Battle for Human Rights at United Nations! i
By BORIS SMOLAR; State Stettinius, malting it clear to discrimination and protection of 1
I him that a weak formulation of the minorities. At the same time, thel
Editor-in-Chief Emeritus
sections on human rights in the United Nations lost no time in vot- .
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
(Copyright 1970, JTA, Inc.)
UN Charter would provoke or- ing to send a working group to the
Twenty-five years ago, soon after ganized protests on the part of Middle East to investigate allega- ,
the formation of the United Nations Jewish organizations all over the tions that Israel was violating the .
at the historic conclave in the San United States — something Stet- rights of the Arabs in the occupied
Francisco Opera House, I was in. tinius, as head of the American territories. The government of Is-
vited by a member of the U.S. delegation, had to take into ac- rael was warned to desist from
alleged "repressive practices and
Cabinet to come to Washington. He count.
And so the United Nations, born policies toward the civilian popula-
wanted my impressions and evalu-
ation of the San Francisco confer- to stand guard against many ills tion in the occupied territories.
ence which I attended as an ac- in the postwar world, took upon The warning was approved by a
credited journalist, representing itself also the mission to act roll call vote of 51 in favor and ii
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. against racial and religious dis- against with 50 abstentions. I
'
Most o f the nations who voted in
The cabinet member was inter. criminations. s. . .i.
favor were members of the Moslem
ested in my views on various as-
and
Soviet
blocs.
The
United
Although enshrined in the UN
pects of the San Francisco gather-
ing. What particularly interested Charter as one of the cardinal prin- States, Britain and France were',
me was the stand on human rights ciples of thet organization, the amongthe abstainees Israel of
taken at the conference by the covenants on human rights are still course, made it clear that she
delegations of various govern- unfinished business. would not cooperate with the in-
As the nations who originally vestigating group and denied its
ments, including the United States.
A number of paragraphs provid- formed the United Nations in San competence to conduct the investi-
ing for human rights and funda- Francisco found themselves gradu- gation.
mental freedoms for all—"without ally outnumbered in the UN Gen-
The United Nations has shown
distinction as to race, sex, lan- eral Assembly—where a two-thirds
guage and religion"—were included vote is necessary for the adoption that it is not only blocked in han-
in the UN Charter adopted at San of a decision—the Soviet and the dling the issue of religious discrim-
Francisco. They also provided for Arab blocs within the UN saw a inationbut also that it is unwilling
"protection of minorities" and for good opportunity to split the anti to act in the field of suppression of
the prevention of racial and reli- discrimination provisions into two human rights when the issue in-
gious discrimination. Their inclu- separate categories. One, the elim- wolves the rights of Jews in the
sion was one of the basic principles ination of racial discrimination; Soviet Union.
Signed complaints by Soviet
on which the world body was the other, the elimination of reli-
gious dsicrimination.
Jews submitted to the United Na-
formed.
The
strategy
was
clear.
The
tions Secretariat by the Israel
Their wording was a subject of
serious battles, and so was the Communist bloc countries are all government with the request to
case with the wording of the Uni- anxious to vote against racial dis. have them circulated to members
versal Declaration of Human crimination in order to win favor of the General Assembly have
Rights which was adopted three with the Afro-Asian countries; they been denied circulation because of
years later, in 1948. The Soviet are not very happy when questions
strong pressure from the Soviet
delegate, Andrei Vishinsky, deliv- of religious discrimination come up mission.
On its 25th anniversary this year,
ered strong speeches against the for discussion and a vote in UN
the it would be fitting for the United
declaration and the Soviet Union, bodies. The same is true of lways
Nations to create the post of a
together with seven other govern- Arab delegates. They will a
ments, abstained from voting for vote against racial discrimination
tosatisfy the Afro-Asian govern- United
Nations
high commissioner
rights.
Such a post
it.
. human
In my dispatches. I pointed out ments, but when it comes to reli- for ght assure more
speedyaction
by attempt
the UN on matters
concerning
that the Big Powers were not espe- gious discrimination, they
cially interested in putting teeth to equate the Jewish religion with suppression of religious rights,
into the provisions for the protec- Zionism. In fact the Communist violation of human rights and
tion of human rights prepared for and Arab block countries have de- equal treatment of all irrespective
inclusion into the UN Charter. The veloped joint opposition in United of race or religon as the UN Char-
reason was simple. The Soviet Nations committees to any propo- ter provides.
Union feared that strong provisions sal concerning the protection of
could open the door for dissatisfied Jewish rights.
groups within the USSR to submit
This state of affairs has brought
complaints to the United Nations
about the absurd situation in
charging the Soviet government
which the Soviet and Arab dele-
with discrimination and with violat-
gates publicly proposed in the
ing their human rights. The United
UN that Zionism be equated
States, although favoring the in-
with Nazism and that both he
NEW YORK (JTA)—America's
clusion of human rights as a basic
outlawed. This proposal failed, state universities will become en-
principale in the UN Charter, saw
but while the International Con- claves of "provincialism" if an
the possibility of complaints by
vention on the Elimination of All increasing trend to curtail out-of-
Negroes and Indians.
Forms of Racial Discrimination state enrollment continues, accord-
Britain and France were colonial
is now entering into force, there ing to a study by Benjamin R.
countries and had good reason to
is still a very long distnace to go Epstein, national director of the
fear that their colonial subjects
before a convention on elemina- Anti-Defamation League of Bnai
might appeal to the UN for their
tion of religious discrimination Brith.
independence.
will be worked out in the UN
The study, originally undertaken
ADL Study Finds
Many Colleges Use
Restrictive Policy
chambers.
The idea of requesting protec-
on
So far, the draft resolution reli-
tion of human rights for all,
irrespective of race or religion, the elimination of all forms of
emanated from the American gious intolerance and discrimina-
Jewish Committee at the end of tion— as distinct from racial dis-
World War II. The term "na- crimination—has not come up for
tional minority rights" adopted consideration in the UN General
by the League of Nations after Assembly. It was assumed that it
World War I, primarily to pro- would at last be taken up by the
tect Jews from anti-Semitic acts General Assembly last year. But
by their governments, lost its this did not happen. Discussion of
meaning after it was formally the draft ws deferred until the 1970
renounced by Poland and other session of the assembly. And who
anti-Semitic governments. Amer- knows? In 1970, it may even be
ican Jewish Committee leaders postponed again.
.
therefore started a movement
suggesting that the world body
The draft resolution is of special
which would succeed the League importance to Jews in the Soviet
of Nations should be given much Union since it proclaims religious
wider and more embracing discrimination to be a violation of
terms of reference with regard human rights and of the principles
to fighting discrimination.
of the UN Charter.
Passover Quiz
by RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
(Copyright 1970, JTA,
Inc.)
Why is it required to dip twice on Passover eve at the seder?
Some consider this question to refer to the dipping of the bitter
herb into the "charoset" and the parsley in salt water. Some claim
that the parsley is dipped twice into the salt water. The reasons are
varied. It is claimed by some that this as well as many other things
during the seder ceremony is done to arouse the curiosity of the chil-
dren. Others say that each of the two dippings has a different conno-
tation. One dip commemorates the redemption from Egypt during
which the Hebrews were ordered to dip the hyssop into the blood of the
paschal lamb. The second reminds us of the brethren of Joseph who
dipped his tunic into blood in order to have the father believe that he
was attacked by a wild animal.
Why do we-lift the seder plate when we recite "this is the bread
h ?
h aeset d h ea rt table?
n ti osn o'' m at t eti claim
of affliction"
is done to dramatize the rituals of the
evening so as to arouse the interest of children. Furthermore, it is
possible that the matzot were on the plate and when referring directly
io the "bread of affliction," one lifts the plate so that it can clearly be
seen what the statement refers to. Others contend that the action is a
demonstration of the Psalmist's words: "He raises up the needy from
the dunghill" (Psalms 113:7). The Alidrash claims that this verse refers
to the Hebrews who were "sunk in the mire of Egypt whom God later
raised on high." Raising the plate while referring to the "bread of
affliction" shows that we were "raised" up from our affliction.
Why is it that the Ifallel Psalms are recited while we remain
seated during the seder while the same Hallel Psalms require us to
stand when they are recited in the congregation?
In the synagogue, when these Psalms are part of the synagogue
service• the congregation is required to stand like it does during the
main body of the service. Some contend that standing is especially
necessary during the recitation of Psalms of Hallel during the service
because such is the intent of the Psalmist when he said: "Praise Him
ye servants of the Lord, ye that stand in the House of the Lord"
(Psalms 135:1,2). The seder at home is by comparison a service or
ritual that takes place at the table around which it is customary to sit,
especially since it is associated with the Passover meal. Sitting at the
table is as respectable as standing in the synagogue, since that is the
appropriate posture for those who gather around the table.
*
Why is it that one is forbidden to drink anything but water after
the four cups of wine at the seder?
Some claim that this is so that we will not becomunk because
the time after the seder is supposed to be dedicated to the study of the
Passover laws and the history of the Exodus from Egypt. Drinking
more wine than the four glasses after their measure has been cons -
pleted might make us drunk or at least drowsy thus precluding our
being occupied or concerned with further interest in the Passover story
or its laws. Others claim that this practice was instituted because of
the poor. The indigent would be provided with just enough wine for the
four cups on both nights of the Passover—i.e. eight cups in all. There
is a danger, in the case of a poor man, that he might indulge in drink-
ing extra cups of wine after h has com p 1 e ted drinkin the four cu s
on the first night and thus run short of wine to fulfill the quota of four
cups for the second night. As much as possible, Jewish tradition tried
to equalize the rich and the poor, and so, claim some, all Jews are
forbidden to indUlge in any drink but water after the four cups have
been consumed on the eve of Passover. Since this requirement was set
for the first night it already applied to the second night, so that the
variety of practices would not lead to confusion where one might drink
more than four cups on the first night thinking it was the second night.
Blind Cantor Officiates
071
Sabbath
to determine the extent to which
state universities limit admission
of nonresidents and the effect of
such limitation on oportunities for
Jewish youth, revealed percentage ,
restrictions against all out-of-state
students ranging from 5 per cent
to 40 per cent and "devices" which
fix no quotas but nevertheless
have a restrictive effect.
The ADL survey, conducted by
the agency's discriminations de-
partment, found that 73, more than
half of the survey group, restrict
admission of nonresidents, thereby,
according to the ADL, "arresting
a diffusion of students, increasing
insularism and damaging educa-
tional goals."
"The findings," Epstein de-
clared, "go beyond Jewish con-
cern to concern for the general
The term "human rights," first
The United States, obviously student population and the uni-
mentioned in a paper prepared by having in mind repression of the versities themselves."
Dr. Simon Segal, an expert in in- Jewish religion in the Soviet Union,
The study disclosed that of the
ternational jurisprudence, Who had has proposed the provision that an
136 state universities, 48 have
worked for the Foreign Policy As- individual, or a religious group,
sociation before joining the AJCom- should have freedom to import or percentage restrictions against
out-of-state students ranging
mittce as head of its foreign affairs produce foods and articles custom-
department• bec a ni e the term arily used in religious observance. from 5 per cent for the Univer-
sity
of Massachusetts to 40 per
adopted by United Nations.
This proposal was — as could be
cent for the University of Ver-
At the San Francisco Conference, expected—strongly opposed by So-
I witnessed measures to induce the' viet representatives, since it would mont.
Thirty state schools—in Florida,
U.S. delegation to give its strong- mean that religious Jews in the
est support to the proper warding Soviet Union could import kosher Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, bfichi-
of the paragraphs on human rights meat or manufacture or import gan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennes-
in the projected UN Charter. I religious articles such as prayer see and Wisconsin—have imposed
saw Judge Joseph Proskauer and shawls tefilin etc. their percentage restrictions dim-
Nor have any committee reports ing the past four years.
Jacob Blaustein—the two top lead-
ers of the American Jewish Com- been taken up by the General As- One, Purdue University in In-
sembly
as yet on prevention of diana assigns a special quota to
mittee — buttonhole Secretary of
students from New York and New
48—Friday, April 24, 1970
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jersey.
Stephen Cassell (left), the first cantor, blind from birth, to of-
ficiate in a Sabbath service, is joined at Union Temple, Brooklyn, by
Judge Emil N. Baar (right), president of the Jewish Braille Insti-
tute of America and Cantor Paul Kwartin. Cantor Cassell, 26, was
one of the JBl's first blind Bar Mitzva boys, Judge Baar said. He
studied at the Manhattan School of Music where he took a master's
degree. The JBI sponsored Cassell, after his graduation, for private
cantorial training with Cantor Kwartin. Cassell has passed his pre-
liminary audition for admission to the School of Sacred Music of
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.