1$—Friday, Feluvery 14, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
...and Me'
(Copyright 1969, JTA Inc.)
JEWISH SURVIVAL IN USSR: Jewish life in the Soviet Union
today is centered around three positions: the 62 synagogues throughout
the country which reflects Jewish religious existence; the Yiddish
monthly magazine, "Sovietish Heimland" which represents the only
expression of Jewish culture left after the mass-liquidation by Stalin of
all Jewish cultural institutions; and the Jewish youth which knows
nothing about Jewishness but is, nevertheless, Jewish-conscious.
All three positions are important for Jewish survival in the USSR.
However, in my opinion, the most important factor upon which the
future of Jewish life in the Soviet Union will stand or fall is the Jewish
youth. There is a large segment among the Soiiet-born Jews in whom
"Dos Pintele Yid" blossoms; they know they are Jews by their identity
documents; they want to maintain this identity; they are eager to find
odt what Jewishness means. It is upon them that the continuity of Jew-
ish life depends.
There can be no question about the need to request equal treatment
for the Jewish religion in Russia, which is deprived of many privileges
which the Soviet government accords to all non-Jewish religions. But
one must look realistically upon the fact that the future of Soviet Jewry
does not rest on the aged Jews who cling to the synagogue. These Jews
should be given all possibilities to live their lives in full accordance with
their religious traditions which are part and parcel of their existence.
However, it is highly questionable whether they are the foundation upon
which Jewish life can be built for the future. The great majority of
Soviet Jewry is not religious and is not inclined to become religious.
*
*
MISSING LINK: The same thing can be said about the "Sovietish
Heimland." This publication constitutes a Jewish cultural position,
although it is a Communist publication, directed by a Communist editor.
Its contents are—as is everything published in the Soviet Union—Com-
munist-oriented. However, it helps to , develop new cadres of Yiddish
writers replacing those brutally slain under the Stalin regime and it
carries literary material of general Jewish cultural value.
But the "Sovietish Heimland" is by far not enough to serve as a
forum for the several hundred thousands of Jews in the Soviet Union
who still read Yiddish and are rooted in Yiddish culture. It does not
reflect the sentiments of those in the USSR who would like to see
Jewish culture restored in the country to its full rights. Although it
reaches a limited number of Jews primarily in the territories acquired
by the Soviet Union after the war where Yiddish is still spoken—the
Baltic countries, Bukovina, Galicia, Carpatho-Russia—it does not reach
the Jewish youth because the Soviet-born youth cannot read Yiddish.
The question thus arises: what should be done for the Soviet-born
Jewish generation which is Jewish in identity and in spirit but has no
access whatsoever to any Jewish knowledge? How can Jewish content
be provided to the majority of Soviet Jewry which is not interested in
religion and cannot read or speak Yiddish?
The only answer to this question is, I believe, to seek the publica-
tion in Moscow of a Jewish weekly or bi-weekly magazine in the Rus-
sian language.
Jewish organizations abroad, including American Jewish groups,
in their presentation of demands to the Soviet government in the inter-
ests of Soviet Jewry, have neglected so far to advance the request that
a Jewish medium in the Russian language be published for the purpose
of keeping Soviet-born Jewish citizens closer to their Jewish culture
and nationality. All other national minorities in the USSR have their
own national publications. Certainly the Jews, who are designated by
the Moscow government as a nationality, have a justified claim for such
a publication for their more than 2,000,000 Jews who can read Rus-
sion only.
*
*
•
Allon to Address
Bond Conference
USSR Documents A id Crimes Trial
BONN (JTA) — The Central Of-1
fice for War Crimes Prosecution in
Ludwigsburg disclosed that it has
obtained nearly 1,000 pages of
documents f r o m the central
archives in Moscow relating to
Nazi war crimes.
Simon Wiesenthal, director of
the Vienna documentation center
on Nazi war criminals, said he had
a list of about 1,000 ex-Nazis now
living in East Germany. He said
one of them was Maj. Gen. Arno
Von Lenski who the East Germans
honored as a fighter against fas-
cism but who was a judge in Hit-
MIAMI — Yigal AlIon, deputy
prime minister of Israel and hero
of its War of Liberation, will be
special guest at the international
inaugural confer-
ence for Israel
Bonds, it was an-
nounced by Dr.
Joseph J.
Schwartz, vice
president of the
Israel Bond Or-
ganization.
The conference
will be held Feb. ler's notorious "peoples courts"
27 through March which passed death sentences on
2 at the Fontain- political prisoners. Wies en t h a I,
bleau Hotel here.
General Allon
will be the prin-
cipal speaker at
an inaugural din-
Gen. Allon er March 1.
Dr. Schwartz also announced that
interviewed on the Cologne radio,
said it was vital for West Ger- I
many's reputation that the statute
of limitations on war crimes pro-
secutions be abolished. The statute
is scheduled to go into effect at
the end of this year, after which
Samuel Rothberg, national cam- no new war crimes prosecutions
paign chairman of the Israel Bond can be initiated.
Organization, had been named to
Soviet propaganda organs have
serve as national chairman of the resumed their attacks on West
conference.
Berlin because the ultra right-
Nine Named for
Brandeis Awards
WALTHAM, Mass. — The Bran-
deis University Creative Arts
Awards Commission announced
the names of nine persons who
will receive the university's 1969
medals and citations during the
13th annual presentation dinner at
the Plaza in New York City May 5.
Receiving the Creative Arts
Awards Medal and $1,000 stipends
will be composer Ernest Krenek,
poet Leonie Adams, sculptor Jose
DeRivera and stage designer Boris
Aronson. A fifth and special medal
for notable creative achievement
will be presented to author and
architectural critic Lewis Mum-
ford.
The four 1969 Creative Arts
Awards Citation winners, all of
whom will receive a $1,000 stip-
end, are composer Henry Wein-
berg, poet Galway Kinnell, sculp-
tor Mark DiSuvero and in theater
arts, The Negro Ensemble Com-
pany.
The Creative Arts Awards Med-
al winners are selected in recogni-
tion of a lifetime of distinguished
achievement, while the four cita-
tion winners, all of whom are
younger artists, are chosen to en-
courage their creative careers. The
special award for notable achieve-
ment honors a person or a group
for outstanding achievement in the
The more you are talked about,
the less powerful you are.
—Benjamin Disraeli.
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creative arts.
JEWISH AFFINITY: A Jewish periodical in the Russian language Sde Boker Gets Clinic
would contribute no little to strengthening of Jewish feelings among
TEL AVIV (JTA) — A corner-
hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews, young and middle-aged. The
mere fact that such a publication appeared regularly every week, or stone has been laid for a 10-room
even every other week, would by itself fortify the Jewish identity senti- clinic at the Sde Boker school. The
occasion was the first anniversary
ments among many Jews throughout the country.
I do not deceive myself by thinking that such a publication should of the death of Mrs. Paula Ben-
not be Communist-directed. Everything that is printed in Russia is Gurion, wife of Israel's former
Communist-oriented. Just as the editor of any publication in the Soviet prime minister, who makes his
Union is a trusted member of the Communist Party, so also will be the home in the tiny Negev settlement.
editor of any publication in Russian intended for Jewish readers.
Nevertheless, I am certain that such a Jewish organ would also
carry some material on Jewish subjects and items reflecting Jewish
life, even though they will be Communist-tainted. Such a publication
could become a medium to be found in countless Jewish homes in all
parts of the USSR. It would not be the ideal Jewish publication from
the point of view of Jews in the free world, but it would serve the pur-
pose of Jewish affinity.
"Highly qualified & endorsed
Ass'n. of Southfield Civic Assn's
"Highly recommended"
Southfield Democratic Club
Pd. Pot. Adv.
•
*
*
LESSON IN HISTORY: There are Jews in the Soviet Union today
ACTIVE IN SOUTHFIELD CIVIC
AFFAIRS 18 YEARS
• Past President of John Grace P.T.A.
• Ten years with Upper Teens serving
third term as President.
who still remember the role played in Jewish life under the Czar by two
Jewish weeklies in the Russian language. Both were published in St.
Petersburg—now Leningrad—but their impact was strong upon thou-
sands and thousands of Jews in Moscow, Odessa, Kiev and other cities
where the Jews spoke mostly Russian.
Just as today, in Czarist times many Jewish students were assimi-
lated and could not read Yiddish. The same held for many of the top
Jewish leaders in the Czarist capital and in Moscow. Vladimir Jabo-
tinsky, for instance, was one of the young Zionist leaders who could
then read no Yiddish.
To reach those Jews who could not read Yiddish, and especially
the student generation, the non-Zionist leaders started to publish in St.
Petersburg a weekly Russian-language magazine, Voskhod. It was one
of the best Jewish publications in any language and became popular
with thousands and thousands of Jewish families all over Russia. Im-
pressed by the success of Voskhod, Zionist leaders in St. Petersburg
also started publication of a weekly in the Russian language. This was
the Zionist weekly, Razsvier, which, similarly, soon found its way into
many Jewish homes all liver the country. Both publications played an
important role in strengthening Jewish identity among "Russified"
Jews.
........
wing National Democratic Party
(NPD) is once again functioning
in that city. The Soviet ambassa-
dor to East Germany reportedly
raised the question with West Ber-
lin's Mayor Klaus Schutz when
they conferred last Friday.
• Ten years with Southfield Fair—
past Manager and past Chairman.
• President of Southfield Improvement
Association; two terms.
PROMOTE
MERLIN GAUT
TO SOUTHFIELD
CITY COUNCILMAN
• Eight years active with Local Scout
Troops.
• Six years a City Commissioner.
He has the Knowhow, Ability and—
THE DESIRE TO REPRESENT U.S
ON THE CITY COUNCIL !
Paid Pol. Adv.