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{EVERY Q&A PERIOD AT EVERY<br />
JEWISH EVENT EVER}<br />
By Andrew Silow-Carroll.<br />
The guest expert’s talk at the local synagogue is wrapping up …<br />
Speaker: … and in conclusion, if<br />
we don’t remember this history,<br />
we are doomed to repeat it.<br />
As Hillel said, “If I am not for<br />
myself, who will be for me?” And<br />
finally, as Rabbi Tarfon put it so<br />
eloquently, “It is not our duty to<br />
finish the work, but neither are we<br />
free to neglect it.” Thank you.<br />
Moderator: Let’s thank our<br />
speaker for what we all can agree<br />
was a beautiful and powerful<br />
presentation. At this point we<br />
can take a few questions, but<br />
please, let’s try to make them<br />
questions, not statements [general<br />
laughter]. Please wait until one<br />
of the interns can bring you a<br />
microphone and — OK then, looks<br />
like you are not going to wait.<br />
First questioner: … in Rose Bay<br />
in 1937. And what I’d like to<br />
know is, if what you say is true,<br />
how come our young people don’t<br />
know more about it? What can<br />
we do to have this taught in every<br />
primary and secondary school?<br />
Speaker: Well, first of all …<br />
Various audience members:<br />
Can you repeat the question?<br />
Speaker: The question was, “If<br />
what you say is true, how come<br />
it isn’t taught in school?” That’s<br />
basically what you asked, right?<br />
First questioner: Yes. Because<br />
what you said was very provocative,<br />
but I worry that our young<br />
people don’t know much about<br />
it. And that our schools don’t do<br />
a good job of teaching about it.<br />
So, we should have more schools<br />
teaching this. And by schools, I<br />
mean primary schools, private<br />
schools, Jewish day schools, public<br />
schools, other high schools …<br />
Speaker: Yes, I think I got it.<br />
So, let me give a fairly lengthy<br />
answer about that while ignoring<br />
the large number of hands being<br />
raised around the room.<br />
Moderator: Next question.<br />
Yes? In the back. Please wait<br />
for the microphone.<br />
Second questioner: … as a<br />
demolition sergeant serving with<br />
the First Battalion, 21st Marines,<br />
3rd Marine Division. When I was<br />
back in Melbourne, my brother<br />
and I started a small appliance<br />
repair company, after which …<br />
Moderator: Please sir, let’s try<br />
to limit this to questions …<br />
Second questioner: My question is,<br />
when I was in the service, there was<br />
antisemitism, sure, but mostly we all<br />
got along. And it really didn’t matter<br />
where you were from: Jews, Italians,<br />
Greeks, Orientals. As my mother,<br />
of blessed memory, used to say …<br />
Moderator: Sir, is there a<br />
question for our speaker?<br />
Speaker: I think I know<br />
what he is asking.<br />
Moderator: You do?<br />
Speaker: I do, and<br />
I will now answer it<br />
at such length and<br />
with such a plethora<br />
of details that we’ll all forget<br />
what was and wasn’t asked.<br />
Moderator: I see a lot hands raised,<br />
so let’s try to keep our questions<br />
short and to the point. You, there.<br />
Third questioner: I actually have<br />
three questions. The first is …<br />
Moderator: Please, if<br />
we can limit …<br />
Third questioner: … if the<br />
American president knew, why<br />
didn’t he bomb the rail lines?<br />
Second, if the Palestinians say<br />
they want peace, why did they<br />
reject all the previous offers<br />
Israel put on the table? And<br />
third, why do Jews continue<br />
to vote for Labour when …<br />
Moderator: None of those<br />
are the subject of our talk!<br />
WORLD JEWRY<br />
Speaker: That’s OK, I can answer<br />
by providing a rambling anecdote<br />
about meeting Barbra Streisand at<br />
a car show, and then by urging you<br />
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