Purely Commentary
USSR Statement Defendslitussia s Treatment of
Jews:ListsFunetioning Rabbis and Synagogues
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Prof. Toynbee's New Attack on Israel
Prof. Arnold Toynbee, Director of Studies at the Royal Insti-
tute of International Affairs, who was the center of heated debates
recently, occasioned by his anti-Israel and anti-Zionist statements
that have also been interpreted as being anti-Jewish, has made
another attack on the State of Israel. He spoke on the subject of
"The Jewish Role in History" before the Oxford (England) Uni-
versity Jewish Society and declared that Israel's establishment
was a retrograde step which moved against the role of progress
towards world-community.
A resume of his speech was given by the London Jewish
Chronicle correspondent at Oxford as follows:
UNITED NATIONS, N. Y.,
(JTA)—For the first time since
the establishment of the United
Nations, the Soviet delegation
here disseminated to the press
a statement on Jewish religious
life in the Soviet Union. The
statement did not touch upon
the liquidation of Jewish cul-
tural institutions in the USSR,
nor did it make any mention of
the fate of "missing" Jewish
writers in Russia, or about the
conditions of life in Biro-Bidjan
which was proclaimed a Jewish
autonomous region more than 25
years ago.
The statement, which attract-
ed attention in United Nations
circles, was written by M. Rab-
inowich who was not identified
by the Soviet delegation. The
statement reads:
"Citizens of the Jewish na-
tionality are found among the
inhabitants of cities and villages
in different regions of the So-
viet Union. Religious Jews at-
tend prayers at the synagogues
and observe the rituals pre-
scribed by their religion. Syna-
gogues are always well attended
on Passover, Shevuoth, Rosh
Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succoth
and other religious holidays and
at Yizkor.
tive board, auditing committee
and rabbi. In practice, however,
the rabbis of neighboring syna-
gogues get together to discuss
religious questions of general
significance.
"All the leaders of the Jewish
religious communities in the
Soviet Union, rabbis and relig-
ious Jews take part in the na-
tionwide movement for peace.
Prayers for peace are offered in
the synagogue. In their sermons
the rabbis urge the congrega-
tions to conduct an active
struggle for peace. The rabbis
of the biggest Jewish religious
communities in the Soviet Union
—Rabbis S. M. Schleifer of Mos-
cow, Rabbi Panich of Kiev,
Rabbi Diment of Odessa, Rabbi
M. Masliansky of Riga, Haham
K. V. Yeliashvili of Kutaisi,
Rabbi Berger of Minsk, Rabbi I.
Rabinovich of Vilna and Rabbi
Vorkul of Kovno—published an
appeal in the press urging Jews
the world over to join with mil-
lions of people, who protest
against the threatened use of
atomic and hydrogen weapons.
"Rabbi M. Schliefer of the
Grand Synagogue of Moscow,
attended the fifth USSR Peace
Conference in Moscow, as the
delegate of the Jewish religious
communities of the capital."
The Diaspora, he said, was not a unique phenomenon. He
instanced other such inter-territorial groups, bound together
primarily by ties of religion, such as the Nestorians, Armenians,
and Parsees, and drew parallels from the French-Canadians in
the United States, the Huguenots, and Quakers. He described
those groups as being of the "millet" type of community, which
entered history some 25 centuries ago and was typical of the
groups which were found in the . Ottoman Empire. Likewise,
he added, the restoration of statehood to Israel was no unique
fact, the Armenians in Transcaucasia and the Greeks providing
other examples.
Progress, according to Professor Toynbee, was the process
from the nation-state type of social organization to the "millet"
sort. He saw the world gradually progressing towards its own
unification. The nation-state was only applicable to a non-
technological, non-commercial civilization. Accordingly, the
establishment of the State of Israel was a retrograde step, and
moved against the tide of progress towards world-community
whose social unit was the "millet."
Further, he went on, the Diaspora's survival had depended
upon a psychological factor: the hope of its coming to an end.
Could it survive the fulfillment of that hope? Now that Israel .
was established, the Diaspora was confronted—for the first
time since Bar Kochba—with the three-fold choice of emigra- Claims Judaism Enjoys
tion to Israel, assimilation within country of domicile, or defini- Same Rights as Church
tion of a new psychological basis for remaining a Diaspora.
"In the Soviet Union, the Israel and Soviet Union
Prof. Toynbee applied the term "fossil" to Jewry, and in the Jewish faith enjoys the same Reach Accord on Shipping
discussion that followed his address he denied that it had emotive
significance. He said it was a gedlogical term indicating a certain
stratum in history. He asserted that he had bracketed Israel's
treatment of the Arabs with the German persecution of the Jews
b6cause he holds the view that it is a special tragedy that Jews
who were oppressed by the Nazis should have applied a similar
weapon to their own opponents.
Thus, the Toynbee controversy begins anew. It is unfortunate
that this great historian should have adopted an attitude that is
based on major misunderstandings. In the first place, Prof. Toynbee
definitely appears to be incompletely informed on the situation
that has resulted in the emergence of an Arab refugee problem.
He is altogether wrong when he speaks of mistreatment of Arabs
by Jews. The existing attitudes within Israel negate this wrongly-
formed opinion; and the refugee problem itself is Arab-made, not
the making of Jews who acquired independence in Israel.
Arabs who reside in Israel were told by their leaders to aban-
don their homes and to leave the field open for,tb -,_apinies of th
Arab countries 'Ato wipe out" the Jews, tO - "drive their) into the
sea"—so that these escapees might return and not only reclaim
their own possessions but also acquire those of the "Conquered"
Jews. It developed differently—therefore there arose a refugee
problem.
These details have been admitted by the Arabs themselves.
Is it possible that an eminent historian does not recognize realities,
and instead is conducting a campaign to penalize a people that has
sought and gained freedom?
Then there is the other point: Prof Toynbee's claim that the
"retrograde step" in Israel's establishment moved against the tide
of progress towards world-community. How long must one wait
for world-community? _ For more than three generations, beginning
with the so-called emancipation period in Jewish history, a large
group in Jewry held fast to the hope that internationalism, that
the high social order for which all idealists are striving, would
militate against nationalism and would speed the coming of the
millenium. We know the result. We know the disillusionment.
Let us utilize the viewpoint of a Jew who once held a Toyn-
beean view and who has seen the error of his thinking and the
futility of his aspirations. In May of 1954, Isaac Deutscher, one-time
Russian radical, describing a visit in Israel, wrote as follows in the
magazine The Reporter:
•
"Israelis who have known me as an anti-Zionist of long
standing were curious to hear what I was thinking about
Zionism now. I have, of course, long since abandoned my anti-
Zionism, which was based on a confidence in the European
labor movement, or, more broadly, a confidence in European
society and civilization which that society and civilization
have not justified. If, instead of arguing against Zionism in the
1920's and 1930's, I had urged European Jews to go to Pales-
tine, I might have helped to save some of the lives that were
to be extinguished in Hitler's gas chambers."
How long does a people wait for the world-community? Did
Dr. Toynbee expect the survivors from the Nazi gas chambers to
r.ontinue to wait, and to wait, and to wait—until an end that was
prescribed for them by an Ernest Bevin? Is it possible.that a great
historian fails to recognize reality: that his way would have meant
total annihilation of Jewry? Instead of appreciating genuine liber-
tarianism, which has inspired a people to a search—and acquisition
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, he chooses to view
them as Nazis! Is it any wonder that we interpret his ideas as
stemming from an early anti Zionist prejudice that has developed
into sheer anti-Jewishness?
,
—
-
*
*
Bernard Richards and the New Yorker Sensation
Our good friend, Bernard G. Richards, the eminent communal
leader, author of many important articles and one of the best-
informed men in Jewish life today, was a bit chagrined over the
fact that so few Jewish newspapers had commented on the book-
length article on "The Scrolls from the Dead Sea," by Edmund
Wilson, in the New Yorker Magazine. He went into ecstasies, in
his Jewish Information Bureau bulletin, over the fact that the
alert editor of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent, Arthur Weyne,
had commented on the article and had proposed the Most Exciting
Writer Award for 1955 for Mr. Wilson.
Let's get this straight, dear B.G.R. This is one instance of
"neglect" that is to the credit of the Jewish press. Mr. Wilson's
article was so intriguing that it deserved serious attention. But
his lengthy essay still is subject to scrutiny, and it is much safer
for our press to be doubly cautious before it accepts the Dead
Sea Scrolls stories as truthful facts.
There is an important element in world Jewry that disagrees
with the Israeli scholars and with those who have swallowed the
Dead Sea Scrolls theories hook, line and sinker. This Commentator
Is inclined to give very serious consideration to the views of Dr.
rights as the Russian Orthodox
Church and other churches and
religions. Adherents of the Jew-
ish faith in the USSR have their
religious societies or communi-
ties. Synagogues or prayer
buildings have been placed at
the disposal of these communi-
ties by the local administrations
and they have all the necessary
facilities for prayers and for the
performance of rituals. If a
Jewish religious society has
been organized in a district
where no special building is
available for a synagogue, the
scigiety may apply to the local
litligitities for a special building
for a synagogue, or for a land
allottment for the construction of
a synagogue, this allotthent be-
ing provided free of charge.
"The religious society has the
right to lease premises for a
synagogue from the local au-
thorities or from private • owners.
The only condition required for
the organization of a Jewish, or
any other religious society in
the USSR is that there be no
less than - 20 members. The Jew-
ish religious societies have their
own shochtim, mikvahs, etc. Be-
fore Passover the state desig-
nates special bakeries in places
with a large Jewish religious
population for baking matzohs
for sale. Especially appointed
religious observers are required
to sanction the use of the mat-
zohs as ritual bread. Those who
desire may bake matzohs at
home.
JERUSALEM,
and the Soviet Union have ex-
changed notes which constitute
a shipping agreement between
the two states in notes ex-
changed by the Soviet Foreign
Ministry and Col. Yosef Avidar,
Israel Ambassador in Moscow.
The accord provides for pref-
erential treatment for each
others shipping in such matters
as port and dock charges and
various other aspects of ship-
ping between the two countries.
Israel ships a great quantity of
citrus fruit, usually through the
port of Odessa, and Soviet tank-
ers deliver crude oil to Haifa.
Author of Soviet Statement on
Jews Will Be Identified
NEW YORK, • (J T A) — A
spokesman for the Soviet dele-
gation to the United Nations
told the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency that the statement on
Jewish religious life in the
Soviet Union distributed by the
delegation was authorized in
Moscow, but that the delegation
had no details as to the identity
of M. Rabinovich.
The spokesman assured the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency that
he would make inquiries as to
the position held by Mr. Rabino-
vich and would then be in a
position to give the JTA in-
formation about him. No Jew is'
known of importance in the
USSR by the name of M.
(JTA) — Israel Rabinovich.
Synagogues in Russia Are Crowded
Soviet Church Delegation Reports
LONDON, (JTA)—The Syna- J delegation, the Russian clergy-
gogues of the Soviet Union are men agreed to take back to Soviet
filled to capacity on the Sabbath Jewry the greetings of the Jew-
and the crowds are so great on ish community of Britain. The
festivals and holidays that special British Jewish delegation con-
arrangements have to be made to sisted of Barnett Janner, presi-
handle them, a group of Russian dent of the Board of Deputies
church leaders currently visiting of British Jews, A. G. Brotman,
Britain told a Jewish delegation secretary of the Board, and Doy-
At the request of the Jewish en Dr. M. Lew.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1955, Je .wish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
The "Summit Conference"
The developments which follow the "Summit Conference" in
Geneva may have an effect on the Arab-Israel situation even
though this parley had nothing to do with Middle East affairs . .
Some circles in Washington are of the opinion that if the Geneva
conference leads to a relaxation in the "cold war" between Moscow
and the democratic world, the Arabs will realize that they can
no longer blackmail the Western Powers . . • They will then have
to adopt a more realistic attitude towards Israel's peace offers
which have been extended at every possible occasion and which
they have constantly rejected . . . Furthermore, the United States
and Britain, which are sincerely interested in bringing about peace
between Israel and the Arab countries, will then be in a much
stronger position to exercise real pressure upon the Arab rulers
to start talking peace with Israel . . . Otherwise, the U. S. may
consider the idea of concluding a separate security pact with Israel
—a thing which will not be to the liking of the Arab rulers . . .
Even prior to the Geneva conference, the atmosphere in Wash-
ington had become friendlier toward Israel . . However, until
today the State Department did not say "yes" or "no" to proposals
that the U. S. conclude a security arrangement with Israel . . . High
Names Rabbis of Largest
officials in the State Department have avoided even mentioning
USSR Jewish Communities
under what conditions such an arrangement could be concluded
"Foreign visitors interested in . . Shortly before the Geneva conference they indicated that
the status of the Jewish religion talks on arranging an American-Israel security agreement may be
in the USSR usually visit the.. possible when tension on the Arab-Israel frontiers subside . . . Also
synagogues. No one in the Soviet after Israel and the Arab countries involved adopt the so-called
Union interferes with religious Johnston Plan for development of the Jordan River waters . . .
Jews in performance of the rit- Ambassador Eric Johnston is leaving at the end of this month
uals prescribed by the dogmas for his fifth visit to Israel and the Arab countries . . . This time
and traditions of their faith. The there is more optimism in Washington than ever before that Am-
right of Soviet citizens to pro- bassador Johnston's mission will be fruitful . .
fess any religion, or none at all UJA Leadership
is guaranteed by Soviet legisla-
The United Jewish Appeal has made an excellent find in Rabbi
tion.
Herbert A. Friedman, its new executive head . . The impact of
"The Jewish religious societies his personality will soon be felt in Jewish communities throughout
in the Soviet Union have no the country . . . A young man of 37, Rabbi Friedman seeks to
central governing body. NOT was attract members of the younger American Jewish generation to
there any before the revolution. take active roles in UJA leadership ... And in this respect he has
Each society conducts its activ- the fullest support of the "older statesmen" of the -UJA . . . The
ities independently under the inclusion of a number of youthful Jews in the UJA National
leadership of an elected execu- Campaign Cabinet can, therefore, be expected within the next
few months . . . That this "accent on youth" will prove beneficial
Solomon Zeitlin, of Dropsie Col-
to many Jewish communities locally goes without saying . , . Once
lege, editor of the Jewish Quar-
stimulated to take a leadership role in the UJA, these young leaders
terly Review. He believes that
Dr. Zeitlin has made a very vsrill also become more active in the affairs of their own commu-
nities . . . Rabbi Friedman himself is one of those young American
strong case in which he dis-
Jewish leaders who can serve as best example for others . . .
proves the authenticity of the American-born and American-educated, he is as much at
home
Scrolls. Prof. Zeitlin must be in Hebrew and in Israel as well as in the United States . • . During
given a full hearing before the the war he served as an American Army chaplain with an infantry
Wilson article is incorporated division which liberated about 30,000 Jewish survivors
of Nazi
into our historical records as an camps in Bavaria . . He also played a
major role in advising
.unquestioned factual statement. General Joseph T. McNarney, Commanding General of the U.
S.
Therefore, dear B.G.R., we be- Forces in Europe, on the rehabilitation of more than 200,000 Jewish
lieve that you were too hasty, DP's in 'Germany and Austria . . . He helped thousands of these
and that the hesitant Jewish DP's to reach Palestine even prior to the establishment of the
newspapermen — this Commen- Jewish State . . . A disciple of the late Rabbi Stephen S. Wise,
tator among them—were justi- Rabbi Friedman is one of the young Reform rabbis who has a
fied in waiting for more facts profound sense of the importance of the Zionist ideal in Jewish life.
before giving a complete hech-
sher to the Wilson theories%
Friday, July 22, 1955
2—DETRO1T JEWISH NEWS
,