party for us and issued us
diplomas, service pins and spoke
many kind words about us. It
was very touching and a day
we’ll never forget.
Volunteers for Israel is a
wonderful program for anyone
18-70, single or married. If you
want to visit Israel in a very
special way, have an experience
that you’ll never forget, meet
some of the greatest people in
the world, and do it all for less
than you ever imagined, then call
me at 535-2936, or call the NY
office at 212-643-4848.
Charlotte Ad Club Helps to
Combat Child Abuse
Jewish Chatauqua Society Endows Lectureships
At Belmont Abbey and Greensboro Colleges
Child Abuse and neglect is one
of the most serious problems
facing our nation, our state, and
our community. In North Carol
ina and Mecklenburg County,
the problem of child abuse and
neglect is both chronic and
growing. An estimated 10,000
children are being abused in
Mecklenburg County, right
now.
Nationwide, North Carolina
ranks 41st among the states in
“well-being” of children, with
over 4,500 incidents of suspected
child abuse or neglect reported
in Mecklenburg County last
year. Only by pulling together
as a community can we combat
these appalling statistics.
This year, the Charlotte Ad
Club’s public service campaign
will focus on child abuse and
neglect. Phase 1 will involve
creating a high level of public
awareness, support and partic
ipation. Phase II is intended to
aid the public in identifying and
reporting suspected cases of
child abuse or neglect.
Many area businesses have
donated money and/or resour
ces to support this project.
However, additional funds are
still needed to cover the most
basic of expenses in order for
this campaign to be success
ful.
Please call Lisa Madsen,
334-8296, should you wish to
donate to this worthy cause, or
if you have any questions.
Rabbi David M. Zielonka,
chaplain of Rauch Industries in
Gastonia, NC, will teach a
course entitled “Introduction to
Judaism” during the spring
semester at Belmont Abbey
College in Belmont. This class
is one of 144 across the U.S. that
will be underwritten this year by
the Jewish Chautauqua Society
(JCS).
Rabbi Zielonka is a member
of the B’nai B’rith Adult Edu
cation national speakers bureau.
He was the spiritual leader of
Temple Emanuel in Gastonia,
1983-91.
Rabbi Zielonka will also pre
sent a talk on “Jewish Scrip-
donated over 100,000 volumes of
Judaica to school libraries.
Founded in 1893, JCS is the
educational arm of the National
Federation of Temple Brother
hoods, an affiliate of the Union
of American Hebrew Congrega
tions.
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Rabbi David M. Zielonka
tures” to an assembly of students
at Covenant Day School in
Matthews on Mar. 13. This
lecture is being underwritten by
JCS.
Rabbi Richard Harkavy, spir
itual leader of Temple Emanuel
in Greensboro, NC, will teach
the course “Introduction to
Judaism” during the spring
semester at Greensboro College.
Rabbi Harkavy was ordained
by Hebrew Union College-Jew-
ish Institute of Religion in
Cincinnati, OH in 1984.
To date, more than two mil
lion students have attended JCS
sponsored seminars and lec
tures. JCS also produces educa
tional video programs and sup
ports interfaith institutes. It has
Registration Being Held
For Drama Classes
At Children’s Theatre
An eight-week session of dra
ma classes will be offered at The
Children’s Theatre Feb. 10-Apr.
4. Classes are designed to en
hance creativity, build self-
confidence and encourage indi
viduality. By using stories,
poems and music, your child has
the chance to act out new ex
periences that may not be part
of their day-to-day life. These
“non-threatening” classes are
not performance-oriented and
are offered for ages three-Junior
High. Classes meet once a week
for one hour. The cost is $32.
Please call The Children’s Thea
tre Education Dept., 376-8025,
9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays for
information on how to register
your child. Registration will be
taken until classes begin if space
is available.
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