Toronto Parley Hits Russian Anti-semitism. Urges Action on Hatemongers

Resolutions calling upon the Jewish community of Canada to act on a number of major immediate issues, including protests against the oppression of Russian Jews intensification of Jewish youth work, and stepping up the fight against the widespread dissemination of anti-Semitic literature throughout Canada were adopted here this weekend at the 19th regional conference of the Canadian Jewish Congress; Nineteen communities in this province, including Toronto, were represented at the two-day session.

After delegates from a dozen communities reported that the renewed spread of hate literature has spearheaded revival of neo-Nazi and other anti-Semitic activities, the conference adopted a resolution urging the CJC to continue its fight for the enactment of adequate legislation against hate mongering on the Federal level. In regard to Soviet Jewry, the Congress executive committee was instructed to do all within its power “through diplomatic and other channels to alleviate the cultural and religious attrition of our brother Jews in the Soviet Union.”

Another resolution authorized the Congress and its affiliates, including YMHA’s, to set up a special Commission on Youth to study extension of services to the Jewish youth in the region;

A workshop on Jewish education, headed by Max Stein, president of the Hamilton Council of Jewish organizations, criticized the Jewish leadership in the larger communities for not giving sufficient attention “to the overall and primary need of Jewish education,” The workshop also urged parents to make “greater financial sacrifices” for attendance at Jewish day schools and not “to accept community responsibility for day schools as a scapegoat for their own responsibilities.” However, a vote on a proposed resolution, calling upon the Regional Council to take more responsibility for the Jewish day schools was inconclusive at the plenary session.