MEET THE CIJR TEAM

After Camp David, II:
Help CIJR Do Its Work!

FREDERICK KRANTZ (Director, CIJR)

Every August I ask your support for the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research, for ISRAFAX, and for our outstanding students. The unfortunate collapse of the recent Camp David II summit means that our work is even more necessary than usual.
As Jews and as Zionists, we are not afraid of truth. Indeed, CIJR’s unique mandate is to be an academic center bringing objective and up-to-date analysis and data on Israel and Jewish issues directly to the public, Jewish and non-Jewish. Which brings us to the Camp David II summit.
The failure of the summit reveals, after seven years of peace process negotiations and a set of radical Israeli concessions (unsettling for many of us ) that the Palestinians have yet to renounce maximalist demands.
Indeed, as Prime Minister Barak himself noted, Arafat adamantly maintained the PLO’s old rejectionist stance: a Palestinian “right of return” [to Israel proper]; control of all of Judea and Samaria [the 1967 “Auschwitz” borders], and, above all, control of all of east Jerusalem, including the entire Temple Mount [the re-division of the city].
The failure of Camp David II may well mean the end of the Oslo peace process as we have known it since 1993. Syria’s earlier rejection of an American-brokered peace, the resurgence of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, and Iran’s on-going nuclear and missile programs (a new rocket has a 1,200 km.-range) reinforce the current crisis.
While we can hope that a more realistic, and more reciprocal, peace process will be revived, it is clear that a “new Middle East” of mutual peace, trade and tourism is not exactly around the corner. And, with Arafat threatening to declare a state on September 13, violent, destabilizing clashes are possible.
CIJR clearly has its work cut out for it. Please, then, help our academics, researchers, and students support Israel, and our community.
(Dr. Krantz, a professor of history at Concordia U. in Montreal, is Director of the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research and Editor of its ISRAFAX journal)

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CIJR—A JEWISH FLAME 
BARUCH COHEN (Research Chairman)

CIJR is a unique Jewish organization that has for the last twelve years provided the Jewish community with analysis of Israel’s political situation. To counter the media’s often-negative, and “Post-Zionist”, Israel coverage, ISRAFAX—along with our students’ Dateline: Middle East magazine—is heaven-sent manna.
CIJR is a “Shomer Israel”, a proudly Zionist guardian, providing keen analysis and up-to-date data. ISRAFAX’s broad spectrum of views helps preserve Jewish solidarity as we—Klal Yisrael—face the challenges of the new millenium.
You can help. Spread the message: CIJR, ISRAFAX, Dateline: Middle East, are, together, a Jewish flame lighting our path to tomorrow!

STUDENTS
BRAHM WEINBERG (Former Student Intern)
Across my two months as a CIJR Summer Intern, I was trained as an archivist, and put to work on the July issue of ISRAFAX, the Fundraiser, and the Israel DataBank. A love of and dedication to the Institute, Israel, and Zionism are common emotions that radiate from each staff member at CIJR. A certain family atmosphere envelops you, with everyone working wholeheartedly together and for a common cause. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to discover the Institute’s incredible resources.

The Dateline: Middle East editorial team meets with Prof. Deborah Lipstadt.

YONAH WEISZ (Dateline: Middle East, Past Editor)
“Dateline, founded in 1988, seeks to counter the one-sided view of Israel often held by students in Montreal’s CEGEPs and universities, by projecting an intelligent pro-Israel voice.”

STUART BERGMAN (Former Student Volunteer)
“Objectivity in the media is a myth. CIJR enables Jewish students to form their own opinions. As an independent organization, CIJR is an instrument for the discovery of truth and the pursuit of knowledge.”

Prof. Krantz, Student Intern Brahm Weinberg, and Research Chairman, Baruch Cohen

EXECUTIVE BOARD

 IRWIN G. BEUTEL, National Chairman
“It is a privilege to chair this wonderful organization. CIJR and ISRAFAX, our students and our DataBank, are making a great contribution to the well-being of Israel and our community.”

AARON REMER, Israel Chairman
“CIJR is a vibrant and dynamic pro-Israel force in our community. Based in Montreal, its reach is international, bringing together renowned intellectuals and students, politicians and leading Jewish figures.”

CLARA BALINSKY, International Board Chairman
“I am comforted by something created in 1989 by Concordia University Professor Frederick Krantz, the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research. It has done a splendid job. I joined CIJR as soon as I discovered it…As far as I know this institution is unique.” (from her recently published book, Clara’s Clock, Montreal, 1999)
Caption #3: Charles and Clara Balinsky

EVELYN SCHACHTER, Chairman, Student/Young Adult Board
“CIJR’s wonderful, ongoing work with our students and their superb Dateline: Middle East magazine benefits us all and richly deserves community support.” 

ACADEMIC COUNCIL 

PROFESSOR HAROLD WALLER (McGill University), CIJR Fellow
“The Institute performs a vital role in raising the consciousness and political skills of students at Montreal universities and CEGEPs. The experience that they acquire working at CIJR has already propelled many of them into young leadership roles.” 

VOLUNTEERS

ALYCE COHEN, Board Member/Volunteer
“My experience with CIJR has been one of great value. It is a privilege to learn through ISRAFAX of important Jewish issues world-wide.”

NATHAN YACOWAR, Board Member/Volunteer
“The enthusiasm and commitment of the CIJR group make me proud to be a member of the team in its efforts to strengthen Israel and the Jewish community.”