Delegates Ask Russian Emigration
Urge Education as 'Instrument of Survival'
at World Jewish Congress Assembly
Continued from Page 1
instrument for Jewish survival
in lands outside Israel. Jewish
communities throughout the
world are urged in the plan to
provide adequate financial
means for the establishment
and maintenance of day schools.
Another group of delegates,
in addition to Mizrachi, was as-
sured by Dr. Goldmann that
the Congress will do its utmost
to associate their constituents
with Congress work "as closely
as possible." These delegates
represent the Sephardic com-
munities. Eliahu Eliachar, vice
president of the World Sephar-
di Union and president of the
Sephardi Community of Jeru-
salem told the assembly of dif-
ficulties experienced by Orien-
tal Jews who settle in Israel.
He declared that the "socio-
logical, educational, housing and
employment difficulties" faced
by these Jews in Israel "cannot
be tolerated." Eliachar called
upon world Jewry to help solve
these problems facing oriental
Jews in Israel by paying special
attention to:
1. Educational and voca-
The Assembly called for
world-wide elimination of racial
discrimination in employment.
All WJC affiliates were urged
to do all in their power to get
their governments to ratify
United Nations conventions out-
lawing such discrimination.
The political commission of
the Assembly unanimously
adopted a measure sharply crit-
icizing the "inadmissible racial
persecution" directed against
former Egyptian Jews by the
United Arab Republic, and
called on UN member states
"to impress upon the Egyptian
government the need to end
this discrimination."
On Monday, it was reported
that WJC representatives, to-
gether with leaders of other
Jewish organizations, will seek
to meet with Nikita Khrushchev
during his visit to the 'U.S.
will stretch over an incalcul-
able time," he said.
Czech Jewry—Only One
•
Step Above the Gypsies
BY DAVID MILLER
(Copyright, 1959, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Dr. Salo Baron, professor of
Editor's Note: This is another newsletter from Prague
Jewish history, literature and
by David Miller, who is touring Communist countries on
institutions at Columbia Uni- a Pulitzer traveling scholarship received from Columbia Uni-
versity, expressed his belief versity's graduate school of journalism.
that "Israel will continue with
*
the ingathering of the exiles,
PRAGUE — Czech Jews, who will answer any
not only in the physical sense
but also in the sense of absorb- question if it is non-political, waste no time finding out
ing the fruit of world culture. what is happening on the other side of their frontier.
Israel M. Sieff, who is chair-
They especially want to know about the life of
man of the European executive Jews in America.
of the World Jewish Congress,
To the visitor, they will pose the following:
told the Assembly it is impos-
sible for Jews outside Israel to
Is
there anti-Semitism in'()
1.
Germans — though for political
prepare any program or plan America? How much?
of action "unless, in some way
2. What did the government reasons the government notes
or other, such plans or programs do about the bombings of the that East Germans are "differ-
have a relationship with Israel." synagogue in Atlanta?
ent" from West Germans.
However, he expressed a fear
The Slovaks, who live in the
3. Are there any mixed mar-
that "certain groups in Israel riages? Are they accepted?
eastern part of the country and
have lost their ritual contact
4. Do Jews and non-Jews get are traditionally poor peasants
with Jewry outside Israel."
with a small middle class, dis-
along well?
The Assembly heard a report
Why don't American Jews trust the Czechs, who man the
6.
on , a proposal to establish in emigrate to Israel?
mines, mills and factories.
The Assembly delegates
Tel Aviv a "Dr. Nahum Gold-
They are joined together in
7. What are American Jews
discussed the current inter- mann Diaspora House" for
national situation in the light which plans are being drawn doing about the rearming of strict Communist orthodoxy, a
of the forthcoming meeting
Soviet-oriented foreign policy,
up. A suggestion was made to West Germany?
between President Eisen-
8. How do Jews treat Ne- the nationalism of industry and
launch a $500,000 campaign for
hower and Premier Khrush- this project.
the collectivism of agriculture.
groes?
chev and urged the WJC
9. Are some medical schools
Below the Czechs and Slo-
King Gustav Adolf of Sweden
leadership to take advantage sent a message of greeting to closed to Jews?
vaks come foreigners and
of the relaxation of interna-
then Jews — just a step high-
None of the questions can
the delegates of the Assembly
tional tension and to contact
tional training facilities for
er than the gypsies. From that
be answered simply, but the
of
the
World
Jewish
Congress.
Soviet
government
leaders
for
the Oriental Jews; 2. creation
plateau the Jews find it al-
Czech Jews choose this meth-
Greetings
were
also
received
the purpose of securing ameli-
of greater facilities for their
most impossible to rise in any
od
to
help
explain
their
com-
from
Mme.
Folke
Bernadotte,
oration of the situation of
constructive and productive
considerable degree. The only
widow of the Swedish Count plicated relationship with the
employment; 3. special assist-
Soviet Jewry.
possible way is for the Jew to
who was assassinated in Israel Czech government and other
ance to large families; 4. es-
Philip Klutznick, honorary when he served as United Na- Czechs.
try to make himself as much
tablishment of the post grad- president of Bnai Brith, ad-
like other Czechoslovaks as
tions
mediator
in
the
Arab-
Their
present
status
has
uate college which the Sep-
dressing the session, indicated
subtleties that cannot be de- possible.
hardi Federation has estab- Khrushchev's willingness to re- Israel war.
Delegates, on Sunday, marked fined easily, nor understood
Officially, these matters are
lished, in Jerusalem; 5. ceive Jewish leaders and discuss
the 100th anniversary of the without an understanding of life not discussed. But privately
abolition of the slums in the with them the position of the
birth
of
Sholem
Aleichem
and
both Jewish and non-Jewish
in a Communist state.
Ma'abarot, the so-called tem- Jews in the Soviet Union.
the 25th anniversary of the
Czechs will admit that Jewish
porary camps for immigrants
A
Czech
Jew,
a
doctor
of
jur-
Efforts on the part of a num- death of the great Hebrew poet
in Israel; 6. convening of a ber of delegates from Israel to Haim Nahman Bialik. Tributes isprudence, said he had been life is barely tolerated and slow-
ly being extinguished.
world conference of Sephardi have the political committee
were delivered by Zalman Sha- unable to find work in his field.
and Ashkenazi Jews, to be pass a resolution on Israel's sale
The overt acts of anti-Semit-
Instead, he had found work as
zar,
acting
chairman
of
the
called jointly by the World of arms to West Germany failed. Jewish Agency for Israel.
ism have been reduced, but
a caretaker in a cemetery.
Jewish Congress and the Dr. Goldmann indicated that it
Earlier, a review of the
A few days later, this reporter more subtle means have fol-
World Sephardi Union.
would be best not to adopt any Jewish situation in Moslem interviewed the Communist dep- lowed. Jewish properties, seized
The Assembly earlier adopted resolution on this issue. Four countries was presented to the uty mayor of Ostrava, the Pitts- by the Nazis and turned over
a resolution calling upon the Israeli delegates who disagreed Assembly by A. L. Easterman, burgh of Czechoslovakia and the to Czechs, have never been com-
Soviet Union to permit Russian with this view were voted political director of the WJC. center of a vast industrialization pensated for or returned.
Jews to emigrate to Israel. The down. They represented the He pointed out that Jewish emi-
But that issue is all b- :t
resolution also expressed "re- rightist Herut Party and the gration from Morocco is at program.
closed. Under the nationalism
The
mayor
pointed
out
proud-
gret" that Soviet Jews are two left-wing groups, Mapam present at a complete standstill,
ly that Czechoslovakia had no of all industries and of nearly
"denied the opportunity to par- and Achdut Avodah.
and asked the Assembly to deal unemployment and that every all businesses, everything be-
ticipate in Jewish life in co-
The political commission also with this problem without pas- man could find work — if he longs to the state now, anyhow.
operation with other Jewish decided not to adopt any reso- sion.
Who, then, could want compen-
were physically able.
communities."
The need for continuing
lution on German rearmament.
When the doctor of juris- sation for something that be-
Urging the Soviet government At the same time it entrusted negotiations with the Moroc-
longs to all the people?
to "secure for all of its citizens a subcommittee with the task can authorities must be kept prudence working in a ceme-
Any moves in that direction
tery
was
mentioned,
he
said
the full opportunity of collective of drawing up resolutions ex- in mind, he said, as well as
are
considered "anti-state" or
religious and cultural self-ex- pressing the WJC concern over the delicate position of the easily:
"That fellow is lazy. In fact, for eign-m otiv a t ed.
pression," the resolution further the resurgence of anti-Semitism Jewish communities in Mo-
The worst possible crime in
called on the Kremlin "to take and neo-Nazism in West Ger- rocco. "Protests," he stated, here in Ostrava we have open-
the necessary legislative and ad- many as well as in the Com- "will not help. What is ings for not one but five doctors a Communist state is to be
ministrative measures to facili- munist part of Germany.
needed, is patient and fruit- of jurisprudence. My own office considered unsympathetic to
needs men of that qualification. national goals. For that reas-
tate and to safeguard the exer-
Dr. Gerhard Riegner, WJC ful negotiations."
cise of this fundamental right."
"That fellow is not needed in on, Jews are especially care-
With regard to Tunisia, the
coordinating
director,
reported
Parallel with this resolution
Prague for the moment, but he ful to conceal their interest
WJC
official
reported
that
the
the Assembly adopted another that an office of the World pledges given by the govern- is too lazy to leave the comfort in Israel or possible emigra-
measure affirming the rights of Jewish Congress will be opened ment there in respect of Jewish of Prague for the steel and coal tion.
any person to. leave and return in New Delhi, India, in order to rights, as well as the right of mines of Ostrava."
No Western newspapers or
acquaint the people of Asia
And that, in various forms, magazines reach the cities of
to any country, including his with the life of Jews in various emigration, had been observed
own.
is the answer for many of the Czechoslovakia for open sale.
The • resoution included a countries as well as with Jewish
questions visitors ask of Czech
subscriptions are tolerated
philosophical
concepts.
cause directed particularly at
Deny Russian Visa Jews. No matter what they But
if the subject matter is not pol-
"Israel
should
not
interfere
Romania, appealing to the Bu-
might think of replying, some- itical.
to Rabbi Adler
charest government "to resume in communal affairs of Jewish
one in some government agency
The Atlanta bombing and
the humanitarian action, un- communities abroad or in the
Rabbi Morris Adler, of De-
would have another answer.
other examples of racial or re-
fortunately interrupted in re- normal relations between Jew-
troit's Cong. Shaarey Zedek,
When the question of Jew- ligious flareups in the United
cent months of granting ish citizens of various countries
is one of three American
ish
life is raised, government States and Great Britain are
and
their
respective
govern-
facilities 'for reuniting broken
spokesmen will point to the given wide publicity in the con-
ments," Moshe Sharett, former rabbis to have been denied
families."
visas to visit in Russia, the
well-maintained Jewish Mu- trolled press and radio.
Another resolution, calling Israel Premier, told the
American Jewish Congress
As a result, Czech Jews are
seum, the restoration work
upon Austria to "recognize Assembly.
this week.
being done at the Pinkus Sy- subjected to a stream of propa-
the wrongs inflicted against
He sounded a word of cau- learned
Rabbi Adler was to have
nagogue and the social and ganda that puts emphasis on the
victims of Nazism" by satis- tion about the "idea of partner-
joined
a group of 22 other
cultural and religious freedom
welfare plans in operation.
fying the "legitimate claims" ship between Israel and the
delegates to the World Jew-
of those victims to compen- Diaspora in the organizational
"Jews are citizens," they will of Eastern Europe. How much
ish Congress, which ended
sation "without delay," was set-up." There were functions
say. "What is fair for one is fair is believed is impossible to esti-
Wednesday in Stockholm,
mate.
adopted by the Assembly late of Jewish life which lay out-
for all."
Sweden, on the Russian t_
That the government here
Monday. The resolution also side the plain of Israel affairs,
On one point the government
No reason for the visa denial
voiced protest against Aus- he said. On the other hand,
is adamant. A Czech Jew is a subsidizes the activities of the
was given by the Russians.
trian governmental reprieves there were fields of activity
Czech. His loyalties lie with the Jewish community is enough for
Congress spokesmen in
of the sentences of "Nazi which are the exclusive pre-
state. There is no reason for many. That there is little open
Stockholm could offer no
criminals who have been rogative of the State of Israel,
him to look elsewhere for in- interference in their daily lives
reason for refusing the visa
justly convicted and sent- he stressed.
spiration. He can find whatever is enough for most.
other than the recent restric-
enced to long terms for the
Sharett told the Assembly
The Jews realize they form
he may need in Czechoslovakia
tions against Jews in the
mass murder of Jews."
that "polemics about the fu-
only a small part of the total
itself.
Soviet Union, which would
A further resolution urged ture existence of Jewry out-
But the Jews have a unique population, and are only one of
make it appear as if religious
the World Jewish Congress to side Israel are academic. Even
social position that no fiat can Czechoslovakia's minority
leaders were not among the
groups.
take all measures to protect the most ardent prophet of
alter. It works this way:
American tourists whom the
After all, they point out wry-
the mass graves of victims of the ultimate complete liquida-
The people of Czechoslovakia
tion
of
Jewry
outside
Israel
Russians are encouraging.
Nazism at the former Bergen-
are united in their hatred of the ly, look at the gypsies.
Belsen concentration camp. will agree that the process