Poge Two
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Fridoy, July 12, 1957
health expert
Editors Note: Tbis article is reprinted from tiie Jone issue of Canada's Health and Wdfare, imbli^ed by flie information b?h~* tbs FedsrsI Dcparimein of Health and Welfare.
TT rHY do refugees' sometimes W steal anything that isn't locked up? Why do some refugees find fault with their country of adoption? Why do some of them become withdrawn, fearful and even mentally ill?
In a document prepared by Dr. Maria Pfister, of the Mental Health Section' of WHO, the suggestion is made that ppssibly these reactions are brought about by defects m the treatment of refugees by the reception country. She points out that refugees suffer from a state of mental shock. Not only have their lives suddenly been uprooted and all the familiar elements in ihem wiped out, but it is necessary for them to make quick decisions which will affect the rest of then* lives. If they are isolated, regimented, not given adequate information and rushed into a'decision, there may be serious mental reactions at a later date-Refugees interested in a certain country should be given a clear and realistic idea of its general structure and opportunities for employment, housing, cost of living and so on. Such information should consist of printed matter, supplemented orally a;nd, for Has, persons of the refugee's origin who have long been residents of the country in question should be brought in. Written and oral information should be supplemented during the journey to the new country. CAREFUL SECEPHON . VITAL
Warning is given against overcrowding during, the journey as this has a particularly detrimental effect Oflb children, and against military organizations as this alienates the refugee from the accompanying personnel.
^ refogee shonid be sent to oOier comktxies without an active organization for fise receptioih of refugees," states Dr. Pfiuster. The manner in which flie first reception is condocted is of decisive dgnifi-cance, **ht ihe receptiim camj^ a team of anthropology social ifotk&ea and mental healfli woilcers ibcmid sejnre ss a bridge between the ethmriogical and mental sitna-
Editor's view
A J. Arnold
Home for ft§id^^^^^
tion of the refugees aud die eth-nolbgical-sodological and mental environment of the country of reception. The same team would, go into action in case of difficnlfi^ pr misunderstandings.** During the first period in reception camp, it is reconunended that social workers be used ta give the newcomers detailed information about
the new country./I^ngua^ courses people had an opportunity to become apquainted the Aged situation.'And if we succeed in improving should be organized rapidly and cor-|^^jj difficulties ipyolved at first hand. the MtSition in the Home perhaps it will give us some
hi
ALTHOUGH the problem remains far from ^ If a sufficient number of people who claim to solved, a little more light was shed on the Hprhe . be community-iiainded roused themselves from their for the Aged situation at the recent board meeting of lethargy surely some constructive action could be the Jewish Community Council and a further group undertaken to bring positive relief to the Home for
related to the culture and the social patterns -of the new country.
After flie refugees have left the reception camp, intensive measures shonid be taken to assure establishment of contact widi the inhabitants of new couintiy. This^ould not be confined to 1h6 ahtborities aind otiie|r osganizations, bat private individuals, young and old^ should be encouraged to make the newcoiners welcome. '
The Horiie for the Aged problem; has actually ,mUch needed experience, "as well as the courage, to
been with us for soin'e time. It is foUy to become in- tackle some other areaJs which liiay be even more
volved in debate whether this year's executive of the vital.
Homeis mbre to blame than last year's or vice-versa,■ ^^^^^^ forward now to
or whetibeir die Comniunity Council executive is fiiofe join the Home foir' thiei Ag^d society according to the
to blame than the Horiie executive. cdnstitutional provisibns as they exist today. The
Actujilly the situation in the Home is a reflection Coinniumtyeoiujcil certainly d^ right thing iii
of some of tiie basic weaknesses in our locai Je\yish calling a special me^^ deiil iwith &e problem
community structure, which in turn of course, is a. of the Home. But nobody cpidd have expected to
reflection of the dominant ihode of thinking. Hy sjcttle the yvlicie th that
Altman probably hit closest to the truth v/jien he meeting ft^ thfe executive of -t^^ Home should depl6f^:the lack of a Jewish Welfare Fund in this^^^^c^^
Dr. Pfister lays emphasis on the I community. / . wbment^
need for special training in refugeeL^ \^ propose to reopen the welfare fund^^^^^^^^v^O^^ criticizing the
psychology for those engaged in the] debate at thisJtime, but the fact is that the weaknesses Home for Ae Aged executive at th^^ point. It should
reception ^nd resettiement of re-|inburc6nnmunity structure iie also ^^^^ however, .that thojse who wish to see fugees. "It should be impressed upon imptw^ant areas in addition to the Ifo
them that refugees find themslves in This does not, however, justify the defense'of.Ae come mem
an exceptional mental state and re- status quo of th^e HomCb in order to get s^me Changeis started, act over-sensitively to everything which-reminds them of the experiences, they have,lived through. The latent anxiety pan again become manifest whenever any event occurs or Situatidn arises which recalls the pei--
secution jiist experienfced — for ex-| in* Vancouver, called at the initiative of the Civic Zenship Branch, yancouver Folk Society and several
AFEW WEEKS ago we attended the first rbiind- the ta* Conimittee for Human Rights, Friendly table conference of intergroup relations aj^ericies Relations With Qyerseas Studehts,' the Federal. Q
ample, when military units are en- Unity Association, countered." Amotfg the groups represented were the Caiia-
DANGER OF dian Council of Christians and Jews, the tJBC Civil
DISILLUSIONMENT Liberties Union, the United Nations Association and'
A further unavoidable reaction'is other U.N. clubs, Civic Unity Association, Friend-'
others.
It was generally concluded that these groups should get together more ojften^^^to discuss some of their cohiirionprob^^^ and[ to seek other ways of Wbrkmg together in ♦order to make their efforts more effective.
the, tendency of the refiSgee to esti- ship Unlimited, the Joint Public Relations Commit-
mate too hi^My the possibilities of tee of Canadian Jewish Congress and B'nai B'rith,
for. in^t^su^
the country .and the qualities of the people in the ne wland. So earnestly
does he desire peace and freedom . ^ ,
that there is a feeling of disillusion- /7\NE specific problem raised at this inter-cultural ' Dr. Cowie also points out that one of every eight ment when he has to adjust his wish^ which .all-p^^^ Thi^ mgans Iflij
ful thinking to the realities of his new ] ^'^w being asked to help is Uie need |of housmg for over 1,000 studen^^ u^ environment. This explains the laud- overseas students. It was disclosed that <|isc^iminatipn home ^hospitality.
ing of his original country a'nd dis-. stiH exists in some neighborhoods against students ' ----------
paragement of his new country which from other lands, particularly those whose color dif-is so often encountered. ^ fers from our own. '
"Finally," Dr. Pfiser concludes, "it| - '^^^ r*'"? ^°own as.Friendly Relations With
is
important to realize that the fact ^tudpnts is now engaged m a camhai^n to
of bemg a refugee automatically ere- sufficient housing accommo4ation for next
ates an increase m the desire for self- 1^™ ^^5" ^"^"^ ''^^pnST'*- ^^S!" preservation. The results of fth^Jf^P^f^f^h^^^^ Pr.
often acts and behavior which arouse^J^^^^^Vnn^'^'^ir^^^^ ?/tS?' "T**"-i?^ resentment: the sale of clothmg re- ^l^^?? enrolhnent at UBC next temi wi^ come ceived, the purloining of articles of university iteefo^iy
ir- J A o\ accommodation for a maximum of 1350 students
(Continued on^ page 9) | ^^^^^ ^ close to 3,000 liave tp flid places
t I to live outside the university gates.
We talk ?t ^eat deal about the progress \ye have made towards racial understanding in this country in rfccent years. But nothing can disprove this quicker tl|an;:td have a colored student Tef used a room /ental because of |ii^ race. The man who is turned down might even be the future Prime Minister of some neW or soon-tP-^e in^epei;^dent country in Afriea or Asia. But whether he is a future diplomat,' or agriculturist, or whether hip skin is black, yellow or white he deserves equal |iospitality while in our country.
We ^an^hel|> to assure that hospitality if we have any room^ available by contacting Dr. Cowie at 4541 W. 3rd Ave., AL. 2048-R.
MRS. TELLIER
NEW HEART
Mrs. Helene Tellier (righri vb» recently underwent "deep-freeze" . surgery at the Ndtionol Jewish Hospitol . in Denver to correct e serious heart defect, is seen here before the operotion. Dr. Irving Koss, ossisiant medlcol director of the hospital, explqined to Mrs. Teilieir yrhot would-be done ts her. Now fIf Hy recovered from her operation, Mrs.. Tellier is bock home in Vancouver and recently wrote a letter to the daily press, thanking Lions Gate Lodge B'nai B'rith for making it possible for her to have this operotion. The NeHons! Jewish Hospital which was founded many-years ago by B'nai B'rith is a free NO.'^-SECTARIAN medical centre for diseases of the chest. It is hardly necessary for the Bulletin to add its commendation to Lions Gate Lodge for helping Mrs. Tellier and tp B'nai B'<rith for si{pporiing such on invaluable institution.
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THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Published Weekly Every Friday at 2675 Oak Street, Vancouver 9, B.C. ABRAHAM J. ARNOLD, Publisher and Editor u BERTHA ARNOLD, AdverHsing and Circulation
Officiol Orgon of the Jewish Commynlty Council of Vancouver
MORRIS SALTZMAN, President S. B. GERVIN, Publications Chairman LOUIS ZIMMERMAN, Executive Director .
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FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1957 Candle-lighting Tirtie .Sabbath Eve., July 12^ 8:57; July 19, 8:50