Canadian Jews Decide on Action Against Anti-semitism in Toronto

A resolution calling for intensified efforts to enlist governmental. Christian church and civic opposition to increasing manifestations of anti-Semitism in this city was adopted here at a meeting attended by 400 representatives of most of the major Jewish organizations in Canada. The resolution suggested:

1. Federal and provincial legislation to prevent dissemination of racist and hate-mongering materials through the mails and through other communications media; 2. A series of conferences with non-Jewish as well as Jewish groups to publicize the dangers of neo-Nazism here, and to increase anti-Nazi educational programs both in the school and for adults; 3. The enlistment of support of other organizations toward activating their efforts in this field.

Under the chairmanship of Meyer W. Gasner, chairman of the Ontario Region of the Canadian Jewish Congress, principal addresses on the developments of increasing anti-Semitic manifestations were delivered by Sidney M. Harris, chairman of the National Joint Community Relations Committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress and B’nai B’rith; and Professor Jacob Finkelman, also representing the CJC. The resolution, voted unanimously, was presented by Harry Simon, chairman of the Jewish Labor Committee.

Reports were given, both from the podium and by organizational delegates in the audience, about the spate of recent anti-Jewish manifestations. These have included the distribution here of several thousand pamphlets, linking the assassination of U.S. President Kennedy with Communism and Jews; receipt in the mails of many post cards bearing the slogan “Hitler was right, Communism is Jewish”; and the showering from an airplane of hundreds of anti-Semitic leaflets tossed down on the Toronto midtown area. Some of these materials, Mr. Harris told the meeting, were mailed from this city, others from Arlington, Va. the American town where George Lincoln Rockwell, leader of the American Nazi Party, maintains his headquarters.

CRITICIZE SILENCE OF POLITICAL LEADERS, CHURCHES ON ANTI-JEWISH ACTS

Although these activities have been publicized widely, Mr. Harris said, religious and political leaders “have chosen to look the other way.” “There is little save silence from leaders of the Christian churches, from our political leaders, from community spokesmen,” he declared.

“Let us hope, charitably,” Mr. Harris continued, “that their silence springs only from an impression that these events are too insignificant and too unrepresentative to cause concern. Make no mistake about it: These agitators aim not merely at Jews. The eventual aim of these latter-day Nazis is to destroy the whole fabric of society as we know it.” Without naming anyone, Mr. Harris said “there is a strong suspicion of the identity of those responsible” for the distribution of some of the hate materials.

Mr. Simon, in introducing the resolution, declared the Government must be told “it is not enough to address Brotherhood banquets. Action is necessary to prevent a recurrence here of the horrors that took place in Europe.”

Other organizations represented at the meeting, in addition to the Congress, B’nai B’rith and the Jewish Labor Committee, included the National Council of Jewish Women, Farband-Labor Zionist Order, synagogues of all denominations, Mizrachi, Ahdut Avoda, the Zionist Council and the Bergen-Beisen Association.