JWB editor Arnold dies

CYNTHIA RAMSAY

Abraham Arnold, publisher-editor of the Jewish Western Bulletin from 1949-1960, died at home in Winnipeg on Jan. 28, 2011, at the age of 88.

Born on July 2, 1922, in Montreal, Arnold was involved in Jewish communal life and journalism for almost 70 years. In 2004, he was named a member of the Order of Canada and cited were his contributions to the knowledge of the history of Jewish people in Canada, the fostering of intercultural understanding and his passionate advocacy for human rights, including being a founder of the Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties.

Arnold was married to Bertha (Ander) for 66 years. In the Jewish Western Bulletin article announcing Arnold’s resignation from the paper on May 27, 1960, it is noted, “Throughout the past 11 years, he has been ably assisted by his wife, Bertha Arnold, as advertising manager.”

Abe and Bertha Arnold had three children, Mark Arnold (Joyce Weinman), Shelley Chochinov (Barry) and the late Frances Arnold; six grandchildren, Vanessa Arnold, Jonah Arnold, Manya Chochinov, Jennifer Thorsteinsson, Bryon Chochinov and Jeremiah (Jem) Arnold; and eight great-grandchildren. Arnold is also survived by his sister, Rose Harrod of Vancouver, his brother, Maurice Abrams of Toronto, and many nieces and nephews.

In the introduction to his book Judaism: Myth, Legend, History, and Custom, from the Religious to the Secular, Arnold wrote fondly of growing up in Montreal, where he “felt the pangs of poverty, but not the sting of antisemitism.” He was involved in the Young Men’s Hebrew Association as a youth, and remained so coming out of high school, joining the Journalism Club, in which he “learned the elements of the craft that led me to become a full-fledged journalist.” He also represented the Y on the Youth Council of Canadian Jewish Congress.

Arnold’s family moved to Toronto in 1942. There, he began working as a journalist, becoming the editor of an Anglo-Jewish news service in 1946. A year later, he became the English page editor of the Yiddish newspaper Vochenblatt.

“Early in 1949, I began my tenure as publisher-editor of the Jewish Western Bulletin in Vancouver, a position I held until 1960, when I returned to Montreal to become public-relations director for the Jewish Federation,” wrote Arnold in Judaism. “Late in 1965, I became Western regional director with Canadian Jewish Congress in Winnipeg and served until early 1973; during this period, I was the founding member of the Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada.

“As a secular Jew, I never gave up my active association with the Jewish community; I have served as a volunteer with various Jewish groups, as well as participating in human-rights and intercultural programs, some of which also involved interfaith activities that were, nevertheless, secular and humanistic in nature.”

Among the organizations with which Arnold was affiliated during his life were the Canadian Executive Services Organization, the Jewish Heritage Centre in Winnipeg, the Canadian Association for Jewish Studies, the Society for Humanistic Judaism, the United Jewish Peoples Order, Jewish Federation/CJA of Winnipeg, the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble, the Manitoba Writers Guild and the Manitoba Film Classification Board.

The Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations’ Spring 2004 newsletter listed some of Arnold’s many honors. In addition to several writing awards and grants, Arnold received the Shem Tov (Good Name) Award from the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council in 1997, the Manitoba Human Rights Achievement Award as a “lifelong advocate of human rights and civil liberties” in 1994 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg in 2001.

A private family graveside service was held for Arnold at Chapel Lawn in Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations may be made to the Abe Arnold Oral History Project at the University of Winnipeg, c/o Dr. Nolan Reilly, 705-491 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, Man., R3B 2E4.

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