Vochenblatt

Vochenblatt
Keneder yiddische vochenblatt
Canadian Jewish Weekly
Editor Joshua Gershman
Founded 1940
Political alignment Communist,
Language Yiddish
Ceased publication 1979
Headquarters Toronto
Sister newspapers Canadian Jewish Outlook

The Vochenblatt also known as Keneder yiddische vochenblat ("Canadian Jewish Weekly") was a Yiddish-language communist newspaper in Canada, published from Toronto from 1940 to 1979.[1][2] Vochenblatt was one of the major communist Yiddish newspapers in the world during the Cold War.[2] The newspaper repeatedly voiced support for the Birobidzhan movement.[3] (see Organization for Jewish Colonization in Russia (IKOR))

Vochenblatt was launched by the Communist Party of Canada in October 1940, following a ban on the party. Vochenblatt replaced the previous Yiddish organ of the party, Der veg ("The Path"), which had also been banned. The title 'Vochenblatt' was perceived as more 'safe' by the party, seeking to avoid state interference in its press activities.[4][5] Until his death in 1978, the newspaper was edited by Joshua Gershman.[6] Gershman had edited Der Veg since its founding in 1926.[2][7] Harry Guralnick served as the executive secretary of the Canadian Jewish Weekly Association, the organization that published the newspaper.[8]

In March 1943 Vochenblatt began including English pages regularly, in an effort to reach out to English-speaking Jews.[4] From mid-1947 to 1948 Abe Arnold served as the English-language editor of Vochenblatt.[8] Nathan Cohen also served as editor of the English pages and wrote theatre and film reviews. The English-language section of Vochenblatt was later replaced by a monthly supplement Canadian Jewish Outlook which later became a standalone publication.[9]

Initially, Vochenblatt adopted a firm anti-Zionist stand, but as World War II progressed that posture was softened. The newspaper was supportive of calls from the Zionist leadership in Palestine to support the Allies. As of mid-1942, Vochenblatt began using the term Eretz Yisrael for Palestine. However, the newspaper still maintained its support for emigration to Birobidzhan rather than Palestine. During the 1941–1945 period the newspaper supported the foundation of an independent joint Jewish-Arab state in Palestine.[10] As of 1948 Vochenblat favoured the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. And as the war began it issued a call to Canadian Jews to campaign against any compromise against the UN resolution on establish a Jewish state in Palestine.[11]

In 1948, the newspaper became the de facto organ of the United Jewish Peoples' Order. Gershman served as general secretary of UJPO.[8] In its latter years, Vochenblat was published once every two weeks.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Paris, Erna. Jews, an Account of Their Experience in Canada. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 1980. p. 155
  2. 1 2 3 Estrajch, G. Yiddish in the Cold War. London: Legenda, 2008. pp. 9, 23
  3. ↑ Srebrnik, Henry Felix. Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924–1951. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008. p. xv
  4. 1 2 Levendel, Lewis. A Century of the Canadian Jewish Press, 1880s–1980s. Ottawa, Canada: Borealis Press, 1989. p. 134-135
  5. ↑ Srebrnik, Henry Felix. Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924–1951. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008. p. 152
  6. ↑ Forte, Nick G. A Guide to the Collections of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario. [Toronto]: Multicultural History Soc. of Ontario, 1992. p. 273
  7. ↑ Rosenthal, Henry M., and Seemah Cathline Berson. The Canadian Jewish Outlook Anthology. Vancouver: New Star Books, 1988. p. 12
  8. 1 2 3 Srebrnik, Henry Felix. Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924–1951. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008. p. 184
  9. ↑ Lipsitz, Edmond Y. Canadian Jewry Today: Who's Who in Canadian Jewry. Downsview, Ont: J.E.S.L. Educational Products, 1989. p. 83
  10. ↑ Srebrnik, Henry Felix. Jerusalem on the Amur: Birobidzhan and the Canadian Jewish Communist Movement, 1924–1951. Montréal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 2008. pp. 154, 169, 201
  11. ↑ Tulchinsky, Gerald. Canada's Jews: A People's Journey. Toronto [u.a.]: University of Toronto Press, 2008. p. 273
  12. ↑ Canadian Almanac & Directory. Toronto: Copp, Clark, 1977. p. 115
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