Bene Israel Issue S olved in Israel; Indi an Community Is Recognized as Jews
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
JERUSALEM — A delegation
representing the Bene Israel com-
munity of Indian Jews informed
Prime Minister Levi Eshkol Tues-
day of their decision to immedi-
ately end their sit-down strike in
protest against special chief rab-
binate directives concerning mar-
riages between Bene Israel mem-
bers and other Jews.
The end of the sit-down strike
followed a special session of the
Knesset Monday night in which
the house adopted a resolution de-
claring that members of the Bene
Israel community are to be con-
sidered Jews in every respect and
endorsed the government position
calling on the Chief Rabbinate to
find a way to remove the discri-
minatory aspect of the marriage
directives.
Chief Rabbi Isser Yehuda Un-
terman, meanwhile, voiced confi-
dence Tuesday that the Chief
Council would agree to strike
out specific reference to Bene
Israel from the heading of its
marriage directives, thus giving
the directives general application
and removing the cause for any
feeling of discrimination.
During their meeting with the
Prime Minister, the members of
the Bene Israel delegation, who
were accompanied by Jerusalem
Mayor Mordechai Ish-Shalom,
thanked Eshkol for his statement
in the Knesset. The Premier ex-
pressed confidence that the issue
would soon be settled.
After an ardent plea to the
Israeli Rabbinate by Prime Min-
ister E s h k o 1, who requested
moderation in regard to the dis-
criminations against which the
Bnei Israel community of Indian.
Jews has been protesting, the
Knesset, Israel's Parliament, to-
day voted a resolution uphold-
ing the government's stand. The
resolution declared that the Bnei
Israel Jews are to be considered
Jews in every respect, including
matters c' personal status; en-
dorsed the Eshkol statement;
and called upon the Bnei Israel
to end the sitdown strike which
they have been conducting in
front of the Chief Rabbinate
here for the last two weeks.
The resolution was voted after
a hot, four-hour debate by the
Knesset, which had sat in special
session to which it had been re-
called from its summer recess to
deal with the Bnei Israel con-
troversy. T h e measure did not
name the rabbinate specifically,
but clearly urged the rabbinate to
remove the feelings of discrimina-
tion prevalent among the Bnei
Israel.
In his statement, Eshkol had
called on the Chief Rabbinate to
"take public opinion into consid-
eration and find a way to remove
the very cause or reason for the
feeling of deprivation or discrimi-
nation" which had led to the dem-
onstrations protesting t h e mar-
riage procedures decreed by the
rabbinate, affecting the Bnei Is-
rael.
The Premier stressed that, since
the problem of marriages between
members of the Bnei Israel and
other Jews had been solved two
years ago by the Rabbinate, there
has not been a single case in
which such marriages have been
prevented. He said it was clear,
however, that the Bnei Israel com-
munity and a large segment of the
population does not accept the
existence of instructions issued by
the Chief Rabbinate Council re-
garding the procedures for per-
forming marriages involving mem-
bers of the community.
Eshkol also expressed the
government's regret and con-
demnation "regarding the im-
proper, irresponsible and tact-
less manifestation which was
introduced into the street dem-
onstrations." He was referring
to an effigy portraying Sephar-
dic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim
which was carried by some Bnei
Israel demonstrators and burned
during last week's incidents.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
20 Friday, August 21, 1964
members and other Jews.
During their meeting with the
Prime Minister, the members of
the Bnei Israel delegation, who
were accompanied by Jerusalem
Mayor M o r d e chai Ish-Shalom,
thanked Eshkol for his statement
in the Knesset. The Premier ex-
pressed confidence that the issue
would soon be settled.
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He indicated the issue had wider
r***********************************************t
ramifications in view of the hope
for a greater number of immi-
grants from Jewish communities
of various countries, many of
whom have been unable to follow
strictly the percepts of Jewish re-
Now accepting reservations for
ligious law. He said that the im-
migration and integration of such
HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES
communities should be facilitated,
rather than obstructed.
A delegation representing the
in our beautiful Synagogue
Bnei Israel community of Indian
Jews informed Prime Minister
Levi Eshkol of a decision to end
immediately the sit-down strike
in protest against special Chief
Rabbinate directives concerning 4(
marriages between Bnei Israel -1(
Congregation Bnai jacob
The BETH AARON SYNAGOGUE
Cordially Invites the Youth of the Community
TO ITS SEVENTH ANNUAL
and for Auxiliary Services in
TEEN-AGE HIGH HOLY DAY
SERVICES
THE DETROIT ARTILLERY ARMORY
BOTH BUILDINGS AIR CONDITIONED FOR COMFORT
AT THE
SEATING COMMITTEE AT SYNAGOGUE
AARON DeROY THEATRE
THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICE, 18000 WYOMING
SUNDAY 9-12 A.M.
DAILY 7-9 P.M.
Morning & Evening Services Daily
20470 HUBBELL NEAR 8 MILE ROAD
Other Children's Services sponsored by the Synagogue: Youth, ages
10-12; Junior, ages 7-9. Admission to these Services are free, tickets
obtainable at the Synagogue by parents.
NOTE: Tickets Available for Members and Non-Members
at Both Locations. For Information call, 864-9896
(Meyers at Curtis)
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 13 - 18
Tickets May Be Purchased at
(BETH AARON YOUTH COMMISSION)
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FORWARD STEP IN THE FIELD
OF SECULAR JEWISH EDUCATION
Two long established schools with an excellent record of
accomplishments have joined forces and formed
The Combined Jewish Schools
of the
Sholem Aleichem Institute
19350 Greenfield
Arbeiter Ring
18340 W. Seven Mile
The only secular Jewish school system offering an
integrated and comprehensive program for the educa-
tion' of Jewish children, teaching Yiddish, Hebrew,
History, Bible, Literature, Holidays, Israel, Singing,
Dramatics, Arts.
Teen Holy Day Services
Offered by Beth Aaron
The seventh annual teenage High
Holy Day Services, sponsored by
Beth Aaron Synagogue, will be
held at the Aaron DeRoy Theatre
of the Jewish Center. The Ser-
vices are planned specifically for
13-18-year olds by Rabbi Benjamin
H. Gorrelick and Tzvi Berkal, with
the cooperation of Cantor David
Bagley and Jonathan Baiter.
The Services will be conducted
by Harry Goldstein, a member of
the congregation. Cantor will be
Arky Berkal of Winnipeg, Canada.
Adult supervision will be pro-
vided by members of the Synago-
gue's Men's Club and Youth Com-
mission. The schedule and tickets
for these services may be obtained
at the Synagogue office, 18000
Wyoming, UN 1-5222.
After reading the government
statement, the Premier added:
"The greatness of Jewish laws
and judges throughout generations
was that they answered the needs
of historical circumstances, and
we are entitled to expect solutions
in the spirit of the 'Love of Israel'
that would enable the ingathering
of the exiles."
The publishing business began
to expand in this country shortly
after the Revolutionary War.
SECULAR BAR or BAS-MITZVAH
Attendance and Instruction
According to Age of Student:
5-6 — once weekly — 2 hours
6-7 — twice weekly — 4 hours
7-8 — twice weekly — 4 hours
8-13 — thrice weekly — 6 hours
Aims of
Combined Jewish Schools:
Offer sound education
Maintain high standards
Provide qualified instruction
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Telephone
342 7440
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