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TO MEASURE DRAPERI ES YOU MEASURE, ONG SASE' NOW OPEN IN MADISON HEIGHTS MADISON PLACE - 589-3032 also ORCHARD PLACE 855-0122 * JUST CALL * 772-4350 • JODI RODNICK DELIVERY NATIONWIDE WE'RE NUMBER ONE! - Barry's Let's Rent It PARTIES EXCLUSIVELY • Tents • Tables • Chairs • China • Paper Goods The Bright Idea: 4393 ORCHARD LAKE RD. N. OF LONE PINE IN CROSSWINDS Give a Gift Subscription 16 FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1990 THE JEWISH NEWS allinn — Seven flags are on the center table in front of the head of the Jewish community in Tallinn, which is chairing this unusual meeting of the First Baltic Jewish Con- ference held in Tallinn on Feb. 15-19. The flags represent the Baltic republics Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, and the Scandinavian countries Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Delegates in- clude members of the Jewish communities in these coun- tries, as well as represen- tatives from Kaliningrad and Leningrad. Each of the states or cities has 5-6 delegates; a representative of the Jewish Agency and about 20 spec- tators also are here. The conference begins with the singing of "Hatikvah." This is a very emotional mo- ment for all of us and a historical event in the lives of the Jews in the Baltic states. The agenda is long, and of the topics the most important are: How to deal with the pre- sent anti-Semitism, how to help those who want to leave the Soviet Union and how to help those who wish to stay and continue their lives as Jews. The imminent danger of the Jews in some regions in par- ticular, such as Moscow and Azerbeijan, is raised by the representative from Len- ingrad, who emphasizes the need to set priorities in pro- viding help and exit visas. There is fear that the lives of those outside the Baltic states may be at risk. The new political situation in the Soviet Union and the eruption of nationalistic feel- ings have an impact on Jewish life. While many of the Jews are strongly assimilated, Jewish national rebirth began here in the 1960s, and the desire to strengthen the ties with Israel is on the increase. Many Jews are seriously preparing for aliyah. It is estimated that one of every six Jews wants to leave, and the technical problems that face these Jews are enormous. For awhile, the discussion focuses on technical pro- blems: the visas, flight to Israel, the possibility of direct flights from the Baltic states, or intermediate stops in Scan- dinavian countries or other Eastern European countries such as Hungary or 855-0480 Czechoslovakia. Some of the absorption pro- blems that face newcomers to Israel are discussed. The Jews are flown into the country, leaving behind their fur- niture and other belongings. They have economic and social problems. But the para- mount problem is safety, and again the discussion returns to fear of pogroms. The return of Jewish cultural life and problems associated with it are discuss- ed by each of the represen- tatives. After 40 years of sup- pression, major activities, such as a Jewish museum, ex- ist in Vilnius. In Moscow, Jewish heritage is being researched. First and foremost is the need for Hebrew teachers and educa- tional material — books, dic- tionaries, newsprint. While the Jewish Agency representative is optimistic about providing teachers from Israel, the experience of representatives of the Jewish centers in the Baltic states points to difficulties. In Tallinn, 300 people wish to study Hebrew; they're awaiting a teacher from Finland. There are schools for children in Lithuania and Latvia and classes in Hebrew and Jewish studies. Children are taught Hebrew and Yid- dish songs, often learned without mechanically their understanding meaning. A representative from Lithuania distributes copies of the first issue of a Yiddish Yerushalaim newspaper (Jerusalem of d'Lita Lithuania), published in Vilnius in October 1989. Its articles are charged with elated emotions, describing the opening of a synagogue and other activities. Plans for Jewish education, lectures, exhibitions, theaters and choirs are mentioned. But while in the Baltic states the Jews are actively pursuing these plans, the represen- tative from Leningrad com- ments that the number of students is small because of the fear of pogrom. Whereas two months ago one could freely speak Yiddish, now everybody wants tot leave as soon as possible. ❑ Dr. Leora Shelef is chairman of Wayne State University's department of food science and nutrition. She is presently serving as Fulbright Scholar at Tallinn Technical University in Estonia, USSR.