Over 5,000 members of Montreal’s Jewish community representing all major communal organizations in the city assembled Sunday night in Dominion Square to demonstrate solidarity with Russian Jewry and to appeal for equal treatment to be accorded to them as to all other ethnic and national groups in Russia.
The assemblage was addressed by Rabbi Leonard Poller, chairman of the Canadian Jewish Congress’ eastern region youth committee; Rabbi Israel Hausman; Rev. Roger Balk, director of the Christian student movement at McGill University: Nahum Wilchesky. vice chairman of the AJ Congress’ eastern region; Dr. Jean-Claude Lasry, who spoke in French; and Monroe Abbey AJ Congress president.
The group marched through city streets to the Soviet consulate where Cantor Mendel Fogel recited a prayer which was followed by singing and dancing with the Torab. The demonstration was organized by students and youth groups, synagogues, fraternal and community organizations under the auspices of the CJ Congress’ eastern region.
In Toronto, 4,000 youths and adults thronged Nathan Phillips square, named for the deceased Jewish Mayor, in a Simhat Torah rally and demonstration for Russian Jews. At a convocation at the University of Toronto, they heard Rabbi Hillel Levin of New York and a student describe the condition of Russian Jewry.
A declaration read at the rally demanded an end to anti-Jewish discrimination in Russia, restoration of Jewish schools, permission for Jews to emigrate to rejoin families abroad, respect for the Babi Yar site in Kiev and an end to the anti-Israel press campaign. The event was sponsored by the Hillel Foundation of the university, the city’s Jewish Youth Council and the CJ Congress.
In Winnipeg over 1,000 people attended a solidarity rally on the grounds of the Rosh Pina synagogue. Telegrams appealing for equal treatment for Soviet Jews were sent to the Soviet Ambassador in Ottawa as well as Mitchell Sharp. Secretary of State for External Affairs.
In Ottawa, over 600 people participated in a Simhat Torah rally at the Jewish Community Center and were addressed by Jacie Horwitz, international chairman of B’nai B’rith of Canada. They marched with torches to the Soviet Embassy where a “resolution of concern” was read to Russian Jewry.
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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.
