Shalom My Gantseh Megillah Family and Friends,

The relentless U.S. Presidential Election year is in full swing. Democratic caucuses and primaries throughout the country will determine who will fight George W. Bush in November. To ensure the Yiddishkeit voice on the Web is heard loud and clear, the Megillah is conducting a Democratic presidential primary in this month’s issue and we will be sending a big fat chai to the winner.

Simply mark the box next to your preferred candidate and click the submit button (Florida residents take note; the ballot has a “butterfly like quality to it.) All votes are strictly confidential and each person may only vote once. At the end of February (this year that would be the 29th) votes will be counted and the results will be announced in the March issue of the Gantseh Megillah (no recounts will be permitted.) The donation in the name of the Megillah will be sent to the winner’s campaign, so please take your vote seriously. Big money is at stake (well, big to us anyway.) Click here to vote!

Why is the Megillah getting involved in the presidential election? The reason is simple. The current White House administration directly impacts so much of what is going on in the world today. While this is not new, recent situations seem more complex and dangerous and the stewardship of the nation needs to be in competent hands. The war on terror, the continuing violence in the Middle East between Israel and her Palestinian neighbours and the controversy over the rationale for the war in Iraq are but three of the world shaking events centered squarely on Washington.

The Jewish vote plays a major role in U.S. elections. Israel is a central issue for both Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans are working hard to court the Jewish vote, which traditionally has been a Democratic bastion. For this reason Arnold and I thought it would be interesting to find out how our Megillah family feels about those men (there are no women currently running for the job) who would be president.

We would also have held a Republican primary vote except President Bush is running unopposed. However, there will be a Megillah preference election in the fall, when both parties have officially selected their candidates; so all you Bush supporters will definitely have your say. I urge the entire Megillah family to voice your opinion in the Democratic Megillah primary. Oh yes, I almost forgot. In the name of Democracy, ALL members are welcome to vote. You do not have to be a Democrat or even an American citizen to participate. How’s that for fairness?

The Montreal and world Jewish Community recently lost one of its most illustrious and honoured members. Dora Wasserman, known by many as the Grande Dame of Yiddish theatre, died on December 15, 2003 at the age of 84. Dora escaped war-torn Eastern Europe where she had studied drama at the Moscow State Yiddish Theatre under the tutelage of legendary Russian-Jewish thespian Solomon Mikhoels. She became a regular performer in the State Theatre of Kazakhstan.

In 1950 Dora, with her husband and two daughters, immigrated to Canada. She taught drama to Jewish schoolchildren and founded the Yiddish Drama Group in Montreal. This group was later renamed the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre. Dora was awarded Canada’s highest honour, the Order of Canada, in 1993 and this past October she was also presented with the Order of Quebec.

I am privileged to have met Dora and to be personally acquainted with her daughter Bryna, who has taken over as Artistic Director of the Yiddish theatre, housed at the Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts in Montreal. Bryna does brilliant work and she is a fine testament to her beloved mother.

We are also fortunate to have among us as a member of our Megillah family Dora’s other daughter Ella Geffen who lives in Israel. I have been in touch with Ella on several occasions and I am looking forward to continuing our correspondence and developing our friendship.

Arnold and I speak for the entire Megillah family in extending our condolences to Ella and Bryna and all of Dora’s family over the loss of this great, Jewish woman. May she rest in peace.

Stay warm everyone. February is here, and with any luck the lamb will replace the lion sometime in March. That is unless you live in Canada like Arnold and I do, where we would consider it a mitzvah if the snow finally melts by May.

Much love to all of you,
Michael