Whither South American Jewry? Uruguay's Mounting Problem

By MURRAY ZUCKOFF

(Copyright 1973, JTA, Inc.)

Until recently the 30,000
Jews of Uruguay considered
themselves more fortunate
than their brethren in other
South American countries.
The consensus was that they
were living in the best of all
possible diaspora worlds. This
small nation with a popula-
tion of close to 3,000,000,
95 per cent of E,u rope an
stock, was the quintessence
of democracy. Uruguay was
universally referred to as the
"Switzerland of South Amer-
and as a "social welfare
state gone wild."
In fact, one Jewish com-
munity leader told this visi-
tor, "life for Jews was so
tranquil here that we were
virtually ignored by Jews
elsewhere. From the very be-
ginning of our immigration
here we were a Zionist
yishuv. There was no assim-
ilation because there was no
anti-Semitism and no threats
to our security. If there were
any problems they concerned
the population as a whole,
not just the Jewish commun-
,ity. When Jewish community
leaders from the United
States or Israeli leaders vis-
ited South America they
stayed for a week in Argen-
tina, a week in Brazil but
only a day here." But this
tranquility is beginning to
erode."
Jose Jerosolimski, editor
of the Spanish-Jewish news-
paper, Seminario Hebraio,
and director of Kol Zion
b'Uruguay, a two-hour six
days a week Spanish-Yiddish
radio program, observed that
the Jews are caught in a so-
cial pressure cooker of ram-
pant inflation, unrest in the
movement, the increas-
ing intrusion of the armed
forces into the body politic,
and a growth of anti-Zionist
propaganda generated by

About two months ago, taxi Jews were candidates in the plio began to spread anti-
quisition began to arrive in
Argentina and Chile at about drivers staged a strike in last election and lost).
Zionist propaganda on the
the same time. The early im- protest against a tax levied
But the views of the estab- university campus and when
migrants to these countries on them by the Finance Min-
their hatred for imperialism
were Marranos. The next big ister. The short-lived strike lished Jewish leadership are spilled over into anti-Israel
often
disputed
by
some
Jew-
wave of immigration did not was extremely militant, this
diatribes. We rejected the
take place until the mid- visitor was told, more, than ish youths and some younger allegations and implications
leaders
who
are
critical
of
1800s and the conditions they the situation objectively war-
found in Argentina, Brazil ranted. "There is no question what they term the extreme that because we are Jews
and Chile were far from but that the militancy of the caution and even timidity of we might be guilty of dual
strike was engendered by the the official leadership. "They loyalty if we are also for
peaceful.
Israel. Our loyalty is to Is-
It was different for the fact that the Finance Min- bend over backwards not to
rael as Jews and to Uruguay
offend
either
the
government
ister's
name
happened
to
be
Jews arriving in Uruguay.
The society they found was Moises Cohen," . one Jewish or the military," said one as temporary residents.
almost solidly middle class. leader opined. But he quickly young Jewish spokesman. There is no more future for
There were no extremes of added that if there was any "It's wise, of course, not to us here than there is in any
wealth and poverty, and the anti-Semitism, it was strictly exaggerate or to be overly diaspora.
The mood of aliya is not
few rich families were less unconscious on the part of agressive but too much timi-
limited
just to the young
dity
paralyzes
and
immo-
the
taxi
drivers.
ostentatious than those in Ar-
Another incident happened bilizes the entire community. people. "Little thought was
gentina and Brazil. There
was a strong anti-clerical tra- after Israeli jet pilots shot If things get worse it will given to aliya, say 15 years
dition and, in fact, there was down the Libyan commercial happen whether or not the ago. by middle class Jews,"
no cardinal until the reign of airliner over the Sinai on leadership was timid or ag- said Jerosolimski. "Now,
Feb. 21. President Borda- gressive. If'thines get better. however, with uncertainty av
Pope John XXIII.
Uruguay had a sound tra- berry sent condolences to well then. timidity was out to the future, many famili
are considering this step.
dition of political democracy Libya. "This was understand- of order."
Another Jewish youth noted Previously. many Jews were
and never permitted slavery; able in the context of the
the death penalty was abol- tragedy," it was noted by that at one time Jews dem- sentimental Zionists, they
ished long ago. It was the Jerosolimski. "What was not onstrated on the streets and were friends of Israel. But
first country in Latin Amer- understandable, at least not held public rallies on behalf now more and more consider
ica to legalize divorce, the on the surface, was that he of Soviet Jewry, Israel or themselves to be conscious
first to grant status to illegit- also sent condolences to the other Jewish causes. "But and committed Zionists."
What is the future of the
imate children, and the first Lebanese government when no more," he said. "The
to introduce women's suf- the Israelis, several days be- Jewish leadership claims Jewish community here?
frage. Uruguay was also the fore the Libyan airliner dis- that holding such demonstra- "I'm not too Pessimistic,"
first country in Latin Amer- aster, bombed a terrorist tions or rallies would make Olesker ventured. "The com-
us look like the Tupamaros munity is essentially unified.
ica to introduce the eight- base."
or the Frente Amplio. So The yishuv is extremely
hour work day, free medical
All the Jewish leaders in-
care for the poor, free tuition terviewed emphasized that what's happening? A lot of proud of its Jewishness. Our
at the universities and the while this succession of in- young Jews identified with youngsters study Hebrew,
separation of church and cidents raised some anxiety, the Tupamaros or joined the Yiddish and Spanish. We
state. Until the mid-1960s it was not a cause for alarm. Frente because it gave them have religious schools, secu-
only eight per cent of the na- Certainly, they asserted, it some cause, some objective lar schools, Talmud Torahs,
a strong and dedicated Zion-
tional budget went to the was not any evidence of to fight for."
armed forces and violence any organized anti-Semitism.
"The Tupamaros, the Tup- ist movement. I have faith
that the country's demo-
was universally deplored.
"What we are witnessing is amaros. that's all we hear
The Jews who came here, a possible move toward a from the leadership," said cratic tradition will prevail.
"We still live in total free-
mostly-from Eastern Europe form of Peronism, extreme another youth. "Everything
and some from Germany, nationalism," said Shai good, bad or indifferent that dom. Not a single institution
Hungary and Sephardic coun- Greenberg, editor of the seems to be happening to the has been touched. Our social
tries, became part of the Spanish-Yiddish daily, Haint Jews here is blamed on the and institutional activities
Uruguayan middle class: doc- (Today). "There is very Tupamaros. I didn't agree continue as ever. But we are
tors, lawyers, professionals, little anti-Semitism and what with them but I could cer- living through a period of
small businessmen, intellec- there is of it comes from the tainly understand them. But social unrest generated at
tuals. The goals of the Zion- right-wing elements who are why should they be blamed first by the Tupamaros and
ist movement were widely
for whatever problems we as now by the increasing inter-
supported, and several im- fairly weak. The broad Jews now face. They've been vention of the military in the
portant political and intellec- masses of people, the gov- crushed, so what .is the ex- civil life of the country. In
flation has ruined some Jews
tual leaders, non-Jews, were ernment and even the mili- cuse for inactivity?"
active in the Uruguayan Com- tary are friendly to the Jews
Another young Jewish wo- and in that context some
mittee for Palestine founded and sympathetic toward Is- man stated: "I and many activities have been hamper-
in the 1940s. The committee rael."
of my friends became proud ed. We don't know how it
Bernardo Olesker, presi- Jews when the Frente Am- will end."
was largely responsible for
dent of the Comite Central
consider the proposed sale the outstanding work done in Israelita del Uruguay, the
the
United
Nations
by
Uru-
of Phantom jets to Saudi
central representative com-
Arabia because "We are par- guayan Ambassador Rodri- mittee of Jews, confirmed
quez
Fabreget
in
favor
of
the
ticularly fearful of the pos-
this view and added: "While
sibility of a transfer of these Palestine partition resolution there are certain manifesta-
of
Nov.
29,
1947.
planes from Saudi Arabia to
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Rab- determining the fate of the
But in the last few months tions of anti-Semitism they
Egypt."
are nothing to worry about. bi Menachem M. Schneer- city.
several
incidents
marked
* * *
The letter was delivered to
We are much more concern-
the White House by one of what some Jewish leaders ed with growing anti-Zionism sohn, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rebbe Won't Like
the signatories, Rep. Bertram apprehensively termed a new from the left. But this should assailed the Israeli govern-
beginning, or at least, "a new
This Development
L. Podell (D. N.Y.).
not be confused with hos- ment for assisting Arabs in
LOS ANGELES (JTA) —
It cautioned that Saudi departure from this country's tility
Jews
as
such.
East Jerusalem. The re- Jews helping Arabs? It's
Arabia has spoken of the need traditional pattern of democ-
These and other Jewish
to destroy Israel and said racy," as one Jewish spokes- leaders and spokesmen noted marks of the rebbe, whost happening here. The project
man
put
it.
headquarters are in New is sponsored by CARE of
that American jets in Arab
Three incidents occured in that the absence of any of- York, were broadcast in the California and it entails
hands could set back peace
ficial anti-Semitism is evi-
prospects in the Middle East almost rapid succession denced by the fact Borda- Chabad synagogue in the Old raising Jewish money to
City.
help Arabs — small farmers,
which
jolted
the
Jewish
com-
and in fact encourage the
The leader of the hasidic mechanics and tradesmen—
munity. Some months ago the berry's Cabinet, re-formed
Arabs to make war.
several months ago with the
In Jerusalem, Foreign Min- armed forces, flushed with approval of the armed sect warned against ties be- who live on the West Bank
tween Jews and Arabs and get off the Israeli wel
victory
over
their
success
in
ister Abba Eban cautioned
forces, includes Moises Co-
the Knesset "not to lose its crushing the Tupamaros, de- hen as the Minister of Econ- criticized Dr. Yosef Burg, rolls.
Israel's minister of interior,
The interest-free loans, to
balance" over the sale of cided to assauge the unrest
American Phantoms to Saudi in the labor movement by omy and Finance and Al- for "boasting" about cordial be administered jointly by
CARE and the Israeli gov-
going after what they termed berto Benison as Under- relations.
Arabia.
He also accused Welfare ernment, will enable the re-
Eban spoke in reply to a corruption in the government. Secretary of Agriculture.
motion by Dov Milman of They arrested several busi- Both are Sephardic Jews but Minister Michael Hazani of cipients to buy equipment,
the Gahal opposition. "We nessmen for alleged tax ir- neither are active in Jewish distributing money to Old implements and seeds and
City Arabs from funds raised eventually stand on their
should not see developments regularities. Three of the life.
"What is more important." by world Jewry. "Instead of own feet economically.
in the world around us as if businessmen were Jews.
CARE, which started out
Israel were helpless at the They were held incommuni- one Jewish official noted, "is allocating this money to re-
mercy of vast enemy pow- cado and reportedly subjected that Minister Cohen is also ligious institutions, they dis- by sending relief packages
ers — though we must care- to torture. According to one a member of the Consejo de tribute money to Arabs and to war-torn Europe and has
fully deal with these devel- report, the officer who was Seguridad Nacional (the Na- strengthen them," the rebbe now switched to international
interrogating one of these tional Security Council com- said. Burg and Hazani are relief and development pro-
opments," Eban said.
Meanwhile, Israel has Jews in the process of trying posed of members of the leaders of the National Re- jects, has sent letters to 175
private Jewish foundations
learned from "foreign sour- to wrest a "confession" that government and the armed ligious Party.
The rebbe alleged that the in California soliciting sup-
ces" that Syria is now in pos- he was guilty of tax evasion forces). This goes to show
session of advanced Soviet told him: "Don't worry, don't that the military too, relies Israeli government put ob- port for the project.
F. Peter Freed, the pro-
ground-to-air missiles and be afraid. Here we won't on him." This is also. the stacles before Jews who
first time, he added, that want to settle in the Old ject's volunteer chairman,
that the Syrian Air Force and make soap out of you."
T h e Jewish businessmen Jews hold such high posi- City. He claimed that if said he hit on the idea of
tank strength have doubled
were subsequently released tions in the government al- Jerusalem Arabs are allowed approaching Jewish philan-
since the Six-Day War.
and no charges were made though there are no Jews in to vote in the municipal elec- thropies after consulting with
the Parliament. (Several tions, they might end up Israeli government officials.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS against them.

emissaries from the A r a b
League from Argentina who
frequently visit Uruguay, and
by t h e left-wing coalition
known as the Frente Amplio
Popular (Broad Popular
Front).
While these general devel-
opments are similar to those
in Argentina, Brazil and
Chile, they have a greater
impact here because the vari-
ables are still in flux and
because the general political
situation becomes more tense
each day with the tenuous
and uneasy truce between the
civil government headed by
President Juan •ordaberry
and the armed forces, and
the current truce between the
organized labor movement
and the Frente Amplio on one
side and the government and
armed forces on the other.
"The social issues have been
`settled' for the time being,
at least, in Brazil, in Chile
and even in Argentina," said
one Jewish leader, "but here
we are still up in the air, so
to speak, waiting to see
where we will land."
In this context, the Jewish
community, which is cen-
tered in Montevideo, is un-
dertaking, what amounts to,
an assessment of its status
and future in Uruguay. The
assessment is more intensive
and to some, more painful —
because the current social
tensions and turmoil caught
the Jewish community by
surprise. There was nothing
in the history of the yishuv
nor in the history of the
country to prepare them for
the current events.
The Uruguayan Jewish
community is younger than
those of the other three
countries, a scant 55 years
old. The influx of Jews in
Brazil began in the 16th Cen-
tury in flight from the Portu-
guese Inquisition. Jewish ref-
ugees from the Spanish In-

Israel Conveys Concern to U.S.
at Plane Sales to Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON (JTA)—Is-
rael formally expressed its
concern over the proposed
sale by the U.S. government
of Phantom jet fighter bomb-
ers to Saudi Arabia, the State
Department reported.
The concern was expressed
in a note delivered by Israel
Ambassador Simha Dinitz
to Deputy Secretary of State
Kenneth Rush.
According to a department
spokesman, the note was in
"the spirit of the good rela-
tions" between the two coun-
tries.
Ambassador Dinitz had pre-
viously informed presidential
adviser Henry Kissinger and
Assistant Secretary of State
Joseph Sisco of Israel's stand
on this subject.
Press reports have said
that the U.S. sale of more
k.rhan $1,000,000,000 in weap-
ons to Saudi Arabia -would
include from 24 to 30 Phan-
toms.
"We will continue to give
the Israeli views careful con-
sideration," Rush was report-
. ed to have told Dinitz. Rush
reiterated the U.S. position,
the American spokesman
said, that the PhantoMs have
not yet been sold to Saudi
Arabia and that every ef-
tort would be made to pre-
vent their transfer to a third
country.
Thirty - two congressmen
asked President Nixon to re-

48 Friday, June 29, 1973

—

Lubavitcher Rebbe Wants Israel
to Stop Helping Jerusalem Arabs