The recent visit of the Pope to Canada was a significant moment in the journey towards reconciliation and healing for the Aboriginal Peoples of the nation. By acknowledging the historical atrocities inflicted upon Indigenous communities through the residential school system, the Pope’s heartfelt apology aimed to address a dark chapter in Canadian history.

These schools, operating from the 19th century until 1996 under the auspices of clergy and the Canadian government, were integral to a plan to convert First Nations children to Christianity and assimilate them into Western ideals. Approximately 150,000 Inuit and Métis children forcibly enrolled in these government-funded and church-administered residential schools endured a tragic legacy. The educators, often ill-equipped for the task, subjected the children to physical and sexual abuse, leading to numerous deaths and the recent discovery of unmarked graves. Beyond the immediate suffering, the removal of children from their biological families had profound and lasting intergenerational effects.

In the ensuing twenty-five years, the Canadian government has tried to confront and acknowledge the grievous impact of this dark chapter in history. As I’ve listened to the personal narratives of First Nation communities on national radio and TV, I’ve gained a profound appreciation for their wisdom and rich cultural heritage.

Commendable Initiatives:

Indigenous peoples have spearheaded various commendable initiatives showcasing their history, art, music, and revitalization efforts for native languages. Notably, the CBC program “Unreserved” has featured insightful radio shows:

• These writers use poetry to reclaim, repair and reflect their Indigenous selves.
• Indigenous chefs and activists use food to talk about land, history and culture.
• These artists embrace new technology, challenging stereotypes of what counts as Indigenous art.
• Break bread, laugh and learn how to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.

Reflecting on these impactful programs, I wish for similar platforms within media outlets like CBC to shed light on the Jewish community. This could serve as a means to acquaint more Canadians with the Jewish people’s traditions, history, and vibrant cultural tapestry.

Shared Trauma: Jewish Perspective on Reconciliation

As a Jew, I deeply empathize with the struggles of the First Nations as they grapple with the devastation wrought upon their communities. Having grown up as the child of parents persecuted in Hungary during World War II solely for being Jewish, I am intimately acquainted with the enduring pain experienced by subsequent generations. My own life has been marked by the trauma inflicted upon my family by Nazi persecution, resulting in the untimely loss of parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. This sorrow unfortunately perpetuates through successive generations.

Jews, too, have been direct victims of colonial policies imposed by Christian rulers. An illustrative example is the Czarist decree of August 26, 1827, which mandated military service for Jews and conscription into Russian Cantonist schools, subjecting Jewish boys as young as eight to twenty-five years of military duty.

All cantonists were institutionally underfed… The official policy was to encourage Jewish boys to convert to the state religion of Orthodox Christianity.

The media’s discourse on the Pope’s apology to the Indigenous community has sparked contemplation. In the post-Holocaust era, the Jewish community has grappled with the significance of apologies for unspeakable horrors. In Rabbinic thinking, the injured party has the prerogative to accept or reject an apology for inflicted pain or damage. Nevertheless, leaders’ acknowledgment, remorse, and appropriate reparations are indispensable for fostering social healing between communities in conflict.

In my lifetime, I witnessed the Catholic Church taking responsibility by renouncing its historical demonization of Jews. This acknowledgment of its contribution to the destruction of Jewish communities over the centuries culminated in Pope Paul VI’s encyclical “Nostra Aetate,” issued on October 28, 1965. This pivotal declaration, passed by an overwhelming majority of assembled bishops, emphasized the Church’s rejection of hatred, persecution, and antisemitism against Jews, motivated not by political considerations but by the spiritual love espoused in the Gospel.

“… the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shared with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, and displays of antisemitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.”

This marked an essential beginning of reconciliation between Jews and Catholics. Another significant milestone occurred on May 25-26, 2014, when Pope Francis visited Israel, further deepening the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church, Israel, and the Jewish people. Promoting collective mutual understanding and dispelling stereotypes and prejudice are most effectively achieved through grassroots interactions and dialogue.

One noteworthy instance of reconciliation among Christians, Jews, and the Aboriginal People of Canada unfolded during my attendance at a church service in Winnipeg. This unique event, organized by Pastor Rudy Fidel of Faith Church, a steadfast supporter of Jews, Israel, and First Nations, brought together Cantor Moshe Kraus, a Holocaust survivor, two First Nations Chiefs, and a Klezmer band for a Sunday morning service. I was privileged to document this remarkable occasion and am pleased to share highlights with you. The program featured:

Two First Nations Chiefs:

• From 1:01 to 2:11 minutes, Jim Baird, Chief of Leech Lake of the Ojibwe Nation, introduced Grand Chief Jerry, who was recently elected as the Grand Chief of Thirty-two Nations.
• From 2:11 to 7:42 minutes, Grand Chief Jerry addressed the audience, providing insights into his community’s current affairs.

Hazzan Moshe Kraus:

• At 10:32-20:58 min, Cantor Kraus recounted a poignant incident from 1942 in Budapest. At the request of a Hungarian Bishop from Potok, Moshe assisted in securing the release of the Bishop’s colleague and Moshe’s cousin, a Rabbi in Potok, who was incarcerated in Budapest.

In a world scarred by historical injustices and intergenerational trauma, the journey towards reconciliation and healing is a collective endeavor. Past injustices left scars that have been passed down from generation to generation. In order to confront these legacies, society needs to come together and acknowledge the past, promote empathy, and dismantle oppressive systems. Healing involves creating safe spaces for dialogue, investing in mental health resources, and supporting cultural revitalization. Ultimately, only through mutual understanding and collective action can we create a more equitable and compassionate future.

Throughout history, the choices made by leaders and individuals have often shaped the course of events, leaving indelible imprints on societies and future generations. Recent initiatives by NGOs such as the Sousa Mendez Foundation and Lockdown University have brought captivating narratives to the forefront, illuminating the intersection of leadership and decisions, both past and present. These initiatives include talks, film screenings, and historical explorations, offering profound insights into the complexities of power, compassion, and ethical responsibilities.

John Loftus: Unraveling CIA Archives and Hidden Narratives

Amidst these revelations, the most astonishing was a presentation on YouTube by John Loftus, a former Irish-American military man, lawyer, and author. Loftus discussed his journey through the CIA archives in search of Nazis in America, stumbling upon deliberately misfiled documents that were meant to stay concealed. Loftus unveils the peculiar financing of the Nazi party by a U.S. bank led by Prescott Bush, the father of Bush Senior and grandfather of Herbert Walker Bush.

The narrative unfolds with August Thyssen, the patriarch of the German Thyssen coal and steel industry, dismayed by reparations imposed on his enterprise after World War I. Determined to safeguard the family’s financial assets, Thyssen established three banks in different countries: the August Thyssen Bank in Germany, the Voor Handel en Scheepvaart Bank in Holland, and the Union Banking Corporation (UBC) in New York, with the Bush family overseeing the latter. Despite Fritz Thyssen openly supporting the rise of the Nazi party, he later opposed Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. Unfortunately, it was too late, leading to his and his wife’s imprisonment in the Dachau concentration camp during the war.

The video reveals how, despite the U.S. government appropriating the Thyssen bank in New York in 1942, the family’s wealth endured through strategic transfers, cover-ups, and the efforts of their American lawyer, Foster Dulles, post-war. While wealth often correlates with increased power, the Thyssen family prioritized preserving their assets over leveraging them for ethical political influence.

As a potential act of penance, in 1959, Thyssen’s widow Amélie and daughter Anita Gräfin Zichy-Thyssen established the Fritz Thyssen Foundation, committing 100 million Deutschmarks (equivalent to €246 million in 2021) to advance science and the humanities.

In a riveting segment of the video at 12:30 minutes, Loftus exposes the U.S. State Department’s recurring support for the Arab side in various Arab-Israeli conflicts, driven by their desire to ensure a steady flow of Arab oil to the United States.

Obligations of Kingship in Israel

The book of Deuteronomy outlines the duties and restrictions recommended for a king.

16: The king must not get more and more horses for himself. And he must not send people to Egypt to get more horses, because the Lord has told you, ‘You must never go back that way.’

17: Also, the king must not have too many wives, because that will make him turn away from the Lord. And he must not make himself rich with silver and gold.

18: “When the king begins to rule, he must write a copy of the law for himself in a book. He must make that copy from the books that the priests from the tribe of Levi keep.

19: He must keep that book with him and read from it all his life, because he must learn to respect the Lord his God. He must learn to completely obey everything the law commands.

20: Then the king will not think that he is better than any of his own people. He will not turn away from the law, but he will follow it exactly. Then he and his descendants will rule the kingdom of Israel a long time.” (Deuteronomy 17:16-20)

In our time, Canadian private donors and charitable organizations, both in the Jewish and secular spheres, have taken on the responsibility of funding the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in Canada and around the world. Six months ago, during the Ukraine/Russia conflict, Montreal Rabbis Reuven Poupko and Adam Schier visited the Polish-Ukraine border to assess the needs of the fleeing refugees. They reported that Israel was the first to establish a presence at the Polish-Ukrainian border to aid refugees. As is often the case, Israel demonstrated its proactive approach, consistently being among the first responders to disaster zones with personnel and essential supplies. The Jerusalem Post provides an in-depth analysis of the ongoing airlift of Ukrainian refugees to Israel.

As of June 15, 2022, 32,958 Ukrainians have entered Israel, of which 5,888 are new immigrants, and another 4,730 are in the process of aliyah… Had the US taken in a similar number of Ukrainians relative to its population, it would have admitted some 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees. That is not even close to US President Joe Biden’s setting a goal of admitting 100,000 Ukrainians. (Jerusalem Post)

This disparity highlights the different approaches nations take in addressing humanitarian crises, prompting us to reflect on the international community’s role in providing support and refuge during conflicts.

As we face the challenges and ethical dilemmas of our times, stories of leadership and choices from the past and present can guide us. The decisions of leaders shape our collective destiny, but it is the actions of ordinary individuals that shape the tapestry of our shared humanity.

Footnote

1. Lockdown University is an impromptu online learning community born out of the pandemic (website under construction), offering free and open access to all. To enroll in courses, please get in touch with info@lockdownuniversity.org and request inclusion in their weekly mailing list.

No man is an island, Entire of itself…
Each man’s death diminishes me, For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know, For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
by John Donne

Abortion is a highly debated topic that brings up discussions about personal freedom, societal responsibility, and religious beliefs. It’s a complex issue that has been shaped by historical, spiritual, and societal perspectives. As John Donne wrote, we are all connected and our actions have an impact on society. To understand the abortion debate, we need to look at its historical roots, religious interpretations, and societal implications.

Abortion stands as an intensely personal and private choice. Comedian Josh Healy skillfully navigates the delicate terrain, recounting his internal struggles upon learning of his university girlfriend’s unexpected pregnancy after only six months together.

Religious Perspectives on the Sanctity of Life

The debate surrounding abortion often hinges on the assertion that society possesses a compelling interest in safeguarding the evolving life of the human fetus. Proponents of a restrictive stance argue that the fetus, from the moment of conception, assumes the rights of any living human person. In their view, anyone involved in the abortion process becomes an accomplice to the crime of ‘murdering a human being.’

However, contrasting perspectives emerge within the tapestry of religious beliefs. While murder stands as an unequivocal prohibition in the Jewish faith, the Rabbis of the Talmud, in interpreting the foundational instruction ‘Pru urvoo’ – ‘Be fruitful and multiply’ – consistently prioritize the well-being of the mother over the fetus’s right to life. Consequently, Jewish law, or halacha, permits abortion for Jewish women based on their psychological and physical needs throughout the entire duration of pregnancy.

Societal Implications and the Shadow of Overpopulation

Turning to broader societal implications, the discourse extends to overpopulation. In the backdrop of the nineteenth century, the discourse of overpopulation found widespread acceptance, notably championed by the British economist Thomas Malthus. His “scientific” formulation contended that unchecked population growth would inevitably lead to mass starvation.

“The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.”

The course of history has debunked Malthus’s theories. Advances in science, such as the invention of fertilizers and improvements in agricultural techniques, have effectively addressed the challenge of feeding burgeoning populations. In the twentieth century, the root cause of widespread starvation shifted from a lack of food to flawed government policies and wars. A glaring example lies in the Soviet Union’s ill-fated attempt to impose Communist ideology on Ukrainian farmers during the 1930s, resulting in the tragic starvation of millions due to policies imposed on Ukraine’s abundance as a breadbasket. Historian Timothy Snyder, in his 2010 book “Bloodlands,” attributes the impact of the “Holodomor” (Ukrainian for “to kill by starvation”) to Stalin, shedding light on Nazi practices of using starvation as a weapon during wartime, impacting prisoners of war and Jews in concentration camps and ghettos.

The apprehension of overpopulation prompted the Chinese government to implement the one-child policy, leading to the disturbing phenomenon of state-sponsored abortions. Tragically, this policy led to the abandonment of children on roadsides, particularly affecting female infants left in orphanages. Some were fortunate enough to be adopted internationally through officially established Chinese channels, as exemplified by my friends in Montreal who adopted Chinese infants through these means. The documentary “One Child Nation” delves into this dark chapter, narrating the journey of one such child who returned to China to uncover her family of origin, unveiling a distressing history of state control over reproduction. Recent years have seen China renouncing the one-child policy, recognizing its long-term disastrous consequences, including a shortage of marriageable-age women and a deficit of children to support the workforce and care for the elderly.

Exploring the Historical Significance of Children to Human Civilization

In a recent podcast exploring the archaeological traces of children during the Pleistocene Ice Age, inspired by April Nowell’s insightful work, ‘Growing Up in the Ice Age: Fossil and Archaeological Evidence of the Lived Lives of Plio-Pleistocene Children,’ the discussion unfolds, emphasizing the pivotal role of child-rearing in the progression of civilizations.

“Nowell’s studies look at cumulative culture: the process of adults passing down knowledge to their children, and so on through successive generations.”

Nowell demonstrates how “youths weren’t simply empty repositories. They remembered some lessons, forgot others, and chose which lessons to build on throughout their lives to pass on to their own children.”

Exploring the family history in the Torah reveals the interconnected stories of generations, preserving the lasting legacy of the Jewish people.

The book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible recounts the beginning of humanity, starting with Adam and Eve and also includes the story of Cain and Abel. Despite facing hardships, Adam and Eve continue their family line through their son Seth, which eventually leads to the emergence of a key figure, Abraham. After Abraham’s brother Nahor dies, he marries Nahor’s widow, Sarah, and takes in his nephew, Lot. The journey of Abraham’s family, guided by their religious beliefs, is documented in the Bible.

The Torah contains the stories of the patriarchs, namely Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Each of these figures faced difficult challenges on their journey to having children. Abraham had to deal with the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael. Isaac had to handle the rivalry between his twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Finally, Jacob had to confront the jealousy of his ten sons who plotted against their brother Joseph. Throughout the Torah, these family struggles and joys are interwoven into a complex narrative.

The Torah stories like Judah and Tamar, or Ruth and Boaz, show the Levirate law in action. This law says if a married man dies without kids, his closest relative, usually his brother, should marry the widow to carry on the family line.

My recent visit to Shaker Village in the Berkshires unveiled the remnants of a once-vibrant Christian sect—the Shakers. Though known for their creativity and wisdom, their commitment to celibacy led to the extinction of their community. Only remnants, preserved in the form of the Hancock Shaker Village museum, endure.

The desire to have children is innate and shared by many species, including humans. The Talmud suggests that women, in particular, experience a strong longing for children that impacts their religious practices differently than men. Due to the physical demands of pregnancy and childcare, women are exempt from certain time-sensitive religious obligations.

Parenthood, Loss, and the Cycle of Life

Miscarriage is often perceived as a minor loss, leading to personal sorrow that is often kept within. However, initiatives like Le Groupe de partage L’Empreinte in Montreal recognize the need for formal grieving processes to fill this gap. On the other hand, committing to parenthood is a profound and long-lasting commitment, which has become more apparent as birth rates decline in Western countries.

When a child is born and named in Judaism, it is a moment of communal celebration. Male babies are circumcised on the eighth day, which signifies their inclusion in the covenant with G-d that was established by Abraham. Female children are also named and celebrated publicly.

Children are a source of happiness and optimism for society, motivating everyone to work together to foster and encourage them. Both natural and induced abortion are considered losses for individuals and society, causing a shared sense of mourning. Ultimately, children embody our hope for a brighter future, but achieving this goal necessitates a collective effort by society to support and guide the next generation.

Embracing the Future with Compassion and Understanding

The abortion debate is intricate and shouldn’t be oversimplified. It touches on core aspects of human existence, like life, death, autonomy, and responsibility. We can grasp its complexity better by delving into its historical, religious, and societal aspects. Empathy, understanding, and respect for everyone involved are crucial as we discuss it. It’s about finding the correct solution and fostering compassion and inclusivity in our society.