001•11431M.0.111.1......0.0110 ■■
•••• ■ t>••••11•1•*114••....111MidAMMOWINI100 ∎ 0 ∎ 11
Boris Smolar's
`Between You
. . and Me
/
L
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1966, JTA, Inc.)
SOVIET REVERBERATIONS:
The American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry, representing
24, national Jewish organizations, is now discussing quietly a proposal
to raise $500,000 for coordinated action to bring about the removal
of cultural and religious restrictions against the Jews in the Soviet
_Union.
Not all of the affiliated organizations are in favor of the proposal,
it some are. The latter are willing to participate with contributions
to such a fund to intensify coordinated information about the situation
of the Jews in Russia and thereby keep world public opinion constantly
aware of the cultural and religious anti-Jewish oppressions.
Leaders of the conference have noted that during the past year,
a spate of events, large and small, indicated that the situation of Soviet
Jewry was undergoing fundamental improvement. They attribute this
to the fact that the Soviet government has not been able wholly to
ignore the protests of Jews and non-Jews in many countries against
the treatment of Soviet Jews. They feel that more could be achieved,
if the work of keeping civilized world opinion constantly posted on
developments concerning Soviet Jewry would be conducted in a co-
ordinated manner.
An analysis seeking to establish to what extent and in what way
the guarded hopes that the Soviet Union is changing its policy toward
the Jews are grounded in fact has been made by the Conference. It
surveys developments in the Soviet Union concerning Jews and
attempts to present the Jewish situation there in proper perspective.
Emphasizing that Moscow is sensitive to the protests abroad against
Soviet anti-Semitism, the analysis established that there have been
roughly three stages in the evolution of the Soviet response to these
protests. In the first, Soviet spokesmen tended simply to ignore or
bluntly deny the charges. That stage ended about two years ago, when
it became clear that this simple approach had failed to stop the
protests.
In the ensuing stage, the Soviets went over to an intense, vigorous
propaganda counter-offensive. This consisted of coupling the denials
and evasions with evidence that purported to show the voluntary nature
of Jewish assimilation and the major role of Jews in Soviet life.
About a year and a half ago, when it became quiet clear to the
Soviet policy-makers that their counter-offensive was not working,
Moscow made some decisions which have led to the third stage—the
current one. It is one in which some token concessions, some promises
and some real changes have been combined with a rather more sophisti-
cated propaganda line that seeks to exploit the hopes tliit have been
aroused.
The most significant recent development was the lifting of the
ban on matzo. But even more significant was the public condemnation
of anti-Semitism by Soviet Premier Kosygin in a speech in Riga and
the subsequent front-page article in Pravda, official organ of the
Communist Party, reminding the peipple of the Soviet Union that Lenin
"wrathfully assailed" any manifestations of anti,Semitism.
S. African Day Schools Receive Superior Ratino.
JOHANNESBPRG (JTA)—Johan-
nesburg's Jewish Day Schools "far
surpass anything else I know in
this field," Lord Segal of Wytham,
a member of the Board of Gover-
nors of Anglo-Jewry's Carmel Col-
lege, told a • gathering of leading
Johannesburg Jews when he and
Lady Segal and former Johannes-
burg Chief Rabbi L. I. Rabinowitz,
who had come for the occasion
from Israel, where he now lives,
were guests of honor at a banquet
given by the South African Board
of Jewish Education to launch its
Judge Kuper Education Founda-
tion's Bursary Fund for the King
David Jewish Day Schools.
Lord Segal said that each week
of his five weeks visit to this coun-
try had given him a heightened re-
spect for the deep Jewishness and
warm openheartedness of South
African Jewry. The Jewish Day
Schools he had inspected here
were' model institutions,, promot-
ing an ideal blend of three loyal-
ties — to Judaism, to South Africa
and to Israel. "Just as the great
Afrikaans community of South Afri-
ca takes pride in its Dutch inherit-
age, so the Jewish community can
draw strength from its Jewish
heritage," he said. "Jewish names
have been proudly associated with
Afrikaaner names in the unbuild-
ing of this country. You can best
repay all you have received from
this wonderful country by contri-
buting your distinctive culture as
Jews, which the J e w i s h Day
Schools are here to transmit to
your children."
Rabbi Rabinowitz said that in
the 17 years he had served South
Africa Jewry, the greatest com-
munal achievement had been the
establishment of the Jewish Day
Schools. "Jewry the world over
was in great danger from assimila-
tive currents," he said. "Jewish
education was the certain means
of resisting those currents and
must not be retarded for lack of
funds." Chief Rabbi B. M. Casper
introduced the distinguished
guests. Louis Sachs, chairman of
the S. A. Board of Jewish Educa-
tion, announced several large do-
nations initiating the campaign
appeal, which evoked an outstand-
ing response.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 6, 1966-7
For Some
of the
best buys
on new
Pontiacs
and
Tempests
ASK
FOR
JDC Issues Food in U.S. Program
NEW YORK — United States
donated Food - for - Peace supplies
distributed by the Joint Distribu-
tion Committee during 1965 totaled
more than 11,300,000 pounds, bene-
fited a monthly average of 65,000
needy Jews, and had a market
value of over $1,400,000.
Charles H. Jordan, JDC execu-
tive vice-chairman and director-
general, said that of the total,
4,857,000 pounds went to Israel.
Most of this, over 4,000,000 pounds,
was flour. The food was distributed
to a monthly coverage of 21,000
needy Israelis, most of them resi-
dents or patients in various JDC-
Malben institutions.
Malben is the welfare program
on behalf of aged, ill and handi-
capped immigrants in Israel, main-
tained by the Joint Distribution
Committee with United Jewish Ap-
peal funds.
In Morocco, where JDC provides
health and welfare assistance for a
third of the country's Jewish popu-
lation of 70,000, the agency dis-
tributed close to 3,300,000 pounds
of Food-for-Peace supplies, bene-
fiting a monthly average of 20,000
needy Moroccan Jews, Jordan said.
Another 1,300,000 pounds went
to Tunisia, and 811,500 pounds to
Iran, assisting a no t h e r 13,000
needy Jews monthly in the two
countries.
SAUL BERGH
AT
Packer Pontiac
1 8650 LIVERNOIS
1 block South of 7
UN 3-9300
*
THE HOME FRONT:
An aggressive but little-known right-wing organization calling itself
Constructive Action is now attracting the attention of American Jewish
organizations. It has launched new programs which will be carefully
watched by Jewish groups interested in combatting anti-Jewish
tendencies.
One of the new programs is "to deluge campuses with about
400,000 copies of right-wing books." From its California headquarters,
the organization will send ultra-right literature to Harvard, Yale,
Columbia, Georgetown, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth and other uni-
versities.
Another project which is provoking concern is an appeal for
general public support, transmitted through thousands of letters
soliciting funds. The activities of the group were previously financed
by a small circle of financial angels interested in right-wing activities.
The organization, which was chartered in California in 1965, claims
to have already distributed about 450,000 pieces of literature among
college and high school students as part of an essay contest. Its leaders
insist that they are not affiliated with the Birch Society although most
of the books which the Constructive Action distributes are also sold
at the 340 nationwide American Opinion Book Stores operated by the
',,irch Society.
HILIEL DAY SCHOOL
is proud to p resen t the
Emma Schauer Tribute Concert
Honoring Her 45 years of Distinguished Musical Service
to the American Community and to the Jewish people
Guest Artist
Memorial to Kennedy Rises in Judea
JAN PEERCE
The World's Foremost Tenor
EMMA SCHAVER
In the hills of Judea, 14 miles south of Jerusalem, the finishing
touches are being put on one of the world's most impressive memo-
rials to John F. Kennedy, — a circular, 60-foot-high structure, visible
on a clear day from as far away as 40-mile distant Tel Aviv. This
memorial is being constructed by the Jewish National Fund with the
support of the Jewish community of the United States, and it takes
the form of a massive trunk on a giant tree, cut off before its
prime, just as the illustrious career of the late President was severed
on Nov. 22, 1963. The memorial is girded round with 51 concrete
pylons, each bearing the emblem of one of the 50 states of the union
and the District of Columbia. A single shaft of light from an opening
in the saw-toothed roof falls upon a bust of Kennedy, placed in an
otherwise empty chamber. Through 50 glass windows between each
of the encircling pylons, the majestic hills of biblical Judea are
visible. On the walls of the chamber, excerpts from John F.
Kennedy's major public utterances are being inscribed.
JAN PEERCE
Thursday, June 23, 8:30 P.M.
Ford Auditorium
Tickets at $5.00 - $10.00 - $12.50
Donor, Patron and Sponsor Tickets Also Available
For information and tickets, contact the Hillel Concert Office,
18501 W. Ten Mile Rd., Southfield or phone 353-3105
mark the date on your calendar!