Shalom magazine - The Atlantic Jewish Council

Sydney & Area Chamber
of Commerce Recognizes
Mr. Irving Schwartz
I enjoyed your article about Irving
Schwartz. He is a wonderful person and in
my experience with him, a no-nonsense
person who gets things done without a
lot of fanfare. Several years ago, when
I produced a documentary about my
Uncle, the honourable Senator, Colonel
Jack Marshall, I sent a copy to Irving
and several other CEOs of various cable
companies in the maritimes. While the
others hummed and hawed, asking for
copyright verification, various formats etc.
Irving immediately took the video and put
it on the air through his cable companies
in Cape Breton. It was first aired around
June 6th, D-Day remembrance which was
extremely significant, as Col Marshall
was only 22 years old when he landed
with the Canadian forces on Juno Beach
in Normandy in 1944. Irving saw the
significance and didn’t hesitate to show a
documentary about a young Jewish boy
from Glace Bay, who was a true war hero
and a source of pride to the maritime
Jewish community. That was 7 years ago,
and I’m still waiting for the other men of
importance to get back to me and make
up their minds. I really don’t need them
when I have a great MENSCH like Irving
Schwartz who makes up his mind and
goes full speed ahead.
I am forever grateful to him and so is my
extended family.
All the best,
Dr. Larry Gaum
Toronto, ON
Dr. Gaum was born and raised in
Sydney, Cape Breton.
Letters to the Editor
Sole Jewish Monument
on Crete Being Revived
By chance I discovered that you had a
story about the Etz Hayyim Synagogue
in Crete in your recent issue of Shalom
(Vol. 35 #1). Since I am a member of
the International Board of Trustees of
the Etz Hayyim I read the article with
special interest as I do anything about the
synagogue.
There are only a few things that I would
like to add to the article. First a correction
(which I am sure has been pointed out to
you). The photo of Alex Phoundoulakis
was mis-labeled as being that of Bill
Johnstone.
While the article focused on the two arson
attacks earlier this year, there is much
more to the Etz Hayyim then this. It is a
functioning synagogue that continues to
survive.
Things that are normally associated with
synagogues are part of the life of the Etz
Hayyim despite the small number of
Jews who live in Crete year round. Since
the synagogue was rededicated in 1999,
there have been weddings (including our
daughter’s in 2004). In fact, there were
three in 2009 and one this past June.
There was one Bar Mitzvah several years
ago and one Bat Mitzvah (in the beginning
of August of this year). There has even
been one major family reunion hosted by
the synagogue.
Services are held for all the holidays
and on Erev Shabbat (with or without a
minyan). There is a functioning mikvah,
the reconstruction of which was much like
“Heracles’ labour of cleaning the Augean
stables” though it took more than a day to
accomplish. In addition, the mikvah is the
coldest one in Europe.
Throughout the year, one can find
lectures and concert series held at the
synagogue.
Page 60 Tishre 5771 - Vol 35 No. 2
During the school year, the Etz Hayyim
is visited by various grades to provide the
students with some understanding of the
history of Jews in Crete.
More interestingly, the Etz Hayyim is
perhaps the best known synagogue in
Greece. This is certainly the case for
Israelis since there are many charter
flights from Israel to Crete from Pessach
until the end of Sukkot. All offer a visit to
the Etz Hayyim as part of a tour package.
As well, many Jewish and non-Jewish
tourists from elsewhere make it a point to
visit the synagogue.
The Etz Hayyim is not just a memorial
for a vanished Cretan Jewry. It is a living
institution which continues to grow,
perhaps not in numbers but in functions.
For example, a Cretan Jewish Studies
Centre is in the planning stages.
In spite of the arson attacks, life goes on at
the Etz Hayyim. And, while security has
been enhanced, it still is a pluralistic open
institution that welcomes everyone.
All of this is due to the efforts of Dr. Nikos
Stavroulakis who was responsible for the
reconstruction and rededication of the
synagogue in the late 1990s. Nikos is a
unique individual, artist, writer, scholar,
and author of the “Cookbook of the Jews
of Greece” among other books.
I suggest that anyone who is interested
should visit the Etz Hayyim website or
their blog site at:
http://www.etz-hayyim-hania.org
http://blog.etz-hayyim-hania.org
Shalom,
Dr. Morty Lazar
Ra’anana, Israel
Member, International Board
of Trustees of the Etz Hayyim
Synagogue, Hania, Crete.