Voice of Russian Jews liaised
by Diminutive Singer. Nehama
The silent 3,000,000 were present
at Masonic Temple Wednesday
night. For Nehama Lifschitz had
brought with her the Jews of the
Soviet Union.
She is billed as the "Soul of
Russian Jewry," this slip of a
woman who left her native land
earlier this year. and she conveys
her role well. It would be a lie to
say that one need not know Yiddish
to fully appreciate Nehama's mu-
sic; the non-Yiddishist misses too
much to appreciate—to the full—
such a concert.
Perhaps that is why there were
so few young faces in the audi•
ence of more than 1,000. It is a
pity, because she does transmit,
and beautifully, Jewish soul,
even to those who can't under-
stand the words. She does it with
a toss of the head, a raised arm,
a clenched fist. Now a Ilasidic
r a bb i's "yababababum." now
tears from a wayward daughter.
who begs "illamme, don't hit me.
It's too late."
Above all, she does it with her
voice that interprets so well the
Jewish experience, from the Old
Country to the New. And why not?
Don't Just Stand There, Do Something
for Soviet Jewry, Community Asked
She has lived the experience, taken
the journey herself. She did sing
several Hebrew songs—most not-
ably the encore, "Jerusalem the
Golden," which drew many un-
ashamed tears. There also were a
few Russian songs, one of them.
- Do Not Believe the Soldiers When
They Sing," universal in its con-
demnation of war.
But by far the most popular of
her selections were those in Yid-
dish: Nadir's "Rabbi Elimelech"
and Gebirtig's "Yankele" (the lat-
ter described as a lullaby sung by
a Jewish mother to her infant son,
"a great and learned rabbi-to-be"),
as well as the Hymn of the Vilno
Ghetto Partisans, which always
stirs an audience.
Miss Lifschitz divided the pro-
gram into two parts. For the
first, she appeared in a simple
black gown. The mood was sol.
emn—even a few songs of joy
couldn't dispel the feeling of
sadness left by Gebirtig's "My
Town (Shtetl) Burns" and "Eli
Eli," which she rendered in her
unique and expressive style.
Reminding his audience that Archipova St. synagogue on Sim-
one-third of the Jewish people hat Torah? "I don't think the
lives behind the Iron Curtain and Soviet government knows what to
that only unrelenting protests will make of it." said Bayer. "There
win their freedom, an authority are young people in Russia today
on Soviet Jewry begged the De who have an allegiance to Ju-
troll Jewish community: "Don't daism."
The kind of Judaism permitted
get tired!"
But for the second portion of the
Abraham J. Bayer. national co- in the Soviet Union—the kind exist-
ordinator of the American Jewish ing 50 years ago—does not appeal program, Nehama unwound from a
cocoon—appearing
in bright yellow
Jewry,
de-
to
the
young
people,
he
said,
"yet
Conference on Soviet
tailed the plight of Soviet Jewry there are young Jews who want and, for the first time, smiling her
shy
smile
for
several
songs of
before the opening delegate as- to learn Hebrew. They learn by
sembly of the Jewish Community flashlight, by writing notes one humor and joy.
Nehama is said to have infused
Council last week at the Jewish to another."
When the police put out the hope and given a voice to Soviet
Center.
lights
at
12:30
that
night
on
Jewry.
We can understand how. At
After hearing Bayer testify to
Archipova St., "the youngsters the same time, we sorrow for those
the gains Won by Soviet Jews
wouldn't go home. One lit a Jews who, having lost her, are
since world protests began, U.S.
torch, and then others. And in a silent once again.
Senator Philip A. Hart admitted:
low
murmur, they sang 'Am Yis-
—C. D.
"I've spoken publicly against the
reprehensible conduct against
the Jews in Russia, but I didn't
think it would make any differ-
ence to the Soviet Union. Now
know it does.
"If there is a liberal wing in
the Kremlin—and I believe there
rael Hai'—the People
Israel will
live."
But the '`euphoria of the holi-
days" is over. said Bayer, "and
as winter comes we see the reali-
ties . . . They need your help
desperately."
Bayer suggested that the plight
is. continued protest in the world of Soviet Jewry ought to be em-
might demonstrate to them that phasized in Hebrew school cur-
it is in their own best interests ricula and on college campuses
to fly right. Muted concern." said "where there are institutes of Rus-
Michigan's senior senator, "doesn't sian studies but not a word is
slow the carnage of a dictator."
said about this terrible crime."
Fran Pfeffer, who led the
Above all, said Bayer, "get out
demonstration by "Youth Con- into the streets and demonstrate.
cerned About Soviet Anti-Semi The kids of -today say 'How could
tism" the preceding Sunday. asked you stand by and let 6,000,000 die
the adult community to participate and let 3,000.000 be strangulated
in a petition campaign calling for as Jews. yet not say a word?'
an end to repression of Russian
"Yevtushenko said 'The silence
Jewry. The need for adult support screams out at us: What is be-
was stressed by Bayer: "The only coming a murmur must become a
way the Soviet tinion will re- scream."
spond.•• he said, "is through pres-
Sen. Hart surmised that the
sure."
search for a scapegoat is behind
Although only 62 synagogues re the Soviet campaign, "and you
main out of hundreds. "there have know better than anyone," he said
been no synagogue closings in the to the assembly. "that searching
last four or five years. Some avail- for a scapegoat is not unique to
ability of matzot today is because
he the Soviet Union."
we made a hue and a cry."
He pointed out that in Poland,
said . . . "There is only a trickle during the "anti-Zionist" witch-
of immigration today, but there hunt, the Jew was similarly used.
was nothing five years ago.'
conservative wing at the helm
/low does it happen that in a of the Kremlin regime sees Rus-
country which boasts its young sian Jews in the forefront of liberal
people want no part of religion. tendencies. Sen. Hart said.
', 0,000 young Jews danced and
At this point. Sen. Hart an-
sang for hours around Moscow's
pealed to the Jewish liberal
tradition for leadership in the
urban crisis. "Better than any
Yiddish Week at U-M
to Include Two Films
other group, you understand the
forces of history that make desti-
nies of people," he said. "Give
leadership here so that we may
more legitimately criticize the
practices of the Soviet Union."
A decent society, be said, in
which "the growing gap between
the ghetto and the rest of us" is
will be featured. closed, will deny Moscow a tool
The growing popularity of the of propaganda. We can create
Yiddish course offered in the Bet such a society, the senator
Midrash is believed to indicate a added, "only by refusing to re-
renaissance of interest in Yiddish treat into our own neighbor-
1
language and literature among hoods."
Sen. Hart hesitated to answer a
Jewish students at the Unversity
Yiddish Week at the Ann Arbor
Ilillel Foundation, will continue
through Thursday with two Yiddish
film classics featured.
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, "The
Golein" will be shown, and Thurs-
day at 7:30 "Brivele der Mamme'
question ("it's too political" )as to
of Michigan.
The classes, held at Hillel House whether the Nixon administration
in Ann Arbor, are in the second has expressed itself against So-
year. The Ann Arbor College of viet anti-Semitism. Bayer replied,
Jewish Studies itself has an enroll- however, that "candidate Nixon
ment of more than 250. expressed himself very strongly
during the campaign. We need
President Nixon to express him-
Men lose their tempers in de-
, self strongly. I hope the senator
fending their taste. -
—Ralph Waldo Emerson. will be of help as well."
DICK STEIN _
Pies,.
ht.>
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
30—Friday, October 24, 1969
Arnold Michlin Candidatein Consolidation Election
Arnold Michlin, a founder of the'
League of Subdivision Associations
in Farmington, is a candidate for
charter commissioner in the Nov.
4 Farmington area consolidation
election.
Voters in Farmington Twp.,
Wood Creek Farms, Quakertown
and the city of Farmington will be
asked to give an elected charter
commission the authority to pre-
pare a proposed charter for a city
consolidating these four municipal-
ities.
A 13-year resident of Farmington,
Michlin is president of Michigan
Industrial Finishes and secretary
of Michlin Chemical Corp., Detroit.
He has served on the Committee
HY
FOR THE
sPOT
on Industrial Development, School
Board Advisory Committee and
Gov. Romney's Committee to Im-
prove the Family. Michlin is past
president of Suburban Bnai Brith
and of Franklin Forest and Fair-
way Subdivision Association.
NOW
LINCOLN
CENTER
OF
YOUR AFFAIR
ANTIQUE
REPRODUCTIONS ,
•
!ENGAGEMENT RING .
"MUSIC" by
HY HERMAN
(UTCHENIK)
and his Orchestra
26028 GREENFIELD
342-9424
LINCOLN CENTEF,
Personalized to Suit Your Party
The American Israeli Numismatic Association
and
The Jewish Community Center
present
ISRAEL NIGHT
Featuring:
Israeli coin and metal displays, an introduc-
tion to AINA, films, folk songs, and Mid-
Eastern refreshments.
Tuesday — October 28 — 8:15 p.m.
THE DICK STEIN ORCHESTRA
At the Center — Admission free — Public is invited
THE JEEP SMITH ORCHESTRA
18100 Meyers Rd.
AND
1.I 7-2770
Charlotte Kelley
341-4200
Helen Skluki
Susan Marra, N.S.I.D.
Bill Jeffrey, Mgr.
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