Yemenites to Celebrate in Israel ' 7 ' Jews' Farming Interest Shows Great Increase in '48, Society Reports- 20—THE JEWISH NEWS Friday, April 8, 1949 Dresden Jews Buying Ship for Israel Travel BERLIN (JTA)—The Jewish community of Dresden has de- cided to sell a plot of land re- stored to it by the provincial government of Saxony and to use the proceesd of the sale, together with donations from other Jew- ish communities in Germany, to purchase a ship for Israel. Dres- den is in the Soviet zone. Three Yemenit. Jews, among file hundreds now being transferred to Israel via "Operation Magic Carpet," are shown studying the Pass- over Hagadah at the Hashid Jewish Refugee Camp in the British Crown Colony of Aden shortly before they were moved to the Jewish State. Their transfer to Israel by airplane was made possible through American Jewry's $250,000,000 United Jewish Appeal campaign. The Jews of Iran By PIERRE NATHAN Jewish Telegraphic Agency Correspondent in Paris (Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.) * * * but it was directed against Zion- ists "who threaten the Arab," and not against the Iranian Jews, whom he described as "our brothers." An important factor in the political and social life of Iran that cannot be disregarded is the influence and physical presence of Great Britain, In the southern section of Iran, Great Britain holds concessions to valuable oil lands. This sector of the country is, to all purposes, a state within a state. The Iranian Government has little or no say as to what transpires in that area, although Iranian and Indian workers live under a system of virtual peon- age, on sub-standard wages. Po- litically, Great Britain supports the Moslem religious faction which was weak until 1941. The former ruler of Iran had sought social reforms, and had taken measures against the ris- ing tide of Moslem religious in- fluence. This influence still re- mains, however. Last year, the new Shah, Mohammed Riza Pa- levi, instituted measures aimed Of all the Jewish communities in the Moslem countries of the Middle East, the Jewish popu- lation of Iran, works and lives under comparatively favorable conditions — particularly when viewed in the light of what is happening to Jews in the other Arab states. Many reports have been re- cently published on the persecu- tion inflicted on and political dis- crimination practiced against the Jewish minorities living in the Arab states. But the status of the Iranian Jew has not been violently attacked nor restricted. About .80,000 Jews live and work in Iran, with 30,000 of them residing in the capital city of Teheran. The social status of both the Jew and the Iranian is on about the same level. There are very rich Jews in Iran, although there is a small community of Iraqi Jews, mostly wealthy indi- viduals who fled their country. The members of the Jewish community live under the same deplorable housing conditions and lack of sanitary and educa- tional facilities as do the poorer Iranians. Most of the Jews are artisans or merchants. There is a complete lack of Jewish social institutions, and very little Jewish cultural life. In Teheran, a Jewish Youth Cen- ter teaches religious courses to approximately 350 young men and women. Other Jewish institu- tions could eventually be or- ganized, but the lack of leader- ship in the community is a major handicap. A reason for the Iranian Gov- ernment's tolerance of its Jewish minority may be found in the attitude of the local Jews toward the state of Israel. Very few of them migrate there, although most of them are pro-Zionist. However, there is an almost com- plete absence of Zionist litera- ture in the country. On the political scene, the Jew- ish community has not been af- fected, at least momentarily, by the Palestine conflict. There are no government edicts against the Jews, not even racial propaganda. The Iranian press is, of course, pro-Arab on the Palestine ques- tion, but editorially it only seeks to help the Arab refugees affect- ed by the war. Even this cam- paigning for funds has not been very successful. The nation-wide appeal in their behalf has re- sulted in total contributions amounting to less than $5,000. However, there is one group in Iran whose policy is directed against the Jews—the Moslem re- ligious element. The Iranian Jew has presented strong opposition to anti-Semitism when the occasion warranted it. A few months ago, a Moslem leader delivered a strong anti-Jewish speech, which almost amounted to an appeal for a pogrom. But after a visit from some of the leading members of the Jewish community, the Mos- lem leader delivered another speech the following day. It was as strong as his previous tirade, Weizmann Institute Forms Latin American Department NEW YORK (JTA)—Establish- ment of a Latin American de- partment by the Weizmann Insti- tute of Science, which will be headed by Dr. S. Tocker, who formerly directed a similar de- partment for the Palestine Foun- dation Fund, was announced here, at reinforcing this influence. For instance, the observance of Ra- madan, the most important and lengthy Moslem religious holiday, is applicable to non-Moslem, even to foreigners. People who smoke during Ramadan are arrested, public restaurants are closed, and similar restrictions rigorously maintained during the holiday. Also, thanks to a subsidy froi -n the British government, a school was opened last year for the training of Moslem religious leaders. Up to the present time, these governmental measures have not been as successful as had been hoped, but they may result in a threat to the minorities, includ- ing the Jewish community. During 1948 more Jewish fam- ilies were settled on farms in the United States than in any but three of the previous 48 years. ThiS fact is pointed out in the 49th annual report of the Jewish Agricultural Society, just re- leased by Dr. Gabriel Davidson, the society's executive head. The report deals with the society's work to encourage and advanbe farming among the Jews in the United States. It stresses the so- ciety's efforts to establish on farms ex-service men, DPs, work- ers, white collar men and others who look to farming both as a means of livelihood and a more desirable way of life. The report discloses that the society has granted close to $11,- 000,000 in ldans to Jewish far- mers in 40 states since the so- ciety's founding in 1900: that it has secured farm employment for 20,266 Jewish young men since the setting up of its Farm FOR RASKIN SPECIAL DELUXE CREAM COTTAGE and SPECIAL FARMER CHEESE TO. 5-5106 MA 5388 It pays to Come to Windsor and Buy Fish for Passover All Kinds of Fresh Lake Fish Arriving Daily to Our Plant WINDSOR FISH DISTRIBUTORS 352 PITT ST. E., Windsor, OM' Phone 4-8671 ONCE AGAIN . • • It is our privilege to provide our Jewish customers with HI-TEST MILK --SWEET CREAM SOUR CREAM AND BUTTER PASSOVER FOR THE Manischewitz PASSOVER HOLIDAYS MATZO and all other MANISCHEWITZ • KEEP MIN' Be Wise SAVE MONEY! 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