-
Many Vital Issues Evaluated in Annual
Year Book; Surveys Report Orthodox
Gains, German Opposition to Trials
Major developments in Jewish
life during the past year, issues
affecting Jewry and surveys and
evaluations of developing events
are covered in the 66th annual
edition of the American Jewish
Year Book published by the Jewish
Publication Society in cooperation
with the American Jewish Com-
mittee.
One of the surveys in this
volume indicates that an increas-
ing number of West Germans are
expressing opposition to the con-
tinuing trials of Nazi criminals.
While 53 per cent of the Ger-
mans interviewed considered it
proper "to continue holding
such trials," about 39 per cent
registered strong opposition on
the basis of their view that "one
should not stir up these things
after so many years." The
strongest aversion to the Ausch-
witz trial of last year and similar
proceedings, was shown by per-
sons between the ages of 35 to
45, of whom 45 per cent were
against the Auschwitz trials.
A later public opinion survey,
taken last year. on German atti-
tude& toward the trial revealed
even stronger opposition: 63 per
cent of the men and 76 per cent
of the women surveyed were
against the continuation of the
Nazi trials. In this survey, elderly
people were more strongly op-
posed to the trial than young
people.
Hans Lamm, a West German
educator who is department head
in the Munchner Volkshochschule,
analyzed major developments - in
West Germany during the past
year.
Professor Lamm found that
"although anti-Semitism a n d
Nazism were officially taboo,
nationalist tendencies were
sometimes easily awakened."
One of every six American
Jews considers himself Ortho-
dox, and Orthodox Judaism to-
day represents "the only remain-
ing vestige of Jewish passion" in
the United States, according to
the lead article in the Year
Book.
This positive report on Orthodox
Judaism, most comprehensive ever
to appear in a publication in this
country, contradicts earlier predic-
tions of the demise of Orthodoxy,
and parallels the notable recent
rise in religious feeling found in
other faith groups in the U.S. It
was written by Charles S. Lieb-
man, assistant professor of politi-
cal science at Yeshiva University.
Referring to the upsurge of
Orthodoxy, the article states: "Its
inner core is growing in numbers
and financial strength. It is experi-
encing a greater sense of confi-
dence and purpose."
Acknowledging that his figures
on Orthodoxy Judaism are esti-
mates. Prof. Liebman concludes
that a total of 205,640 men are
affiliated with the 1,603 known
Orthodox synagogues in the U.S.,
and that as many as a third of the
Jews who consider themselves
Orthodox are not affiliated with
any congregation.
He gives no figures on the total
numbers in Orthodox families al-
though he cites a 3.3 figure for
all Jewish families, and adds that
Reform Jewish families are esti-
mated at 3.5 individuals and Con-
servative Jewish families at 4.5 in-
dividuals. The total Jewish popula-
tion of the U.S. is currently esti-
mated at 5,660,000. Since Orthodox
families traditionally are larger
than those of other segments of
Judaism. probably as many as
1,000,000 Americans now consti-
tute the Orthodox segment.
Another major article, "The
Church and the Jews: The Struggle
at Vatican Council II", by Judith
Hershcopf of the American Jewish
Committee staff, deals with the
declaration on the Jews and Juda-
ism at the Vatican Council of the
Roman Catholic Church
A third special article is a bi-
ographical appreciation of the late
New York Governor Herbert H.
Lehman by Rabbi Louis Finkel-
stein, chancellor of the Jewish
Theological Seminary.
Among the review articles are
"Civil Rights and Intergroup Ten-
sions", by Lucy S. Dawidowicz, an
account of the civil rights struggle
in 1964; "Adult Jewish Education,"
by Samuel D. Cohen, which an-
alyzes the growth of this signifi-
cant phenomenon in recent years;
"Jewish Population of France",
by Boris Sapir and Leon Shapiro,
with new data on a major com-
munity that has been shifting rap-
idly.
The Year Book also answers
basic questions about Jews in
America as to population, geo-
graphic distribution, fertility
rates and trends in religion, edu-
cation, and social service.
Among the interesting popula-
tion figures reported are these:
• The estimated world Jewish popu-
lation at the end of 1964 was 13,216,000.
The three largest Jewish communities
were in the U.S., Soviet Union, and
Israel, together accounting for more
than 75 per cent of the world total.
Only four other countries had Jewish
populations of more than 200,000:
France, Great Britain, Argentina, and
Canada.
• The U.S. Jewish population, estimated
at 5,660,000, includes 2,518,175 in New
York State. New York City has a
Jewish population of 1,836,000, almost
half of all the Jews in the U. S. —
2,678,175 live in G r ea ter New York
and in the neighboring counties of
New York State and New Jersey.
• A total of 2,454,000 Jews were
estimated to be in the Soviet Union,
and another 285,000 elsewhere in the
Soviet bloc.
• Israel's population at the end of
1964 was 2,531,000—Jews numbering
2,244,700, with others, notably Arabs
and Druses, numbering 286,500,
• South America's 689,950 Jews in-
clude 450,000 in Argentina (with 300,-
000 in Buenos Aires), 130,000 in Brazil,
5,000 in Uruguay, and 30,000 in Chile.
• Other large concentrations of Jews
were: France, 500,000; Great Britain,
450,000; Cana d a, 267,000; Romania,
14,000; South . Africa, 116,000; Morocco,
85,000; Hungary, 80,000; Iran, 80,000;
Australia, 67,000.
• In Cuba, 1964 marked a further de-
crease in Jewish population to 2,750.
Political unrest in Latin American
countries led to a certain amount of
migration from one country to an-
other, and some immigration abroad.
• The great influx of immigration
from North Africa to France has stop-
ped but a small flow still continues.
There has also been some emigration
to Spain, mainly from North Africa,
bringing the size of the Jewish com-
munity in Spain to between 4,000 and
6,000 persons.
Maryland U. Teachers
Accused of Anti-Jewish
Bias ; Senator Asks Probe
1111MMINNIMIMPOIMMON.1.11 1.7
Statement by 24 U.S. Organizations Exposes
USSR's Misleading Reports on Anti-Semitism
The Soviet government was
charged last week with making
misleading statements designed to
divert world attention from Rus-
si's official discrimination against
her 3,000,000 Jews.
The charge was made by the
American Jewish Conference on
Soviet Jewry, which includes 24
major American Jewish organiza-
tions, in the form of an open letter
to the editor of the Soviet govern-
ment newspaper, Izvestia.
The open letter, in response to
an article that appeared in the
controlled Soviet paper on Oct. 7,
was signed by Rabbi Seymour Co-
hen, chairman of the conference
and president of the Synagogue
Council of America.
The Izvestia article, the letter
asserts, seeks to confuse world
opinion and divert the attention
of Soviet Jews and non-Jews
alike from the situation at home
by 'pointing up the incidence of
anti-Semitism in the United
states.
But, in so doing, it says, the
Soviet has "unwittingly pointed up
the shocking and tragic contrast
between the freedom of Jews in
the United States and the enforced
silence and fear of Soviet Jews."
Izvestia's main source for alle-
gations of anti-Semitism in the U.S.
was a book, "Some of My Best
Friends," published several years
ago by the Anti-Defamation League
of Bnai Brith.
The editor of the Soviet journal
must have known, Rabbi Cohen
wrote, that the anti-Semitic prac-
tices revealed in the book had no
official governmental sanction and
would in many cases be against
federal law today.
"By contrast," the letter con-
tinues, "the Soviet government
not only blinks at anti-Semitism,
but itself imposes discriminatory
restrictions and limitations upon
Soviet Jews."
Moreover, it adds, the fact
that such a book was issued in
the U.S. and that other similar
material has been published by
other organizations with similar
Purposes affords a sharp con-
trast between the freedom of
American Jews to combat anti-
Semitism by exposure and mo-
bilization of public opinion, and
the state of fear and oppression
under which Soviet Jews live.
"The contrast is pathetic," Rabbi
Cohen wrote. "Soviet Jews," he `
charged, are not free to band to-
gether publicly for any purpose, ------
"whether to fight anti-Semitism or
to advance their cultural, religious
or communal rights and interests."
"In the face of widespread, en-
demic anti-Semitism at the grass
roots, Soviet Jews are forced to
remain silent, isolated and inac-
tive," he continued.
"In the face of the publication
of virulent anti-Semitic materials
by official institutions, Soviet Jews
dare not protest or demand offi-
cial redress.
"In the face of an official pol-
icy of discrimination aimed at the
spiritual strangulation of the Jew-
ish people in the USSR, Soviet
Jews can defend themselves only
by silent inner resistance."
Dayan's Book Throws Light on Sinai Campaign
By ELIAHU SALPETER
(Copyright, 1965, JTA, Inc.)
JERUSALEM — The publication
of "books" by candidates for office
is a pre-election phenomenon not
limited exclusively to the United
States.
It is likely that when Gen.
Moshe Dayan, former chief of
staff and one of the top candi-
dates of the Rafi Party of David
Ben-Gurion decided to publish his
"Sinai Diary," he was not com-
pletely unaware of the date of
Nov. 2, when the Israel electorate
goes to the polls.
Seldom has a book in Israel
elicited so extensive an immediate
interest as well as a rash of
articles, pro and con, as his new
book. However the "Sinai Diary" is
no mere re-hash of old speeches
or articles.
To the extent that it sheds a
new light on what went on in
the late autumn 1956, the book
is also of no small interest to
those interested in international
affairs abroad. But for the Israel
public, the book has particular
topicality because of the part de-
voted to what went on before the
Israeli forces struck out against
Egypt, particularly concerning the
Fedayeen attacks aimed at life and
property inside Israel.
These Fedayeen were trained,
and came, from bases, inside
Egyptian - controlled territory;
Israel's policy of retaliation in
those days was aimed against
those bases. These days Israel is
confronted again with such
saboteur attack s, not from
Egyptian - based paramilitary
Fadayeen but by irregular El
Fatah marauders who, though
coming from Jordan territory,
are actually recruited, organized
and financed by the Syrians.
Gen. Dayan states in his diary
that, ten years ago, the policy of
military retaliation against the
Fedayeen attacks proved to be
ineffective and actually was involv-
ing Israel not only in international
difficulties but also in military
situations that were not to her
advantage. It is evident from the
diary that Dayan believes that
what put an end to the Fedayeen
raids was not the policy of military
retaliations but the Sinai Campaign
which defeated the Egyptians and
induced them, even after the
Israelis withdrew, to abstain from
promoting such acts of infiltration
and sabotage.
Another interesting aspect dis-
closed in the book is the rather
transparent cooperation that ex-
isted between Israel and France
preliminary to the Sinai Campaign.
However, the British behavior was
ambiguous and vacillating to the
extent that Ben-Gurion had serious
doubts, almost to the last day be-
fore the campaign, whether to
undertake any venture vital to
Israel's security that would also
depend on actions of London.
One can learn from the book
that Israel's plans had been
it was suggested that the British
and French forces should land in
the Sinai, in areas already oc-
cupied by the Israeli forces, and
move from there, overland, tow-
ards the Canal. The French were
agreeable to this idea, but the
British objected, insisting instead
on a parachute drop on Port Said
— which was responsible to a
large extent for the mess in which
the whole Anglo-French effort
bogged down before it could attain
its objective.
For the Israeli military, Gen.
Dayan's diary contains many valu-
able observations. The most im-
portant seems to be that unauthor-
ized initiative — or discipline in
plain language — was the reason
for the bloodiest losses suffered
by the Israel forces during the
Sinai Campaign. It turns out that
the units which were parachuted
into the vicinity of the Mitla Pass
were ordered to stay put and only
hold their ground, but the com-
mander of the parachutists, on his
changed practically at the last initiative and contrary to instruc-
moment so as to direct one of tions, ordered his men to attack
the main thrusts of the attack the Pass, exposing them to murder-
in the direction of the Suez ous fire from Egyptian positions
Canal, thus creating a formal on high ground. The paratroopers
pretext for the Anglo-French did occupy the Pass, but at the
ultimatum to Jerusalem and Tel cost of scores of lives and many
Aviv as a prelude to the inter- wounded. And, as it turned out,
vention by the two Western there was no special military
powers.
necessity to occupy the Pass any-
It seems that the Israelis and way.
the French had a better judgment
of British military capabilities than THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
the British themselves. Originally, 48—Friday, October 29, 1965
BALTIMORE (JTA) — State
Senator Paul Dorf called on Dr.
Wilson H. Elkins, president of the
University of Maryland, to inves-
tigate charges that some members
of the institution's faculty engage
in practices that "many consider
outright anti-Semitic.". The Balti-
more Jewish Times demanded that
"professors, instructors or teach-
ers guilty of such prejudice be
summarily dismissed."
The charges of anti-Semitism
were voiced first by Diamond-
back, the student newspaper at the
university. According to Diamond-
back, a German-language teacher
at the university had scheduled an
examination on the first day of
Rosh Hashanah this year, threat-
ening students who would absent
themselves from that test with the
equivalent of a failing mark.
0
Later, the instructor canceled Hebrew Corner
the quiz, telling those students
,1844
who came to the examination:
"I hope those of you who show-
The Bahai community in Israel is
ed up will not go to hell." One the
smallest and youngest of Israel's
professor was quoted by the stu- communities. There are in the country
some 600 Bahais. They live chiefly in
dent newspaper as saying: Haifa
and Acre. These cities are holy
"Rabbis have enough to do this to the Bahais. The three founders of 13tPZ-TI
the
Bahai
religion are buried there.
time of year without having to
This religion is the youngest in the
issue excuses for absence by world.
Its beginnings were in the year
1844 in Persia, in the city of Shiraz.
Jewish students."
In 1892 Mirza Hussein, the prophet of
In his letter to Dr. Elkins, Sen. the
Bahais died and was buried in
Dorf wrote that he would like to Acre. Every year on the day of his
death many Bahais come from all
have additional information about over the world to pay homage ("pro-
"conditions on the campus of any strate themselves") at the grave of the
prophet."
minority group being discrimin- "holy
Today there are millions of Bahais
ated against." He told the univer- in 88 countries from Iceland in the
to Chile in the South. The largest
sity president: "I, along with other north
communities are in Iran, India, the
proper authorities, can take steps U.S., South America and England.
(Translation of Hebrew Corner
to see that this condition is im-
Published by Brit Ivrit Olamit,
mediately changed "
Jerusalem.)
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