Friday, February 21, 1964—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-8
Restoration of Jews' Cultural Rights Urged
(Continued from Page 1)
cultural lives, religious free-
dom and the rights of a national
group in practice as well as in
law and that people separated
for many years from their
closest kin who have since be-
come resettled in Israel and
elsewhere will be permitted at
last to reunite."
Pointing out that "many of
us us are lifelong non-believers
in any religion", the appeal de-
clared; "Nonetheless, we believe
freedom to practice religious
views should be allowed the
Jews of the Soviet Union in the
same manner that such freedom
is granted people of other re-
ligeous persuasion."
The appeal expressed concern
that "the process of restitution
of Jewish cultural activities has
been slow. Journals and thea-
ters of much smaller groups are
more plentiful and the closure
of synagogues and the shortage
of religious facilities have im-
paired Jews in pursuit of their
belief. We are deeply troubled
that there should be articles in
Soviet journals of many repub-
lics expressing hostility to the
Jewish people as such and using
such terms as 'vermin, blood-
suckers, parasites,' in combina-
tion with caracatures of Jews."
While professing an under-
standing of the objections ex-
pressed by Premier Khrushchev
to economic offenses, the appeal
declared: "We feel, however,
that the death penalty upon
citizens accused of these crimes
harms the Soviet Union and
allows those hospitale to her to
malign here. We consider the
fact that 60 per cent of those
executed are Jews to be grave-
ly disturbing. We are troubled
by prison sentences imposed
for the preparation by individ-
uals of unleavened bread."
"During the last y ears of
Stalin's life", the appeal con-
tinued, "Soviet Jews were total-
ly deprived of national culture
and the means for expressing it.
Leading intellectuals were im-
prisoned or executed by extra-
legal practices which have since
been condemned.
"We fervently hope that noth-
ing will take place which
obliges us to believe Jews are
receiving unjust treatment in
contradiction to law and that
those who break Soviet laws
concerning economic offenses
will be treated without undue
severity instead of being put to
death. We cannot too strongly
appeal for understanding of the
difficulty experienced by those
in the west who are working
dedicately to ease tension pro-
mote peaceful coexistence and
to end the cold war. These ob-
jectives are harmed by events
which those who desire the cold
war can exploit and which trou-
ble us who wish peace and good
relations."
Earlier in t h e appeal the
Signatories stressed their friend-
ship for the Soviet Union and
expressed the hope that "no
Soviet citizen will misunder-
stand when we speak frankly
or conclude that we wish to
harm the Soviet Union or co-
operate with those who promote
the cold war." They stressed
that the spirit in which the
apppeal was made "is one of
concern and not of condemna-
tion."
The death penalty for 11 Jews
who faced the long secret _trial
in Moscow on charges of "eco-
nomic crimes" was requested
by the prosecution at the con-
clusion of the trial last Friday,
according to reports from Mos-
cow. Another Jew involved in
7ot
C•ct 9 666
Turning to other major areas munist regime "has not only
this trial, listed as Shakerman, lems came in answers to ques-
of
Jewish interest, Dr. Gold- refused to follow Bonn's ex-
tions
from
100
newsmen
attend-
had already been sentenced to
death as the "ring leader" of ing a press conference where man revealed that West Ger- ample, but has even failed to
most of the world news agen- many will, ultimately, pay out answer requests for negotia-
the group.
some $10,000,000,000 in the tions." He also paid tribute
For each of the 12 non-Jews cies and major news media form of reparations to victims to the West German Govern-
were
represented.
involved in the trial the prose-
of Nazism. He said the West ment for having accelerated
cution asked prison terms of 15
The most important prob- German authorities have al- trials of former Nazi criminals.
years. The sentences for the 23 lem facing modern Jewry in ready paid out about $4,000,-
are expected to be issued within today's world, said Dr. Gold- 000,000 to Nazi victims and de- Noted Astronomer
a few days, the Moscow reports mann, involved "difficulties clared "we hope the rest will
Maurice Loewy, a French-
indicated .The trial, originally which exist for the Jewish mi- come in the next few years.
Jewish scientist, was one of the
expected to be a "show trial," norities in many parts of the
The WJC president, recalling leading astronomers of the 19th
lasted several weeks and was world in regard to leading their that he had recently conferred century. His major contributions
own lives." Under question- with West German authorities were in the field of orbital com-
held in camera.
Izvestia, official organ of the ing, he said this difficulty on the subject of compensation, putation and the determination
Soviet Government, revealed exists mainly in the Soviet pointed out that, on the other of the longitudes of various Eu-
that the accused were arrested Union, where Jews "are unable hand, the East German Corn- ropean cities.
following a denunciation to the to lead Jewish lives" and
police by a relative of Shaker- where, "even as a minority
man, whom the newspaper de- group, they are being dis-:
scribed as a "former doctor." criminated against."
The arrests were made last Oc-
Speaking of "the 3,000,000
tober. according to the news- Russian Jews" and saying that
paper, which claimed that the "some believe there are 4,000,-
ringleaders of the group were 000 Jews there," Dr. Goldmann
Jewish, naming them as Shaker- charged that there is is the
man, Roifman, Galperin and USSR only one Jewish semi-
Braslaysky.
nary, in which only four stu-
Izvestia had charged that the dents are being trained as
defendants were part of a ring rabbis. "The Jewish commun-
Assisted by the
which operated a subrosa knit- ity in Russia," he stated, "has
ting mill in the workshop of a no newspapers of its own, has
neurological institute in a Mos- notheater, no literature, and is
cow suburb. The group alleged- prevented from participating
Will conduct the
ly acquired 58 knitting machines in international Jewish organ-
and 460 tons of raw wool from izations."
ana
illegal sources and the goods
As to his program on behalf
allegely were sold at markets of Soviet Jewry, he said, "I
for the
and train stations with the com- only ask the Soviet government
pliance of agents of a govern- to treat its Jews in the same
ment unit who allegedly had way they are treated in other
been bribed.
East European countries, such
In calling for a "show trial," as Poland, Romania and Hun-
Izvestia said it was citing the gary. We do not ask for
fact that some of the defendants more." Dr. Goldmann told the
were Jews "because we do not newsmen, who included cor-
pay attention to malicious slan- respondents for various East
Denville, New York
ders aroused in the western European media such as Tass,
N. Y. Direct Wire: WI 7.9745
press from time to time. They the official Soviet news agency,
are tried as criminals—not as as well as news agencies from
New York Tel: TR 3-3011
Jews, Russians' Tartars or Uk- from Poland and Hungary:
Hotel Tel. Ellenville-2100
rainians."
"Our- appeal is not part of the
Since July 1961, when death cold war. We are far from it,
sentences were reintroduced in and only examine the situation
the Soviet Union for economic from a Jewish and humani-
crimes, it is estimated that tarian angle."
around 190 persons have been
tried, convicted and executed
on such charges. Of these, at
least 95 were reported to have
had obviously Jewish names and
11 others - were thought to be
Jewish.
An appeal to the Soviet gov-
ernment to permit the baking
of matzoth for this year's Pass-
over was voiced by Sir Barnett
Janner, president of the Board
of Deputies of British Jews.
Addressing the monthly meet-
ing of the Board, stressing the
fact that the use of matzoth at
Passover is a religious precept
as well as a custom "cherished
by Jews the world over," Sir
Barnett requested the Kremlin
authorities to permit USSR
Jews to have matzoth as a move
toward the relaxation of inter-
national tensions.
The Board president pointed
out that, until 1961, the sale
of Matzoth by Soviet state bak-
eries was legal and unhindered.
He recalled that, last year, there
were "unfortunate cases of ar-
rest and trial and imprisonment
of a number of Jews for pri-
The Celebrated The Distinguished
vately baking and distributing
matzoth."
Cantor Composer-Conductor
While he welcomed reports
JACOB BARKIN SHOLOM SECUNDA
that the Soviet Union is permit-
ting the import of matzoth par-
cels from abroad ,Sir Barnett
said this step could help only
in individual cases, and would
Passover at the Concord is a supremely enjoyable holiday. Cantor Jacob Barkin
not "appreciably alleviate" the
assisted by Sholom Secunda, directing the Concord Choir, conducts the inspir-
matzoth shortage. He expressed
ing services and presides at the festive Sedarim.
the hope that the USSR would
'f-
extend the import permits to
Outdoors and indoors, the superlative facilities of the Concord heighterfyour
include shipments from abroad
enjoyment of the day's sport and the night's glittering entertainment.
of matzoth in bulk, addressed
to Jewish communities which,
in turn, would be allowed to dis-
HOTEL
"world's foremost resort"
THE
tribute the Passover food to in-
dividuals.
PARIS, (JTA) — The com-
plex and at times delicate prob-
lems facing contemporary
world Jewry were discussed
here by Dr. Nahum Goldmann,
9*
president of the World Jewish
Kiamesha lake, New York. Ray Parker, General Manager. phone Monticello, New York 1840. or Call Your Travel Agent
Congress. His detailed identi-
Dietary Supervision By Rabbi Joseph Weintrobe
fication of some of those prib-
eqtomai, we .,
//,
CANTOR
ROILERT R. FINGErOTH
Morris Paritz Choir
SERVICES
SEDERS
PASSOVE HOLIDAYS
titytiAt
oncor