Israel celebrates 60 years, and Canadian Jews mark occasion with pride

Anne-Marie Tobin, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Investor's Business Daily

May 07, 2008

- As Israel celebrates its 60th birthday, Canadian Jews an ocean away are remembering the momentous birth of the state and marking the occasion with pride.

At the time, Bayla Chaikof was 17 and a member of the thriving Jewish community in Toronto, which was centred near the university at Spadina Avenue and College Street. She was part of the Zionist youth movement and recalls the spontaneous reaction of people in her neighbourhood.

"We just came out on the streets singing and dancing because we just ... it was a dream come true," said Chaikof.

"We only dreamt about a state up until that point."

That weekend, a rally was organized and everyone was instructed to meet at a street corner in the neighbourhood to begin the festivities.

"And we were dressed in white shirts, dark trousers, I remember, and we just all marched across College Street to Maple Leaf Gardens where, as I recall, the Gardens seemed to be full," Chaikof said.

"There was a lot of rejoicing and jubilation and a lot of excitement."

Hindy Hirt, a seven-year-old at the time, also has a smattering of vivid memories that include "the non-Jewish policemen ... giving us respect and standing there with us" and hearing "Hatikva," the song that was to become Israel's national anthem.

"What I remember were the crowds and the people and the festivities, and what impressed me most about that day was, I guess, hearing 'Hatikva' for the first time sung by so many people," said Hirt, who now teaches English as a second language to adults in Toronto.

"Here was a whole community singing one song together. And probably with all their heart, and as loudly as they could muster up their voices, and that left an impression with me."

In fact, it was Chaikof who was charged with leading the singing at the Gardens that day.

"It wasn't yet declared the anthem, but we thought of it as the anthem," she said. "The word 'Hatikva' means hope and we were always hoping for a state to be declared. And I was asked to lead 'Hatikva' at that event, so it was particularly exciting."

On Thursday evening, Hirt and Chaikof and thousands of others will gather at Ricoh Coliseum for more song, dance and entertainment - this time marking 60 years of Israeli statehood.

Filmmaker Ivan Reitman will host the festivities, and an organizer said Prime Minister Stephen Harper was expected to attend.

Hirt said her parents came to Canada from countries where there was oppression.

"And I was saved from that. But I was called a dirty Jew as a kid. I was picked on by a number of kids, occasionally, not often."

But knowing that there was a state of Israel contributed to a sense of pride, she said.

"I felt that I could keep my head up a little bit higher," Hirt said. "I'm proud of the accomplishments of the country. I'm proud of the technology, of the brainpower. Not everything is perfect. No place is perfect."

Irving Matlow, 80, shares that sense of pride as Israel marks six decades, and feels he played his part by serving in the army.

He describes an information session held in a Toronto school in November 1947 when two representatives from the "coming state of Israel" were looking for volunteers to join the army.

"I do remember that everyone who was there stood up and kind of offered their services. So it was quite a response."

Matlow said about 225 Canadians volunteered, including about 70 from the Toronto area.

"Most of the boys were from Jewish families and I don't think you'd say they were strongly Zionist like my parents were," said Matlow, who had just completed his university degree when he left Toronto for Israel in May 1948.

"Being Jewish and knowing what had gone on, as some had served in the war against the Nazis, I think they felt a responsibility to help Jewish people achieve their independence."

He served 10 1/2 months in the army and left after armistice agreements were signed ending the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

"People just felt the next step from an armistice was peace. That's not been the case yet, 60 years after, and hopefully there will be such a thing," Matlow said.

Chaikof visits Israel frequently.

"We're just all very proud of Israel's accomplishments," she said, reflecting on the anniversary. "For me it's an emotional time, it's excitement and it's thrilling, and we just want peace to be declared."

"If there is peace, think of how much more can be done in the country and how much more they can give to their neighbours."

Matlow, who spends his winters in Israel, said it's been a tough struggle for a country surrounded as it is by unfriendly neighbours, and the fact that it has flourished is a great achievement.

"Canada is the best country in which to live from a freedom point of view," he said.

"But there are other places where there's perhaps a little more anti-Semitism, so if it should ever

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