Jewish Contributions to Russian Victory Hailed by Moscow Press

Jewish contributions to the Russian war effort on the front and in the rear are lauded today in the Soviet press which tells how a noted Jewish composer in Russia has been decorated for his activities among the troops on the front lines and how a Jewish shepherd boy from Biro-Bidjan became a crack pilot and received his second decoration, the Order of the Red Banner, for heroism during an aerial attack on the Nazis.

The Moscow press also reported today that a small group of Jewish collective farmers in the Saratov region along the Volga, under the direction of two brothers, Aaron and Pinya Levin, have contributed 135,000 roubles to the fund to purchase tanks and bombers for the Red Army. Aaron Levin donated personal savings of 15,000 roubles, while his tractor brigade contributed another 60,000 roubles. A similar sum was also given by the tractor drivers with whom Pinya Levin works.

The Jewish shepherd who became an aviator is Zalmen Elishev. At one time he tended the herd of a collective farm in Biro-Bidjan and later worked in a sewing machine factory there. He joined the army at the outbreak of the war and became one of Russia’s best pilots.

The decorated Jewish composer is Isakiel Scheinin. When war broke out he was working on an opera depicting the role of Jewish heroes during the Civil War twenty-five years age. He immediately joined the Red Army, where he organized dance and song ensembles. All of the performers were regular Red Armymen who were trained by Scheinin. Between battles he taught them to sing and dance. The correspondent who wrote the story appearing in today’s newspapers reports how on one occasion he was present at a rehearsal in the Darnitsa Woods near Kiev where a group of soldiers were grouped under a pine tree and Scheinin was teaching them to sing. This lesson was interrupted by a Nazi raid, and the correspondent did not see the composer again until several months later.

By then Scheinin had organized a touring troupe which traveled from unit to unit giving performances, using a truck as an improvised stage. They sang Jewish, Georgian, Russian and Ukrainian folk songs. When the Red Army was forced to retreat, Scheinin went everywhere with his troupe encouraging the men and helping to keep up their morale. Now that the Russians are advancing, his ensembles hurry to newly liberated towns to entertain the soldiers and townspeople. As a token of appreciation for their work the groups have been invited to Moscow to give several concerts.