Page 2 — The Conodlon Jewish Newt/ Fridoy, July 24lh, 1964
Is This The JSgviei Ingiiisitiaiiy
A GUILT COMPLEX
By DAVID LEVY
THE
The. dilemma facing the Soviet government in handling the world outcry against its Jewish policies continues to expand.
On the one hand, the negating of Jewish religio-cul-tupal values as a Iveapon for exterminating  the Jewish identity   continues apace. The most careful observer seeks in vam in the Soviet press for a suigle casual word about Jews, a word that would betoken an assumed acceptance of a real arid permanent Jewish, as opposed to Russian, identity.   Looking  through the "Chronicle   of Newspaper Articles", for instance monthly reference joiunal published by the Soviet State Publishing House, one would hardly suspect that in the 1959 census over a million Soviet citizens gave Yiddish as their native language, so sedulously   are   J e w i s h | them«s ignored.
On the other hand, the singling out of Jews as scapegoats in the desperate struggle of the Soviet Communist Party against the na-tiu*al conunercial inclinations of enterprising inemb-ers of society in an economy of scarcity continues too.
Clearly it is an intolerable, ambiguity to deny that a people exists in any normal, sociologically r e c o g n ized sense, and, at the same time, to emphasize that same people who happen to be very incarnation of anti-social wickedness. Whatever the Soviet authorities think they are doing, the end result is to portray Judaism as the harbinger of the worst iniquities, from which people whe happen to be bom Jews can only redeem themselves by total assimilation.
A NEW INQUISITION
When you reduce it to its essentials, Soviet aims in
this matter differ very little from those of the Spanish Inquisition. Instead of being coirced to convert to Christianity, Jews are being forced, in effect, to convert to Communism.
In view of the intolerable ambiguity of Soviet policy toward the Jews, which must xmquestionably pene^ trate the consciences of all sincere and intelligent Soviet Communists privately, it is not altogether surprising to note increased concern on the part of Soviet propagandists lately to lessen the gathering weight of the world's indictment. While nothing has yet changed inside Soviet borders in the rules and regulations which together amount to deliberate suppression of Jewish culture, Soviet propaganda is trying valiantly to make
of what there is of it that is, forTEe time being, allowed to exist. In skillful hands, as any advertising writer knows,. a little bit of truth can be made to go a long way.
CULTURAL EXCHANGES
Last week's issue of this publication carried a photo on the front .page of the Israeli violinist Tsvi Haftel being welcomed by Professor Yakov Flier, a prominent Soviet pianist who is , also a Jew. The original photo Was supplied by the Soviet feature service "Novosti" and was accompanied by a lengthy article which, in the main, consisted of quotations of Haftel and other visiting Israeli artists in the USSR eulogizing Soviet artistic life and testifying to the warmth of the welcome they had received.
Exclusive European Dressmaker Designer
DAYTIME . EVENING COCKTAIL DRESSES - SUITS - REMODELLING
1112 Eglinton Ave. W. For appointment 781-3261
iimmGoiFutfmmciiii
AFRivATE NON raoHrrMuiroui wm Rju iwvAiE auB RwaunES
MmNHouauMmMMrcouni nurMniaNumm
IU1.IIZI nOMMawrOOl. CQUNnTOMMaMUR
OFFERING NOW... for a limited «me onl,
FULL MEMBERSHIP AT SPECIAL LOW RATES
TERMS IF DESIRED — FOR INFORMATION CALL MURRAY SWARTZ IRWIN fASTCRNAK
Bur 36«436S Bat: WA. WMS
Rm: 636-9029 Rm: 4U^3
A Tribate To A Jewish Poet From
the overall theme of the article was that cultural exchanges between Israel and the USSR were expanding at a great rate. According to the writer, Tsvi Haftel was .received on July 2 by the Soviet Deputy Minister of Culture who "stressed that the results achieved in cultural exchange would help to further strenghten relations between the ' Soviet and Israeli people".
Whom these worn-out platitudes are expected to impress is anyone's guess. Without derogating ^or one instant from the intrinsic value and worth of cultural exchanges, one has to be very naive to believe that they can have any more influence on the course of politics than a flea has on the activities of an elephant.
Yet the effort to try and
Soviet
create the illusion of a benign Soviet attitude toward Israel, coining at this time in the fonns of mail from Moscow specially sent to thispaper, has undiehiably intriguing and perhaps some hopeful aspects. Particularly as it seems as if such mailings are due to iarriye regularly from now on.
The latest is a portrait of ihfi Soviet Jewish poet Moi-sei Teif ('Msei'V not "Moishe"!) written by one -Soloman Rabinoyich of Moscow: In view of what appears to be a stepped-up Soviet attenipt to deny that Jewish ci^Iture is being suppressed in the Sbviet Union, aiid in the hope that this
attempt could possibly be the prelude to concrete measures to. loosen the bonds in which Jewish culture is tied, it is perhaps a' fair gesture, to print the "Novosti" article on Moisei Teif ytsrbatim, leaving it to readers to appraise its sincerity and to read between the lines. ■■ ■
CITY OF TORONTO
PROCLAMATION
1964 CIVIC HOLIDAY
The Council of the Corporation of the City of Toronto ot its meeting held on the 25th doy of May 1964, odopted a, resolution OS follows:
"Thai Mondoy, August 3rd, 1964 be ond the some is here-by fixed os the Civic Holiday for the current year, orjd thot the Moyor be requested to publish the usual proclamation required for this purpose."
In compliance with the foregoing resolution I do hereby proclaim MONDAY, AUGUST 3rd, 1964 os the CJVIC HOLIDAY for the yeor of which oil persons ore hereby requested to take notice and govern themselves dccordingly.
■ PHILIP G.GIVENS,Q.C.,
Moyor.
Moyor's Office, City Hall, July 3rd, 1964, Toronto..
GOD SAVE THE. QUEEN
Moisei Teif published his first poem in a Minsk youth newspaper when he was eighteen. Soon his poetry began to appear in various literary magazines. In 1933 after graduating from the Moscow University, Moisei Teif had his first volume of verse printed in Yiddish. A working-class lad from a Minsk suburb where once lived the Jewish poor thus became a professional poet.
Many of Teif's works at once attracted the notice of ■ the public and the critics. A number of his^ poems notably "No More Singing of Sorrow." "My Land, You Are My Davra." and others, gained wide popularity, and were held up as models of the new Yiddish poetry.
"Teif is a truly remarkable poet of original talent trod-ding his own chosen path," David Bergelson. a well-known Jewish novelist, had written, about him many years ago in the "Literary Gazette."
GOLDEN TREASURY
In all of his later work the poet justified this high appraisal of him. His poems of the .thirties, such as "My Proletarian Sister," "Romantic Night," "The Violincello," 'Life or Death," have gone down into the golden treasury of Soviet Jewish poetry.
Unfortunately, the arbitrariness of the Stalin per sonality cult period had affected Teif, too, and the poet's voice remained silent for a long time, However, after the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, when the Leninist principles Were reinstated in the country, his poems, replete with sunshine and optimism, resounded onte again.
From the first day of the existence of "Sovietische Heimland", the Jewish magazine, Moisei Teif has been in charge of its section of poeitry. He has done a great deal to make the public familiarWith the best works by Yiddish poets.
Today with the approach of  his   sixtieth birthday, which will be marked this year, Moisei Teif is in the prime of his creative pow-
MOISEI TEIF
ers. This is well evidenced by his new book, "The Handshake," put out by the "Soviet Writer" publishers. Teif has remained true to the main motifs of his art. In the verse, ballads and long poems which make up ,Hie volume, the anti-war theme and the theme of affection for his native Soviet Byelor russia are particularly emphatic. The spirit of internationalism pervades the entire volume, but the local national sciene is powerfully depicted. Deeply moving are such poems as "If Kindness...", "Byelorussian Station/' "Six MilUons," "Anna Frank," "Near the Bakery in Gorki Street." "Gitki-Taibe Street" and others.
"To the best of us, now dead for usl"
Narrating his story, the poet gives deep insight into the spiritual world of his heroes whose morality is— "Man vuito to man is a brother."
Profoundly lyrical is the cycle "I sing of you, Esterl!" published in the same volume of verse. "Shaya Fai fer," a ballad with its motifs derived from Yiddish folklore is extremely interesting. Deep philosophical meditations mark the poems in which the poet recalls the years he had spent^long ago in his beloved Minsk.
"The Handshake" is a book of verse which breathes of freshness, youth and optimism. In it the author shows himself to be a distinguished master of poetic style. And there is every reason to believe that Moi sei Teif will delight the reader with many more note-c^orthy books of verse.
The 26th World Zionist Congress will convene in Jeruso-lem on December 20, 1964.
A Central Shekel Board has been established in Canada on which are represented all Zionist groups entitled to such representation in terms of the constitution of the World Zion-its Movement, and the Shekel is now available across Canada^ The cost is fifty cents.
Every Jew or Jewess over 18 is eligible for tho Shekel and is urged to obtoin one and thus identify himself or herself With the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem. The Shekel is the traditional symbol of affiliation with the Zionist Movement, and also confers the official franchise. , V
Acquire your Shekel as an expression of your faith in the unity of the Jewish people and the World Zionist Movement.
CENTRAL m BOARD OF CANADA
2025 UNIVERSITY STREET, MONTREAL
DRAMATIC POEM
Of ispecial prominence in the book is the poem "Song of the Brothers." It is a poem of great dramatic impact. It tells of a big city living in peace and suddenly becoming aware of a great danger for the retreating fascists had left oh its territo-ry a store of bombs. The in habitants are evacuated. And ampri^ the sappers heading the defusing operations are two inseparable war comrades who call themselves brothers—the Russian Yegor and the Jew Faive. They do everything in their power to rescue the city dying the death of heroes. Ail the people attend "their funeraL "Two coffins, two .bodies are borne aloft>
"To whom is this homage paid?"
LONDON HURUT NOW REACTIVATED
After a short interval. of inactivity, the London His-tadrut League held a meeting on July 12th, under the chairmanship of Mr. Isaac Moskovitz and decided to resume their activities, pledging themselves to work more vigorously on behalf of the Israel Histadrut Campaign, as well as to carry on a cultural program for the London Jewish Community. ■■,
"The following officers were elected: Isaac Moskovitz,, president; Art Leff, vice-president; J. Goose, treasurer; M. Friedman, rec. secretary. Members of the executive: S. Siegel, K;^ Gottlieb, P. Zaifman, N. Beim, L. Kamien, J. Sneid-man and N. Nightingale.
TOWNSHIP OF NORTH YORK
PROCUMATION
Civic Holiday
Monday, August 3, 1964
By virtue of the jjower vested in me by the Council of the Township of North York, I hereby de-clore Mondoy, August 3rd, 1964 to be a CIVIC HOLIDAY ond request thot oil citizens govern themselves accordingly.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
N.  C.  GOODHEAD,  Reeve ,
Jeanne Rene says -My New Xhaim Centre in the
now open Inroll and SoVe Money!
Right now, classes are being formed at the new Jeanne Rene Charm Centre right In your own area. Here — for the first time in Canada -— is COMPLETE beauty counselling for wonfien of EVERY age ! The Jeanne Rene Charm Course includes: , the art of natural make-up fashion arxJ wardrobe planning exercise and weight control personality and poise and much, much more all in all, a new way to learn all about the 24 different facets of beauty ! Jeanne Rene not only shows you how to act, talk, move and. look, but also how to THINK beauty. Classes will be held afternoons and evenings.
■:'<;xii.?:$ili-?;*''?;;1;.i.1«w ,
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER t
ORDINARILY, the complete .Jeanne Rene Cham Course costs $75.00 with no extras and terms are as low as $2.00 weekly: However, for this week only — all those women refllsterino in Jeonne Rone's first; course will be able to take advantage of o special, money-soving Introductory offer! So, for full detoils on the exciting, new Jeanne Rene Charm Course and the special introductory offer ;— phone NOW.
CALL 781-2960 (MONDAY TO SATURDAY —9 A.M. TO 5 P.M.)'
CHARM CENTRE
LAWRENCE PLAZA (LAWRENCE AND BATHURST)   PHONE 781-2960