Russians May Seek Revival of Birobidjan,, Levine Warns By FRANK SIMONS A strong possibility exists that the Soviet Union will at- tempt to revive Jewish settle- ment at Birobidjan, it was suggested this week by Irving R. Levine, Moscow correspon- dent for the National Broad- casting Company. The NBC commentator, in Detroit Sunday to address a public meeting at Temple Beth El, sponsored by the Men's Clubs of Temple Israel and Temple Beth El, told The Jew- ish News that: which Levine said is now being readied for "vast reorganiza- tion." Instead of the current 10 years of schooling a Russian child is given now (beginning from age 7), plans are being * * * Assimilation is so slow, how- ever, that there is the current talk of recolonization at Biro- bidjan, which now has a Jewish population of 33,000 out of 150,000, compared to 50,000 out of only 125,000 in 1940. "Jews in Russia are con- sidered a nationality," Levine said, "and their identity papers are appropriately marked `Jew.' However, unlike other nationality groups, the Jews have no newspaper (except for a bi-weekly in Birobidjan), no theater group and only one yeshivah which recently opened." There is little mistaking Russia's actions toward Israel. Levine said that Israel is being thrown to the wind in an all- out attempt to woo the Arabs. While Russia supported Israel in 1948, it began seriously questioning its existence at the time of the Suez crisis, he added. In his address Sunday night, however, Levine indi- cated that hope for peaceful co-existence with Russia was far from lost. lie stated em- phatically that the Russian people, remembering their horrible losses in World War II, do not want war. The NBC correspondent also indicated that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev is a fanati- cal believer in Communism's" triumph and the doom of capi- talism. He is willing to wait for Communism, not to make it come about, Levine said. "Time is on our side," Levine assured. "As Russia gets more material advantages, the people will entertain more thoughts of keeping what they have. Rus- sia's leaders cannot ignore the fact that the Russians want peace." In a question and answer period which followed his talk, Levine was asked if the Russian people actually believe all the things their leaders tell them about the United States. He answered that there are two things that all Russians believe: "Certain elements of the U.S. Government want war and the Negroes in the U.S. are universally mistreated." Another question dealt with the Soviet educational set-up, of years to eight. He said that the feeling is that Rus- sian youth now wants only to get to the top and to get "the soft jobs." They look down on work, he said. Levine was introduced to the audience of over 1,800 by Nathaniel H. Goldstick, presi- dent of Temple Israel. Greet- ings were extended by Ben Nathanson, president of the Men'S Club of Temple Beth El, * * * AJC Report Supports Rumor of Soviet Re-Settlement Plan NEW YORK, (JTA) — The American Jewish Committee re- ported that it has received in- formation from its Paris office stating that a plan for large- scale settlement of Soviet Jews 1. There are persistent rumors among the higher in Birobidjan, in Siberia, may diplomatic echelons and be presented to the forthcoming among the populace that, at congress of the Communist the forthcoming Congress of Party which opens in Moscow the Communist Party on Jan. at the end of this month. The 27, a plan will be introduced Committee expressed concern over "the future of Soviet to revive Birobidjan as a Jews." Jewish community; The congress in Moscow will 2. The 3,000,000 Jews of Russia are fearful of such a discuss the development of So- viet Asia within the framework program; 3. Many of the Russian of its'projected Seven-Year Plan Jewish populace would glad- for 1959-65. In this connection, ly leave for Israel if they the Committee said, the plan for a large-scale movement of Jews were permitted to go. to Birobidjan will be considered. Levine said that Russia would The Committee visualized that never consent to a mass exodus the plan could take three pos- of the Jews because of the loss of manpower it represents. One of Russia's critical prob- lems, he said, is a shortage of manpower. Russia, Levine added, is still hopeful of being able to as- similate the Jewish population. Youngsters learn only atheism in the schools, have no oppor- tunity for Jewish education and are conspicuous by their ab- sence at holiday services, he said. made to cut back the number while Morfon Barris, preSiderit of the Temple Israel Men's Club, conducted the question and answer session. Following the address, Levine autographed copies of his new book, "Main Street, USSR." (See review on Page 14). The correspondent plans to return to Moscow on Jan. 29. is * * sible courses: 1. A larger Jewish settlement than the present one, but still only a token settlement. This would enable the Soviet rulers to declare the Jewish popula- tion of the Soviet Union "wher- ever they may reside" as mem- bers of a -"territorial national- ity," and on that basis "to deny the Soviet press in praise of Birobidjan, where Jews were said to live a normal life and to enjoy their Jewish identity. Similar reports on Birobidjan were published in the Christian Science Monitor. Citing Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev's statement last year that Jews were excessively individualistic and unwilling to participate in collective work, the American Jewish Committee pointed out that this was fol- lowed by praise of Birobidjan in the Soviet press. PLAN NOW YOUR SWIMMING POOL them their cultural and other rights outside of Birobidjan." 2. 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