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Friday, Fe bruary 17, 196 1 —
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Anti-Semitic Charges Against USSR Not
Wholly Justified, Denial of Bights to
Religions Groups Deplored by Goldmann
•
NEW YORK, (JTA) — The ing more and more toward the "There was more unanimity of
problem of the Jewish commun- Arab League and the strength- view and less difference of
ity in* Soviet Russia is not one ening of Arab nationalist tend- opinion than in previous years,"
of discrimination against the encies in Morocco will not ex- he said. "There was no ideo-
Jewish individual as a citizen press themselves in anti-Jewish logical fight between Israelis
and Diaspora Zionists, and there
but one of unequal treatment policies.
of the Jewish minority as a
. The major problem in was no conflict between Israel's
whole—Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Morocco, Dr. Goldmann said, Prime Minister, Mr. Ben-Gurion
president of the World Zionist is the denial de facto of the and the Zionist Movement."
The leader of the World
Organization declared at a press right of those Jews who want
to emigrate, to do so, despite Zionist Organization emphasized
conference.
He deplored the fact that in the many solemn promises that another important and new
discussing this i s s.0 e at the given by the Moroccan author- aspect of the Congress was the
recent meeting of the United ities to respect the principle participation of more than 30
Nations Human Rights Sub- of: freedom of movement. This new organizations both as mem-
committee too much stress was is an inhuman policy with bers or as fraternal delegates
placed on anti-Semitism in the regard to thousands of Moroc- and observers. This was the
Soviet Union. While it is true, can Jews who wish to go to first step in the direction of
Dr. Goldmann said, that anti- Israel and join their families enlarging the Zionist movement,
Semitism exists and that some and start a new life. There is he said. Ther e was also
of the anti-religious articles in no justification for such a a c h i ev ed'a streamlining of
the Soviet press manifest an policy; even Arab countries operations of the new Zionist
anti-Jewish tenor, he felt, never- like Iraq, Yemen and Egypt executive which will also be
theless, that to accuse the have allowed thousands of strengthened by the joining of
Soviet Union generally of anti- the'ir Jewish subjects to leave several leaders of Israel parties
who will enhance the authority
Semitism is unjustified and and go to Israel.
Discussing the recent Zionist of the executive, Dr. Goldmann
distorts the character of the
Congress, Dr. Goldmann said stated. He especially welcomed
real issue.
the joining of the executive by
"The issue is not discrim- t h a t, contrary to inaccurate Moshe Sharett, Levanon, of the
ination of the Jewish individ- reports in the American press, General Zionists, and Zisling of
ual but the denial to the his evaluation of the Congress,
Jewish community the same was as a Whole, a positive one. Achdut Avodah.
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facilities accorded other reli-
gious and national minor- ! — Boris Smolar's
ities," he said. "It is on this
i3S11%.1 that all efforts must
concentrate. On it depends
the existence of the large
Jewish community in the
Soviet Union as a distinct
group." He added that there
( Copyright 1961,
were signs indicating that the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
re-
Soviet leaders began to
alize the existence of the Meet Your Leader
Joseph Meyerhoff, the new general chairman of - the United
problem. "Although one has
to be careful in evaluating Jewish Appeal, is an outstanding figure in American Jewish com-
the situation, one may hope munal affairs . . . A resident of Baltimore, he has been-one of the
that a certain improvement strongest pillars of the UJA for many years, and one of its top
national leaders for the last 10 years . . . He can now celebrate
may develop," he stated.
*
Discussing the pr o b l e m of the 10th anniversary of his becoming one of the members of the
and
Their
Obstacles
Hasidim on the March
Moroccan Jewry, Dr. Goldmann, National UJA Cabinet which he first joined in 1951 . . . He later
There is controversy over the desire of a group of Hasidim
became chairman of the Cabinet, and still later he was elected
from Brooklyn to establish "an independent village" within the noting r e c e n t indications of national chairman of the UJA—a post which he held until his
anti-Jewish
manifestations
both
town of -Ramapo, in Rockland County, near New Square, N. Y. by the Moroccan police and election to the present highest position of UJA leadership . . . Not
The Hasidim who settled there voted unanimously for inde-
only is he himself a "big. giver" to the UJA, but - he stimulates
pendent village status, in accordance with state law, but the the press, expressed the hope others to give, and to give more . . .He is passionately interested
that
the
Moroccan
government,
officials of Ramapo are hesitant. There is objection to the
in helping Israel economically also through the Palestine Economic
desire for village independence on the part of the 530 Hasidim- which till now had pursued a Corporation, of which he is the president . . . In this post, too, he
250 of them children—because of the mores, customs, manner policy of equal treatment of its
Jewish population will continue can now celebrate his 10th anniversary of active leadership, having
of dress and the threat that roads at Ramapo will be blocked on on this path and that its lean- been a member of the PEC board since 1951 . . . Another 10th
Sabbaths and Jewish holidays in observance of traditional law
anniversary is on his record for active service in the Israel Bond
forbidding travel on such days.
Organization since 1951 as an executive member .. .
Quite frankly, the objectors to the Hasidim say they wish to leaders, however, insist that
*
preserve zoning restrictions to avoid overcrowding which might Histadrut-State cooperation is es-
Notes:
lead to the creation of a ghetto. Rabbi Jacob Twersky invokes sential, and the temporary. suc- Diplomatic
Will Israel Premier David Ben-Gurion visit the United States
the Hasidic group's right to religious freedom, and the Town cessor to Lavon, Aharon Becker, next month when the United Nations General Assembly resumes
Attorney, David Moses, a Jew, warns: "Now don't accuse us of is reported to be as detertnined its session? . This question is now being .asked in
circles
being anti-Semitic."
as Lavon to battle for Histad- where certainty. exists that Ben-Gurion will form a new
new Cabinet
That's how the Hasidic caftan and payoth and a fear that rut's controlling rights in Israel. this week . . . It was 'jointed out that when the UN General
roads may be blocked on the Sabbath are serving as a challenge
The sharp division in Israeli Assembly opened last September, President Nasser of the United
to a community that seems to have become frightened by labor _ranks is most deplorable. Arab Republic made his debut there, just as was done by Soviet_
xenophobia—the dislike of the unlike. There may be justification Histadrut -was_ so valuable a fac- Premier Nikita Khruschev . . . There is, therefore, good reason
for the fear of imposition of Sabbath regulations upon a larger tor in State-building, in the for the Israel Premier to appear before the UN Assembly as head
community that does not observe it. Even in Israel, where preparatory work in the settle-
of the Israeli delegation in the same way as Nasser did in Septem-
settlements like Bnai Brak, Sdei Yaakov and others prohibit ment of Jews prior to the .crea-
ber . . . It is felt in UN circles that the appearance of Ben-Gurion
vehicle approach to their religious abodes, the main roads are- tion of the State of Israel and before the General Assembly could weaken the gain made by
not restricted and automobiles -are always moving along the in the formation of the .State Nasser among the delegations of the Asian and African countries
highways.
. . Most of them would, for the first time, hear from the Israel
But how can an American community impose restrictions that rational approaches must be
made to retain Histadrut's values Premier personally the- attitude of Israel toward the new under-
upon an isolated religious group? If zoning problems arise, there
. them .
must be ways of compelling newcomers to the highest standards without the perpetuation of con- developed nations, and the aid given by Israel to some of
There is no doubt that he would be received by President Kennedy,
trolling
factors
which
must
be
of residential ordinances, without involving the fear for strange
Presidents Truman and Eisenhower during
dress or ultra-orthodox religious practices. In the St. Joseph in the hands of the government as he was received by
his earlier visits to the United States .. .
district in Michigan there is a religious sect whose males are and the people of the State:
While this is an internal Is-
bearded and whose way of life is different from their neighbors;
yet all live in amity. There are many varying religious sects in raeli matter, it has created an Russian Echoes
American interest in Russia is today stronger than ever .before
issue that concerns all Jewry.
Canada, yet there is accord among those who differ.
It will be interesting to watch the developments in the All of us • hope - that the conflict . . . But sources of information on Russia in English, against a
Ramapo area.- The Hasidic element has a good chance to win will be adjusted properly and solid background of Russian history; are very few . . . The gap has,
its case in the courts. Then what? Will there be road detours fairly and that Israel's affairs of now been-. filled to a great extent by a very well written and beauti-
The
on the Sabbath, will or will not the neighbors of the Hasidim state will be conducted without fully illustrated volume "An Illustrated History of Rtissia" . . .
author,-
Joel
Carmichael,
has
shown
great
erudition
in
presenting
become accustomed to the earlocks and black frockcoats, and rancor. I-Eundreds of thousands of
will the ways of a differing sect be accepted as an inevitable lives still - are involved in the the development of Russia from early times until the Khrushchev
great rescue efforts that are regime . . . and the Bernier illustrations, selected from museums
reality or will they be treated as a curiosity?
b e i n g conducted by Jews and private archives — in color and black-and-white — are excep-
*
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throughout the world, and the tionally attractive and telling ... Jewish readers will be especially,
The Sad Battle in the Histadrut
protection of the State and the interested in the facts - on the treatment of Jews under various
Out of the David Ben-Gurion battle against Pinhas Lavon security of:. those who are to be Russian rulers ... They will learn about the Khazars, whose official
there has emerged the realization that the struggle within the settled in it calls for the per- religion was Jewish, and who developed a great merchant empire
Histadrut, the Israel Federation of Labor, was not so much over petuation of the basic democratic centered on the Volga; why Vladiniir I, a pagan who was the first.
the tragic security incident in 1954, which resulted in Lavon's principles upon which Israel was Russian ruler to be converted to Christianity, in the tenth century,
ouster as Israel's Minister of Defense, but because of a battle founded. Perhaps the friends of preferred- Christianity to .Judaism and Islam; about the role played- . •
for control of the labor movmeent.
Histadrut outside of Israel, be- by the sect called the "Judaizers" which, in the 15th century, defied.
Ben-Gurion• preceded Lavon as secretary general of His-
cause theyaare sqdeeply involved the:Christian religion by saying that Christ was only a man and that
tadrut. He was grooming Lavon for high positions. Lavon even
Histadra •Activities, will be in the Xessiah had not yet come; and about the persecution of Jews
for
the
Premiership
of
-
was spoken of as a possible candidate
position to exert influence tend- under Czar Nikolai I, who introduced compulsory army service of-
Israel. But there has developed a rift in the Histadrut. Ben-
ing to eradicate rancor. The ur- 25 years and compulsory wearing of Jewish traditional dress
Gurion and a group of the younger men in Histadrut and the
gency of our share in Israel's The author also touches on the pogroms against JeWS under Alexaii-:
Israel government are determined to crack down on those who
der III and under the last of the Czars, Nikolai II, and deals with :
have exerted too much power in economic spheres affecting the activities calls for the elimina- the Stalin-Hitler alliance and with the last years of Stalin; when -
tion of party politics from all
government.
Jewish culture was suppressed and several hundred leading Jewish
Ben-Gurion's contention apparently is that Histadrut must socioeconomic-philanthropic un- intellectuals were "liquidated."
dertakings.
not exert too much power within the government. Histadrut
Max M. Fisher in Pivotal Community Role
.
A new and a very major community role has been assigned
to Max M. Fisher, the president of the Jewish Welfare Federation.
His assumption of the chairmanship of the 1961 Torch Drive
places him in a pivotal position for community action.
The Torch Drive is fortunate to have acquired the leadership
of so able a man, whose experiences in fund-raising and in
community organization will stand
him in good stead in his new post.
He was chairman of the Allied Jewish
Campaign in 1957, when the Detroit
Jewish community contributed the
largest - sum on record — close to
$6,000,000. As a national chairman of
the United Jewish Appeal he renders
valuable services nationally in behalf
of the great overseas humanitarian
cause upon which Jews in countries
of oppression and those seeking a
permanent home in Israel depend for
their future security.
One of his very important respon-
sibilities at this time is as co-treas-
Max M. Fisher
urer of the reorganized Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., and as
chairman of its finance committee. In that role, he has been
called upon to, assist in liquidating the large indebtedness in-
curred by American Jewish communities through loans secured
in behalf of UJA; These debts—they include an outstanding loan
of approximately $1,500,000 made from local banks by the
Jewish Welfare Federation in behalf of UJA—were incurred in
order to carry the urgent burdens that were necessitated by the
need to rescue oppressed Jews and to settle them in Israel.
The confidence that has been placed in him by national
Jewish leadership which has given him this assignment is an
indication of the recognition of his ability to pursue communal
tasks tc• their best desired conclusions.
Now, in his new role as chairman of the Torch Drive, Fisher
will carry a burden in behalf of the larger local community,
entailing association with people of all faiths, -of all nationality
and racial backgrounds, in all walks of communal endeavor.
He is well suited to deal with the numerous • elements who
make up our great community. The choice is a commendable
one, and the gain is Detroit's. The decision to have him head the
drive for $18,000,000, will prove beneficial in many ways. He
knows and understands fund-raising, and his leadership assures
success for the approaching drive; and his ability to unite people
is certain to make of the 1961 Torch Drive a true forging of
Brotherhood—by bringing all elements together for a common
cause.
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