`Soviet Jewry No. 1 Problem'
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
JERUSALEM — A demand that
the Soviet Union permit the re-
union of families and emigration
of Russian Jews to Israel was
voiced Wednesday by Dr. Nahum
Goldmann in an address at the
close of general debate at the 26th
World Zionist Congress.
He said the problem of Soviet
Jewry would remain world Jewry's
number one problem and that it
was "our duty to arouse public
opinion. We do not accuse Russia
of being an anti-Semitic state, but
we do charge that the Jewish
minority is not recognized as a
national minority and is in danger
of total assimilation.''
He said there was a need to
start ''daring political action" to
approach a solution to the prob-
lems endangering Israel's exist-
ence. He cited the danger of the
developing anti-Jewish offensive by
the Arabs. He urged that the Arabs
be warned regarding the danger
of a cold war between them and
Jewry and that a powerful reply
must be prepared by Jews. particu-
larly in South American countries
where, he said. the Arab attack
was strongly felt.
Dr. Goldmann said he doubted
the need to form within the Jewish
Agency a new political depart-
ment. He said this could lead to
misunderstandings, particularly in
the United States. He emphasized
that aliyah remained the central
problem for Israel and the Zionist
move meant.
In his review, he stressed the
necessity for mutual understand-
ing between different religious
groupings and between the re-
ligious and nonreligious parts of
the nation. He said there was a
grave danger that religion would
become the possession of a mi-
nority causing a growing chasm
between it and the majority.
He asserted that the structure
of the World Zionist Organization
based on parties falsified Jewish
reality and that what was called
Zionist democracy was fictitious
in many countries. He said that
while he was not suggesting the
Zionist parties be disbanded he did
believe that it was necessary to
break their "monopoly" in the
Zionist organization. He demanded
appointment of a committee not
based on party alignments to ex-
amine the problem and submit
recommendations to the Actions
Coni mittee.
When Dr. Goldmann opened
Congress, he said the main goal
of Zionism should be close co-
operation with Israel to assure
Jewish survival.
He listed three specific tasks for
the 11-day conclave:
1. To start a new attack against
the present "complacent state of
mind" of the Jewish people to
make Jews understand that neith-
er the position of Israel nor the
future of Jewish communities out-
side of Israel is safe.
2. To inaugurate a new chapter
of close cooperation between the
Zionist movement and Israel and
to make the Jewish state a major
force in securing Jewish survival.
3. To reorganize the organization
forms of the world Zionist move-
ment. To do away with "hinder-
ing" traditions, and "to open wide
its doors to welcome every individ-
ual and organization ready to ac-
cept the Zionist program but not
ready to join one of the existing
parties."
Dr. Goldmann expressed ap-
preciation to the Israel Govern-
ment, and especially to Premier
Levi Eshkol, for "the new spirit
of understanding of the necessity
to strengthen the Zionist move-
ment "displayed by the govern-
ment. He lauded the govern-
ment's willingness to cooperate
with the Zionist movement
"fully" and to back the efforts
of the Zionist movement "by the
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
40—Friday, January 8, 1965
tremendous prestige which only
Israel possessed today in Jewish
life." He expressed his convic-
tion that Israel was ready for
such full cooperation "as never
before."
"While we enjoy equal rights
and anti-S e m i t i s m no longer
threatens our existence, he con-
tinued, "the dangers are great."
He declared that while the situa-
tion of Soviet Jewry presents the
"number one" problem, there were
other countries where communi-
cation between Jewish communi-
ties and other parts of the Jewish
people was regarded as unpatri-
otic and where maintenance of
specific Jewish institutions—except
religious ones — was considered
undesirable.
Dr. Goldmann emphasized the
need to deepen among Jews the
consciousness of the Jewish heri-
tage and all forms of Jewish life
and to appreciate the great role
that religion could play.
He declared that leaders of
Jewish religious life should be
ready to enter a "dialogue of his-
toric importance" to adjust the role
which the Jewish religion could
play in strengthening Jewish
identity, to the conditions of mod-
ern life.
He also stressed that it was im-
perative that those Jews choosing
not to settle in Israel be imbued
with a feeling that they were
"junior partners in this, our
people's great common venture.
He also listed a number of pro-
posals for intensified work in
Jewish communities outside of
Israel aimed at strengthening the
belief among Jews of being part
and parcel of one people and end-
ing all tendencies of Jewish isola-
tion.
One was to fight demagogic
slogans of "double loyalty." An-
other was to establish a wide
Jewish educational network. Still
another was that the Zionist
movement become more active
as a movement in Jewish com-
munal life to make Jews more
Israel-minded.
President Zalman Shazar noted
the participation of leaders of non-
Zionist organizations and commu-
nities and voiced the hope that
plans for expansion of the Con-
World Zionist Congress Finds 'Survival in Freedom'
Key Piece in Puzzle Tackled by International Jewry
, movement's ranks of the youth of
Jewry, the most serious challenge
is the latter. Like many other
movements, Zionism suffers from
an age problem. A rejuvenation of
Zionism would be the greatest
achievement in behalf of the Dias-
pora as well as Israel. the leader-
ship feels.
That is why much of the Con-
gress attention is given to the
youth problem.
*
There is talk about attaching to
Zionism organizations of varying
natures. Dr. Goldmann touched up-
on it in his keynote address.
Dr. Max Nusbaum, president of
the Zionist Organization of Amer-
ica, picked up the cue and pro-
pagated the fusion of the World
Zionist Organization with the
World Jewish Congress. On this
score. there is a unique situation.
Most American Jewish organiza-
tions are represented at the WZ
Congress by non-voting observers,
but not the American Jewish 'Con-
gress. The AJC, at one time a pil-
lar of strength for Zionism—es-
pecially in the days of Stephen S.
Wise—now is on the outskirts—
due mostly to the position that
was taken a few years ago by the
AJC president, Dr. Joachim Prinz,
who advocated disbandment of
Zionism. But the World ..rew-
Congress and the American Jew-
ish Congress are, enigmatically,
contrary in nature. Besides, Nahum
Goldmann is president both of the
World Zionist Organization and
the World Jewish Congress.
It will be interesting, therefore,
to watch the developments on the
score of the proposals for the
WZO and WJC fusion.
*
*
There are some interesting per-
sonalities at the Congress. An
example of charm is Jim Novy, a
delegate from Austin, Tex.
Novy was for many years a
neighbor of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Since LBJ's residence in the White
House. Novy has been invited to
every important White House func-
tion.
It is through Novy that LBJ sent
a message of greetings to the Con-
gress, noting "the historic rale
of the Zionist movement.
m.
*
There are a number of men and
women of stature in the Ameri-
can and other delegations. Dr.
Neumann remains the outstanding
man who towers over the Ameri-
can delegation. The women have
their noted leader in Rose Halprin.
*
*
To match them, the next gener-
On Monday, as the general de- ation of Zionist leaders must do a
bate was about to end at the Con- lot of training.
A word about Mrs. Halprin of
gress, one of the major addresses
Hadassah: She is the second
by party spokesmen was delivered
woman in Zionist history to serve
by Rabbi Isaac Stollman of Detroit.
on a Congress presidium. The
Rabbi Stollman evaluated the
first such woman leader was the
Mizrachi position, outlined his
wife of Prof. Hermann Schapira,
party's aspirations, appealed for
who was the creator of the Jew-
strong efforts in Israel's behalf in
ish National Fund idea in 1902.
strict adherence to traditional Jew-
Mrs. Schapira served on the
ish teachings.
*
*
*
presidium of the second or third
Congress. But Mrs. Halprin who
In the search for identification,
already served on the presidium
for the broadening of the Zionist
four years ago and again was
base, for the attraction to the
(Continued from Page 1)
delegate to the Congress because
he was no longer a Zionist; he
adheres to his view that to be a
Zionist you must be in Israel. Dr.
Emanuel Neumann jokingly of-
fered him a delegate's mandate
if he'll join the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America. Jokes are de-
lightful, but they do not solve
problems.
The former prime minister,
nevertheless, sent a message to
the Congress.
The following letter from David
Ben-Gurion was read by the secre-
tary of the Congress, Dr. S. U.
Nahon:
"I have received the tickets
that you have sent 'me for the
opening session of Congress for
which my wife and I thank you
most sincerely. Please convey
our thanks to the Executive.
"Since, for various reasons,
we shall be unable to come to
Jerusalem on that evening, our
seats will not be occupied and
so you are at liberty to allocate
them to whomever you find fit.
"I shall be following the de-
liberations at Congress through
the press and I shall also use the
medium of the press in order to
convey my message to the dele-
gates to Congress in Hebrew,
English, and French (by means
of Davar, Jerusalem Post and
L'Inform ation ).
"I wish the Congress every
success and my one hope is that
the resolutions will be put into
practice and will not remain on
paper only, as have the principal
resolutions of t h e preceding
Congress."
Thus, B-G, whose name (as
Emanuel Neumann emphasized at
several General Zionist sessions)
will remain indelibly engraved in
Jewish history, emerges the critic
rather than the participant in
Zionist deliberations.
And so, the change in leader-
ship may well be said to affect
the status of the movement. At
one pre-Congress meeting there
was a demand that Dr. Goldmann
should be replaced, for the sake
of securing new blood, new leader-
ship. And all, even Goldmann's
severest critics, agree that a suc-
cessor is not in sight. Goldmann
still is the dominant figure in the
movement. When there is a lack
of replacement, the problem be-
comes aggravated and adds to
the needs: to find a way of
strengthening the movement.
honored with that assignment
this year, was the first woman
actually to preside over a Con-
gress session. When Nahum
Goldmann's turn came to deliver
his major Congress address, he
invited Rose Halprin to preside
—and she performed her task
with great dignity.
The saddening factor for Ameri-
cans at this Congress, as it was at
the last one, was disunity: the fact
the General Zionists are divided
into two confederations is deplor-
able. The equally regrettable situ-
ation is the split of Zionism into I
many parties: a fusion of forces
on a worldwide basis would go a ,
long way in solving the problem of
disunity and rank-splitting.
Goldmann had something to say
on the score of Zionist affiliation.
He stated in his keynote address -
"The movement has to open
its doors wide, do away with the
exclusive framework and
straightjacket of the rigid party
structure. It must welcome every
organization and every individu-
al who is ready to accept the
Zionist program, but not ready
to join one of the existing par-
ties. A radical reform of the
Movement is overdue and, un-
less the parties are ready to
give up or at least to share their
exclusive power with new ele-
ments and new groups, they can-
not even embark on their ambi-
tious program of again becom-
ing the leading pioneering force
in Jewish life in the Diaspora. I
hope I am not fooling myself if
I say that there are indications
that the parties are beginning to
move in this direction and are
ready to consider seriously wid-
ening the structure of the Move-
ment, both on its basis and in its
supreme bodies, and let new
groups and Jewish personalities,
who are ready to come in and
take a hand, occupy positions
which they may legitimately ask
for."
Present indications are that one
who entertains this view is fool-
ing himself. Perhaps the subse-
quent Congress decisions and the
spirit that will be generated will
lead to solution of this basic prob-
lem.
Dr. Goldmann is closer to reality
when he speaks about the "com-
placency and smugness' of Jews,
of self-confidence that is often un-
justified. This, too, must await
solution based on practicalities
without which a world congress
like the present will merge in
shallowness.
Taking into account the short-
comings, it must be said that a
World Zionist Congress is never
without its electrifying effects. It
is world Jewry that is represented
here, and if there is not an imme-
diate solution to Jewish problems,
it is not because there is a lack of
sincerity and devotion. The 520
delegates work hard; all of them
will need vacations after the 12
days of continuous sessions. Much
good must emerge from the trans-
actions here.
gress base would be fulfilled.
Moshe Sharett, chairman of the
Jewish Agency in a message to
the opening session of the Congress
told the delegates that a wave of
anxiety over the perils ahead and
an awakening to meet them was
passing over the Jewish world
today.
He said there was a deepening
recognition that without the en-
riching contact with Israel's reality
and ideals, it was impossible to
fortify the young generation of
Jews in other countries to meet
the threats of Jewish disintegra-
tion and assimilation.
Mrs. Rose Halprin, chairman of
the American Section of the Jew-
ish Agency, also called for changes
in the Zionist party structure. She
said the 28th Congress, which was
to have been the Congress of
change to do away with obsolete
structures, had been repetitious.
Asserting that Jewish communities
were "tired" of party organiza-
tions, she told the delegates that
"we need a radical diagnosis" to
achieve revitalization and that
youth must occupy the center of
preoccupation.
Mrs. Halprin asserted that
earlier Zionism was no longer
viable. She added that while the
synagogue must play its part in
the preservation of Jewishness,
"no one can impose orthodoxy on
us. Only our own communities can
solve these problems and bring
about a renaissance" in countries
outside of Israel.
Mrs. Charlotte Jacobson. presi-
dent of Hadassah, said it was time
for the Zionist executive to admit
that "diaspora leadership has to
solve diaspora problems" and that
a committee should "sit in the
diaspora." She also urged more
fundamental discussion of the
movement's organizational faults.
Abolition of the party represen ,
tation at the Congress was urged
by John Devor of. the General Zion-
ist Confederation of Canada.
Eshkol Addresses Deliberations;
Stresses Security as Main Concern
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Prime
Minister Levi Eshkol told the 26th
World Zionist Congress Tuesday
that to help meet the continued
threats against Israel by Egypt's
President Gamal Abdel Nasser, the
Jewish State needs annually 40,000
Jewish immigrants from "the lands
of affluence," as well as intensifi-
cation by the Zionist movement of
"educational work to meet the
challenges of. Nasserism."
"Israel's security," he stressed,
"remains . Israel's primary concern.
Israel's security is also the front
line of Jewish existence through-
out the world."
"While posing as a 'moderate'
when he addresses foreign visitors,
Nasser continues to tell his own
people about his real objective,"
Eshkol told the Congress. "He says
that war is inevitable, but wants
to reserve to himself the right to
fix the date. Hence, Israel must
build up a powerful deterrent
force. While much has been
achieved in this area, weapons
alone are not enough. Israel must
preserve its superiority in quality,
in manpower and through in-
creased population."
Emphasizing the fact that efforts
have been made by Israel to de-
velop and expand the country's
absorptive power, including the
expansion of its water resources,
he stressed the need for further
intensification of industrialization.
He expressed hope that in this,
Israel would be assisted by the
Jewish communities outside this
country "with their enterprise,
knowledge and capital."
Pointing out that Israel's efforts
are based on large-scale immigra-
tion, he added: "Since immigration
from the lands of distress is near-
ing exhaustion, where will the new
immigration come from?"
The premier voiced the hope
that a change may come about
in the Soviet Union's attitude to
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