340,000 Aided by JDC in 1968; Czech,
Polish Refugees Create Funds Shortage
Boris Smolar's
'Between You
. . . and Me'
Nearly 23,000 persons were as-
NEW YORK — The effects of funds from the campaigns of the
sisted in an extra-mural program
Israel's Six-Day War spilled over United Jewish Appeal.
providing monthly cash grants
In
Poland
the
anti-Semitism
into 1968 intensifying old prob-
which enabled them to live in their
lems and creating new one for the which was touched off by the Israel-
(Copyright 1969, JTA Inc.)
own apartments outside of JDC-
,,.
Joint Distribution Committee, Sam- Arab war in June 1967 was intensi-
Malben institutions, Haber re-
fied
in
1968,
Haber
reported.
THE ANTI-SEMITIC FRONT: The National Jewish Community uel L. Haber, JDC executive vice
In Romania and Yugoslavia, the ported. In 1968 JDC-Malben oper-
Relations Advisory Council — coordinating body of the major Jewish chairman, declared in the agency's two East European countries in ated 11 institutions for the aged
organizations and communities engaged in combating anti-Semitism annual report.
which JDC continues to operate, with a bed capacity of 2,800.
and in other areas of domestic community relations concern—is now
The JDC. major American agency health and welfare programs assist
The hostile atmosphere In
celebrating its 25th anniversary. The organization recently introduced aiding needy Jews overseas, was more than 32,000 needy Jews. In
North Africa which followed the
the word "Jewish" into its name in order to emphasize its Jewish con- able to anticipate the stepped-up Romania, where JDC resumed ac-
Israel-Arab war subsided to some
emigration from Poland as a re tivities in April 1967, after an ab-
extent In 1968, Haber noted.
cern.
At its plenary session which is taking place this weekend in Pitts- suit of the continued anti-Semitism sence of 18 years, JDC provided
Nevertheless, he said, "the social,
burgh, its leaders will analyze developments over the past 25 years and in that country. While it was able monthly cash allotments for 4,200,
political and economic conditions
will take an exploratory look ahead.
of the Jews in those countries
1 to provide funds for this movement, special winter relief to 7,800 and
During the quarter of a century of the NCRAC's existence, anti- Haber said, the JDC was un- Passover grants to 8,500 needy
have deteriorated markedly. It is
Semitism declined very much in this country. Organized anti-Semitic . - prepared for the sudden and rnas- Jews. JDC also distributed about
estimated that between 25,000
groups lost ground. Individuals have grown careful about expressing sive exodus from Czechoslovakia 12,000 food parcels to supplement
and 30,000 have departed since
publicly their anti-Jewish sentiments. Anti-Semitism became a senti- in August.
June, 1967, bringing the combined
the meager income of thousands of
Jewish population of Morocco
ment of which one was ashamed to harbor even among friends. Even
Within days after the Soviet in- marginal needy Jews.
the John Birch Society found it necessary to deny charges of maintain-1 vasion some 2.000 Jewish refugees
and Tunisia down to about 61,000
In France, 54,000 of the coun-
as compared with more than
ing anti-Jewish tendencies.
fled across the borders mainly into
try's 550,000 Jews were aided by
Things are beginning to change now, after 25 years of comparative Austria, .Haber said. By the end of
twice that number five years
JDC in 1968, Haber reported.
quiet on the anti-Semitic front. No longer is anti-Semitism a subject , 1968 about 4,000 Cezch Jews of an
ago,"
About 5,000 persons per month re-
About 1,000 Jews succeeded in
from which people dissociate themselves.
estimated total of fewer than 18,000
ceived cash relief. More than half
The NCRAC considers the present moods in the country as poten- 1 before the invasion, fled the coun-
getting out of Egypt since the end
of them are newcomers from
tially dangerous for the Jews. In every country where antagonism and
of the Six-Day War, Haber said.
North Africa and some arrived
.
frustration is growing. there is a ripe field for anti-Semitic elements to try In
"Among them were many who
during the year from Egypt and
an introductory message Louis
were aged, handicapped or with-
sow poisonous anti-Jewish propaganda.
Eastern Europe. Close to 5,000
Broido, JDC chairman, noted that
.
I
out funds and in need of assist-
persons per month received med-
the JDC budget for 1968 had funds
ance, which inc provided."
THE NEGRO-JEWISH ISSUE: On the Negro-Jewish issue, the sufficient to provide only for those
ical care and 700 youngsters were
About 2.0,000 of Morocco's 45,000
housed in 12 JDC-supported chil-
NCRAC has a clear-cut stance which is shared also by all major Jew- , already in need. There were no
ng
Negroes
egroes
Jews
were regularly assisted by
dren's homes.
ish organizations. The NCRAC condemns anti-Semitism amo
', funds left over for emergencies
as elsewhere. It believes that Negro leadership has an obligation to de- such as the exodus from Czecho-
In Italy and Austria the bulk of one or another of the JDC-support-
nounce anti-Jewish propaganda among Negroes and seek to eradicate it.' 1 Slovakia and the increased emigra- JDC's activities was devoted to as- ed services in 1968, Mr. Haber re-
On the other hand, it welcomes the fact that Jewish organizations tion of Jews out of Poland and sistance to transmigrants and refu- ported. The Jewish population of
gees. There were approximately Tunisia had declined to about 16,000
of all sorts are involved in activities and programs aimed at meeting North Africa during 1968.
by the end of 1968. Of these more
Negro needs. It urges its constitutent groups to commit themselves fully ,
In 1968 inc aided approxi- 900 East European refugees being
to the improvement of the position of the Negroes in the great tradition , 1 mately 340.000 persons in over 26 cared for by the end of 1968 in the than 6,500 were assisted by JDC
corn-
during the year. Of the 75,000 Jews
two
countries,
principally
in
Rome
of Jewish concern for human welfare and dignity. For the Jewish co-
countries around the world, Ha-
in Iran about 20,000, mostly chil-
munity to be deflected from its support and advocacy of equality on the
her reported. This included 94,000 and Vienna.
Of the 94,000 needy Jews aided in dren and teen-agers. were served
ground of anti-Semitism would be self-defeating in the opinion of ;
assisted in Israel, 50,000 in Arab
from a variety of JDC-supported
i
Israel,
Haber
said,
approximately
NCRAC leadership; it would mean turning one's back on precisely the
and Moslem countries, 73,000 in
conditions that exacerbate anti-Semitism.
Europe, more than two-thirds of 41,000 were assisted by ISIalben, the programs.
He urged greater fund-raising
The NCRAC also is concerned over the growth of Arab propaganda ,
them in France. In addition an JDC health, welfare and rehabilita-
in this country, aided by some New Left and Negro groups. It predicts i
estimated 81,000 needy Jews re- tion programs on behalf of the efforts to provide for these needs.
that this propaganda will expand in every sphere of American public '
ceived aid in 1968 in a "relief-in- aged, ill and handicapped new- "Let 1969 not be another year of
too little for too many," he urged.
life, including campuses, churches, church organizations, the mass! 1 transit" program which cut comers to Israel.
media and public forums. It advises Jewish organizations to counter '
across national boundaries and
Arab propaganda activity by at least an equal increase and intensifica-
'are not reflected in the country
tion of systematic education about Israel and its role in the Middle East. I programs.
*
*
*
JDC's health, welfare, medical
THE ZIONIST FRONT: It seems that the leadership of the Zionist ' and rehabilitation programs in-
Organization of America is determined to stick to its policy of not join- I tiered expenditures of $22,128,016
ing the projected American Zionist Federation which all other Zionist ' 1 for the year and resulted in a
in this country have agreed to join. The federation will
111t75 e'33
groups in
tr5tIrr
ficit of close to S250,000, Haber de- -nap rrn
formed regardless of whether the ZOA joins it or not. I discussed the I ported. JDC has spent $893,003.309
matter with ZOA President Jacques Torczyner. He made it clear to me since the American Jewish welfare ri4
rvon5n- rii474 .3145; D'1 '1V Irmo
that his organization is in favor of a united Zionist movement. The agency was created in 1914, he
rite?
ZOA, he said, would have considered joining such a united body if all added. JDC receives the bulk of its
11o4 Piot? te.441"rrirr '4 -7s7n
Zionist groups in the United States would have agreed to merge into '
rim!
npry50-4
one, to unify their fund raising, their publications and their activities.
n -Rn- nx "MS ninio Vo4
However. Torczyner feels that the organizational framework of Hebrew Corner
the projected Zioni§t Federation leaves most of the participating groups'
'?.Pt? final .7111 121.15 tit'4 71 nr1 P4 =VI , -ri'?-117.7371
the right to continue their own activities but takes away from the ZOA!
.rrixpn
1174 3'3N - 5135 1:1'127111rn 17035 itox
T
its main work on the American scene—public relations and public af- i The Latrun Road, which connected
fairs. Claiming that his organization is today stronger than a few Jerusalem as ith Tel Aviv, was closed
,31
noin
111175
atm
17i
13
niuto
1,5
to us for 20 years. In the battles
•
years ago, he asserts that "the ZOA is the only Zionist group that is of the War of Independen ce, Latrun
a) Legion orrrporj ra3 on:7'141 n'tin nlri .1ss7o - nlno rrn p1t?5
not afraid to express an independent opinion about events in Israel and fell into the hands of t he
of Jordan. and the Latrun Road was
on the American scene."
closed to traffic.
In the Six-Day War, TZAHAL (the
The ZOA president insists that the Zionist movement in this coun-
2 0 nioL? n! mnrin .n -p4 nri54V 5tp
Defense
nseF
R. . 7 .. ces an od ( Its t:', ael) roc ao d
nque
,‘ arsedon th
e e
try must be a "militant" movement that leads the community. He w
est opened to traffic. And Just as
charges the leaders of the other Zionist groups who favor the establish-
1 21g -rap nnnn- rOnn I11141 n -Irpp lipr Ti nn ,'-n5 ,V4zi
was 20 years ago, it is again possible
Ment of the American Zionist Federation with responsibility for "the it
to Oast.' from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
19 4 6 11,4
."111r13 olt ,:n Trip 1r•t9
weakening of the Zionist position on the American scene by making by the short road.
The name Latrun means very much
concessions to the philanthropic elements and large Jewish contributors."
to many people. There used to be a
1947 uplani4
Latrull
Did You Know That...
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detention camp adjacent to the La-
trun Police Station There the British
imprisoned the leaders of the under•
ground who 'had fought against them.
Twenty members of LEIII succeeded
in escaping from this camp. They dug
a tunnel and escaped, practically under
the noses of the guards. In June,
1916, the leaders of the Jewish com-
munity were detained there. In August
1947, the British confined the mayors
of the large cities there. Not only the
leaders of the Jewish community were
committed to the Latrun camp. Other
political prisoners, too, arrested by the
British were confined there, like the
prime minister of Persia, the prime
minister. of Burma. and others.
At tlie end of 1947. when the Arabs
invaded Israel, Latrun fell into the
hands of the Arab Legion of Jordan.
Thereafter, 'IZABAL tried to capture
Latrun several times, but all the at-
tempts ended in failure. Many of the
Israeli fighters killed at Latrun in
1948 were new immigrants who had
just disembarked from their ship.
There is a beautiful monastery near
the famous Latrun Police Station. It
is called the Monastery of the Silent.
because the monks who live there do
not speak. They saw at close quarters
all the battles that took place there,
but they kept silent.
The Latrun Police Station. the Mon-
astery of the Silent, and the surround-
ings all now give the impression of
a beautiful and quiet place. Only the
oldtirners among us stand here for
a little while in order to relive the
period when their entire bodies trembl-
ed when anyone mentioned the name
Latrun to them.
(Published by Brit Ivrit °lama. with
the assistance of the Memorial Founda-
tion for Jewish Culture).
Material in vowelized, easy Hebrew
can be obtained through your local
Hebrew organization, or by
writing
48—Friday, June 27, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWSB
1-1411
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Olamit, P. 0.
Box 7111, Jerusalem, Israel.
direct to the Brit IsTlt
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