The cultural and religious persecutions against Soviet Jewry were highlighted here today when the master of a Soviet vessel, the SS Aleksandr Pushkin, was greeted by two messages from Canadian Jews, protesting against Soviet anti-Semitism and calling for easement of that policy by the Kremlin.
The Aleksandra Pushkin arrived in the Port of Montreal today from Leningrad, inaugurating the first passenger service linking Canada directly to the USSR. City and government officials joined a reception aboard ship, greeting the master, Capt. Aram Oginov, During the festivities, Capt, Oginov was handed a letter of protest against mistreatment of Soviet Jews by Rabbi Harry J. Stern, spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel in Montreal. At the same time, he received a telegram from Sanford Borins, of Toronto, president of the Northeast Lakes Federation of Temple Youth.
Both messages welcomed the ship and its captain to Canada, but pointed out that Soviet action against Jews hinders the development of good relations between the USSR and the rest of the world, including Canada.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
