THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 30, 1976 23
Symposium on Jewish Assimilation Finds Population Declining
HAIFA — The world
Jewish population is shrink-
ing, because of assimilation,
inter-marriage, and a dec-
line in the Jewish content
both in the Diaspora and in
Israel, Hebrew University
scholar Sergio Della Pergola
told a symposium on Jewish
Assimilation, held by Haifa
University and the Histori-
cal Documentation Center.
"Informed estimates sug-
gest that inter-marriages in
the Soviet Union are as high
as 50 percent. The figure is
about the same in West
Europe. In the U.S. about 40
percent," said Dr. Della Per-
gola.
He said part of the assi-
milation problem was that
Jews no longer live in well-
organized communities, but
in large cities where they
are a minority.
Prof. Bela Vago said
that experts agreed that
the Communist design for
solving the Jewish prob-
lem through enforced total
assimilation inside Corn-
munist society had failed.
There was no agreement
among experts about the
American Jewish situation.
Some argued that American
Jews would preserve their
Jewish identity for many
generations to come.
Others, among them Ar-
thur Hertzberg, chairman
of the American Jewish
Congress, held that the
Jews might disappear into
American society in a short
time.
Which Way
AreWeGoin a ?
Opposed To
Traditional
Banking
America's bankers are
Right now federal, state
supporting specific legis-
and local gOvernment of-
lation to safeguard your
ficials are legally empow-
right to financial privacy.
What Should
Be Done
ered to require your bank
Legislation that we think
to show them records of
you should be aware of.
your private banking
The banking industry is
transactions —without first
seeking legislation that
notifying you. This is to-
would spell out the con-
tally opposed to a tradi-
ditions under which gov-
tion in American banking,
ernment agencies can
in which an individual's
have access to your bank
private financial records
records.
are handled with the ut-
For example, the Tax Re-
most confidentiality.
The potential for abuse is obvious. At the same time
we recognize government's need to curb crime. The
need for privacy in a free society; the need to prevent
criminals from hiding behind barriers of - privacy —
two needs at cross pu'rposes with each other.
Why Should Records
Be Confidential?
Searching through the records of your checking ac-
count is like leafing through your personal diary. It
can reveal who you know. where you go, what you
like, your doctors, your political leanings, what your
religious and fraternal affiliations are. what acro-
nyms you are partial to—NAACP, NRA, UAW, DAR.
The Need For Legislation
Clearly there are legitimate times when the public
form Act contains provi-
Two men in an open door struggling
to rove a heavy safe. They push.
They shove. Finally one stands up
and says, "It's too heavy, we can't get
it in." The other shoots back, "In!
I thought we were moving it out."
We often work at cross purposes in
our pluralistic society. Nothing is
wrong with that; it's what keeps us
free. But once in a while, we need to
look up and ask: "Which way are we
going?"
America's bankers think now is one
of those times.
good demands government access to financial rec-
ords for criminal or tax investigations.
But, until recently, there have been no legal guide-
lines for the examination of financial records. Bank-
ers were caught in the middle between their cus-
tomers' rights to privacy and the government's
need for specific evidence for law enforcement.
sions supported by the American Bankers Associa
tion that would limit access to your bank records in
three ways:
1) The individual must be notified by the govern
ment agency requesting to see his records.
2) After notification, the individual has the right to
prevent the government from obtaining his bank
records unless it goes to court.
3) If the government goes to court to obtain the
records, the individual may intervene in the
court action in order to defend his rights.
Under such legislation, for example, the Interna
Revenue Service would be limited in its ability to
use John Doe or "no name" summons to review a
wide range of bank customer records in a tax in-
vestigation that seeks to identify an unknown in-
dividual.
The Tax Reform Act was passed by the House and
is now being reviewed by the Senate. Another piece
balance your individual interests with society's
needs.
of similar legislation is the Right of Privacy Act of
With this goal in tnind, America's bankers have
considered.
adopted an action program to guarantee that ethical
procedures are followed by banks in the use of rec-
ords of an individual's financial transactions.
1976. also supported by bankers. Others are being
But if safeguards against potential government
abuse of your financial privacy are to be enacted—
you must take an active part in supporting them.
The Wrong Legislation
Our effort is spearheaded by the American Bankers
Particularly in an election year, you should find out
The Bank Secrecy Act doesn't mean what you think.
Association Committee on the Rights of Privacy.
where the candidates stand on the issue. And if they
It now gives government agencies access to your
The group's aim is to help resolve the conflicts
don't already know, we suggest that you let them
private banking records. It puts no limits on which
emerging between society's needs and the need to
protect individuE I privacy.
know where you stand.
government agencies can acquire your records. It
requires no reason for such acquisition other than
being "useful" to the government. And the Act
makes no provision for notifying you that your fi-
The-immediate
lflict to be resolved, of course, is
the government
red to inspect your bank records.
Contrary To A Free Society
Full public disclosure of all financial information
about private citizens is contrary to a free society.
nancial records are being studied —though banks
But the Committee's long-range objectives cover
The public's right to know must be balanced with
have often taken it upon themselves to let you know.
other aspects of the individual's right to privacy,
your individual right to privacy.
Thus, 200 million American bank accounts, yours in-
cluded, are potentially subject to secret surveillance
for unspecified reasons. And your bank is legally
bound to cooperate.
including:
—An employer's desire to inspect an employee ap-
plicant's credit, health and other records.
— A lender's desire to inspect similar records of a
credit applicant.
What Your Bank Is Doing
Establishing guidelines by banks for the use of con-
Neither you nor your bank wants to hinder the con-
fidential information is important. Equally as im-
stitutional pursuit of lawbreakers.
portant is new effective legislation that protects
What is needed is a set of principles and laws to
individuals from the potential of government abuse
of their privacy.
That right has been a tradition of American bank-
ing. We urge you to help us maintain it.
Liberty State Bank & Trust
Offices in:
Hamtramck, Clinton Township,
Sterling Heights, West Bloomfield
and Waterford Township.
Member F.D.I.C.