NAC

JEWISH CULTURE POPULARIZED

Soviet people prepare to honor centenary of Sholom Aleichem

HILE ,in Moscow, during = visit to the Soviet Union last year, I met and talk- ed with one of the most promi- nent Soviet writers, Lev Kassil, whose stories for children are published ‘in many languages in hundreds of thousands of copies. He is the chairman of the special commission estab- lished by Union of Soviet Writers about a year and a half ago to publish in Russian all the works of Leib Kwitko — a victim of the Beria anti-social- ist crimes.

During that intimate conver- sation in his apartment, which lasted a whole evening, I in- quired about the life and cul- ture of the Jewish people in the Soviet Union, and these are Lev Kassil’s words:

“I am certain (ya ouveren) that many, many things will be done to satisfy the cultural needs of the Jewish people as Soviet citizens. I am convinced OF ttc:

When I read in the Soviet press about cultural activities and events for and by Soviet Jewish citizens, I realize that what Lev Kassil told me was very true.

Great efforts have been made in the last couple of years to popularize among the Soviet people the contribution made by Soviet Jews to the treasury of Soviet culture, as well as to satisfy the cultural needs of the Jewish people in the Soviet Union. These cul- tural activities are of an im- posing and expanding nature.

The Soviet Ministry of Cul- ture recorded 3,000 Jewish eoncerts with a total attend- ance of 3,000,000 in 1957. These concerts were given in many cities and towns from Moscow to Kiev and Odessa, from Lenin- grad to Tashkent. In the same year 1,000,000 recordings of Jewish folk-songs were sold in the Soviet Union.

In Vilnius, ‘capital of the Lithuanian Soviet Republic, a Yiddish library was established a couple of years ago. The book fund of this library is still comparatively small, but it is constantly growing and may now be in a position to provide those who wish to read a Yiddish book wtth a wide variety of contemporary as well as classical Jewish litera- ture. Besides, as was report- ed in the press some time ago, a Jewish drama group and a choral group are functioning in Vilnius.

For about a

year now a

Jewish theatre collective has been functioning in Lenin- grad. When recently a drama

.contest was held in Leningrad

in which 300 theatre collect- ives took part, the Jewish theatre collective participated along with such well estab- lished drama collectives as the Leningrad Drama _ Theatre and the drama collective of the Palace of Culture. Of the 300 contestants, the Jewish Drama Collective won third place and the title “Laureate of the Len- ingrad Contest of Art Collect- ives.” :

A few months ago the Soviet Ministry of Culture selected a special commission to prepare and carry through a whole’pro- gram of varied cultural events in honor of the centenary of Sholem Aleichem, the great Jewish classicist, in 1959. And elaborate preparations are being made to celebrate this cultural landmark throughout the Soviet Union.

Just recently an album of paintings by the Soviet Jew- ish ‘artist, Tanchum Kaplan, was published in Leningrad. In this album the great Jew- ish artist tells in both Yiddish and Russian the well known story by Sholem Aleichem — The Enchanted Tailor. This album has been published in preparation for and as part of the Sholem Aleichem centen- nial celebrations.

Recently too, the Russian State Drama Theatre of Soviet Latvia came to Leningrad and there staged a series of plays, among them Sholem Aleichem’s Tevie The Milkman.

In. Birobidjan, the Jewish Autonomous Territory, Jewish writers are grouped around a Yiddish newspaper which has been appearing uninterrupted- ly for almost three decades. Preparations are in progress now for the publication of a Birobidjan, almanac in Yiddish and Russian as one of the cul- tural efforts to mark the 25th anniversary of the Jewish Autonomous Territory which falls on May 7, 1959.

Every effort is being made by the Soviet Ministry of Cul- ture to popularize the works of Jewish writers, both con- temporary and classical, among the different nationalities of the Soviet Union by translat- ing and publishing them in hundreds of thousands of copies in Russian, Ukrainian and sev- eral other languages. The scope and significance of this work cannot be underestimated.

it os os As noted by the resolution, “On The Struggle For Marx- ism-Leninism Among Jewish Canadians,” adopted by the

Labgr-Progressive Party’s na-

tional committee last month:

“Life for Soviet Jews is a developing process as a result of the abolition of discrimina- tion by the Soviet state, and there is, therefore, naturally a wide and active discussion in the Soviet Union about forms of expression of Jewish cul- ture and a series of steps is being taken to meet the needs of the Jewish pople in the new stage of transition to Communism.”

When we look at the life of the Soviet Jews from this standpoint, we cannot help but see that those who lost faith in socialism and in the science of Marxism-Leninism are not motivated by any noble considerations in their “concern” over the “plight” of Soviet Jews. The outcry raised by the proponents of desertion and renegacy, who have land- ed in the camp*of the enemy, has a cynical, opportunist ring and is part of the campaign of slander against the Soviet Un- ion.

Jewish people who have shown genuine concern for the development of Jewish culture in the Soviet Union and in Canada will welcome these ad- vances already made. As friends of the Soviet Union they remain on the side of his- tory, whereas the renegades are being repudiated by his- tory which is moving human- ity towards the triumph of socialism throughout the world.

HARRY GURALNICK

Quote and unquote

“These roads I’ve built, and the roads I’m going to build: are going to be old some day. But eternity is forever.’— Rev. and Hon. P. A. Gaglardi,

minister of highways, at a gospel rally in Exhibition Gardens on September 29.

Eternity is also how long it’s taking him to finish some of these roads. .

xt xt Xt

“T think with horror of a world in which all kindness would be the duty of the state.” Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, opening a Red Feather campaign at Galt, Ont., on September 29.

But the unemployed would appreciate even a little state kindness right now.

; CONGRATULATIONS: WE MADE IT ye

He thought it was)

just one more. cholé

The letter accompanying this contribution “based OM

really happened here at Woodfibre when the regist igh school elections took place,” concluded with this invite” the editors: “If you want to see a ghost town where some. t people are showing some working class independence

here some time...”

He came to fill in just an- other routine chore, Three or four at the most were all who would register. People in com- pany towns were all the same. They were simply not inter- ested in any pubhc affairs. They were too used‘ to the “company” doing and decid- ing everything.

This giving of the vote on

school affairs to people in’

company towns was _ foolish. Just a lot of extra work. He hadn’t had eight register in any one place yet!, But the routine must be gone through!

He pinned a notice of the hours of registration on the bulletin board and wandered up to the school. There he talked with the principal. Sure he would be delighted to have. supper with him. Time? Well, he was supposed to stay at the registration desk till 6:30 p.m.- but few ever came. Call for me at six,

It started off according to -

pattern. The school principal, of course, registered. The company manager showed up and the company accountant a few minutes later. But it was shortly after this that things began to happen.

An. ancient Austin. chugged up and a middle-aged man came in. He registered, asked a few questions, who, how

October 10, 1958 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE! a

of

of

“an many and so forth, # parted. ; e ty

Minutes later the a crepit Austin was b@

people untangled ne ip from the car and at register. A third and sn time that uncertain © was heard outside ach i istration office and © it three or four peo? ath ouevered themselv®& the car and register A To be sure, tw? ee more of the comP* ey brass wandered 12 © . pol was a steady trickle nits wives, some mech?) just plain laborers: istrar’s six o’cloe "f date was delayed an stat, he was barely able” ay ©) collect and put ® apers. it, 3 “T don’t underst@™ confided to his 9 principal. u “A ghost towP — on Sim. say, most of the and nobody sure Wo ot Ua mill will run 284% ye TT and yet over istered.” _ ete But one thin& ‘pert trar didn’t know — a socialist in t

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