Jews throughout Canada joined by some non-Jews held many services this weekend, in various parts of the country, honoring the martyrs of the Warsaw Ghetto and recalling the bravery of those who fought the fatal battle in the Ghetto.
A special commemorative assembly for children was held here this afternoon at the Shaare Zion Congregation, and public tribute was paid to the martyrs at services at Chevra Kadisha-B’nai Jacob Congregation. At both services, a proclamation by Mayor Drapeau was read declaring that the uprising “has been considered a clarion call to all oppressed peoples to rise against the evil forces of dictatorship and tyranny.” The revolt, stated the Mayor, “has a universal significance which must be recalled and appreciated by all freedom-loving citizens in every part of the world.”
Leaders of the Government of the Province of Ontario attended services conducted in Toronto at Beth Tzedec Congregation in that city. Present were Provincial Prime Minister John P. Robarts; J. Keiller Mackay, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; and top officials of the Toronto municipality as well as officials of some of the major suburban towns nearby.
In Winnipeg, the City Council had passed a unanimous resolution proclaiming the day as “Warsaw Uprising Commemorative Day.” The Central Library of Winnipeg had arranged a special exhibit of materials depicting the sufferings of the Jewish people during the Nazi holocaust. Services were held in Winnipeg’s Independent B’nai Abraham Synagogue, the principal speakers being Ambassador Michael Comay, Israel’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
At Vancouver, a commemorative service was held under the joint auspices of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Jewish Community Centre, the Jewish Community Council and the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial Committee. The principal address was delivered by Dr. Avrum Stoll, professor of philosophy at the University of British Columbia.
The Ottawa Vaad Hair and the Labor Zionist Council of that city conducted a special commemorative observance in that Ontario city. Addresses were delivered in English and in Yiddish by I. M. Bobrove and Mervin Mirsky. Other Ghetto uprising anniversary meetings were held in Hamilton, Windsor and London, all in Ontario.
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