JTA Correspondent Reports Jelvish
Life in Russia Suffers front. Lack
of Organized Central Organization
Toynbee Proposes `Contractedilsraeli Borders for Peace
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Ar-
nold Toynbee, famous British
historian, urged Israel to help
bring about peace with the Arab
states by contracting its borders
to the frontier limits set by the
United Nations Palestine 'Par-
tition Plan of 1947, and by per-
mitting the entry into Israel of
"all Arab refugees desiring to
return."
Arab refugees returning to
Israel, Toynbee s u g g e s t e d,
should receive from Israel the
property they had left behind
in Palestine when they fled the
country. Those refugees not
wanting to go to Israel would
receive compensation; he pro-
posed. On the Arab side, he
said, they must "make the pain-
ful concession of accepting Is-
rael's permanent existence in
their midst."
This outline of an Arab-Israel
"peace" plan was advanced by
the historian in a letter pub-
lished in "New Outlook," a
monthly Israeli periodical.
Toynbee stressed that peace de-
pends on conditions bearable to
both sides, though "bearable
conditions can still be very
painful."
From the Arab point of view,
stated the writer, "the situation
is clear. Peace means the pay-
ment of a painful price. Terri-
tory which was part of the
Arab world will be recognized
as a political loss. But Israel
will also need to pay a painful
price," continued Mr. Toynbee,
emphasizing that "she will be
unable to obtain peace" without
the conditions stated in the
letter.
MOSCOW. (JTA)—Religious year-old engineering student
life among Jews of the Soviet admitted at Gorky Street,
Union is practically dead, spe- "but I'm not sure what that
cial correspondent of the Jewish means. I feel something in my
Telegraphic Agency, David Mil- heart but don't speak to me
ler, established here. Despite in Yiddish because I don't
claims by the Soviet authorities know more than a dozen
of the existence of religious words." He was working hard
freedom, the fact remains that to perfect his English. He re-
circumcisions are rare, if per- fused an offer to join this
formed at all; religious cere- reporter at Sabbath services
monies of marriage are virtu- the following day.
ally unknown; religious cere-
"I'm not even sure where the
monies at funerals are abrupt synagogue is," he said. "I doubt
and only 'occasionally observed; if any of my friends know
Bar Mitzvahs have disappeared either. But I'll be glad to show
completely and no Jewish youth you around Moscow." At 18, he
. knows even the meaning of could not remember ever hav-
phylacteries, since he has never ing been in a synagogue. Yet he Wouk Relates Story
seen any during his life.
said. both parents were "pretty
No religious instruction on an religious Jews" who tried to of Dubno Maggid
organized basis is offered any- talk to him occasionally about About Vilna Gaon
where in the Soviet Union to what it meant to be a Jew.
Offering an explanation of the
Jewish youth. The number of
At the same time, his identity Jewish faith, declaring that
synagogues has steadily de- card removed any doubt as to "our faith teaches us to stay in
creased since the end of World the official Soviet view of his the world, but to stamp our
War II, despite official claims nationality. - No matter what he hours with seals of commit-
that the number has doubled thought or how much it ill- ment," Herman Wouk, in his
since the Revolution. No new fitted him, the card read Jew. latest, non-fiction work, "This
construction for religious pur- The only ones who manage to Is My God," just published by
poses is permitted, a restriction attend synagogue services these Doubleday, declares that "one's
felt by other denominations as days are the old people.
religious ideas face the daily
well.
Societ Jews are still afraid scouring of commerce and of
The synagogues still in use that they may be forced to common sense. To survive they
—especially the ones in areas move from various parts of the must have substance."
To illustrate his point, he re-
usually visited by tourists— USSR to Birobidjan, the so-
are in good repair and promi- called Jewish autonomous Re- lates this story of the Dubno
nently display the Star of public in Siberia. Soviet Jews Maggid, the famous preacher
David. However, Soviet Jews talk little about Birbidjan, but of the east European ghettos:
"Once he was asked by the
have long suffered from a they study c a r e f u l l y the
lack of prayer books, prayer speeches of Communist Party mighty scholar called the Vilna
shawls, religious calendars, leaders. The Jews keep watch- Gaon to tell him his faults. The
candle holders and other ing for a shift in policy — a Maggid at first declined. When
symbols of Jewish religious shift they hope will never the Gaon pressed him, he at
last spoke somewhat like this:
life.
come. They prefer not to dis-
But these shortages alone do cuss the matter at all and to 'Very well. You are the most
not account for the decreasing dismiss rumors of Jewish re- pious man of our age. You
participation in religious activi- moval to Birobidjan as fabrica- study night and day, retired
from the world, surrounded by
ties. Among the most 'important tions. But the rumors persist.
the rows of your books, the
factors is the lack of any or-
Twice the size of New Jer-
ganization of any type for any sey, Birobidjan - is the - only Holy Ark, the faces of devout
scholars. You have reached
segment of the Jewish popula- place in the Soviet Union today high holiness. How have you
tion.
where Yiddish can he found on achieved it? Go down in the
In the Soviet Union today street signs, where a Yiddish- market place, Gaon, with the
there are no Jewish community language newspaper — the rest of the Jews. Endure their
councils, no relief groups, no twice - weekly, "Birobidjaner work, their strains, their dis-
synagogue sisterhoods, no young Shtern — survives and where tractions. Mingle in the world,
peoples' clubs—nothing that can a segment of Yiddish tradition hear the skepticism and irre-
be identified as Jewish. All remains. But Yiddish has dis- ligion they hear, take the blows
energies are channeled into appeared from the schools and they take. Submit to the ordi-
state-approved activities. Jews Russian is used more than Yid- nary trials of the ordinary Jew.
You are about to feel an impulse old as man . . .
are alleged to be a distinct na- dish for every-day conversa- Let us see then if you will
the urge to get new clothes for Fall, but do it right.
tional group but do not have the tions. The Yiddish theater is remain the Vilna Gaon!' They
Choose from our large collection of Dumont Clothes.
right to organize themselves in closed and only one makeshift say the Gaon broke down and
These clothes can make a difference, elegant im-
any way.
building remains in use as a wept."
ports, in patterns that are different, the Continental
In the Soviet Union no one synagogue.
or our regular model to fit all sizes.
can speak for the Jews as a
Official Soviet policy has citizen, regardless of national-
group. Where there is a rabbi changed_ frequently toward ity, to move about. Permission
or a synagogue, there is some Birobidjan as the power is required to move from one
kind of a • rallying point. But struggle in Moscow contin- city to another, and movement
that • interest must be strictly ued. Since its creation in into crowded cities like Mos-
religious—not social or com- 1934, Birobidjan has gradu- cow is closed indefinitly be-
munity.
ally slipped into complete cause of a critical housing
As such, the Jews have
disfavor. During the purge shortage.
little information about other
of 1936 and 1937, many Jews
The major exception to this
Jews not only in the Soviet
were arrested and some shot. restriction is the drive to popu-
Union but elsewhere in the
The library, which had con- late the underdeveloped re-
world. No newspaper or
tained more than 30,000 Yid- gions of Siberia and areas in
magazine serves Jewish inter-
dish and Hebrew volumes, the Far East like Birobidjan.
ests. The only information
was destroyed. Many rare The program to settle these
available conies from official
books were burned. The Yid- "virgin lands" has resulted in
Importers - Clothiers
sources like Pravda or its
dish Theater and schools intensive drives to promote
regional editions, or—in a
were closed.
patriotism and adventure
19157 LIVERNOIS above 7 Mile Road
much more limited manner—
A case in point is the can- among the youth. Success
from tourists or from letters cellation mark used on post- among Jews, however, is be-
Open Mon.-Thurs.-Friday to 9 P.M.
abroad.
age from Birobidjan. The stamp lieved to be almost nil.
The elimination of strictly used today bears the letters
Jewish organizations has also "JAO" for Jewish Autonomous
resulted in a steady decrease in Oblast (Province). Previously,
the continuity of Jewish tradi- the postmarks read "District of
tions and customs. A young Jew, Birobidjan," the fifth change
influenced in his early years by since the first Jewish families
Communist youth groups in the arrived. The first postmark was
19161 SCHAEFER (NEAR 7 MILE ROAD)
schools, can learn only from in Yiddish.
his parents something of his
The living standard, never
Pre-School-Ages 5-6
cultural heritage. It is impossi- high, has failed to rise above
Nursery School, Ages 3 1 /2.-5
ble to estimate how much home the subsistence level. The cul-
Elementary Afternoon School, Ages 7-13
instruction remains. No one tural level, which also was
talks about it.
never high, has failed to hold
ENROLLMENT NOW TAKING PLACE FOR FALL TERM .
That second factor—the ab- its own, according to informa-
sence of young people in the tion reaching Moscow. Young
MODERN APPROACH
synagogue—is serious and could Jews are reported anxious to
HOLIDAY AND TRADITIONS
affect the whole future of Soviet leave for better opportunities
INTENSIVE
TEACHING
BAR
MITZVAH PREPARATION
Jewry. Young Soviet Jews have elsewhere. They want to be as
only the vaguest ideas of their much like other Soviet citizens
TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED
religion or of the age-old cus- as possible and appear to have
toms of their people. Few speak lost interest in anything Yid-
NEW TERM STARTING WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 9th
Yiddish and almost none know dish.
Hebrew or the ritual of prayer.
At the same time regulations
FOR INFORMATION CALL UN 4-6319
"I am a Jew, yes," an 18• make it difficult for any Soviet
Halperin's
Ready for Fall
'79" to 115°
aiptrin's.
UNITED JEWISH FOLK SCHOOLS
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