Shehita Issue in Switzerland

By L. H. DRUCKMAN
JTA Correspondent in Switzerland
BERNE, Switzerland — Efforts
are under way to achieve a deletion
from the Swiss Constitution of an
amendment enacted in 1893, which
has barred "the slaughtering of
animals unless they are stunned
before blood is drawn." This ban
has effectively prevented the prac-
tice of Shehita, Jewish ritual
slaughter, in Switzerland, for the
past 75 years.
Dr. George Brunschvig, chair-
man of the Swiss Federation of
Jewish Communities, said the ef-
fort was linked to a wider program
to seek repeal of all special legis-
lation affecting religious matters,
including the banning of the Jesuit
order and of monasteries and con-
vents. The Federation was founded
in 1904 and one of its principal
aims at the time was to have the
ban on Shehita repealed. It has
been shown unequivocally, accord-
ing to Dr. Brunschvig, that the
amendment was approved only as
the result of a vicious anti-Semitic
campaign in 1893.
Elimination of all such special
anti-religious Swiss legislation
would require a vote by the Swiss
electorate at the initiative of
enough Swiss citizens. However,
the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, which has
many influential members, is
strongly opposed to any such initia-
tive.
A Working Group on the Re-
lations Between State and
Church and for Revision of the
Constitution, on which the Fed-
eration is represented, has been
organized. The working group
met in Zurich recently and re-
commended that the ban on She-
hita be repealed and that it be
replaced by a general article on
protection of animals. The Swiss
government is understood to be
favorably disposed toward the
working group, which has been
organized on a national basis.
The government commissioned a
constitutional law expert, Prof.
Kagi of Zurich, to make a study
of all relevant aspects of special
legislation in the religious field,
including the abolition of Shehita.
Prof. H. Sporri, director of the
veterinary and physiological in-
saute of the Zurich University,
has been asked to provide an
opinion on Shehita and the pro-
tection of animals. Prof. Sporri
replied that Shehita, if carried
out under proper conditions, was
entirely consonant with modern
standards of slaughtering and
did not involve cruelty to food
animals. Dr. Brunschvig said the
Federation was prepared to en-
sure that all the conditions listed
by Prof. Sporri would be fully
met.
Another development of impor-
tance to Switzerland's 20,000 Jews
is the current activity of the Swiss
Justice Department's registration
office to oorelate information re-
ceived from banks and related in-
stitutions with claims for heirless
property submitted by heirs and
other eligible persons. The Swiss
parliament adopted a federal law
Dec. 20, 1962, concerning prop-
erty of foreign nationals and state-
less persons who were persecuted

by the Nazis on racial, religious
or political grounds. Deposits total-
ling some 9,000,000 Swiss francs
($2,070,000) have been listed as in
the category of heirless property.
The registration is being done
without charge and results are ex-
pected to be available soon. Claim-
ants will then be informed on
whether the deposits and credit
balances mentioned in their claims
have been found in Swiss banks
and similar institutions, Dr. Brun-
schvig reported.
When this procedure is com-
pleted, the registration office will
ask local authorities at the places
where the property is held to
name trustees and it is con-
sidered possible that the govern.
ment will name a general trustee
to adminiSter the disposition of
all heirless property.
Claimants will be required by the
trustees to substantiate their claim
to such assets deposited in Switzer-
land.
If the original owner does not
come forward within two years
after appointment of the trustees,
a procedure to establish presump-
tion of death will be established.
Only after all these precau-
tionary steps are taken will the
claims be settled.

Buenos Aires Archbishop THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Cites Israel Tour Chief

(Direct JTA Teletype Who
to The Jewish News)

BUENOS AIRES — The Arch-
bishop of Buenos Aires, Antonio
Cardinal Caggiano, personally
handed Tuesday a medal of merit
to Baruch Tenenbaum for the lat-
ter's work as director of the Argen-
tine office of the Israeli Tourism
Ministry. Tenenbaum has based his
work on the theme of a "Return
to Sources" in the Holy Land.
The presentation coincided with
the "Day of Peregrination," mark-
ing the visit of Pope Paul to Israel
three years ago. The presentation
was made in the presence of Mon-
signor Ernesto Segura, the auxil-
iary bishop.
Cardinal Caggiano said "It is for
me a particular privilege to ac-
knowledge and commend the work
done by Mr. Tenenbaum for pro-
moting good relations and visits by
Argentines to the Holy Land of
Israel" and for "collaborating in
finding common ways." He also
said "There should not be any dis-
crimination between Jews and
Catholics, who have so much in
common."

I have ever held it as a maxim,
never to do that through another,
which it was possible for me to
execute myself. —Montesquieu.

Friday, January 6, 1967-17

'Troubles With Defiant Youth'
to Open Atlas Shalom. Series

The Adas Shalom Adult Study
Institute will begin its new lecture
series on "Ingredients for Survival:
Culture and Morality in a Chang-
ing World" 9 p.m. Tuesday at the
synagogue.
Opening speaker will be Dr.
Fritz Redl, professor of behavioral
sciences at Wayne State University
and authority in the field of youth
education. His subject will be "Our
Troubles with Defiant Youth."
Dr. Redl has achieved interna-
tional renown as the author of
many works in
the area of men-
tal hygiene and
the training and
character devel-
opment of young
people. He has
served as chief
of the National
Institute of Men-
tal Health a n d
has pioneered in
Dr. Redl
the establishment
of numerous group therapy proj-
ects for the rehabilitation of ag-
gressive and disturbed youngster's.
Other guest speakers to ap-
pear in subsequent weeks in-

dude: Jan. 19—Rabbi Zalman
M. Schachter, professor, Uni-
versity of Manitoba; Jan. 24 —
Hubert G. Locke, administrative
assistant to the Detroit Police
Commission; Jan. 31 — Rabbi
Yohanan Muffs, Bible scholar,
Jewish Theological Seminary;
Feb. 7 — Dr. Henry Hitt Crane,
minister e m e r i t u s, Central
Methodist Church; Feb. 14 —
Dr. Lawrence Berkove, profes-
sor of literature, University of
Michigan, Dearborn Campus;
March '7 — Maurice Samuel,
author and lecturer; and March
14 — Dr. Zvi Ankori, historian,
Hebrew University, and visiting
professor, Ohio State University.
Rabbi Jacob E. Segal, who will
serve as moderator of the series,
will deliver the closing lecture
March 21.
The series is open to the public,
with a special registration fee for
university students.
For registration information,
call the Adas Shalom adult educa-
tion office, UN 4-7474.

For they can conquer who believe
they can.
—Virgil.

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Israel State Comptroller
to Probe Loans to Firm

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The fin-
ance committee of the Israel par-
liament asked the state comptrol-
ler Tuesday to examine govern.
ment loans and guarantees to
Somerfin, the Geneva-based Israeli
firm whose ships have been im-
pounded and sold to meet unpaid
debts totaling several million dol-
lars.
The committee did not find any
irregularities in the arrangements
for the loans but expressed the
opinion that the government offi-
cials concerned overestimated
Somerfin's experience and finan-
cial strength. The affairs of the
debt-ridden firm have been under
extended discussion by parliament,
the press and the public for the
past six weeks.

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