Jews Face Serious Problems Affecting 'Irreversible Future'
ism in the day-to-day activi-
ties in a socialist country.
(Copyright 1973, JTA, Inc.)
Dr. Isaac Icekson, vice-
"When the economy was president of the Zionist Fed-
run for the benefit of the eration, noted that "young
few, when the nation's Jews feel they have to par-
wealth was in the hands of • •
ticipate in this country's
a domestic oligarchy and
struggle for socialism and to
foreign companies, the Jews fight against any right-wing
stayed, reaped the benefits attempt
to scuttle efforts to
and considered themselves build socialism. But they
citizens. When the revolution
participate as conscious and
occurred and created some proud Jews." Part of the
temporary dislocations for
reason for this, he said, is
the wealthy, which included that the relationship between
the Jews, but helped the
the Zionist movement and
majority of the people who
the government is very good.
were the immediate bene-
"Among other things, Al-
ficiaries of the new economy,
lende accepts the view that
many Jews decided they
Zionism is the national liber-
were no longer citizens and
ation of the Jewish people,"
fled to other countries. -
Dr. Icekson said.
This statment, by a non-
The Jews lived in peace
Jewish intellectual in San-
and harmony since settling
tiago, was made not in anger in Chile, as the country had
but by way of explaining few forced changes of gov-
that many non-Jews resented ernment and little civil
most influential is Enrique
Testa who was recently ap-
pointed by the government to
be president of the Consejo
de Defense del Estado (Coun-
cil of Defense of the State
which is similar to the At-
torney General's office in the
U. S.). He is a corporation
lawyer, professor of eco-
nomic law at the University
of Chile and currently; on a
leave of absence as president
of the Bank of Israel of
Chile. As Council president
he works directly under Dr.
Allende.
Another influential Jew in
the government is Jacobo
Schaulsohn, who is one of
three members of the five-
member government tribunal
appointed jointly by the
President and the Senate.
Both he and Testa are com-
mitted Socialists and proud
Jews.
A third influential figure
in the government is Volodia
Toitelbaum, a Communist
Party Senator who is re-
spected by friends and
enemies alike as a leading
intellectual; a brillant orator
and writer, and one of the
leading political figues in
Chile. Unlike Testa and
Schaulsohn, Toitelbaum
avoids identifying himself
with Jewish causes although
he has been known to have
expressed in private criti-
cism of the Soviet govern-
ment's policy toward the
Jews in the USSR.
Dr. Allende's oft-repeated
promise to permit religious
freedom and to curtail gov•
the way so many Jews — strife. The first immigrants
some 5,000 — "abandoned the
country that gave them were Marranos who fled
the Spanish Inquisition.
refuge when they needed it,
Modern immigration did not
after Dr. Salvador Allende really begin until the early
Gossens took office as presi- 1900s, and the first groups
dent in September 1970. The
intellectual, who emphasized arriving were strongly Zion-
that he was a Socialist and ist. Between 1934 and 1946,
a friend of Israel, repeated some 15,000 Jews arrived;
several times during our con- groups of 200 to 300 Jews
versation that there was came in the 1950s, and a
"really no good reason" why small group came from Hun-
gary in 1957 at the time of
Jews should have left.
the Soviet Union's invasion
"After all," he continued, of that country. Many of the
"there was no anti-Semitism, Jews who left Chile after
no restrictions on the politics 1970 were part of those who
or ideology or Jewish insti-
came from Nazi-occupied
tutional functions. No one Europe.
pushed out the Jews. The
According to available sta-
problems that affected them
affected many others, but tistics, of the 30,000 Jews in
only the Jews left en masse. 1968, the overwhelming ma-
And where did they go? Most jority were Ashkenazim. As WJC
Head Sees
went to other countries in in other South American
countries,
most
of
the
Jews
,
South America where condi-
Survival of Jews
tions today are similar to were part of the middle class
—small
i_'-otory
owners
and
Based in Israel
those that prevailed here
before 1970. In a few years, shopkeepers, bankers, doc-
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Two
if not sooner, revolutions will tors, lawyers, professors, diametrically opposed views
occur there too. Where will technicians and scientists — of Israel in the scheme of
the Jews go then? No one although not as affluent as
existence were ex-
can ignore or cheat history those of Brazil. Because so Jewish
pressed at the meeting of
by running away."
many Jews were profes- the World Executive of the
While flight appeared to be sionals Dr. Allende urged World Jewish Congress here.
the response of the affluent them to remain and help Louis Pincus, chairman of
and middle class Jews to restructure the economy. the World Zionist Executive
Some 1,500 of the 5,000 who sharply challenged the con-
astronomical inflation, de- left
did return. Of the rest
tention of Dr. Joachim Prinz,
valuation of currency, pho-
of the 3,500 less than one- of Newark, N. J.,
hibitive taxes on large enter-
chairman
third went to Israel, accord- of the WJC Governing Coun-
prises, a tightening of credit,
to Jewish community spokes- cil, that the concept of the
shortages of consumer goods,
men in Santiago. Those who centrality of Israel in all
and a general hostility to-
ward the new government remained in Chile have, by Jewish affairs was "sheer
and the revolution, many of and large, adopted a wait- nonsense."
attitude. Some feel
Pincus claimed that it was
the Jewish youth chose an- the present difficulties are
other approach to the new
Israel and only Israel that
•
p
rary
and
are
willing
to
developments: participation.
can play the major role in
Many of them became active I roil with the economic punch. Jewish life today.
Others, however, are highly
He noted that it was Is-
pants
in building the socialist the regime because of its 000 Jews and that it is Israel
society in line with the ob- Marxist orientation.
that takes the issue of Jew-
jectives of Dr. Allende and
Dr. Gil Sinay, president of ish distress in Russia or the
his Unidad Popular (Popular
the Comle Representative Arab countries before the
Unity or People's Union).
In fact, participation be- de la Colectividad Israelita world.
Pincus claimed that even
came so extensive that talk de Chile ( Representative
of aliya has almost disap- Committee of Jews in Chile) non-Jews regard Israel as
peared from the scene in noted that many Jews were the spokesman for Jews
Zionist circles. This itself genuinely afraid that Dr. everywhere.
Moreover, he said, it is
was an important index of Allende would establish a
a new consciousness among regime similar to that of Israel that can help encour-
Jewish and Zionist youths, Yugoslavia or Cuba. This, age and sustain the spirit-
because before the revolution they feared, would further ual and cultural develop-
there were more olim from undermine the already anom- ment of Jewish life.
He observed that Hebrew
Chile than from any other alous base of the Jewish
South American country middle class, especially those can develop only in Israel
in the upper middle class or and that it is from Israel
since 1948.
"Even many Zionist youths those whose businesses might that Jewish educational aids
who were aliya-oriented no be targets of the govern- are sent to Jewish commu-
nities all over the world.
longer want to leave,' said ment's nationalization poli-
Pincus did not deny that
cies.
one youth shaliah (emissary)
the diaspora can contribute
from Israel. "Their attitude
With the exception of the to Jewish survival. But it
is, 'Why should we go to economic problems Jews cannot do so alone, he said.
Israel when we can help face as part of the middle It must have the backing of
build socialism here?' " class, their political and Israel.
There are on-going discus- social status has improved
He said it was only Israel
sions among Socialist-Zionists since Allende took office. that can guarantee the physi-
as to- the relationship be- There are some 150 Jews in cal and political existence of
tween Socialism and Zion- the government. One of the the Jewish nation at large.
ernment interference in pri- based on the Security Coun- ticipate as Jews or be swept
vately owned and operated cil Resolution 242. -
aside by the onrushing tide
schools has been kept. One
Tov noted, too, that when of history. There is no third
of the best private educa- Israel celebrated its 24th an- choice."
tional institutions in Chile is niversary in 1972, "special
the Chaim Weizmann School honors were given to Israel
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
in Santiago, which has some by representatives of dif- 18—Friday, July 13, 1973
1,209 students attending the ferent parties in the Parlia-
kindergarten, primary and ment and Senate without any
secondary grades.
reservations. The speeches
While teachers there are sounded like those one would
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mostly non-Jewish, there are hear at a Zionist congress.
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a number of teachers from Even in the universities
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SUNDAY 11 to 4
Dr. Allende has also ex-
structors in the primary
grades, where all subjects, pressed sympathy with the
The Best To You
including social studies, are Soviet Jews and the Jews in
taught in Hebrew. In the Syria and Iraq. The expres-
secondary grades, Hebrew is sion of sympathy for the
Jews in the Arab countries
taught as a language.
One of the instructors de- is especially significant, Tov
scribed the school as "a little said, because there is a large
bit of Israel." Some 500 and affluent Arab commu-
III
.. .
youngsters participated in a nity in Chile.
FOR 11./.
Many Arabs who were
Passover seder in the
11111 %1
school's huge gymnasium. born in Chile frequently
BIG BANDS OR
which was decked out with travel to Israel and come to
SMALL COMBOS
montages depicting scenes the Israeli Consulate General
of the exodus from Egypt in Santiago to get visas, he
and the Israelites marching added. "They return here
through the desert. The chil- with an entirely different ap
dren re-enacted the exodus preciation of what is happen-
story and read the hagada ing to the Arabs in Israel,"
—all in Hebrew—and to- he said. "They find out that
gether with their parents their relatives are doing
sang Hebrew songs.
well contrary to the propa-
Religious activities and ganda of the Arab League
synagogue services suffered agitators here."
a severe set-back when the
Because of the numerous
three Conservative rabbis scientific, agricultural and
and one Orthodox rabbi left cultural exchange programs
the country after Dr. Al- between Chile and Israel,
lende became President. At- "we have succeeded in at-
Phone
tendance at synagogue serv- tracting intellectuals to our
ices fell and members of side," Tov said. "Everyone
549-7170
the diminished congregations knows the meaning of the
took turns leading the Sha- word shalom and more and
bat services.
more people in Chile are
Nine months ago this situ- realizing that we are trying
ation began tp change with to achieve peace and live in
Brand New 1973
the arrival of Rabbi Dr. harmony with the Arab
ECONO
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Angel Kreiman from Buenos people in the Middle East"
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then,
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Also
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of the Rabbinical Assembly not only in that country but
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Said Israeli Ambassador
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and many others inside and
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JTA News Editor