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.
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.
