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.