Defending Territories – Blog by Debbie Havusha
Defending Territories
On February 4th 1942, my Father Leon Broitman (z”l) was shot in the left arm while defending Leningrad. Leon Broitman (z”l) was one of the 200,000 plus Jewish soldiers in the Russian Army fighting Nazi Germany. He would often talk about how being wounded had saved his life. My Father’s appreciation of his life being spared was turned to utter despair after the war, learning that all of his family were murdered by the Nazis with exception of his surviving brother Abe. However you look at it, the traumas and tragedies of the Holocaust brought forth the actualization of our Jewish State of Israel.
On November 4th, 1995, twenty years ago, an unfathomable event happened in the State of Israel. Prime Minister Izhak Rabin was assassinated. Rabin had an illustrious 27 year career in the Israeli Defense Force. Soon after, he bravely positioned himself for a political fight for defending peace. Here in Vancouver at Temple Sholom, a memorial service was marked to honour and remember Izhak Rabin (z”l). Gilad Perry read Rabin’s famous speech just before he was assassinated. Gilad was at the rally at ‘Kikar Malchei Israel’ (now known as ‘Rabin’s Square’) where Rabin was assassinated. He showed disturbing video footage of both the tremendous support Rabin gained and the mounting incitement that was created as he dared to move closer to another way of being with Arab neighbours. Gilad Perry is the Director of International Resource Development from Dror Israel. He told the audience how he has tirelessly developed programs for youth that uses music to bridge the divide and bring opportunity to underprivileged Arab and Israeli youth.
On November 7th Saturday night ‘Ashkenaz’ was a musical festivity put on by Ruth Meta in her Florist/Artisan Shop in the downtown eastside on Hastings at Heatley. Ruth proclaimed her Ashkenazi roots and welcomed the diverse crowd and proudly stated that Jews should not be in hiding. Klezmer music , Yiddish storytelling, lox and bagels and dancing the ‘horah’ all created a festive atmosphere.
From November 5th to November 12th Vancouver’s Jewish Film Festival has graced the newly renovated Fifth Avenue Cinema with a rich selection of Jewish films. The movie ‘East Jerusalem – West Jerusalem’ presents a musical scenario without a political agenda. The film was inspired by David Broza’s new album East Jerusalem/West Jerusalem. The film was created with an offensive tactic – to promote a spirit of determined optimism. The film merges converging sounds from Israeli, Palestinian and American musicians to bridge the unsurmountable Arab Israeli divide.
As my Father Leon Broitman’s November 19th birthday approaches I am reminded of the legacy he has left behind. He was a staunch supporter of Israel, vehemently fought the Holocaust Deniers, proudly celebrated his Ashkenazi roots, and shook his head in disbelief when he heard of yet another tragedy in our conflict ridden beloved land of Israel or elsewhere in the world.
My Father’s borrowed Russian quote -‘After the fight, put down your fists’ leaves me with a question for the maestros amongst you: How do we open up the fists to play notes that can defend and appease a whole range of compositions?
