Friday, November 1, 1963—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-2
Purely Commentary
The Yeihivah Schools Their Guest Speaker
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah schools, since the merger of the after-
noon sessions with the United Hebrew Schools, appear to have
acquired a wider measure of support, and the annual event on
Nov. 10 apparently has a more varied appeal than the previous
events had enrolled. The community-spirited approach to our
educational needs has helped in the mustering of new supporters,
and the schools'. expansion program apparently has gained from
the inspiration created by the Yeshivah's devoted leadership.
The approaching Nov. 10 function undoubtedly will gain
adherents because it will have as guest speaker the U. S. Senator
from Connecticut, Abraham Ribicoff. It was under Senator Ribi-
coff's leadership that 59 Senators sponsored a resolution repudia-
ting the anti-Semitic actions of the USSR and appealing to the
Soviet Union, "in the name of decency and humanity," to put an
end to the persecution of Jews for alleged economic offenses. The
local audience will be interested in the reactions to that reso-
lution and to its chances of adoption, and on his appearance here,
Senator Ribicoff may report on the results of his efforts to put
an end to Soviet persecutions.
—
JTA's Role . . . Vote By Philip
YE S Tuesday ..
Y e s ht jv sa sh R lc i f e l o n l s e r . . SIOMOVitZ
All persecutors have had their defenders. Vergelis undoubtedly
is a convinced Communist, and it may well be that he is not con-
scious of having served as an apologist for the persecutors. In
reality he has done just that.
*
*
The Duty of All Citizens to Vote YES Tuesday
There will be only one item on the ballot Tuesday: the pro-
posal for a renewal of the 7.5 mills tax rate for our schools.
It is not a new tax proposal, but a request for a renewal of
the tax that was approved in 1959 .
The votors should know that the YES vote that is so vital
will in no sense increase the existing tax rate.
Because the only source of income for our schools is a
property tax, it is urgent that every citizen go to the polls on
Tuesday and vote YES.
In 1962 there were 292,000 children in our schools. This year
the number has risen to 295,000. The need is greater than ever,
and the funds are lesser.
In the event of a disapproval of the proposal on Tuesday, our
schools will lose a third of the available budget—a sum amount-
The topic chosen by Senator Ribicoff for his address here
ing to $40,000,000—after next July. That would be a calamity be-
—"Soviet Persecution of Jews—Challenge to World's Con-
cause the educational program would have to, be reduced for all
science"—indicates that he will speak frankly on an issue
pupils in our schools.
that has begun to attract worldwide attention. His visit here
No other means of support is in view for our schools, and the
therefore is certain to be of great significance in clarifying— obligation to vote YES on Tuesday is obvious. Any other verdict
the serious problem involving more than two million of our
will be calamitous and will brand our community with a mark
kinsmen.
of shame.
The assistance that will be given the Yeshivah schools with the
financial aid provided by the annual dinner continues a tradition
JTA's New Role on World Scene
that helps educational efforts in increased measure.
Transfer of ownership of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency to
the
newly-formed
board of directors composed of representatives
Jewish
Defender
of
the
USSR
Policies
A
In all ages and all climes, there have been Jewish defenders from many Jewish communities in no sense changes the basic
of the malingers of their people. They were to be found in anti- position of the most vital Jewish news agency in the world.
What it should do is create a better climate for JTA by in-
Semitic Poland and Czarist Russia, in Nazi Germany and Nasser-
creasing interest in it and assuring the support it needs to serve
ruled Cairo.
Another of their ilk has just emerged in Moscow as a Soviet world Jewry.
There is no other medium through which our people every-
Daniel come to judgement. Aron Vergelis, editor of the b1 •
monthly Soviet Yiddish periodical Sovientish Heimland (Soviet where can be kept informed about themselves and can be linked
Homeland), writing in Literaturnaya Gazeta, the literary Soviet as an entity in the best interests of Jewish cultural, defense and
magazine, went to great length to emphasize that Russian Jews philanthropic needs.
Without the JTA services world Jewry would be completely
do not seek a return to their Jewish heritage, that they are
"Marxists in outlook" and that they "would never agree with deprived of all means of acquiring information about Jewish
those who pull the Jewish people back to the ghetto, back to the communities. Without JTA there not only- would be a total sever-
ance of connections between American and World Jewries but
Middle Ages."
It was a safe way of charging that anyone who desires to also between ourselves and the other Jewish communities in our
adhere to Jewish traditions is returning to the ghetto, and such land. It is through JTA's recently expanded domestic news and
misrepresentation, which is a typical approach of those who be- feature services that we now are so closely linked that there are
little their own people, leaves those in the USSR who would better prospects for American Jews to learn one from another
like to retain some sort of kinship with Jewry on unsafe ground. how to improve our school systems, how to assure proper income
Equally typical of the repudiation of all semblances of loy- for our major causes, how to serve our people everywhere.
If it were not for the JTA, Israel's needs would not be known,
alty to Jewish traditions in Communist as in any other anti-Jewish
ranks is Vergelis' implied charge that anything pro-Jewish and the Israeli position would be kept in the dark, and many Jewish
anti-Russian in the accusations of anti-Semitism against the USSR communities would • be orphaned without the cementing force
stems from New York. That's how the Nazis spoke in Hitler's provided by this vital agency.
It is most unfortunate that JTA has had to suffer for lack
days. That's the argument that was resorted to by Ernest Bevin
in the days when he led the battle against Zionists in Great Britain. of funds during the last decade or more. The decline of the
Vergelis' article was titled "A New York Lament on the Day of Yiddish press, the inability of the English-Jewish newspapers
Atonement." He wrote about "cheap sensationalism" in New to finance the work of JTA which often, especially during crises,
York Yiddish newspapers in his reference to the release by the runs into prohibitive obligations, has made it necessary for JTA
MGM record division of a recording of Kol Nidre sung in Moscow's to go to Federation for support.
The Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation has been among
Central Synagogue.
It is interesting that Vergelis should have quoted the Yiddish those who have played a leading role in defending JTA's position
Day-Journal as having written in this connection: "In the voice and in providing it with the much-needed financial support.
of the old cantor, in the moaning of hundreds of worshipers, we Under the present set-up, with the stock of JTA placed in the
sense all the suffering, all the grief, all the tragedy of our hands of a group of Jewish spokesmen from many communities,
brothers in the Soviet Union." Vergelis didn't like it, but the Kol it is reasonable to expect that JTA's financial problems will be
Nidre rendering in Moscow has been interpreted as just that: a solved and that the great news agency now will be in position
revelation of the tragedy of the religiously persecuted Russian to render world Jewry much improved services. May this prove
to be so—in the best interest of Jews everywhere.
Jews.
Moroccan Jewry
Supports Hassan
Against Algeria
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
PARIS — Morocco's 130,000
Jews support King Hassan II
in his conflict with Algeria and
in his clashes with opposition
leaders inside Morocco, a prom-
inent Jewish attorney, who has
just arrived here from Casa-
blanca, told the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency Monday.
The Moroccan Jew, who is in
close contact with of f i c i a l
circles in his country, said that,
in spite of latent, popular anti-
Semitism in his country, the
Jews support the current re-
gime which, they fear, might be
replaced by one far more ex-
tremist and more anti-Jewish.
In recent months, he said, the
Moroccan government has
adopted a much more liberal
attitude toward the Jews in
the country. In addition to eas-
ing emigration restrictions, he
said, the government has ap-
pointed a number of Jews to
senior positions. Among these
is Ben Sabbath, who has been
named to a place on Morocco's
Supreme Court. Other Jews, he
said, have been promoted to
senior posts in such ministries
d ascommerce, health and in-
dustry.
The Moroccan Jew said that
King Hassan II himself has per-
sonal relations with a number
of Jews, among these being Dr.
Leon Benzaquen, formerly a
member of the Moroccan Cab-
inet, who is a frequent visitor
to the royal palace. M. Guudirra,
the King's personal adviser, is
in social contact with David
Amar, the secretary general of
the Jewish community, reported
the visitor, while other Jews
are in contact with royal circles.
Moroccan Jews, the lawyer
said, are not subjected to any
official persecutions. Their
main grievance; he said, is
against the continued abduction
of young Jewish girls by rich
Moslems and the fact that there
is no redress against this prac-
tice before the country's courts.
He said that, of Morocco's
130,000 Jews, 80,000 live in
Casablanca, while the remainder
are scattered throughout the
country, mainly in Rabat, Fez,
Tangiers and Marrakesh.
USSR Bias Exposed at UN, Condemned by Harriman
UNITED NATIONS, N . Y . , raeli representative t o 1 d the ities exist for those of the Jew- who are singled out for this Before coming to the criticism
against the Soviet Union, Dr.
savage punishment."
ish community.
committee:
Dr. Yapou's mention of the Yapou summarized briefly the
"The last Bible in Hebrew
"This matter is closely con-
social progress achieved in Is-
nected with a very painful to be printed in that country death sentence in the 'USSR
"modern public
,
dates back to 1917. In a for persons convicted of eco- rael through
problem, one to which I have
services in the fields of edu-
nomic
crimes
•
referred
to
a
period
of
more
than
40
years,
already had opportunity to call
there has been but a single previous address, delivered to cation, health, housing and
the attention of the Committee,
social welfare." In the educa:.
relating to the position and con- edition, virtually nominal in the committee by Mrs. Mar- tional field, he said, Israel was
character, of the Hebrew garet Konantz, Canada's repre-
dition of the Jewish community
now facing "a great challenge."
in one of the great countries Book of Prayer for a Jewish sentative in the group.
Replying to Dr2Yapou, So-
population
numbering
several
of the world. From the consti-
Dr. Yapou assured the com-
viet delegate Y. A. Ostrovsky
tutional angle, that country millions. Government p u b -
mittee that Israel was speak-
told the committee that the
guarantees the freedom of wor- lishing houses have made no
ing on the treatment of So-
problem spelled out by the
facilities available to the
ship.
viet Jewry "in sorrow" and
Israeli "does not exist."
not in malice "In speaking
"Within the limits of existing Jewish faith similar to those
Statements alluding to the
about this situation," he de-
policies, the major religions extended to other religions.
"so-called Jewish problem,"
clared, "my delegation does
with one exception are per- Unlike other faiths, Jews are
he declared, are "becoming
not
authorized
to
produce
the
not
seek
to
criticize
the
so-
mitted to maintain central
tiresome" and exist only "in
articles
of
religious
signifi-
cial system of general policies
organs ensuring religious func-
the mind of the delegate of
of the country concerned;
tions and services and • promot- cance to them:
Israel, who is becoming the
but we felt bound to express
"Even the baking of the tra-
ing religious belief and practice.
defender of Jews in other
our
deep
anxiety
for
a
certain
ditional
unleavened
bread
for
The exception is the Jewish
countries when he should
specific
problem
of
human
the
Passover
—
matzoh
—
is
faith for which no such rights
concern himself with Jews in
are accorded. In the absence virtually prohibited. Jewish re- rights. In this spirit my dele-
his own country — and not
of such legally authorized in- ligious education is practically gation would express the
only Jews there.." •
earnest hope that the au-
strumentalities, members of the non-existent. Finally, no group
Harriman
Urges Fight on
thorities
concerned
would
of
Jewish
religious
scholars
Jewish faith are excluded from
the possibility of maintaining from that country has ever give fresh thought to the Soviety Policy on Jews
NEW YORK, (JTA)—Under-
normal mutual contact, of serv- been permitted to visit insti- matter."
Dr. Yapoti also called the secretary of State W. Averell
ing the religious needs of tutions of fellow co-religionists
(JTA)—Israel delivered a full-
scale attack here against the
USSR's mistreatment of Soviet
Jewry. Speaking only of "a cer-
tain country," Dr. Eli e z e r
Yapou, Israel delegate, sum-
marized all of the Soviet anti-
Jewish actions of recent years
so thoroughly that the blast
was unmistakably against the
Soviet government — without
once mentioning the target
country by name.
The fact that the Soviet
Union was the country meant
by Israel was underscored
through an immediate reply to
the Israel address from a USSR
representative who told the
United Nations in effect that
the treatment of Jews in the
Soviet Union is none of Israel's
business.
The sharp criticism against
the Soviet Union was voiced
by Dr. Yapou in one of the Gen-
eral Assembly's major bodies,
the Social, Humanitarian and
Cultural Committee. Protesting
against a proposal to postpone
the previously scheduled 1964
session of the Commission on
Human Rights to 1965, and
against the delays in debating
a United Nations declaration
on the elimination of all forms
of religious intolerance, the Is-
believers, • and of working for
spiritual continuity. While the
other major religions are au-
thorized to convene conferences
of their clergy and representa-
tives of the faithful, to issue
religious publications and print
Holy Scriptures, no such facil-
or to advance their studies at
centers of higher Jewish religi-
ous learning abroad. Reference
has already been made to the
extraordinary harshness in this
day and age of inflicting the
death penalty for economic
crimes. But it is, above all, Jews
committee's attention to a study
completed by a subcommission
here on the right of everyone
to leave his own country and
return thereto. That report was
also aimed, in part, against the
Soviet Union for refusing to
permit the emigration of Jews.
Harriman challenged Soviet
Russia's "elaborate denials" of
anti-Jewish discrimination in
the USSR. He disclosed that
during his last visit to Moscow
he had raised the question of
religion with Nikita Khrush-
(Continued on Page 3)