RUSSIAN JEWS page 61
6
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factor," he said "No one,
including the United
States government, the
public or the Jewish com-
munity, wants to consider
the possibility that this
embryonic democracy
might fail and be replaced
by some kind of strident
nationalism or dictatorial
control."
Other sources suggest
that the lack of focus on
the problems in Russia is
part of the broader
American withdrawal
from the international
arena. "The focus is more
domestic in the nation as
a whole, and more domes-
tic in the Jewish commu-
nity," said a congressional
staffer who has worked on
Soviet Jewry issues. "The
fact that these Jews in the
former Soviet Union are
refusing to leave seems to
be leading to a collective
shrugging of shoulders in
our community."
Alexander Smukler, a
longtime refusenik and
now a Jewish activist in
this country, said that
Jewish groups here were
"very naive" in expecting
every Jew to simply pick
up and leave when emi-
gration barriers were lift-
ed.
"I am not being critical,"
said Mr. Smukler, who
returned this week from
an extended trip through
the former Soviet Union.
"But I have concerns. The
Jewish communities here
are not as involved in the
helping of the Jewish com-
munity there as they
were. Jews need a differ-
ent kind of help now; for
those who want to stay,
we have to find different
ways of helping them."
Jewish groups here, he
said, lack the resources or
the expertise to deal with
the very different situa-
tions in 15 different
republics instead of a
monolithic Soviet Union:
That adds to what he sees
as the growing neglect of
the 1.5 million or more
Jews remaining in what
used to be the Soviet
Union.
Other Jewish activists
are acutely aware that in
the past, some groups
have been too quick to use
predictions of imminent
danger to get Jews to
leave. "There may be a
`cry wolf syndrome," said
one Soviet Jewry activist.
"The reality is that we are
watching from a distance."
So for the time being, at
least, Jews in Russia are
apparently ready to stick
it out despite the growing
crisis in Moscow—and
Jewish groups here,
although worried about
the backsliding towards
authoritarian rule, are not
contemplating a change in
policy.
"Oddly, the Jews we
encountered do not seem
frightened," said NCSJ's
chairman, Richard
Wexler. "They have lived
through so much turmoil
they may be inured to it.
We may be mystified by
their reaction—but it's not
our role to change their
minds." 111
Israeli Veterans
Plan A Reunion
New York (JTA) — Members
of Machal — men and wo-
men who volunteered in the
late 1940s to assist the
nascent Jewish state in
Aliyah Bet and the War of
Independence — will hold a
reunion April 18-28 in
Israel.
Machal is the acronym for
"mitnadvei chutz la'aretz,"
or "foreign volunteers."
Some 2,000 Americans and
Canadians were among the
approximately 5,000
Machalniks who came from
15 different countries to help
Israel fight for its survival
and independence.
The forthcoming reunion
is aimed at giving comrades-
in-arms an opportunity to
reminisce, renew old ac-
quaintanceships.
The program will include
visits to army, air force and
naval bases, participation in
Yom Hazikaron and Yom
Ha'atzmaut ceremonies, the
dedication of a memorial to
the .107 Machalniks who fell
in the line of duty and trips
around the country.
For more information on
the reunion, contact Lou
Kotzen, 22217 Craggy View
St., Chatsworth, Calif.
91311.
Or send a faX to the event's
organizing committee in
Israel, at 972-3-202-621.