Purely Commentary
The Smoliar Tragedy: a Lesson for Tovarishchi
Jews behind the Iron Curtain who had collaborated with the
Communists might have learned a lesson of Poland and its oppressed
Jewish survivors from the Nazi terror. All they need to do now is to
contact the former editor of the Warsaw Folkstimme, Hirsch Smoliar,
for an understanding of what has occurred and how even the avowed
Communists have had to escape the new atrocities perpetrated by the
Polish government.
Those of us who had met Smoliar (he is not related to Boris
Smolar) at the World Jewish Congress in Stockholm, in 1959, have
a better understanding of the events that preceded the new terrors
of recent years. Smoliar and two of his comrades came to the WJCon-
gress sessions at the invitation of Dr. Nahum Goldmann. They spoke
and failed to convince the delegates that a panacea was being ex-
perienced in Poland. They were heckled.
Now Smoliar himself is an exile, and, shades of historic irony,
he is now in Israel!
A story from Poland entitled "A Wanderer Returns," in the London
Jewish Chronicle, described the Smoliar role. The story stated:
Lessons Galore . .. for Arabs Who Can Learn
From Israel's Good Will and the Tovarishchi
Behind Iron Curtain . . Boris Smolar's Report
By Philip
Slomovitz
Boris Smolar Reviews Current Situation in the USSR,
Outlines the Jewish Position Under Kremlin Pressure
Of the numerous volumes about
Jews won many honors for
Soviet Russia' and the position of
bravery in the Russian army,
the Jews in the USSR, the new
but few are credited with rec-
volume by Boris Smolar, the editor
ognition for their courage and
emeritus of the Jewish Telegraphic
sacrifices. Some, it is indicated,
Agency, just issued by the Mac-
"were 'liquidated' in the last
millan Co., may well be considered
years of Stalin's life."
the most revealing.
University students have their
In "Soviet Jewry Today and To-
problems, and while there are many
morrow," Smolar, who is known in
educational opportunities there are
English-speaking Jewish commu-
restrictive quotas which Smolar be-
nities throughout the world for his
lieves "will probably continue as
column "Between You and Me"—
long as the word 'Jew' on the ap-
BORIS SMOLAR
which appears weekly in The Jew-
plicant's registration form pro-
ish News—there are analyses of one can tell" how long it will take vides an easy measure to exclude
For Hirsch Smoliar, who has just arrived in Israel, the world most recent events, the views of to bring the Kremlin back to the him."
must seem to be standing on its head. For he was one of the most Soviet leaders on situations affect- original policies of the early years
Jewish youth do not think in
faithful mouthpieces of Communist anti•Zionism until the tide which ing the Jews in the USSR, their of the Russian Revolution when
present status and the outlook for there was so much hope for an ex- Jewish terms, and intermarriage is
he helped to create swept him away.
panded Jewish cultural life under normal for them. Faced with dis-
Smoliar was one of Poland's leading Jewish Communists. He their future.
crimination, problems arise, and
Communism.
was chairman of the executive council of the Cultural and Social
Soviet Jews are described by
when the question raised by the
Union of Polish Jews and also editor of the Warsaw Yiddish news-
Smolar as loyal citizens "who
His book is based on the most Jewish partner in the marriage
paper, Folkstimme. He used his paper to denounce "Zionism," which
nevertheless feel themselves —
recent re-visit to Russia, and confronts a couple, the serious is-
he described as "the blood enemy." His policy was to detach Polish
even when they hold higher posi-
Smolar describes life in Moscow, sue of resistance to emigration
Jewry from any kind of Jewish allegiance and to campaign vocif-
Lions — to be second-class citi-
Leningrad
and other communi- arises. This is described by Smolar
erously against emigration to Israel.
zens." The reader learns about a
ties. Taking into account the an- as one of the tragedies of Jewish
But in 1964 Smoliar resigned from his chairmanship of the coun-
fear that exists among them, and
ti-Semitic current trends, Smolar life in the .0- SR.
cil. The reasons he gave were pressure of work and ill-health. In the he
traces much of the anti-Jew-
points to the denial of an exist-
same year, with reports of Soviet anti-Semitism gaining strength in
The emergence of a desire
ish feeling to Stalin, while af-
ence of discrimination by Jewish
the world press, he attended a conference of editors of the Commu- firming that Nikita Khrushchev
leaders
in
Moscow,
and
lie
points
among
the youth to know their his-
nist Jewish press whose purpose was to counteract the growing effect
held the same views.
out that they consider charges of tory also offers means of interest-
of these repOrts.
ing analyses by Smolar who points
Nevertheless, there is a sensi- anti-Semitism a defamation of to the despair that arises when
When the anti-Jewish purges hit Poland in 1968, Smoliar fell out
the
Soviet
government.
But
he
of favor with his Soviet masters. He was first dismissed from the tiveness in the USSR about the
Jewish youth begin to feel that
board of the Soviet-Polish Friendship League and then from the protests that have mounted against adds that "they admit that there
they are not equal citizens.
editorship of Folkstimme. However, he did not leave Poland until the restrictions that have been is a phenomenon in the USSR
Birobidzhan, Babi Yar and nu-
three months ago, when he went to visit France as a tourist.
imposed upon Jewish cultural ac- which they label 'kitchen anti-
merous related matters receive ex-
Now the "blood enemy" has offered him shelter and, perhaps, tivities in the Soviet Union, and Semitism.' "
ensive attention in Smolar's pres-
a new life.
Smolar asserts that there is a pre-
The latter view is explained by entation of facts regarding Russian
When Smoliar arrived in Haifa, he was welcomed by Knesset vailing opinion "that some ele-
member Moshe Sneh and by relatives and friends. He explained that ments in the Kremlin are unhappy an enumeration of instances, such Jews. He describes the demonstra-
the reason Polish authorities had permitted Folkstimme to continue about the Soviet policy toward the as the hurling of the epithet "Zhi- tions by young Jews as an ex-
to appear and the Yiddish State Theater to continue to function was Jews." He maintains that the Sov- dowska" at a Jewish woman in pression of Jewish interest and
out of fear for public opinion and the charge of anti-Semitism.
iet government seems worried over the kitchen, and the Jewish woman loyalty at Simhat Torah celebra-
Smoiiar, who once enjoyed the confidence of the Polish authorities, the growing wave.,of protests and retorts with "Katzapka," which is tions at the Moscow synagogue.
said that everything had changed since the 1967 Arab-Israel war. In repeatedly claims that its treat- equally insulting to the non-Jewess.
Smolar poses the question
April 1968, he had been dismissed for his "Jewish nationalism." For ment of Jews is an "internal af- Because kitchens in old residential
buildings are shared by all ten- whether the designation "Jew"
eight months he had been left without means of support but finally was fair."
ants, such exchanges of insults will be retained on passports and
given a pension. His two sons and his daughter-in-law had been arrest-
The Smolar story traces the back- have been labeled "kitchen anti- identifications held by Jews, and
ed for taking part in student demonstrations. They had since left
he believes that they will remain
Poland. His application to go to Israel had been rejected. Three months ground of Jewish cultural activities Semitism."
ago he had been permitted to visit France as a tourist and while there in Russia. He describes the great Smolar points to the anti-Semitic as an insistence of a designation
literary collection in the Guinsberg evidences in the Ukraine. He indi- of a "Jewish nationality," in
he made plans to get to Israel.
The Smoliar story is one of the tragedies of our time, but the and Leningrad University libraries cates that officially anti-Semitism spite of criticisms from abroad,,
a
o t h er cultural accomplish- is illegal and one can get a six- including Communists. At .: the
Jewish Communists apparently have not learned the lesson taught and
ments, and he affirms that no month
them by their own comrades.
to three-year prison term same time he indicates: "Jeivish-
for it, yet Trofim Kitchko, who youth become more Jewish-Min4,,:.
wrote the violently anti-Semitic ed and Jewish-feeling as they - 64-$ := :1,'4
Fears That Prevent Peace ... If Only All Arabs Knew
new About Israel's Hospitality !
"Judaism Without Embellishment , " gin to realize that the design=
How is one to eliminate fear? If not for the fears that drive people apart, we could got off without punishment and he tion 'Jew' in the Soviet identity--
documents actually intended to
have such a good world to live in ! This is true of the racial tensions in this country; it is true and his clique are tolerated.
of the situation created in the Middle East.
Tens of thousands of Arabs are now visiting Israel. They are unmolested, there are no
compulsory demands for identifications, there is hospitality. Yet there is fear!
An interesting story describing the new tourist trend—the visit of Arabs to Israel—
was told in the Tel Aviv daily Haaretz by Mordecai Artzieli, who reported:
There is mere toleration of
whatever there is left of Jew-
ish religious and some form of
Jewish cultural practices, and
Smolar sees no chance for sur-
vival of religious functions "since
the young generation of Jews is
far from being religious."
bring it about that Jews be con-
sidered second-class citizens by
quietly imposing serious restric-
tions upon them."
Will Russian Jewry disappear?
Is there hope for their survival?
In the beginning of July thou- mistreats me, or mocks or insults facing the house my heart ached.
Will Russia permit emigration?
sands of Arabs from the West me. I went into stores with my It was especially painful to me
Smolar's view is that the Soviets
wife and children and bought pres- when I happened to meet two
are not inclined to encourage Ju-
Bank
began visiting Israeli cities ents. The storeowners knew that friends of mine from before 1948.
Aaron Vergelis, editor of Sov- C...misin. Yet in other Communist
without permits or difficulties. I was an Arab and they served They told me: 'Hassan, you were a ietish Heimland, is quoted defend- countries Jewish communities are
Their first objective is the great me just like any other customer.
fool to flee. Look haw we are
ing the Soviet attitudes, and functioning. But unlike Romania,
metropolis of Tel Aviv.
"I didn't meet any Jews I knew ing.' Another thing hurt me, too— Smolar indicates the type of Hungary and Yugoslavia, there is
Hassan Shahshur, 21, of Jenin, from the period before 1948, but next to the window of my room in Yiddish literature that is being no "Jewish address" for eommuni-
married and the father of two, has then I was still a child at the Beit-Dagan there was a big, beau- published in the USSR. Smolar cation with
an organized corn-
never before seen the ocean. He time. But I recall one man whom tiful mulberry tree. As a child I points out, however, that in their munity.
stands with his friends, all dressed I would very much like to meet could identify the house from afar defense Soviet officials "feel un-
Families are being reunited
European-style,..on the boardwalk again. His name was Ben-Yaakov. by the tree. I looked for the tree comfortable when presented with
for settlement in Israel, he points
of the Tel Aviv beach and is as- He spoke Arabic like an Arab." as I approached my house today, the argument that all their enu-
out, even though officially emi-
tonished by the waves, the shouts
I met Hassan Abu-Hamid in a but it's been cut down. It's a merated efforts in the field of
gration is banned, and so far
of vendors, the girls in their minis Natanya cafe. Hassan is 35, was shame that you cut it down—it was Jewish culture cannot cover the
there is no vocal expression by
and shorts.
-
born in Beit-Dagan and fled with a beauiful, big tree and in my naked fact that Jewish education
Soviet Jews for emigration to
Ithim Abu-Omar is a senior of- his family to Ramallah during the childhood I used to climb it and is nonexistent in the So vi et
the United States or Canada.
ficial of the-Kuwait Oil Company. War of Independence. During the play among its branches."
Union." He s t a t e s that "the
On vacation he took his wife and Six-Day War Hassan became a
Most of the visitors seem rather USSR "is not interested in keeping
There is a valuable chapter in
three children and boarded the refugee for a second time and fled frightened. Those who are meet- even the remnants of Jewish cult- Smolar's book on the Soviet atti-
plane for Amman to visit.-his par- to Amman. Since then he hasn't ing Israelis for the first time have ure at full strength, not to speak tude towards Israel. The history of
ents in Tulkarem (on the West seen his father. Last week he yet to digest the idea that Israelis of developing new strength."
the relationship is outlined and the
Bank) whom he hadn't seen for crossed the bridges and visited his are completely different from what
Arab pressures are explained.
There is an interesting-
over five years. I met Ithim and father in Ramallah. When he they imagined them to be. They
chapter Smolar believes that Israel's ex-
his wife - and children at the Tel heard that it waspossible to visit are suspicious and timid in their on the economic status of Russian
Jews. Smolar lists the honors that istence "is important to the Krem-
Aviv Zoo.
Israel -proper he hastily took ad- demeanor. It was hard to persuade Jews.
lin if it is to maintain control of
Ithim was wary of returning to vantage of the opportunity. Says many of them to talk. A teacher have been accorded Jews in sci- the Arab rulers."
the West Bank after reading about- Hassan: "If it were up to me I "s pre a ding enlightenment" in ence and industry and he explains
Smolar's "Soviet Jewry Today
Israel in Arab papers. "Friends would remain here and not return Saudi Arabia, whose parents live that it is because many important
in Tulkarem told me to travel to to Amman. Life here is much bet- in a village near Jenin, refused to contributions had been made by and Tomorrow" contains such cam-
see Israel—Tel Aviv, Haifa, Afula. ter. Here one lives without fear. be interviewed. "Are you crazy? Jews to the Russian economy ,and pact resumes of existing condi-
I thought they were kidding. Ac- This morning I visited the house All I need is to have my name to science, and he declares: "Yet, tions that this work deserves pri-
tually you don't even need a spe- where I was born. It was closed printed in an Israeli newspaper!" few such Jews are publicly appre- mary consideration in selecting
elated. The majority of them re- guides for knowledge of what is
cial permit. Here in Israel nobody but people live there. As I stood he said.
main 'unknown soldiers' on the transpiring in Soviet attitudes and
What hope is there for peace when fear dominates and hatreds develop?
Yet, by continuing its policy of welcome to Arabs, Israel provides the chance for the fronts of science and industry." actions toward Jews.
spreading of good will, even if it may be by way of an underground good will sentiment. 2 Friday, September 10, 1971
—
TifE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS