Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg, 1905-1960

Following up on our very successful Radicalism Conference, we have produced a book of papers from the Conference. This first-of-its-kind documentation of local Manitoba Jewish Radicalism is part of the JHC's Jewish Life and Times series.

Price: $15 JHC members, $20 non-members

Available from the JHC Office. Call (204) 477-7460

Edited by Daniel Stone. Published in Winnipeg 2003

Contents:

In Memoriam: D. I. Victor
Daniel Stone, Preface
Harold Buchwald, Welcoming Remarks
Leo Panitch, Keynote Address: Back to the Future: Contextualizing the Legacy

I. Organizational Life
Harry Gutkin: Radical Influence in Jewish Community Organizations
Arthur Ross, Landsmanshaftn - Mutual Aid and Solidarity in Winnipeg's Jewish Community
Leonard Remis: Personal Perspective

II. Education, Arts, and Culture
Mildred Gutkin: Mame-Loshin - Yiddish and the Radical Ethos
Michael Greenstein: The Socialist Imagination in the Works of Winnipeg Jewish Authors
D.I. Victor: Radical Jewish Education in Winnipeg
Fred Narvey: Personal Perspective on the Leftist Theatre of the 1930's
Evelyn Katz: Lessons My Father Taught Me: A Personal Perspective on Radical Education in the 1930's and 1940's

III. Trade Union Movement
Ruth Frager: Labour and the Left in Winnipeg's Jewish Community
Grant Mitchell: Personal Perspective on Leon Mitchell

IV. Jewish Women on the Left
Roz Usiskin: Winnipeg's Jewish Women of the Left: Radical and Traditional
Roland Penner: Personal Perspective on Rose Penner
Dee Dee Rizzo: Personal Perspective on Anne Ross

V. Political Life / Political Action
Henry Trachtenberg: Jews and Left Wing Politics in Winnipeg's North End, 1919-40
Nelson Wiseman: Jewish Politics and the Jewish Vote
Henry Srebrnik: The ICOR in Winnipeg: a Left-Wing Diaspora Movement on the Prairies
ALvin Finkel: The Decline of Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg, 1945-1965
Saul Cherniak: Personal Perspective on Politics and Theatre
Arthur Ross: Personal Perspective on Bill Ross
Sidney Green: Personal Perspective

Harold Buchwald: Retrospective and Closing Comments

Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg
1905-1960

Saturday evening Sept 8 through Monday Sept 10, 2001

The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada is proud to present what may be the last major opportunity to hear first-hand recollections of a certain aspect of Canadian political life. These are the Jewish contributions to events and developments that defined the contours of Radicalism (left of centre).

Early in the last century Jews found in Winnipeg a haven from the political oppression in the old world and created here a variety of cultural and political organizations expressing their aspirations and ideological convictions. Leading amongst them were those of socialist, communist and anarchist thrust - "the radicals". Thus arose the uniquely rich and vibrant political life of the legendary North End.

This conference is the first of its kind in Canada. It brings together scholars and researchers from across Canada and notable Jewish Winnipeggers with personal or family experience in radical movements. Speakers will address topics such as the influence of radicals on Jewish Political and Organizational Life, on Jewish Education, Arts and Culture, on the Trade Union Movement, and on Jewish Women. Each session will conclude with personal perspectives and reminiscences on the session's themes by local participants in or witnesses to these historic events.

Program:

JEWISH RADICALISM IN WINNIPEG

Asper Jewish Community Campus - Winnipeg

Saturday evening, September 8, 2001

Sunday, September 9, 2001

Monday, September 10, 2001

Saturday evening, September 8 - Welcoming Reception

8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Registration

Greetings from the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada - Gerry Posner

Welcoming remarks - Harold Buchwald, Advisory Committee Chair

Greetings from the Province of Manitoba - The Honorable Becky Barrett, Minister of Labour, Minister responsible for Multiculturalism

Greetings from the City of Winnipeg, His Worship Glen Murray

Mildred Gutkin (University of Manitoba): Mamme-Loshen – Yiddish and the Radical Ethos

Welcoming reception The I. L. Peretz School rhythm band, 1933

Sunday, September 9

8:00 - 9:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies

Welcome – Lionel Steiman (University of Manitoba), Jewish Heritage Centre Program Committee Chair

Housekeeping matters - Jesse Vorst (University of Manitoba), Conference convener

9:15 - 10:15 a.m. Keynote Address

Chair: Lionel Steiman (University of Manitoba)

Introduction of Speaker: Cy Gonick (University of Manitoba)

Keynote Address: Leo Panitch (Distinguished Research Professor, York University)

Overview: The Excitement of the Era: Defining Ideologies within the Radical Stream

10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Coffee break

10:30 - 12:00 noon Organizational Life

Chair: Abe Arnold (Jewish Heritage Centre)

Lead Speakers: Harry Gutkin (Jewish Heritage Centre): Radical Influence in Jewish Community Organizations

Arthur Ross (Ryerson Polytechnic University): Landsmanshaften: Mutual Aid Associations and Solidarity in Winnipeg’s Jewish Community

Personal Perspectives: Cy Gonick, Leonard Remis

12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch

1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Education, Arts, and Culture

Chair: Daniel Stone (University of Winnipeg)

Lead Speakers: Michael Greenstein (McGill University): Winnipeg's Radical Writers: Ludwig, Waddington, and Wiseman

D.I. Victor (former president, I.L. Peretz School; former member, Jewish Board of Education): Radical Jewish Education in Winnipeg

Personal Perspectives: Evelyn Katz, Fred Narvey

6:30 p.m. Banquet. Entertainment: Dramatic Reading of a 1930s radical play by theatre students from the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. Location: Hollow Mug, Victoria (formerly: International) Inn, 1808 Wellington Avenue (near the airport.)

Monday, September 10

9:00 - 10:15 a.m. Trade Union Movement

Chair: Lawrie Cherniack (Labour lawyer)

Lead Speaker: Ruth Frager (McMaster University): Labour and the Left in Winnipeg’s Jewish Community

Personal Perspectives: Grant Mitchell, Saul Cherniack

10:15 - 10:30 a.m. Coffee break

10:30 - 12:00 noon Jewish Women of the Left

Chair: TBA

Lead Speaker: Roz Usiskin (Jewish Heritage Centre): Jewish Women of the Left - Radical and Traditional

Personal Perspectives - Roland Penner (Former Minister of Justice),Dee Dee Rizzo (Mt. Carmel Clinic)

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch

1:15 - 4:15 p.m. Political Life / Political Action

Chair: Fred Stambrook (University of Manitoba)

Lead Speakers: Alvin Finkel (Athabasca University): The Decline of Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg, 1945-1965

Nelson Wiseman (University of Toronto): Jewish Politics and the Jewish Vote in Comparative Perspective

Henry Trachtenberg (Historic Resources, Winnipeg): Jews and Left-Wing Politics in Winnipeg’s North End, 1919-1940

Henry Srebrnik (University of Prince Edward Island): Birobidzhan on the Prairies: Two Decades of Pro-Soviet Jewish Movements in Winnipeg

Personal Perspectives: Saul Cherniak (Former Minister of Finance)

Sid Green ( Former Minister of Mines & Northern Development)

Arthur Ross (Ryerson Polytechnic University)

4:15 - 4:30 p.m. Harold Buchwald: Closing Comments and Retrospective

Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg 1905-1960

Saturday evening Sept 8 through Monday Sept 10, 2001

Jewish Radicalism in Winnipeg
1905-1960