American Jewish Congress Votes
Appeal to Mosco w on Soviet Jews
N Human Rights Commission Adjourns
Without _Debate on Soviet Matzoh Ban
UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. — "shadow agenda" for four weeks, Mission—L. A. Gouliev -and V. R.
NEW YORK, (JTA) — The "vigorous opposition" to sec-
American Jewish Congress con-1 tarian observances in the pub- (JTA) — Efforts to develop an I still occupied the interest of I Filitov — said that lfieearlier
I practice of baking hatiehs in
eluded its four-day biennial I lic schools such as Bible-read- open debate here on the issue many Western diplomats.
As the Human Rights Com- istate factories "had be** a mis-
Convention with the adoption of ing, prayer recitation and re- of Soviet Russia's banning of
a number of resolutions deal- ligious holiday celebrations "in- matzoh baking for the 3,000,000 mission adjourned April 14, it take." They said the practice
ing with problems concerning cluding Christmas and Hanu- Jews in the USSR failed here postponed until its next session, "was a waste of money, since the
Jews in this country and abroad, kah." In other resolutions, the as the Commission on Human to be held at Geneva a year from matzohs remained on• the shelves
Rights concluded its annual ses- now, a detailed debate on the for six to eight months, and fi-
as well as with American policy American Jewish Congress:
in the Middle East.
1. Opposed Federal aid for sion without taking up the issue. operative clauses of a proposed nally had to be thrown away."
However, the subject, which convention dealing with religious They implied that Russian Jewery
Dr. Joachim Prinz was re- parochial schools as a "clear
rights and practices. That draft,
did not care whether mat-
elected president of the organ- violation of the Constitution- has been on the behind-the-scenes originally adopted in 1960 by the : really
zohs were provided or not.
ization for a third two-year al principle of separation of
on
Commission's
Subcommittee
church and state—a violation
The Soviet Mission was
term.
Prevention of Discrimination and
picketed last weekend by a
In a resolution on the situa- that would bring in its train
Protection
of
Minorities,
con-
all the evils that the Consti-
group of Jewish students from
tion of the Jews in the Soviet
tained a set of principles that New York. After the pickets
Union, the convention express- tutional provision was de-
Russian
would
have
affected
the
.
, were removed, Gouliev and
ed "deepest concern" at Soviet signed to prevent."
directly.
matzoh
Filitov consented to see five
2. Charged that compulsory
government action against Jews
One
of
those
principles
pro-
I members of the Jewish student
in the USSR and appealed for Sunday-closing laws were "dis-
vides
that
a
government
must
delegation. However, the Rirs-
a lifting of prohibitions against criminatory and unequal in
permit persons practicing a re-
sians challenged the students'
the baking of matzoh and the their operation" and urged the
NEW YORK (JTA) — The ligion to obtain the religous ar-
enjoyment of "essential facili- repeal of existing "blue" laws Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., ticles or foods necessitated by "right to speak for Soviet
Jews" and insisted there was
ties for Jewish survival." The "or at least the exemption announced the approval by its their religous rules.
no discrimination against Jews
resolution charged that Russian from such laws of those persons board of directors of allocations
However, outside the Coin-
in Russia. They said the ban on
Jews" are denied the means to who observe a day other than totaling $40,000,000 for the
' mission's chamber, Western
matzoh baking by state fac-
perpetuate their faith and de- Sunday as their religious day transportation, absorption
diplomats have been pressing
tories merely underscored the
velop their culture through the of rest."
resettlement of immigrants in
Soviet representatives on the
principle of separation
of
education of their children and
The resolution on religion in Israel. The announcement was
church from state.
the schools charged that sec- made by Joseph Meyerhoff, na- matzoh issue. Yacov A. Ostrov-
youth.
ski, Soviet representative on
Not only Western diplomats
"Russian Jews," the resolu- tarian practices "impair re- tional chairman of the United t h e Commission, reportedl y
tion said, "are made to suffer ligious freedom, violate the Jewish Appeal and vice-chairman told Western diplomats that but representatives of Jewish
non - governmental organizations
deprivations and disadvan- principle of church-state sepa- of the JAFI, Inc.
there was no Soviet law prohno-
accredited to the Human Rights
tages not imposed upon other ration and interfere with ful-
Meyerhoff pointed out that of iting Jews from baking mat- Commission had hoped that the
peoples and nationalities in fillment by the schools of their the total of $40,000,000, some ! mils in their own homes. How-
Commission could debate the is-
the Soviet Union." The AJ educational function." It I
$7,000,000 represent supplemen- ever, in that statement, he had
Congress statement deplored welcomed recent decisions "re- tary allocations for the fiscal conceded the truth of earlier sue openly. Only one delegate,
the
envoy from Austria. mention-
recent evidence of "direct affirming the Constitutional year ending March 31. 1961,
reports about a ban on matzoh ed the issue openly. The post-
and overt official anti-Semi- guarantee of religious liberty while the balance constitutes baking in state bakeries which,
ponement of the debate on the
tism" and asked the U. S. and the separation principle." initial allocations for the fiscal
in previous years, did supply draft principles on religious
Government, "in concert with
year starting April 1, 1962. Ma- matzohs for the Russian Jews.
rights and practices prevented
other nations, to persuade the Indemnification Rules
jor categories of allocations in-
Two Soviet officials attached the holding of further discussions
Soviet Union to remove re-
clude over $13,000,000 for trans- to the USSR's United Nations on the issue.
strictions that prevent the • Announced by Austria portation and services en route:
cultural and spiritual de-
VIENNA. (JTA) — Certain close to $10,000,000 for initial
velopment of Soviet Jewry." Jewish persecutees under the absorption aid; close to $8,000,-
In another resolution the Nazi regime in this country 000 for immigrant housing; and
We Extend Warm Passover Greetings
delegates opposed nuclear wea- have only until next Aug. 31 to $7.500.000 for the consolidation
pons for West Germany and file their applications for spe- of agricultural villages.
To Our Many Friends
warned of a "rising incidence cial idemnification, it was an-
Meyerhoff stated that all allo-
of anti-Semitic publications and nounced by the Government cations are based on a careful
activities" there. The resolu- Fund for Indemnification for line-by-line review of current
tion urged the Adenauer regime Financial Losses of Political needs as submitted by the
to intensify efforts "to elimi- Persecutees.
Agency's consultant, Dr. Isador
Indemnification will be paid , Lubin.
nate all taint of Nazi or neo-
Nathan P. Rossen & Benjamin J. Poss
only
for
losses
suffered
through
Nazi influence from public life.
Aryeh L. Pincus, treasurer of
It cited recent public opinion confiscation of bank accounts. the Jewish Agency, Jerusalem,
polls in West Germany indi- ' stocks, cash, mortgages, pay- and a member of the board of
Complete Insurance Service
cating that "two-thirds of the ment of emigration taxes and directors of the JAFI, Inc., sub-
residents of -West Berlin -- assessments imposed by t h e mitted to the board an analysis
typically the most liberal seg- Nazi regime on Austrian Jews. of the most urgent problems of
DI 1-7300
18685 Wyoming Detroit 21
ment of Germany--object to the Application forms, which must immigrant absorption in Israel.
appointment of Jews to govern- reach here not later than next
Transportation costs, most of
ment positions." The resolution August 31 are available from which must be paid for in hard
emphasized that "anti-Semitism the Austrian Government for- currency, will take a much larger
and rampant nationalism exist eign missions, or the Jewish share of the Jewish Agency's
in even greater degree in East Community Council in Vienna. budget due to the recent devalua-
Germany."
or the United Relief Organiza- tion of the Israel pound, Pincus
The convention expressed tion.
poe
intd ou
out .
i
840 000 000
Allocated b
Jewish Agene s
,
,
ROSSEN-POSS AGENCY, INC.
Protestant School Board
[ Proposal in Quebec
Termed 'Significant Step'
Passover Greetings
To Our Many
Friends and Customers
RAI V111.
corta'w
MONTREAL, (JTA)—A
Protestant brief proposing that
Jewish members sit on the
Protestant committee of the
Quebec Council of Education
was termed "as an interim step
of great significance" by Saul
Hayes, executive vice-president
of the Canadian Jewish Con-
gress.
Hayes emphasized that what
is really important is for Jews
to sit on the school boards in
Quebec and to have a say in the
administration of tax monies.
"The Jewish community,"
Hayes pointed out, "pays its
school taxes to the Protestant
School Board and Jews are not
free to present themselves for
election, or to be appointed, to
any of the boards. This is an
inexcusable violation of even
the most basic tenets of democ-
racy."
The Protestant proposal
called for an amendment to the
Education Act which would
permit two associate members
on the committee who would
be neither Protestant nor Cath-
olic. They would not have any
right to vote on any question
affecting religious instruction
in the schools sponsored by the
Protestant church, which most
Jewish children in Montreal at-
tend. There are no non-sectar-
ian public schools in the
province.
gest Wisites
gor
goy ous
t%tssover
Season,
SAMS
INC.