Nun's Dedication to 'Human Family' Inspired Her to Act for the Release of Soviet Jews
By HEIDI PRESS
A Catholic nun who calls
herself "a daughter of Abra-
ham" told 200 Jewish women
she became involved in the
cause for Soviet Jews be-
cause of her dedication to
the "human family. -
Sister Margaret Brennan,
general superior of the Sister!
Servants of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary of Monroe,
told members of women's
service and leadership or-
ganizations at Cong. Beth
Achim Monday, that she
often meditated on God's call
to Moses to "draw people
from oppression to freedom."
SI,. said the church's "tra-
. of liberation" was be-
a ' her dedication "to lift-
ing the burden of oppres-
sion."
President of the 150,000-
member Leadership Confer-
ence of Women Religious,
Sister Margaret said that a
resolution adopted by the
group was sent to persons of
influence for two years in a
row, calling for Soviet Jews_
"to be able to worship and
_ live in the USSR as Jews"
Or to have the right to
emigrate.
Sister Margaret, a member
of several interreligious
groups, was chosen to speak
here in a women's plea for
Sylva Zalmanson, Soviet
Prisoner of Conscience, held
on the 25th anniversary of
the Declaration of Human
Rights.
The plea was held on be-
half of those who are denied
Article 13 of the Declara-
tion of Human Rights which
allows freedom of emigra-
tion, freedom to leave or re-
turn to one's native land,
according to Mrs. G. Vernon
Leopold of the Detroit Action
Committee for Soviet Jewry.
Many of the women attend-
ing wore Poisoner of Con-
science medallions.
Sister Margaret said that
a Soviet emigre who escaped
from Siberia to Israel also
interested her in the plight
of Soviet Jews. She heard
his "testimony" at an inter-
r eligi ous consultation in
March 1972 at the University
of Chicago, after which she
"tried to promote the cause
(for Soviet Jews) in groups
in which I had influence."
She asked her sisters
around the world to become
acquainted with the problem,
and to send letters to Presi-
dent Nixon. Wearing a Pris-
oner of Conscience medal
herself, Sister Margaret
urged her audience to write
to their congressman, to
President Nixon and the
Soviet ambassador, Anatoly
Dobrynin. Pamphlets includ-
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
ing printed postcards for that
purpose were distributed.
Following a short prayer
from the Book of Zachariah,
she received a standing ova-
tion.
Friday, Dec. 14,1973-37
People
Make News
HARRY K. GUTMANN of
Scarsdale, N.Y., has been
elected to a two-year term as
chairman of the board of
trustees of the Union of
American Hebrew Congrega-
tions. He already had served
for a year, completing the
term of the late Sidney I.
Cole of Chicago.
*
* *
PAULA SIBRACK of Ann
Arbor, recently held a one-
woman "Ceramics and Fi
ber" art show at the Sill
Gallery at Eastern Michigan
University. The show, about
50 pieces of ceramics, weav-
ing and combination forms,
a requirement for a mas-
ters degree in art at the
university. ^
* * *
MRS. IRVING S. BENJA-
, , president of the Na-
-. .al Federation of -Temple
Sisterhoods, has been elect-
ed to the board of governors
of Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion.
In Cincinnati, she is a mem-
ber of the Isaac NI. Wise
Temple and a past president
of its sisterhood. She is the
coordinator of the Endow-
ment Fund for the Jewish
Federation of Cincinnati and
a board member of the Jew-
ish Community Relations
Council.
Debate on Abortion
Parents Without Partners
of the Jewish Center will
have a debate on abortion
8:30 p.m. Sunday at the 10
Mile branch. For information,
call Group Service s, DI
1-4200.
'"-
liannultah
You bring the memories of your childhood fo it ... the excitement of
kindling still another candle on the menorah ...the dreidel-spinning, the Hannukah-gelt,
the fragrance of mama's latkes mingled with the aroma of steaming cups of Maxwell House ® Coffee ...
Know the joy in sharing the traditions with your family ...
and the mellow cheer of Maxwell House ® Coffee, still a favorite in Jewish homes
at holidays—and every day.
"
To You find tour Familit"
111fIXIMELL 11111111ETIFFEE
Happy
"good
to the
last drop"
K CERTIFIED KOSHER
Maxwell House is a registered trademark
of General Foods Corporation
GENERAL F000S