The schools of Russia which have hitherto been free from anti-Semitism are slowly being infected with it. From the city of Perm comes the latest story of an attack upon a Jewish schoolboy who was a member of the Pioneer organization and who has recently been admitted to the Communist Youth League. The name of the boy is Zarkhin and he is a pupil in school No. 21 in Perm.
Entering his classroom, Zarkhin found in his seat a postcard with threatening sentiments and a lot of anti-Semitic vilification. Zarkhin, a serious youngster, paid no attention to the postcard and did not take the threats seriously. He went about his business until one day on leaving a public dining room he was struck from behind with an iron bar. He sank to the ground and his assailant immediately proceeded to slash Zarkhin’s face with a piece of glass, at the same time hurling at him anti-Semitic epithets.
Investigation by the school authorities revealed that the anti-Semitic pupils were directed from the outside by elements hostile to the Soviet government.
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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.
