A story about Chelm - Part II

 

This is a continuation of the Chelm story. You can read the first part here.

...

Some years later, a gathering was organised for all the elders of all the different towns across the entire land. It was a very important gathering where there was lavish food and dignitaries in attendance. Everyone knew it was an important gathering because the elders told everyone it was.

The inhabitants of all the towns and cities (other than Chelm) had been pleading with their own elders for many years about the poor man in Chelm whose house was on fire, but sadly, the elders had been unable to do anything to help despite being very important. But, knowing that the elders of Chlem would be attending the infamous gathering, the elders from other towns were requested by their townsfolk to confront the elders of Chelm to demand to have the man's fire put out. After all, this would be easily accomplished given their closeness with the king of Chelm.

At the gathering, the participants were reminded how important they were and how important the gathering was. They even sent out messages during the gathering to villagers far and wide to inform them that the gathering was underway and that it was very important. Over the next few days, there were many speeches by many people. Some of the speeches praised Chelm and their elders for having such an elite fire service, but never mentioned the man whose house was on fire. Some speeches thanked all elders for protecting all their respective villagers, but never mentioned the man whose house was on fire. There were fables told how heroic elders went to extraordinary lengths to gallantly rescue people in all manner of situations, but never mentioned the man whose house was on fire.

In-between the speeches, friendships were forged, food and wine was consumed, ancient legends were reminisced and nostalgic tales were retold.

No one will ever know for sure whether the fire in Chelm, and the man's suffering, was mentioned at the important gathering, but the fire in Chelm continues to burn to this very day.

Muzi-can't or Muzi-won't? EITHER WAY TIME FOR ARIEL MUZICANT TO GO

 

ariel.muzicant@colliers.at

Below are emails sent to Ariel Muzicant, which he has ignored. How can this man stand as president of the European Jewish Congress and represent European Jewry, as someone who turns his back and buries his head, when his leadership is called upon?


From: Gillian Kaye
Date: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
To: ariel.muzicant@colliers.at
Subject: Ariel Muzicant

Dear Mr Muzicant,

I hope this email finds you in good health.

I have seen a couple of replies that you have sent to Beth's supporters saying that you tried to help but you were prevented.

I contacted you several times in 2015 and you just made other excuses then. I attach an email to me from a mutual friend of ours, Flo Kaufmann, which is self explanatory.

Where there's a will, there's a way, but problems so not go away if they are ignored.

It's the boys' barmitzvah in a few weeks and it will be good if you help to bring Shalom to the situation so that Beth is made welcome at this important occasion in their lives.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Gillian Kaye

-------------------------------------------


From: Gillian Kaye
Date: Sunday, 8 May 2022
To: ariel.muzicant@colliers.at
Subject: Ariel Muzicant

Dear Mr Muzicant,

I hope you had a lovely Pesach.

I refer to my email of the 20th April 2022 to which I still await a reply.

Amongst Beth's thousands of supporters, there are many non-Jews. Please give a thought about how more anti-Semitism will be created if this feud is not brought to an end, besides the damage to two young boys and the reputation of the Jewish community in Vienna.

Your silence and denial of the situation is not helping.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,
Gillian Kaye

From: Flo Kaufmann
Sent: 21 March 2015 19:55
To: Gillian Kaye
Subject: Muzicant

Shavua Tov,

Hi Gillian - I am in touch with him on another matter and he is OK on that. However, I am making no headway on the matter of the two children. I am also talking about it to others and I am doing my best which at the moment is not producing anything.

I’m sorry to be so negative, but all I can say is should the opportunity present itself I will put the case forward.

You might like to take it up with Vivian Wineman. He is president of the BoD for a few more weeks, and will probably be at meetings where Muzicant will be present. As Viv’s term of office is coming to an end he might be more inclined to press for some progress as he won’t have to sit at meetings with Muzicant after May.

It’s a thought and might be worth a try.

Love
FLO

Open Letter To Oskar Deutsch : NEVER FORGET? YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON OTHER JEWS!

 

o.deutsch@ikg-wien.at
office@ikg-wien.at

Sehr geehrter Herr Deutsch,

I will never forget the time I wrote to you as part of the campaign to reunite Beth Alexander with her sons, Samuel and Benjamin.

Your Office's response (quoted below) insinuated that those assisting with the campaign were associating with Holocaust deniers:

"...we strongly condemn the participation of Holocaust deniers in this campaign..."

You say "Never Forget" and yet you turn your back on other Jews.

Never Forget, Asher Harrison J. Bar-Shimon

#OpenLettersToDeutsch #ReunitingBethWithHerSons

Open Letter To Oskar Deutsch : YOU REMEMBER THE PAST WHILE FORGETTING THE PRESENT

 

o.deutsch@ikg-wien.at
office@ikg-wien.at

Dear Mr Deutsch,

In London we remember the Jewish suffering from the past with Yom Hashoah, but also the more prevalent current suffering of a mother not able to see her children.

It is senseless to pour time and money into remembering the past whilst forgetting the present.

The Jewish world is waiting for this to change.

Kind regards,

Daniel Roth
London, UK

#OpenLettersToDeutsch #ReunitingBethWithHerSons

OPEN LETTER TO EJC : APPALLING TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE REGARDING BETH ALEXANDER AND HER TWIN SONS BENJI AND SAMMY SCHLESINGER IN VIENNA

 

[To find out who your local representative of the Board of Deputies is, you should contact your synagogue and/or the Board of Deputies office at info@bod.org.uk ]

From: Sheila Kon
Date: Sunday, 1 May 2022
To: info@ejcbrussels.com
Cc: chiefrabbi, cdunner@europeanbethdin.com, simonround@bod.org.uk, info@bod.org.uk, contactus@wjc.org
Subject: Ariel Muzikant

I understand that Ariel Muzikant has recently been appointed interim president of the EJC.

As interim head of this important organization I would expect him to serve the interests of the entire European Jewish community.

I am thinking specifically of the appalling travesty of justice regarding Beth Alexander and her twin sons Benji and Sammy Schlesinger in Vienna.

A campaign spearheaded by UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and Dr Mathew Offord, Beth's Member of Parliament now has thousands of Jews and non Jews from around the world following this case in horror and disbelief that two young boys have been denied the loving care of their mother and all their maternal family for so many years.

To date pleas of help to Ariel Muzikant have fallen on deaf ears.  Many around the world are looking at the role of the IKG in this case with alarm and incredulity.

If he cannot help resolve an ongoing crisis in his own community I am wondering how he could possibly stand as representative of European Jewish Communities.

The removal of Moshe Kantor showed the world that the European Jewish community stands proud with morals and ethics.

In his new position, I and all the thousands of people around the world following this case would expect Ariel Muzikant to step up to the moral and ethical leadership required by this prestigious position and do everything possible to reunite this family.


Awaiting good news

Kind regards

Sheila Kon

Ariel Muzikant

OPEN LETTER TO ARIEL MUZIKANT - CRASSEST POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

Ariel Muzikant

Here is an open letter written to Mr Muzikant with permission to be published here.

ariel.muzicant@colliers.at

Dear Mr, President,

I have been following for years the tragedy of Beth Alexander, a Mother prevented from seeing her children.

Needless to say, this is one of the crassest possible violations of human rights, let alone Jewish values. It reminds us of the darkest times in our history but is, incredibly, happening today in Vienna under the appearance of legality.

There is no need to elaborate to which extent this is a stain and a major disgrace on European Jewry and Jewry in general and for Austrian Jewry and Austria in particular.

Many eyes of concerned Jews around the world are now on you. I hope that you will seize the chance to demonstrate that the EJC Presidency is not just for the decorum but a position of real Jewish and human leadership.

Sincerely,

Ilan Weil
Geneva, Switzerland

ARIEL MUZICANT - Over 40 years tenure in Austrian Jewish leadership, claims "he has no function"

 

Ariel Muzikant

 

 According to the EJC website...

Dr Ariel Muzicant has been continuously involved in Jewish life in Vienna, Austria and Europe over the last 43 years, serving in leadership roles a large number of functions and institutions, such as: President (1998 – 2012) and Honorary President (2012-) of the Jewish Community of Vienna (IKG Wien) and the Jewish Communities of Austria, Founder and President of the Jewish School in Vienna (1979 – 1995), President of the B’nai B’rith-ZPC Loge (1996 – 1998) and President of Keren Hayessod/UJA-Austria.

 

On Tuesday, April 19, 2022, 5:58 PM, Muzicant, Ariel <ariel.muzicant@colliers.at> wrote:

Dear Mrs Bervin,

I tried, Vienna rabbis tried, many individuals tried, the leadership of IKG tried, members of the board of deputies tried. And we all failed.

From the moment it became a fight against the Austrian Jewish Community, nobody would get involved.

I do not know Mr Schlesinger or his family. But as I mentioned before there are laws in Austria. If what you are writing would be true, how come there was no legal persecution?

I have no function in Vienna and therefore please stop contacting me on this issue

Chag Sameach

Ariel Muzicant


> Am 19.04.2022 um 17:20 schrieb
>
> Mazaltov on your temporary position in this extremely important organisation.
>
> I read with sadness and disbelief your response to someone who had asked for your help in the case of Beth Alexander and her sons. I don’t know if you are aware but Michael Schlesinger’s mother did exactly the same thing to his father as Michael is doing to Sammy and Benji’s mother. It is well known that Michael abused Beth both physically and emotionally and who knows how he is treating his sons.
>
> As you probably know this case has been ongoing for years. Members of Parliament and Chief Rabbis in the UK have all been told previously that Beth would be allowed to see and be a part of the boys lives. This was years before Rabbi Friedman became involved, as that was only in January this year. So people shouldn’t be making him the excuse why they won’t get involved in helping a Jewish mother and her sons. No one would have had to let him become involved had the leaders in the Vienna Jewish Community dealt with this humanely and helped a Jewish mother. How can a school not let a mother know anything about her children’s education, health and welfare? My brothers are both divorced and remarried and all the parents know everything about their children from their ex spouses and see them whenever they want.
>
> My late mother was an Honorary Vice Life President of WIZO U.K. and a member of the committee for Women in the Community, together with the late Lord Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Her life was dedicated to helping Jewish women and children in domestic situations. I have been in touch with Brenda Katten who is a past President of WIZO UK and who is horrified by this tragedy and the fact that time after time the same Judge is deciding on this case.
>
> Hoping to hear a positive response from you.
>
> Sincerely
>

> Anne Berwin