Thursday, February 13, 1958
THE   JEWISH   WESTERN BULLETIN
Page Seven
Joint Distribution Committee reports on Polisli Jews today
NEW YORK which   the Joint
The Poland in Distribution
Committee has recently re-inaugurated its welfare program is far different from the Poland in which JDC initiated its firs European program 40 years ago Jewish Poland in particular, as compared with what it was in 1918, is now absolutely unrecognizable.
In 1918 JDC came into Poland to serve the largest Jewish community in the world. Today that community has shrunk to 40,000-50,000 persons only about one per cent of the original population.
The JDC program of that day centred around the crowded pen^ tres of Jewish life, such Bialy-stok, Lomza, Lubfa'n and Vilna. In the n^w programs none of these cities are listed. Bialystpk has 17 Jewish families,. Lbmza has two, l4ibin has 24—<md Vilna is no longer part of Poland. Today the largest single JDC pro-• gram is centered in the city of Legnica.  Forty years ago Legnica was Liegnitz, a city in the German province of Lower Silesia. Today Legnica has the largest Jewish pi»pulation in Poland, larger than even such traditional Jewish centres *as Warsaw and Lodz. The capital of Poland is still Warsaw, but the city of Wroclaw (formerly Breslau and the capital of Lower Silesia) is now the geographical centre of Jewish life in Poland. Of the 15 cities in which the new JPC program has been instituted, ten are in,the area immediately around Wroclaw. * NAiSl AIM ALMOST ACHIEVED IN POLAND
To, understand how all this has come about, one must bear in mind that the Nazi prograni to rid Europe of Jews was^ almost realized in Poland. When the war ended in 1945 there were only a'haindfiirof Jews left in the country, hiding out in a few of the dties or in the forests. Then they began to drift back, the majority of the returnees being survivors of the concentration camps.
They came back to bare walls, to towns and cities devoid of friends and relatives, empty of Jews. Life was made somewhat easier for them by the fact that JDC moved right in with them, setting up feeding, medical and clotliing programs, gave them loans to help re-establish themselves, set up credit cooperative? in which
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JDC helped, but much of the Jewish population no longer felt at hpme or at ease in its native country. There was a great wave of migration of Jews out of Poland following the pogroms and disturbances of 1946. Most of these migrants went to IsraeL Then the borders closed and they could no longer leave. At the end of 1949 JDC was asked to leave the country. Not only did the remaining Jews lose the help and services they were getting from the vast network of welfare and relief agencies that JDC had set up; at the same time they lost contak with the Jews of the rest pf the, world. As a Jewish community they were isolated., BORDERS OPENED AGAIN
A little more than a year ago the borders were, opened again. Polish Jews were allowed exit visas to join their families in Israel. Thousands poured out of the country in a wave of emigration that is still going on At the same time a new wave o: migration into Poland started. A pact had been made between Poland and the Soviet Union whereby Polish nationals in the latter country were to be repatriated.
More than 10,000 of the Jews now in Poland entered during the past year under this repatriation pact They came from the Black Sea areas, from far-off Samarkand, from the deptlis of Siberia—^most of them, however, came from Litjiu> ania and other-Baltic areas that had been piart of Poland and are now Russia. Before the repatriation pact ends at ^e close of 195S, another 10,000 to 15,000 Je^s are expected in Poland. These newcomers could not and would not go back to their old homes. Their relatives had been annihilated and all that was left in the towns and cities in which they had originally lived were memories of suffering.  However, there is space available in the cities of the Polish sections that were once Germany. The Polish government wants them to go there and the accommodations that lave been vacated by the departing German nationals are available iPor them. They c(jme, however, into stark rooms devoid of furnishings. Because of lack of training and other causes there is a minimum of employment opportunities open for them. Their future is uncertain and they find it difficuh to settle down and grow roots again.
In the meantime, however, they must live. They need beds to sleep in, tables to eat from. Their children need schooling, their invalids need care. Work opportunities must be "ound for them and many need employment training.
ADVANCED AT SB PUBLIC RELATIONS PANEL
ENDORSATIONS GRANTED
HADASSAH MEN'S YOUTH ALIYAH CAMPAIGN —
Jon. 15 - Feb. 15
BB WOMEN'S COUNCIL^
7th Annual Srotherhood Nighl^Feb. 17 KADASSAH HENRIETTA SZOLD-^
Ho» Foshion Show and Birthday Tea — Feb. 19 U.S.Y. — Tea — Feb. 23
BETH HAMIDROSH LADIES AUX.—Annual Tea--February 26 BB NO. 77 Annual Baking Contest     —      Mar.'4
BB ELANA AnnuarTolo        — March 8
PIONEER WOMEN'S SHOLGCH MOflOS DRIVE — Feb. 22.Mar. 9 HADASSAH YOUTH ALIYAH — Luncheon — Mor. 11 KINNERET — lOth Anniversary Purim Supper Boll — March 15 KABONIM PARENTS — Annual Spring Tea — March 16 NAOMI CHAPTER OF HADASSAH — Doffodil Tea March 19 PERETZ SCHOOL   —   Centennial Roffle-Donce   —   Mor. 22
(Replacing usual annual bazaar & roffle) BETH ISRAEL SISTERHOOD — Food Fair — March 23, 1958 NCJW (EVENING BRANCH)-—Evening of Entertoinmenb—Mor. 23 SCHARA TZEDECK LADIES^ AUXILIARY—
Farmers' Market—^Morch 26 DEBORAH CHAPTER HADASSAH — Tea — Morch 30 LILLIAN FREIMAN CHAPTER   —   Pesach Tea April 8
JEWISH HOME FOR THE AGED Ladies Auxiliary
Passover Tea — April 9 MiZRACHI — Annual Tea ,       — April 15
B'NAI B'RITH JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL—
- Moss RALLY — April 17
6'NAI B'RITH HILLEL FOUNDATION—Mr. and Mrs. Tea—Apr. 20 TALMUD TORAH P.T.A. — Food Fair — April 27 UJA WOMEN'S DIVISION — Luncheon — Moy 7 TAMAi^ 269 and ELANA BB GiRLS—Mofiiers boy Tea and
Fashion Show — May 11 BEN ZVI CHAPTER HADASSAH   —  Annual Teo   —   May 28
JEWISH CENTENARY CELEBRATION — Victoria — June 1
The aun of Vancouver Lodge B'nai B'rith to create greater interest among its many members, concerning the varied aspects of community life, was demonstrated on Tuesday, February 14 when a paner discussion on pubhc relations was presented with Rabbi Bert A. Wpythaler as moderator.
The panelists, Messrs. Lou Zimmerman, Allan Goldsmith, Norman Lopmer and Dr. J. V. White, with directness and clarity of thought ap proached the subject o^ Public Relations from its various aspects: the theoretical; the civic level; persona level; and the synagogue.
Lou Zimmerman, speaking on the theoretical aspects of public relations declared:
"How the .public feels about you is the most important thing. We are therefore working towards a friendly attitude of the gentile community to wards us. Counteracting misinformation is not the only objective. The main purpose of Public Relations is the creation of an atmosphere of un derstanding and enlightenment concern and appreciation—a climate in which all minorities thrive.
"The underlying principle is that Public Relations is the problem of the entire community—both  Jews and Gentiles. The defense of the right o minorities; legislation; particular in cidents; distribution of literature in a broad and inclusive sense, not only in the negative , sense of answering slander, etci^all that must be the con cern of both Jew and Gentile." EVERY ORGANIZATION SHOULD PLAY ROLE
Dr. Jimmy White, speaking on the
Lion's Gate lodge portraits
One of the most active members of Lions' Gate Lodge B'nai B'rith is Chuck Kemp who is currently the chairman of the veterans service committee.
Chuck is also active ,on numerous other committees including Citizenship and Civic affairs. Boy Scout cooperation, membership retention, indoctrination  committee,  and B'nai
JEWISH CENTENARY WEEK
June 1-8
CHUCK KEMP
B'rith Building and planning committee.
A long time active worker in the local Jewish community. Chuck is a past president of the Fairview Branch Canadian Legion. He is also very active in the scout movement and has been a cub master for the past 26 years.
A resident of Vancouver for over 40 years. Chuck enlisted as a private in World War IL What many people do not know is that Chuck rose to the rank of major while in the service. He Was seriously wounded in action but this has never prevented him from carrying on with his many communal activities.
LION'S GATE LODGE meeting will be postponed from February 17 to February 24 due to the annual B'nai B'rith Brotherhood meeting sponsored by the Vancouver B'nai B'rith Women's Council.
civic approach, stated that every organization should, and must have some role to play in Public Relations. Through Hillel, Council of Jewish Women, youth groups and B'nai B'rith, Jews must nieet with non-Jewish organizations. "Let them get to know us," he urged, "Enlightenment leads to understanding and tolerance.
In referring to the Joint Public Relations Committee, Dr. White said that it was not the purpose of the panel to discuss it as such. He continued however, with the following statements:
"No organization should undertake anything in the field of Public Relations without first consulting the Committee. The Joint Public Relations Committee should make all the decisions." Dr. White concluded his remarks with the following observation:
"The Joint PuWic Relations Committee has been remiss in setting up an overall program for all organizations." He urged the setting up of a joint plan of public relations in which the various organizations in the City can play their part.
On a personal level, Allan Goldsmith delivered a very inspiring message. "We want equal opportunity and respect. This can be achieved on the personal level through a positive ap* proach. The Jew must have respect for his Jewish heritage to.obtain respect from the gentiles. With knowledge and understanding of his history and heritage, the Jew will not be afraid to discuss and will be a good representative at large.
"Our community is one of different cultures. Transmitting the knowledge of our culture v/ill bring the respect that is due.
»
"Participation in civic and Canadian affairs is important. The gentile communty looks upon Jewish people in civic life as the representatives of Jewry."
CONGREGATIONS DO GOOD WORK
"Our Congregations in the community do a great deal of public relations work as suggested and implemented by the Canadian Jewish Con-
Loomer, past president of B'nai B'irlh.
"We are identified as a different group because of our religion. The Synagogues interpret our faith to the non-Jew and in this way we gain respect of our faith. When Junior congregations of other faiths are invited to services that is actual work of Pub-Uc Relations.*'
Mr. Loomer ended by urgmg that more non-Jews be invited to attend
services. " _
QUESTIONS ASKED
During the question period Mr. J. B. Jaffe praised the work of B'nai B'rith m the field of Public Relations and wanted to know what had been accomplished by the Joint Public Relations ConMnittee during the last few years.
"We are not here to pass judgment on the Committee," the Moderator advised.
In the discussion that followed the question was asked whether individuals of the community were permitted to speak or engage in educational activities in the field of public rel^ions; Dr. White said that in certain instances the JPRC should be left alone to deal with the situation, Up to now, perhaps, too many things have beem done in secret and he hoped that in the future the community will be better informed and that a program of participation will be planned for the various organizations, but without inter-Srence with the particular problems that must be coped with by the JPRC alone. WILL PROPOSALS BE IMPLEMENTED?
"Will this recommendation pf a joint PR plan reach tiie JPRC and will the conwnittee be obliged to do anything about the various recommendations brought out in the discussion this evening?" was further asked.
To this question Dr. White's answer was, that organizations such as B.B. must bring such matters up at their meetings, pass resolutions and in-instruct their representatives on the JPRC to act accordingly. If they don't, then other appointments should be
Dr. White was asked: "Do you think that more organizations should be represented on tiie PRC?"
If organizations, like Histadrut and Council of Jewish Women, decide to do PR work on a national scale, they should be represented on the PR Coni-
gress
and the ADL," said Norman mittee.
.—CM.
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