THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, March 11, 1983 21 Jewish Units Back Reagan Theat on Romania's MFN Trade June 30, 1983, if the educa- NEW YORK (JTA) — A spokesman for 37 national Jewish organizations has hailed the Reagan Adminis- tration for its warning to Romania that it will sus- pend the most-favored- nation (MFN) trade status unless it ends a tax on its citizens who want to emi- grate. Yehuda Hellman, execu- tive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, declared YEHUDA HELLMAN COMPLETE ALTERATIONS Reasonable Prices HERBERT Cleaners & Tailors Draperies Decorated Folded Lapels Narrowed Expert Cleaning Lowest Prices! Also Suede, Leather 24109 Coolidge at 10 Mile Across from Dexter Davison 399-0336 that the American Jewish community "has consis- tently opposed any imposi- tion of an education tax as a condition for emigration from any land and regrets the Romanian govern- ment's action in this regard. We therefore fully under- stand and support the ac- tion of our government to defend the principle of free emigration." Hellman's statement fol- lowed an announcement by President Reagan in San Francisco last Friday dec- laring "my intention to terminate Romanid's most- favored nation tariff status and other benefits effective We sit 'round the Seder table each year. and celebrate The Exodus through traditions passed down to us over thousands of years. These traditions have become so much a part of our heritage they are inscribed in the Haggadah for all the world to see: the matzoh. the "MaNishianah: the Aphikoman. the recitation of the plagues, the chant of "Dayenu:' and on and on through the night. closing with "Chad Gadya:' At each Seder. however, there are other kinds of traditions ... traditions which are just as strong. just as cherished. They are our personal family traditions. Unwritten and unsung. they are as much a part of our Seders as the hard-boiled eggs and bitter herbs. And among these. one of the most popular traditions is the wine that is used throughout the Seder eve- ning. That is Manischewitz. of course. In millions of homes. it just wouldn't be Passover-without a bottle of Manischewitz Kosher Wine. It is a wine that spans the generations and. somehow, symbolizes the continuity of the family Seder. Faces may change. we grow older, sometimes there is a new youngster to ask the "MaNish- tanah"... but always there is the Ma n ischewitz. It holds a traditional and hon- ored place at our Seder table. Produced and bottled under strict. Rabbinical supervision by Rabbi Dr. Joseph I. Singer & Rabbi Solomon B. Shapiro Manischewitz Wine Co. New York. NY 11232 Kashruth Certificate available upon request. tion repayment decree re- mains in force on that date." Reagan said the Romanian decree, which was published last No- vember, conflicted with a 1974 U.S. trade law in- tended to remove bar- riers to freedom of emig- ration. The law was the Jackson/Vanik amend- ment to the Foreign Trade Act which links trade with the Com- munist bloc countries to their emigration policies. After the Romanian gov- ernment published its de- cree, the Reagan Adminis- tration warned repeatedly that the education tax im- posed on citizens who want to emigrate could affect Romania's MFN status. Last Wednesday, two days before Reagan made his announcement, Romania's Deputy Foreign Minister Gheorghe Dolgu met with State Department officials to discuss the issue. In January, Lawrence Eag- leburger, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, went to Bucharest to warn the Romanian government that they were in jeopardy of losing the MFN status. According to the Roma- nian decree, all would-be emigrants under retire- ment age would have to repay in hard currency the costs of education at about $3,600 for a person of high school- education and in- creasing by about $4,000 for each year of college educa- tion. This move was intended to stop the Romanian "brain drain" abroad. Shortly after Romania enacted its decree, Chief Rabbi Moses Rosen said it did not apply to Jews seeking to go to Israel beacuse Romania distin- guished between emigra- tion to another country and aliya to Israel. How- ever, last month, Rosen said in Tel Aviv that the Romanian law would now also be applied to Jews seeking to make aliya. The suspension of MFN would cost Romania some $200 million in sales to the United States because of sharply increased tariffs. Romania's exports to the U.S. last year totaled $400 million, while U.S. exports to that country were valued at $225 million in 1982. In 1981, the United States im- ported $560 million in Romanian goods, and sold Romania $503 million in products. In commenting on Reagan's announcement, While House deputy press secretary Larry Speakes said termination of MFN would mean that Romania's exports to the U.S. would be reduced by half during the first year. He added that the Reagan Administration still wanted good and constructive rela- tions with Romania. "We are prepared to recommend we restore the (MFN) status to Romania if the Romanian government stops imple- menting this decree and improves its emigration procedures," Speakes said. 71 off of MFN status for Romania will not be neces- sary,and that emigration will be able to proceed with- out encumbi-ance." - Hellman, in his state- ment, also expressed the hope "that circumstances will so alter between now and June 30 that the cutting Holiday Carryout Service Complete Passover and Dinners a la carte entrees, appetizers and desserts will again be available for your convenience and enjoyment this holiday season Call: uality Kosher Catering 352-7758 • 559-4610 May all of us have a happy and healthy Passover! kosher I.emehadrin Now Get '1 Back When You Buy Any 4 Large Cans of Rokeach Gefilte Fish Choose from any of the varieties of Rokeach Gefilte Fish. Rokeach Regular, Old Vienna, Rokeach Whitefish-Pike or Old Vienna Whitefish-Pike. All are Kosher and © endorsed. Ask for them. Available at your favorite food store. Th en send the Universal Product XAMPL E Code marks from any 4 large cans (6 oz. or 14 oz. I sizes not acceptable) and 2 E 70420 00 03 we'll send you $1 by mail. Mail To: I. Rokeach & Sons 560 Sylvan Ave. Englewood Cliff, N.J. 07632 Enclosed are 4 Universal Product Code marks from any large cans of Rokeach Gefilte Fish. NAME ADDRESS ROKEAC City - L'e. o. 1 STATE . and be sure! t.a 1 (Please Print) Serve ZIP Offer expires May 1, 1983 ■ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Please allow 6 weeks to receive your check.