Folks-Ligue

The Jewish People's League in Mexico (, ''Idishe Folks-Ligue in Meksike'', popularly known as ''Folks-Ligue'', ) was a communist Jewish organization in Mexico. The organization was founded by members of Gezbir in 1942, in response to the German invasion of the Soviet Union.Cimet-Singer, Adina.
The Last Battles of Old-World Ideologies in the Race for Identity and Communal Power: Communists vs. Bundists vs. Zionists in Mexico, 1938-1951
' Initially the name of the organization was Jewish League to Help the Soviet Union (, ''Idishe Ligue farn Sovetn Farband'', , abbreviated LIPAUS).Backal, Alicia G. de.
Generaciones judías en México: la Kehilá Ashkenazi, 1922-1992
'. México, D.F.: Comunidad Ashkenazí de México, 1993. pp. 29, 69, 137Cañadas García, Teresa.
LA HUELLA DE LA CULTURA EN LENGUA ALEMANA EN MÉXICO A PARTIR DEL EXILIO DE 1939-1945
' It was commonly known as ''Di Ligue'' in the Jewish community.Gurvich Peretzman, Natalia.
La memoria rescatada: la izquierda judía en México: Fraiwelt y La Liga Popular Israelita 1942 - 1946
'. México: Univ. Iberoamericana, 2004. pp. 42, 49 The organization had good relationship with the Jewish Central Committee of Mexico, as several members of ''Di Ligue'' were also part of the Central Committee. ''Di Ligue'' organized bazaars for fundraising to support Soviet orphans and families affected by the war. ''Di Ligue'' published the newspaper ''Fraivelt'' ('Free World').UNESCO.
MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER - Collection of the Center of Documentation and Investigation of the Ashkenazi Community in Mexico (16th to 20th Century) (Mexico)
'

In January 1945 the name was changed to ''Idishe Folks-Ligue'', a move that indicated the organization would be open to Jews of different political tendencies. At the time the communists sought to broaden their base in the struggle against fascism. Mordkhe Korona, a Zionist, was the chairman of the organization during this period. The ''Fraivelt'' editor Boris Rosen represented ''Folks-Ligue'' in the Jewish Central Committee.

Representatives of the Jewish Central Committee, World Jewish Congress, Nidkhei Israel Congregation, the United Zionist Organization and Histadrut participated in the inaugural ceremony of ''Folks-Ligue'' at its new office on Paseo de la Reforma 503 on January 21, 1945. The Soviet ambassador Konstantin Umansky held a speech at the meeting (his last public speech before his death). Portraits of Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin and Mexican president Manuel Ávila Camacho decorated the meeting hall. During this period three flags were displayed at ''Folks-Ligue'' meetings; the Mexican, Soviet and Zionist, and the Hatikva was played alongside Mexican and Soviet national anthems at ceremonies of the movement.

Artist Fanny Rabel had her first exhibition at the ''Folks-Ligue'' office in 1945. Frida Kahlo wrote the presentation for the exhibition of twenty four oils, thirteen drawings and eight engravings.

After the end of the Second World War, the influence of ''Folks-Ligue'' declined sharply as European Jewish refugees began leaving Mexico. The organization pulled out of the Jewish Central Committee, in response to Zionist hegemony in that body. As of the 1950s the office of ''Folks-Ligue'' was located at Pino Suarez, 27.Federbusch, Simon.
World Jewry Today
'. New York: T. Yoseloff, 1959. p. 87

References

{{Jews and Judaism in Mexico

Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Mexico
Communism in Mexico
European-Jewish culture in Mexico
Jewish communist movements
Jewish Mexican history
Political organizations based in Mexico
Secular Jewish culture in North America
Yiddish culture in North America