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November 18, 1966 - Image 48

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1966-11-18

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

Communist Paper Distorts Jewish News Article

the Mount of Sinai. And this, with- the life of the nation."
pleader of "Hapina Ha-Ivrith" —
out even telling anyone about this,
Further, there follow complaints, the Hebrew Corner feature — as
without officially declaring his de- bewailing the fact that govern- being Yiddish, and stated in his
sire (for who would have refused ments do not arrange send-offs attack that there was a Yiddish
him!). Chornobilsky even got red with music and flowers for those introduction to the published
from excitement over this very who wish to go to that country and message from Russia pleading for
right to paradise about which the that they don't extol in every way justice.
life in Israel.
foreigners had told him.
It is clear from the Ukrainian
The author and the editor be- newspaper's rambling that the
He decided: I shall write! And
it won't be just a letter. I shall came so enthusiastic that they anonymous signer of the appeal in
write a statement. Let them know even forgot to ask themselves the behalf of Russian Jewry had been
what Josip Chornobilsky thinks. following question: "Why then, identified, that he and his wife
This won't even be a statement. It quite a few Jews who had gone to are being molested with interro-
will be a declaration—that's what Israel have, at various times re- gations, that they may be under-
it will be! And so inflamed, he turned to the USSR, if it was so going persecution.
rushed to paper. Without even fin- wonderful for them there, in that
There is also the suggestion ini
ishing a rough draft, he ran to paradise on earth?"
the Ukrainian article that tourists
his wife. Luckily, she was a
Not succeeding to make ends are being closely watched and that
printer.
meet in their tales about the prom- no one is free in his travels in
He didn't walk into the printing ised land, the anonymous author of the USSR.
office "Ukrogolovzhitlokomunpos- the letter becomes even more con-
* * *
tach." He ran into it! Because he fused when he passes over to
The revelations resulting from
he was in such a rush. But his slanderous attacks on his Father- the aftermath, after a lapse of
wife, Maria Isakovna, didn't get land. He knows only one thing: the two years, of the appearance of
frightened by her husband's hurry; more dirt he pours, the more value the article in The Jewish News of
because this wasn't the first time. will be put on his black treason.
Oct. 23, 1964, is corroborated in
They had already more than once
And now, after reading in Kiev the deeply moving expose by Elie
printed his slanderous letters and the Detroit paper, Chornobilsky Wiesel, the eminent author, in the
statements at her place of work. swore that he had done this abso- article "The Jews of Silence" in
They also printed the present one. lutely unintentionally and acci- the current issue of the Saturday
And now, holding the printed dentally, that he bitterly regrets Evening Post. The article, the sub-
article in his pocket, Josip Chorno- his act, etc. At the same time, he ject of his latest book, published
bilsky looked anxiously into the pretended that it wasn't he to by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, is
eyes of the strange lady; would she whom parcels were sent from Is- a translation from the Hebrew. It
take it or wouldn't she?
rael, payments of rags for black in an account of Wiesel's study of
Jewish conditions L.1 Russia, of the
She took it! In an exaggeratedly dealings.
In public he cursed the foreign- manner in which tourists are fol-
laconic manner, she announced
that she was a tourist and a jour- ers from Israel, but he himself con- lowed, of the s,..f ing, of the crav-
nalist by profession. Chornobilsky tinued to do dealings, about which ing by Russian Jews for a Jewish
was sure that he ha_d extraordinary such letters went to the organs of life, for a recognition of their
right to their heritage.
luck. Only, in his excessive hurry, the authorities.
Elie Wiesel describes in his re-
he had even "forgotten" to ask her
The head of the Kiev Jewish
port on his findings how 30,000
in what country was published the religious community wrote:
paper for which she worked.
"On Feb. 13, 1966, at about Jews had come to the Moscow
He didn't find this out at once. 17.30, the Kiev synagogue was synagogue to celebrate Simhat
And the newspaper (when he did visited by an unknown citizen. As Tora, the rejoicing, the shouting
read it) wasn't brought to him by it later transpired, he was a resi- of "We are Jews, we shall remain
a Soviet postman, nor did he buy dent of the town of Kiev, named Jews!"
* * *
it at a Soviet news-stand. After Chornobilsky. He had with him a
Look Magazine this week also
reading it, however, Chornobilsky roll of paper on which statements
became convinced of one thing: the of unknown contents were printed carries a signed article by Rabbi
lady had certainly exhibited ex- by a printing machine. The said Arthur Schneier (as told to Jack
traordinary activity. Even before citizen Chornobilsky, as it has Star, Look's senior editor) in
two weeks passed, the letter given been established, had come to the which he warns that if the Soviet
to her was printed in a paper that synagogue not to pray but to col- Union continues its present policy
of the congregation
of discouraging the practice and
lect signatures
to the above-men-
is published in the United States bers
of America, ap English - language tioned statements from the mem- teaching of Judaism, within 15
years nearly three million Russian
. . ."
paper appearing in Detroit and
as
And again, the confirmation of Jews
called "Jewish News."
Jews." "will no longer exist —
the
wife:
Yes,
I
wrote
on
the
ma-
On one of the pages of the paper
Rabbi Schneier said "the Soviet
there was a photo copy of the chine, in my department, during
government is making it impos-
statement. It was prefaced with an working hours. And again re-
morse: forgive me, I print so sible for Jewishness to survive."
editorial introduction in Yiddish:
quickly that I don't remember the He recently visited Russia as the
"A prominent Jewess from De-
head of the interfaith Appeal of
contents . . .
troit who occupies a leading posi-
Conscience Foundation of New
How
many
years
in
a
row
had
tion in one of the important institu-
then
the
worshiper
Chornobilsky
tions and who wishes to remain
Original Text of Appeal by
anonymous, has sent the "Jewish spent in the fumes of Zionism?
News" a deeply moving statement How "poisoned by fumes" has his
Russian
Jew on Page 11.
written by a Soviet Jew. The state- wife become, if she has even
started
"without
remembering
the
ment expresses anxiety at the atti-
York. Along with Rabbi Schneier
tude of his government towards contents" to print the anti-Soviet on the trip were leading Protest-
Jews and an appeal for a reason- letters and statements of her hus- ant and Roman Catholic clergy-
band?
able attitude towards Israel."
As for the above-mentioned for- men, including Dr. Harold A.
The woman who had transmitted
eigners
from Israel, it is evident Bosley, minister of New York's
the statement to this paper, had
Christ Church, Methodist, and Fa-
toured several countries . . . When that they are quite indifferent to ther Thurston N. Davis, editor
she was in Kiev, she was ad- the fate of the Soviet people who in chief of the Jesuit Magazine,
dressed by a comparatively young had blindly fallen into the web
person who had constantly fol- of the Zionist propaganda. After America.
Jewishness in Russia is doomed,
lowed the tourist from Detroit and proclaiming "Help your neighbor" said the rabbi, because "fear and
who finally asked her in confi- in words, they have simply washed
have virtually de-
dence whether she would take a their hands of the fate of those discrimination
Jewish religious training
whom they had previously pushed I s
statement written by him for pub- whom
in the Soviet Union."
into the ravine of treason.
lication in her country. She ful-
It is reported that the number
Will Josip Chornobilsky and his
filled his request and gave the
document to be published in the wife, blinded by the fumes of of synagogues in Russia has de-
Zionism, be able to understand clined sharply since 1956, when
"Jewish News."
the Soviets said there were 450
It is further said that the editor this?
synagogues. The latest information
* *
saw the original statement. It is
The distortions by the writer of indicates that now only 62 syna-
an appeal to the Russian govern-
exist in Russia, the rabbi
ment, written on two sides of the this article are evident. The visit gogues
said.
paper, printed on a printing ma- by the Detroiter is dated in the
Although the Soviet government
chine in Russia and signed by the Communist statement as Feb. 13,
pseudonym "Shash Sok." Isaac Fin- 1966, but the woman tourist who denies that Jews are ill-treated in
kelstein put it into a literary style brought the Russian appeal to Russia, Rabbi Schneier found that
and the text of the statement is Detroit had visited there in 1964. discrimination against Jews is
printed below.
The bearer of the appeal is not very much a part of Soviet life.
"Jews hesitate to call attention
The reader thus is not informed a journalist but a social worker,
what the "important institution" is one who had no intention of to their Jewishness," he said. "At
in which the "prominent Jewess" querying anyone on the situation the very least, a Jew might be
is working, nor is he told who had in Russia since she was on a regarded as an 'eccentric' for at-
empowered her and who had paid mission for social work studies tending a synagogue and thus not
for her voyage as far as Kiev. In- with a large group of social work- worthy of promotion on his job."
stead of this, the statement is ers, nearly all non-Jews. She was
Rabbi Schneier was later told
approached by the distressed Rus- by a Soviet official that his govern-
given.
It begins with pathetic cries sian Jew with the appeal we ment was "not going to lift a
about the historical conditions that published.
finger to promote religion. The
obliged Jews to live dispersed
Apparently the writer of the religious groups themselves must
throughout the world. "However, Ukrainian Communist attack on take the initiative."
that part of Jewry' that remained Zionism and Israel misinterpreted
"Only world opinion can save
in Palestine and those who later the appearance on the same page the Russian Jews," the rabbi eon- .
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS immigrated there have preserved with the message from the Russian eluded.

anti-Semitic hatred. If this was
(Continued from Page 1)
submitting his statement, to be not so, you would not torture
and shoot, under the pretense of
made pu:)lic. to The Jewish News.
robbing valuables, hundreds,
The editor saw the original of the
statement the Detroit woman thousands of our brothers. If this
was not so, you would decide
brought here with her. It is a two-
to erect one modest memorial for
page appeal to the Russian govern-
all times to the memory of the
ment typewritten in Russian. He
innocent destroyed Jews of "Babi
signed it with a pseudonym "Shash
Sok." It was translated by Isaac Yar" and other places.
Finkelstein in a literal style and
If this was not true, you would
its text follows:
not prohibit a poet to publish a
poem of the Jewish Kiev tragedy.
Through all the existence of
people on the earth, Jews, owing
If this was not true, you
to known compelling conditions,
would not crush the rights of
were obliged to live scattered,
Jews in their education and
suffering indignities, Middle-Age
work.
tortures, pogroms and insults.
But, regretfully, this is a bit-
ter burning truth.
An evil and avengeful despot
How can people teach others
with force drove our ancestors
to be humane, unselfish and just,
from their land.
if they themselves do not follow?
But that portion of Jews, who
And regardless of the terror you
remained to live in Palestine,
would use in your relations with
and those who ultimately moved
us for our thoughts, we will al-
there, preserved the purity of
ways remember who are our
the nation, the pride of the na-
friends and who are our ene-
tion and the life of the nation.
mies. And we will remain loyal
There was again born a gov-
to the last minute to our nation
ermnent—Israel—a government
and to our much suf f ering
about which the best Jewish.
people.
minds dreamed for thousands of
Long live the nation of Israel!
years.
"SHASH SOK"
Governments of almost all
* *
countries motivated by high hu-
The Communist attack appeared
mane ideals permitted many
in Radianska Ukraina on Oct. 16,
to emigrate. But where is your
1966. Titled "In the Fumes of
humanity?
Zionism," the article is bylined
Who but feeble-minded people
by B. Bergman, apparently a Jew.
are daring to deny that in The article, in a free translation
France Frenchmen should live,
from the Ukrainian, reads:
in Italy—Italians; and in Austra-
The woman was looking for
lia—Australians, etc.
something. In vain did she try to
Briefly said: If Israel has a look as if it was only due to a
Jewish government, Jews should tourist's curiosity that she had
live there. Not one respectful come to this corner of the Podol
government, if it practices gen-
where the synagogue congregation
uine freedom, has a right to for-
was humming like a small beehive.
bid people of the Jewish nation Anyone looking into her confused
eyes would immediately see that
to emigrate to their homeland
she was looking for something or
(the writer uses the word Re-
someone.
public).
At any rate, for the young man
Take the Armenians — they
it wasn't difficult to notice the
were permitted to emigrate to
hard look, even though the woman
Armenia. Many similar examples
tried hard to mask it. He even
may be cited.
But where is your freedom? I thought; perhaps they themselves
You even deny the existence of had sent her today?
They — those foreigners, the in-
the government of Israel. You
evitable guests in the Kiev syna-
fear that people should not dis-
gogue during the Jewish holidays.
cover that the living standard of
For several years he had looked at
the whole population is tens of
them searching through the crowd.'
times higher than say in 1958
when some Jews returned to the They started up conversations will-
ingly,. They would push something,
USSR, and we pride ourselves
into someone's hands, would whis-
with these achievements; but to
per something and, as if accident-
some people it is not at all pleas-
ally. would give their new acquaint_
ant, and they still want to de-
ance some small booklet, or a
stroy the government of Israel.
colored card, generously brought
But the words of one of the
into this country.
wisest persons of this age should
The above-mentioned young
not be fors& ten—that it is not
man, too, had met them three
necessary to destroy a, people.
times. Josip Gershovich Chorno-
Furthermore, a look at the map bilsky remembered that the first
of the Middle East will show
man had introduced himself as
the sea of Arab countries against Mr. Porat, the second as Zimrat,
the island of Israel, you can see the third as Kats.
who is the aggressor in such a
What hadn't these gentlemen
situation; even a child could
whispered to the confused Chor-
understand that. And the proper nobilsky! Most of all about their
attitude is to ask: if you recog-
State! That only there could "true
nize the right of nations to self-
Jews" find the god-promised para-
determinations but you defend dise. But, hintel the foreigners, the
unjustly the larger Arab nations,
right to paradise had to be fought
the just struggle against colo- for. And first of all, by a fervent
nization you recognize, why do
care for the State of Israel.
you deny the right of a small
And so, Chornobilsky began to
Jewish nation which not long care fervently. He avidly threw
ago achieved its constitutional himself on the booklets "inadvert-
independence as a government? ently left behind" by the foreign-
Does such a position with rela- i ers. He listened to the Israeli
tion to the small Jewish nation radio. He pelted the post-office
not contradict the principles of with his letters to Israeli cities,
democracy and socialism? You because he had found out that his
cannot answer this question. sister was allegedly living there.
But we can answer this ques- And whenever possible — during
tion: First, 60,000,000 Arabs un- recess or during working hours at
der the slogan of socialism, are his work (and he didn't stay long
greater than two million Jews. at any one place of work, in the
Further, the territory of the last three years he had worked at
Arab countries is spread over the Pechersky Regional Food Mar-
many millions of kilometers, and keting, • in a prosthetic appliances
Israel, according to your ap- factory and in the administration
praisal, is_of no value. Well, this of public catering), the locksmith-
is childish arithmetic. tinsmith spoke less about tin than
Second: even if the Arabs slandered his country and sang
would not exist; that is, if there Zionist panegyrics to the State
were no frictions between the about which he had been told so
Jews and Arabs, you would any- much by the guests from abroad of
way be against the Jews, no the Kiev synagogue.
matter how right they would be,
And then he thought of a plan.
because you hate us with a wild He would go to that paradise, to

48 Friday, November 18, 1966



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