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JE W I S H   WE STE RN BULLETIN
Friday, April 10, 1984
i -
Remember
e m
rs
In the year 1942 a group of people organized themselves for war. What was unusual about these people was that they were not run-of-the-mill soldiers. In the first place, they were Jewish, and in those days all the world had been told by the "super race" that fighting was the last thing a Jew could do. Secondly, the Jewish "army" was boiii-prised of men, women and children who had undergone more than two years of sickness and starvation. Crowded cage-like in to a small isolated sector of the city ^^ere all the 330,000 Jewish residents of Warsaw, who to^ gether with deportees from Other, pa-rts of Poland, at one time totalled abovt 500,000. (In other areas of Poland thte plight of the Jews was even worse, for deprived of all their assets, without housing and without work, many died within a year, and others voluntarily joined the death transports to Treblinka.)
Jews living within the Warsaw Ghetto were also the victims of the sinister though less expeditious German plan to destroy them. From hundreds of thousands, their numbers were reduced to tens of thousands first by the severest restrictiohs on food distribution and decrees forbidding m^ical help and later by deportation to the gas chambers.
Then -came the Spring of 1943 and with it rumours that the Germans were preparing to deport the remaining 50,000 Jews of the Ghetto. Soon & decision was made — the Jews would prepare to fight! Reason told them that against such odds they were doomed; their hearts told them they were being entrusted .with the most sacred mission since Bar Kochba.
Instead of taking their  places around the Seder table, every Jew took his battle^ station. They watched tensely as German S;S. troops marched into the Ghetto equipped with the most advanced weapons of modern > war-'fare.   (The   Germans  were   suppioi'ted by Ukranian, Polish and Lithuanian auxiliary units). Soon bullets and bottles of flaming gasoline rained down on the startled invaders, whose reluctance to retreat from the attack of a supposedly cowardly enemy cost them many ■casualties. When the first attack was over, the Germans withdrew to bring in reinforcements. They left behind them hot a small number of dead, casualties of battle iof the first drganized open revolt by any of the conquered European nations against the oppressor.
The remainder of the unequal war is well known: the use by the Germans of tanks, heavy sirtillery and flamethrowers; their de-sti-uction of every home and building in the Ghetto; the courageotis fighting of the Jewish "arhiy" on the rbbftbps and in the bunkers; and the final atteriipt to escape through the sewers.
A few small groups of iighters continued to hve among the ruins carrying on the "war" against the enemy 'until as late, as the erid of September 1943. But for the once great Jewish community of Warsaw, the end had already come. The same fate awaited the Biaiystok and Lodz ghettoes and entire Jewish commtinitiejs of nearly All other countries overrun by Hitler's armies. When peace came, one out of every three Jews in the world had been murdered.
Judge Jackson at the International War Crimes trial at Nuremberg said "history did not know a greiater crime committed on an equally large number of victims and carried out with - a similar perfidious cruelty."
The six million Jewish victims are being mourned this week by the surviving remnant of world Jewry. In some cities the occasion is being utilized to memorialize the Warsaw Ghetto fighters; in others it is also being used to protest against recent manifestations of anti-Semitism preaching further genocide.
The suggestion has been made by some persons that there is no need to attend a ceremony to mourn the Six MilHon since the Jevirish people were not the only victims of the Nazis. It has also been suggested that we are too sensitive to anti-Semitic expressions such as have recently occurred in Canada.
In reply to the former,-;the millions of other victinis of Hitlerism are in fact memoriial-ized by their respective surviving nations. It sihould be emphasized, however, that the Jewish people were singled out for extermination by the Nazis not because they were Poles or Russians- or Hungarians nor for that matter because they were the nationals of any country. They were killed only beca.use they were Jewish. It is morally imperative, therefore, that they be mourned now as such. And who else is there to mourn for them if not their co-religibiiists?
As for our sensitivity to campaigns of race hatred, surely after oui*; recent tragic experience, we have a right: to be sensitive. Do -we not have the right to sensitiveness when.Jews here in our own society are still being harassed simply because they are Jews? Should we not feel an element of insecurity when fascists and neo-Nazi forces still exist and when they have a leader who still pro^ claims publicly his predecessor's intentions: regarding us?
This Sunday evening let every Jewish person—^man, woman and child—crowd the
(Conlinued' from Page- 1)
as a "national group" they are i easary to write profound and "deprived of their national cul- serious letters to Mr. Khrush-ture and means of expressing chev expressing deep concern it."  In^^escribing the status'a^ treatment of its
condition   of. Soviet Jews,.he Jewish citizens.' declared: tv, viewing the overall Sov-
"Every other Soviet nationa- iet objective in relation to its lity is permitted the-use of its I three millioh Jewish ctizens, national language and is grant'-  I Senator Ribicoff said that Sov-
support for its cultural institutions. But the teaching of Hebrew, the Biblical language, is banned in the Soviet Union; Yiddish, the tongue of 450,000 Soviet citizens,    is . discouraged;
iet policy aims at /'destroying the wellsprings of vitality pand creativity that have immemorial-ly nourished the Jewish spirit.
"It intends to atomize t h e Jewish community, to estrange it from its past, to pulverize its
Jewish schools virtually prohi- j^^^^j^ identit^, to stifle its bited and non-existent; the once a^a^eness of that identity, to flourishing Yiddish theatre scar- ^.^.^gh the Jewish historical con-cely tolerated and Jewish htera- gciousness of commitment to a ture and publications sharply inilienium of law and iearm^^ curtailedv", Senator Bibicoff declared, add-The reli^ous freedom of So-h'Jg: ?In 5hPrt,,pohcy aims
Viet Jews, Justice Goldberg said ^ ^^SS^^^J ^^MSv'^Z" limited."   In this I of Jewish group
is "severely
survival in any form.'
connection he pointed out: "In-. .          . -
creasingly synagogues are closed co^^^c^'^SS™!^
and private worship restricted; j^ew Orleans, president of B^riai
both. Bible and prayer toooks are ^^.^ and session chairmahJisaid?
denied printing; other necessary that the purpose of the Ameri-
religious articles made unavail- can Jewish Conference bh Sov:^
able; the last Kosher butcher iet Jewry had no political o^^
shop in Moscow closed down, tones nor was it concerned with^
the ancient Jewish cemetery in "cold war problems.'^ He strass-
Kiev condemned; the state^ bak- ed: "We do not seek special^iyn
ing   of   Matzoh   discontinued: iiege of status for our Soviet cp-j
orivate baking discouraged by religionists, but the equality of
prosecution; the training of Se- status guaranteed them by Sov-
minarians hampered land religi- . j.
bus exchanges discouraged " Rabbi Uri Miller of Baltimore,
ous exchanges discouraged.  . kj^ggident  of  the Synagague
At the sanje   time,   Justice Council of America, issued^ a c^H Goldberg said: "Jews are vili- to the "conscience of m-ankiiid" > tied   in   the   Soviet press and by stressing that the Conference other mass media"   to   such a is appealing to th e world 'to . degree that even Western Com- prevent this destruction .. of a munist parties and publications great religious ahdeul^iiriilJcb^ "have been moved to protect." "luriity, the second largel^Je^ He particularly cited the pub- |sh community in the World—^ lication of what he called the •^be.^ewisli .cpmnttiriU^^ "blatantly   anti-Semitic    book ^^S^^^^^^^^^^^f Judaism Without Embellishment' : .^^^L^^^SP!^ issued by the Ukrahfiian Aca^
i^w,    # c„;««««^ contradiction between S o VI e t
oemy of Sciences. ideologyahdfconstitutidn on the
He called ^ttention to other pne hand Jan^l jSoviet policy and forms of discrimination in em- action in regcffd to Jews on the ployment, public life, the right] other.     - n to emigrate "even for the lim-
Community Centre to raise our combined voices in supplication for the souls of those who perished and in protest, against anti-Semitism that could lead to our own destruction.
risdale Community Centre accompanied by C-Fun Classic Beatle Band. The occasion is a fashion show at which 32 teenagers will model.
During her recent grade 8 vocal examinations for Toronto Conservatory, the young Miss Stevens took first class honors and scored the highest aggregate in Vancouver. The daujghter of Mr. "and Mrs. D. Stevens, 43.49 Oak St., she is a pianist and danc-er as well arid this summer will be a Centre Day Camp counsellor.
ANITA STEVENS
First place winner on March 30 in singing high voice for the annual Cambrian Society Festival, rS-year-old- Anita Stieveos appeared at the Cambrian Society Annual Eisteddfod, Saftur-day, April 4, and was awarded a cup-for being^the top finalist. On April 21, she will sing at Ke?-
Bar-Mifzvali al ST.
•; Sabbath 'services at Schtara Tzedeck this coming Saturday, April 11 will be marked by the Bar-Mitzvah of Allan Karro. son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Karro. The Bar-Mitzvah celebrant, who is a student of S c h a r a Tzedeck Keligious school, will chant the Haftorah ■iss weli-as a portion of the service! prbper.
Rabbi 'Bernard Goldenberg will- officiate and ^ preach - the sermon, and Cantor Abraham
Deutsch will chant liturgical music. Services begin at 9 a.m. David Chertkow, president of Qongregation Schara Tzedeck, will present the Bar^-Mitzvah certificate.
Regular sunset kabbalat Shab-bat servicej on Friday evening, April 10, will begin at 6:40 p.m. Candle lighting time is 6:38 p.m.
The class in Mishnayos, (introduction to the Talmud) for teenagers meets Saturday afternoon, at 2 p.m. Rabbi^ to Hier is leader. Regular class in Bible and Commeiitaries, taught by Ri^bbi Goldeiibei?g each Sabbathi afternoon, and devoted during summer weeks to study of Perek, will meet at 6; p.m. Min-cha services at-^:45!^:m. are followed by ShMbsh 'Seudos and evening Maariv services.
Talmud class for adults will meet Monday evening at 7 p.m. in ■ the synagogue chapel. "The class   in   Talmud, ' taught in' English for high school and university    students,    meets on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. and  the  class Jih^'ShuiCftan^ Arueh-' fbr teen-agers, Thursday^ at   7:30   p.m.   The   class in Psalms,   for   adults, Thursday, evening is at 8:30 p.m..;;,   . .,,.,]
ited purpose of reruniting families" and the "undue proportion of Jews prosecuted and executed for' economic crimes.' He pointed out that 60 per cent of those executed for economic crimes in the Soviet Union ar' Jews, while Jews comprise only about one per cent of the total papulation. Thus "the belief naturally is foistei'ed that Jews are receiving unequal treatment under Soviet law."
It is not sufficient. Justice Goldberg said, '.'to reply, a:s Soviet officials axe wont to do, that some of my best in-laws are Jewish." The reference was to the fact that Premier Khrushchev has been quoted as saying that his son-in-law is Jewish. Nor is it sufficient to answer that these charges of discrimination, Justice Goldberg said, "are motivated by hostility to the Soviet people." , H^ cited Bertrand Russell, "a self-proclaimed friend of the Sovie+ Union," who "has found it nec-
EndorsGtim Gmted
Wars. Ghetto Mem. CeL .... Apr. 12 ;
JCC Wor!;dof Children ....Apri 14
Royal City
Hadassah Fashions Apr. 15
Pioneer Wd. Bazaar ......„..„ Apr. 19 !
JCC  Orch.   Concert Apr. 19
JCC World of Children ....Apr. 21
B.I. Men's Dinner ...............Apr. 22 i
BBYO Council Tea.............:,.Apr, 26:
B.I. Sisters' Pau. Nor'West Conf. .______       Apr. 26-28 i
Aviva Hadassah Dessert .. Apr. 29 :
UJA Men Opening Dinner ..Apr. 29 j
JGC Search Serie^.........L..........Apr 29 \^
Hadassah & JCC Bible Day.......................Apr. 30 ^
Pioneer Wo; Lag
B'Omer Tea ................_.„.. May 3-
JCC Annua I Meeting „.......... May 5 }
UJA Women Luncheon „..._ May 6';
JGC Search Series ...............May 6i
Hadassah Architect. Tour ........-—.............. May 12 ^
NCJW Year^end Lunch ....... May 13-:
B.I. .Sisters Torah Fund
Lunch..............____............„cMay'20f
Haidassah WIzo Tea.......Miay 2o|
JCC Teen ; Drama............May .20-21-;
Pioneer Wo. j_unch................i\1ay 27 .
The Jewish Western Bulletin
Official Organ of : the Vancouver Jewish   Community Council
Friday, April 10, 1964
Published weekly every friday of 950 West 41st Ave., Vancouver 13, British Columbia.
SAM KAPiAN Publisher and EdRsr
V^iUIAMlGELMON President
ALEC BECKER Publicofions Chairman
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