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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
Editor atld Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
HEIDI PRESS
Associate News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 19th day of Nisan, 5743, is Hol Hamoed Passover
and the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion. Exodus 33:12-34:26, Numbers 28:19-25.
Prophetical portion, Ezekiel 36:37-37:14.
Sunday, Hol Hamoed Passover
Numbers 9:1-14, 28:19-25
Monday, Seventh Day of Passover
Pentateuchal portion, Exodus 13:17-15:26, Numbers 28:19-25.
Prophetical portion, II Samuel 22:1-51.
Tuesday, Eighth Day of Passover
Pentateuchal portion, Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17, Numbers 28:19-25.
Prophetical portion, Isaiah 10:32-12:6.
Candlelighting, Friday, April 1, 6:41 p.m.
VOL. LXXXIII, No. 5
Page Four
Friday, April 1, 1983
LIMELIGHT ON THE USSR
Two important factors dominated the as-
sembly of world notables who gathered in Israel
to discuss and express views on the conditions
affecting the Jews in the Soviet Union. One
factor served to condemn the prejudices that
have been in evidence. The other was to demand
an open door for applicants for exit visas, also
accompanied by a condemnation of the closed-
door policies pursued by the Kremlin.
The mere denial of exit visas is in itself an
assertion of prejudice aimed at blocking the
road to those who openly express their desire to
emigrate, a declaration that indicates a protest
against mistreatment and the denial of reli-
gious as well as civil rights to thousands seek-
ing an escape from the obstructions imposed
upon Jews. When a group gathered to celebrate
Purim, in the home of a prominent Russian-
Jewish physicist, the KGB was on hand to warn
of punishment if such a gathering were to take
place in contradiction of goverment orders.
There was a defiance and the Purim celebration
took place, similar rejections by observers of
Jewish festivals having been recorded numer-
ous times in recent years.
But the regulations apparently enforced
under the new Yuri Andropov regime seems to
be bent upon a closed-door policy, and as evi-
denced by the fact that only 207 of the nearly
3,000 applicants for exit visas were granted
permission to leave the Soviet Union in
January and February of this year. This is the
basic Russian policy of denying an established
rule in international practices of granting
people everywhere to seek asylum out of their
native lands and to enjoy the freedom of choice
of domicile.
Thus, the assembly dealing with the Rus-
sian attitudes was confronted with the two con-
cerns: of protesting discriminations and of deny-
ing a basic right to emigrate to all, regardless of
religious or social affiliations, who express a
desire to abandon their motherlands and to seek
asylum elsewhere.
It is difficult to believe that the Soviet pow-
ers will ignore criticisms and will be deaf to
appeals by those seeking settlement elsewhere.
The voices against discrimination needed to be
heard and there is encouragement in the shar-
ing of the voices in behalf of freedom by the
impressively-representative American delega-
tion. As long as the truth is expressed and the
prejudices exposed, there is always a modicum
of hope that relief may soon be in sight.
THE BLuND ER ING TREK
These may be the final years of pursuance
of justice in tracking down the criminals of the
barbarous Hitler era. Klaus Barbie is finally
being brought to justice. Perhaps other savages
will be caught and their crimes brought to pub-
lic light, all serving as warnings to mankind
never again to tolerate the brutalities that have
counted up to some Eleven Million victims of
Nazism, Six Million Jews among the major
targets of the inhumanities which have left
strains on the records of the indifferent among
the nations of the world.
In the Barbie case, there is an indictment of
American policies which have not only ignored
the presence of Nazi criminals in the midst of
this civilized environment, but have actually
encouraged the Nazi murderers by financing
them in the hope pf benefiting from their links
with elements whose exposure was sought by
the CIA. It was an unholy alliance and it was
exposed in a brief editorial comment in which
the New York Times referred to the Barbie
trial:
"By initially refusing to investigate the
Klaus Barbie case, Attorney General William
French Smith was unimaginative but not
entirely unreasonable. History and national
honor demanded a study of charges that Ameri-
can intelligence agents used and sheltered this
notorious German war criminal after World
War II. But why turn to the Justice Depart-
ment, which is supposed to pursue criminals,
not history?
"The answer is, who else? What other
agency could credibly trace the postwar deeds
and travels of the 'Butcher of Lyons,' who as
Gestapo chief in that French city from 1942 to
1944 arranged the persecution and murders of
thousands of Jews and resistance fighters? The
State Department, Army Intelligence and the
CIA are all among those charged with shelter-
ing him. Fortunately, Mr. Smith has been made
to see the point.
"The choice to head the inquiry, Allan Ryan
of the Justice special investigations office, is
promising. His report should let Americans
learn what was done for Mr. Barbie in their
name and whether anything he gave in return
was remotely worth sheltering him."
Hopefully, the lesson taught by this un-
American practice will be learned, not to be
repeated again.
Meanwhile, the approaching Barbie re-
trial presents other problems. The anti-Semites
are on the march again.
Thus, the prosecutors of Barbie and his ilk
also are being tested for fearlessness to pursue
the complete exposure of the tragic events of the
Nazi era which struck France as much as Ger-
ntany itself.
Documentation, Research
Mark Holy Land Studies
Documentation reaches its highest level in research being con-
ducted to record the history of the Holy Land, with emphasis on
relations with the United States and the American involvements.
Zionist developments and many world Jewish concerns emerge in
interesting light as a result of these cumulative studies.
They are recorded in the second volume of "Guide to American-
Holy Land Studies" (Praeger) and the specific years to which Volume
2 are dedicated are 1620 to 1948.
The major theme of the current volume being "Political Relations
and American Zionism," its factual record attaches immense signifi-
cance to the current developments in both spheres.
Dr. Nathan M. Kaganoff, as editor of these studies, provided it
with direction that gave it meritorious professionalism in scholastic
endeavors.
Of special significance is the introduction by Dr. Moshe Davis
who heads the Jewish studies department at the Hebrew University.
Thus, the collective efforts that have made these studies possible
include these noted scholars and the cooperation of the American
Jewish _ _Historical Society under the direction of Bernard Wax.
Dr. Kaganoff points out in the
preface to this volume that a team of
researchers was assigned to the task
at the colloquium held in New York in
1970. The 15 researchers listed as the
assignees to this task attest to the not-
able scholastic work.
Dr. Davis provides important his-
torical background, indicating that
American interest in the Holy Land,
with a continuity in Zionism, dates to
the earliest part of the 10th Century.
Therfore, the years 1620-1948 in-
cluded in this study attest to a long
series of events and historic experi-
ences. Dr. Davis emphasizes that in
these interests there was "a mixture of
humanitarian zeal, Christian devo-
DR. MOSHE-DAVIS
tion and practical concern."
There is a summation in Dr. Davis' analyses which lends added
significance to this volume:
"This evidence will compel re-examination of such themes and
events as, for example: American consular activities; the Balfour
Declaration; the Paris Peace Conference; the partition plans; anti-
Zionism; the Biltmore Conference; the Anglo-American Committee of
Inquiry; and the institutional roles of the American Christian Pales-
tine Committee, the American Jewish Committee, and the American
Jewish Congress.
"The catalogue of 'double illumination' and 'correlative
documentation' expands as we examine supportive evidence in such
additional themes as American intercession on behalf of a Jewish
national home, approaches to Arab-Jewish coexistence, and the
American Zionist movement."
The wealth of documentation recorded and summarized impres-
sively by Dr. Davis includes the Lowdermilk studies, the Hoover
Population Transfer Plan, the Walter Clay Lowdermilk Jordan val-
ley Authority, the World War Peace Conference the deliberations,
Woodrow Wilson's and Felix Frankfurter's involvements and many
scores of other elements in a great historic development.
An index of 14 solid pages containing the names of the world's
notables provides added emphasis to the vastness of the theme
explored in these studies which merit unlimited acclaim.