Soviet journalists now touring the United States were questioned closely on the fate of Jewish writers and Jewish culture in Russia at a press conference here last night. While the writers disclaimed any information about many of the Jewish writers about whom they were asked, they did say that David Bergelson had died in Moscow in 1947. They also disclaimed knowledge of the fate of Peretz Markish and Itzik Pfeffer.
They declared that three Yiddish-language publications now appear in the U.S.S. R., and that a Yiddish literary journal would soon make its appearance in Moscow. Boris Isakov, of “Internationalnaya Zhizn,” himself a Jew, told I. Shmulevitch of the Jewish Daily Forward that if Jewish culture did not flourish in Russia today, the blame was Hitler’s. He said that the destruction of a great portion of the Yiddish-shaking community had destroyed the base for the growth of such a culture. Meanwhile, Leon Crystal, head of the “Yiddish Writers Union, today invited the journalists to be guests of the union at a special meeting. They replied that they would try to fit a visit into their schedule.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
