Volume XXXI No. 11 November, 1976 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE AssooAnai w MOSH nmrns m aur oRmai

Hans I. Bach cepts not yet encompassed by the general pattem is the last hope for thought". At the very end of the book emerges the TWO JEWISH THINKERS OE OUR TIME religious core that kept this man struggling and alive: "The only philosophy which can Essays by Theodor Adomo Yet the subtitle "Reflections from Damaged be responsibly practised in the face of despair Life" is alerting. This damage may well be is the attempt to contemplate all things as they Theodor Adomo, bom in Frankfurt in 1903, reflected in the author's sternly materialistic would present themselves from the standpoint son of a Jewish father and a Christian mother, outlook: "Inexorably, the thought of money of redemption ... in the messianic light. The studied modem music in the Schonberg circle and all its attendant conflicts extends into question of the reality or unreality of redemp­ but then, with a strong Marxist conviction, the most tender erotic, the most sublime tion itself hardly matters". turned to sociology and became associated with spiiritual relationships". Life itself seems for Max Horkheimer the Jew the Institute for Social Research in Frank­ him endangered: "Our perspective of life has furt. In 1933 he first went to Oxford, then passed into an ideology which conceals the It is interesting to compare Adomo's book to America where, together with Max fact that there Ls life no longer. The over­ with one by Max Horkheimer, his old friend Horkheimer, he revived the Institute. He whelming objectivity of historical movement and colleague in the direction of the Institute assisted Thomas Mann with the musicological in its present phase consists so far only in fur Sozialforschung at Frankfurt.'*'* It combines background to "Dr. Faustus"; however, Katia the dissolution of the subject, without yet Horkheimer's "Notes written between 1950 Mann, in her "Unwritten Memoirs", takes him giving rise to a new one". and 1969" with the reprint of his "Twilight- to task for boasting to have written these Notes in German", published in Switzerland Parts himself. After the war he returned The only entry on happiness is a childhood in 1934 under the pseudonym Heinrich Regius. to Frankfurt, transferred the Institute for reminiscence. In searching for a minimum of They all aim at a "sober xmmasking" of the Social Research and directed it up to his morality, one consoling thought might be most varied social phenomena of their respect­ death in 1969. that "people are even now better than their ive periods in the light of the author's "criti­ culture". cal pessimism". They deal with such topics "Minima Moralia",* the necessary "minimum All too often, however, the author's attitude of morals", written 1944-47 in America, con­ as "Belief and Knowledge", "Art and Orna­ is predominantly negative: "Every work of ment", "Types of Suffering", and many others, sists of just over 150 short pieces without art is an uncommitted crime". "The image any specific order: sociological and psycho­ but they are treated in the same way: the of undistorted nature arises only in distor­ author's materialist system of philosophy sees logical comments and meditations on a great tion as its opposite. . . . The feminine charac­ variety of subjects, forming a cross-section every subject as yet another facet of the decay ter is a negative imprint of domination but of bourgeois civilisation. To the non-mater­ through modem life, views and traditions therefore equally bad". His mood may even seen with a strong left-wing bias. ialistic reader this is at times boring though border on despair, as when he speaks of it may be of interest to sociologists. "the shame of still having air to breathe, in hell". However, Horkheimer's pessimism is often Brilliance but little hope alleviated by a strong feeling of commitment The book abounds in brilliant, though often The Sickness of Contemporary Life and responsibility. To the question "What is depressive, analyses and remarks. To give religion?" his answer is "the impulse, main­ Some examples which may well be taken like Adorno does not paint a black and white tained against reality and yet not stifled that aphorisms on Nazism: "Perhaps the social picture, as one might expect, but condemns things shall be changed . . . and that every­ schematLsation of perception in antisemites is contemporary life wholesale: "The sickness thing will take a tum to faimess and free­ proper to the time" consists for him "precisely dom." such that they do not see Jews as human in normality. No science has yet explored beings at all ... In repressive society, the the inferno in which were forged the deforma­ In a 1940 essay on "The Jews in Europe" <^ncept of man is itself a parody of divine tions that later emerge to daylight as cheer­ (not his own heading), Horkheimer still spoke likeness." "It is part of the mechanism of fulness, openness, sociability, successful adap­ of the Jews in the cool and detached manner domination to forbid recognition of the suffer­ tation to the inevitable, an equable, practical of Marxist theory: they are the agents of the ing it produces". On economics and religion: frame of mind". Socialism, his own creed, distribution of goods who would stand no "The existence of bread factories, tuming the makes no exception: "Even solidarity, the chance in a totalitarian state. In his last notes Prayer that we be given our daily bread most honourable mode of conduct of socialism, he achieves a positive approach to Jewish into a mere metaphor and an avowal of des­ is sick". And rejection extends likewise to values and notes: "I moum the superstition peration, argues more strongly against the Freudian psychology on which he otherwise of a Beyond because the society which can do Possibility of Christianity than all the enlight­ leans heavily: "Freud's unenlightened en­ without it, recedes from the dream which ened critiques of the life of Jesus". lightenment plays into the hands of bourgeois alone makes life on earth bearable with every On the difference of generations: "Even the disillusion. . . . Truth is abandoned to rela­ step with which it approaches an earthly para­ outdated, inconsistent, self-doubting ideas of tivity and people to power". dise. In pleasure, in the emphatic mood, the remembrance of paradise was still present." the older generation are more open to dialogue There is a deep chasm between intellect and than the slick stupidity of Junior". On feeling: the beliefs and customs which Adomo On the "Community of Jews" he writes: features of modem life: "We are forgetting analyses to shreds are secretly dear to his "An infinitely venerable history of remaining to give presents. The decay of giving is heart. I have rarely read a book at once so true to their creed in the face of hate and iiiirrored in the distressing invention of gift- startling and so saddening. One wonders how, persecution has kept the Jews free from the articles, based on the assumption that one with such an injury, "damaged life" could go resentment which at bottom fills the Christian does not know what to give, because one on at all, though there are glimpses into how masses who betray their creed. The relatively '"eally does not want to".—"Technology is this could be achieved. His power of observa­ small number of Jewish individuals in crimin­ faking gestures precise and brutal, and with tion becomes not only a defence but almost ality is one of the many consequences of this them men. It expels from movements all a redoubt: "To be still able to perceive any­ support, another is the capacity for happiness hesitation, deliberation, civility. Thus the thing at all, regardless of its quality, replaces in which sorrow and grief are not forgotten." ability is lost, for example, to close a door happiness, since omnipotent quantification has Horkheimer is critical of the State of Israel: quietly and discreetly, yet firmly. Those of "During thousands of years, the Jews have •^J^ and refrigerators have to be slammed ..." taken away the possibility of perception it­ self". A shy hope dares to come out at times: ** Max Horkheimer, Notizen 1950-1S69 und DSmmerung. . * Theodor Adorno: Minima Moralla, Reflections from "A gaze averted from the beaten track, a Notizen in Oeutschland, ed. W. Breda, Frankfurt (S. "amagejj Life. Translated from German by E. F. M. Joph- Fischer), 1974. "^O". NLB, London 1974. £4-25. hatred of bmtality, a search for fresh con­ Continued on page 2, column 1 Page 2 AJR INFORMATION November 1975 TWO JEWISH THINKERS OF OUR TIME Guido Kisch (Basle) AN UNPUBLISHED MEMORIAL ADDRESS Continued from page 1 —idols, nations, the 'Leader'. Their mere BY DR. LEO BAECK existence, their being 'the People of God' kept together under persecution for the sake is a stumbling block. The more absolute a Im Rahmen der kurz nach ihrer Ein- of justice. Judaism did not mean state power, system presents itself, the greater is the urg­ wandemng von Emigranten aus der Tschecho­ but the hope of justice at the end of the ency to see them liquidated . . ." The holo­ slowakei in New York neu gegriindeten B'ne- world. . . . The Jewish people which has caust shook this seemingly detached writer to B'rith Loge entstand nach Kriegsende durch represented an indictment on the injustice of the core: "Complicity—^we must not complain die Initiative des Unterzeichneten mit Unter- all peoples, the individuals in whose words whatever may be coming, because we know stutzung seiner Freunde Dr. Frederick Fried and gestures the negative of what exists was that all hell has been let loose. We, too, are und Hugo Perutz eine Einrichtung, die sich reflected, have now become positive them­ among the devils—we, too." bis zur Gegenwart erhalten hat: eine alljahr­ selves, a nation among nations with their own lich am Tage des ersten Massentransports After Auschwitz: "We Jewdsh intellectuals tschechoslowakischer Juden in die ostlichen soldiers, leaders, fund-raisers. For the time who have escaped the martyr's death under Todeslager abgehaltene Gedenk- und religiose being, Judaism sees its goal in the State of Hitler have but ome single task: to help to Gedachtnisfeier fiir die Opfer des Hitler- Israel—how in the triumph of its temporary prevent such atrocities from happening again Terrors, "Memorial Service for the Victims success has it resigned itself after all? It pays and from being forgotten. . . . Our thoughts of Nazi Terror". Soweit mir bekannt ist, war for its survival with the tribute to the law and our work belong to those who have died diese Trauerfeier die erste ihrer Art, nach of the world as it is. Even though it has in unspeakable agony. . . . Their death is the deren Vorbild solche Seelengedachtnisgottes- Hebrew as its language, it is that of success, truth of our life, we exist in their despair dienste spater auch von anderen Nationalitaten not that of the prophets. It has assimilated and their longing." angehorenden europaischen Fluchtlingen ver­ itself to the state of the world. Who knows Finally a passage which reveals the author's anstaltet wurden und noch werden. himself free of guilt may throw the first stone." depth of feeling: "The evil deed I commit, Rabbiner aller religiosen Richtungen hielten "David and Goliath Today" the suffering I fail to alleviate only survive Gedenkreden, Kantoren verrichteten die the moment they occur by being remembered iiblichen Trauergebete und namhafte Politiker This does not mean that Horkheimer is in­ in human consciousness. With it, they die, aus der alten Heimat kamen mit Ansprachen different to the fate of Israel. In an essay and it does not make sense to say that they zu Worte. Zu diesen Veranstaltungen, im Jahre "David and Goliath today" on the 1967 war he remain true afterwards. Unless they were to 1976 zum dreissigsten Mal abgehalten, fanden writes: "The arguments of Western Liberals be preserved—in God. Can one admit this sich im Anfang bis zu 1500 Teilnehmer ein, that it is intolerable for Israel, the 'aggressor and still lead a godless life in earnest? This deren Zahl sich im Laufe der Jahre durch nation', to keep the fruits of its sudden attack is the problem of philosophy." Wegzug und Tod verminderte. . . . are eyewash, both in substance and logic­ Im Jahre 1949 erklarte sich Dr. Leo Baeck, ally. The many nations who are against this den ich von meinen friiheren Wohnorten small State are like Goliath blaming David Konigsberg und Halle aus 1920 bis 1934 bei for giving offence. It did not occur to any of SIR HAROLD WILSON TO VISIT ISRAEL jeder Anwesenheit in Berlin zu besuchen them to apply sanctions against the belligerent pflegte, bereit, die Gedachtnisrede zu halten. measures of the Egyptian 'keeper of the Sir Harold Wilson has accepted an invita­ tion from the Israeli-British Commonwealth Unvorhergesehenerweise verhindert, aus Cin­ peace', such as the closing of the Suez Canal. Association to be guest of honour and prin­ cinnati nach New York zu kommen, sendete Logically the argument is brittle because the cipal speaker at the annual dinner marking er mir zur Verlesung eine mit eigener Hand 'right' invoked against Israel is meant to be the 59th anniversary of the Balfoiu- Declara­ geschriebene eindrucksvoUe Ansprache, deren a positive right, and a positive right can only tion. He will spend three days in Israel in the Manuskript sich in meinem Besitz erhalten be applied . . . equally to all. This is in con­ middle of November. At Cana near Nazareth a hat. Die erstmalige, mir damals von Baeck tradiction to the idea and character of UNO Sir Harold Wilson Forest is to be planted, near the King George V and Sir Winston personlich gestattete, jedoch bisher nicht where self-interest rather than law determines Churchill Forests. A distinguished list of erfolgte Veroffentlichung durfte nebst den the decisions of the parties who sit in judge­ patrons, including parliamentarians and cap­ anderen in dieser Zeitschrift erscheinenden ment. If the idea of justice rather than that tains of industry and commerce, support this Reminiszenzen ebenfalls der Erinnerung an of 'right' is to be the yardstick, then the law plan of the Zionist Federation. die grosse historische Gestalt im Judentuni applying to individuals is applied on a higher When Sir Harold recently presented the dienen, deren Todestag sich in diesem Monat plane to the intercourse of nations. The great Israeli Ambassador, Mr Rafael, with a bronze zum zwanzigsten Mal jahrt. Der Inhalt der powers hold each other in check by their res­ bust of Golda Meir as a gift by the Anglo- ergreifenden, aufriittelnden und mahnenden pective resources, and what is called 'right' Israeli Association to the Israeli president, he Rede ist auch heute noch nach mehr als 25 is the compromise which they are prepared recalled that he had almost caused an inter­ Jahren ebenso giiltig wie damals, als sie national incident in the Middle East when a to reach according to their levels of power. picture of him embracing Golda Meir during verfasst wurde. Desperate actions by small nations which can­ her visit to London in 1974, appeared in the not find justice within these limits, disturb Press. He had known her for a quarter of a "Erectly they Walked" the state of compromise—^they are branded as century and recalled with pleasure that one of criminal by the stronger ones. In the life his last functions as Prime Minister had been "It is for our sake that those who in these of nations such actions today mean war . . . to entertain her to lunch at No. 10 Downing cruel years died a martyr's death have given The great powers have other means of obtain­ Street, where certified kosher food had been their lives. We all have lost them; ours is served for the first time ever. On the same the bereavement; all of us must say Kaddish- ing their goals—^wealth and the weapons of occasion. Lord Boothby was presented with a strength. War is taboo imless sponsored by "May one who had witnessed the tragedy scroll to mark his retirement after many years give testimony of the spirit that stirred those one of the great powers . . ." of service from the presidency of the Anglo- Israel Association. Lord Boothby remarked: men and women. They knew the way which Horkheimer sees the religious core of anti­ "With due respect to Indira Ghandi and they went, they were aware of the appointed semitism: "The Jews are the enemy because Margaret Thatcher, I believe that Golda will lot. Yet erectly they walked, with contempt by bearing witness to the spiritual God, they go down in history as the greatest woman they looked down upon their persecutors, denounce everthing that claims to be absolute Prime Minister of the twentieth century". proud of being Jews, and often could one hear the voice among them: 'Do you forget that you are Jews!' The strong faith certainly aroused them, and never any doubt did approach that the Jewish people will live on. that Judaism will assert itself in order to carry the way. , Greyhound Guaranty Limited "This faith which maintained and comforted them is the great challenge to all of us. we Bankers have been diminished in numbers, and we must, therefore, increase in vigour. Everyone 5 GRAFTON STREET, MAYFAIR, is bound to take upon himself the twofold tasK, the twofold responsibility, his own and that LONDON, WIX 3 LB of one of those martyrs who had given then: life for our sake. Only if this is our vov^ Telephone: 01-629 1208 they are honoured through us, and we alf make the sacred promise to be ful^l^j,e 'secher zaddik liwracha', 'the memory of tn Telex: 22465 Cables: Greyty, London, W.l righteous comes to be a blessing'." AJR INFORMATION November 1976 Page 3 HOME NEWS ANGLO-JUDAICA Glasgow honours Dayan INVITATION TO CARDINAL HUME CALLAGHAN PROMISES SUPPORT A civic reception was held in honour of Following a tradition established by Sir The Israeli Ambassador, Mr. Gideon Rafael, Dayan Dr. Wolf Gottlieb when he retired from Harold Wilson, Prime Minister Callaghan was paid a courtesy call on the new Archbishop his post as Glasgow's Av Beth Din and mini­ guest of honour at the "Israeli night" of the of Westminster, Cardinal Hume, presented ster of the Queens Park Synagogue. It was Labour Friends of Israel during the Labour him with a book on Jerusalem and invited attended by almost 400 guests, including repre­ Party Conference at Blackpool. All the food, him to pay a visit to Israel. Cardinal Hume sentatives from the churches, the university, wines, music and decor as well as all the declared his interest in peace in the Middle the city and many Jewish organisations. toasts of the evening are connected with the East and expressed his desire to visit Israel, Glasgow's Lord-Provost, Mr. McCann, said that Jewish State. The evening was attended by and Jerusalem in particular. Mr. Gottlieb had worked according to the 200 guests. In his speech, Mr Callaghan said The Ambassador also called on Dr. Donald proper principles and devoted himself to man­ that the British Government will continue its Coggan, the Archbishop of Canterbury who is kind. Dayan Gottlieb said he had come to diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful settle­ a noted Hebrew scholar and greeted Mr. Britain as a refugee from the Nazis, intending ment of the Middle East conflict which would Rafael in Hebrew. The conversation centred to stay for one year and then to go to Jeru­ ensure peace for Israel within secure and on the significance of the Jewish High Holy- salem, but he was prevented from doing so recognised boundaries. days, spiritual values in the context of a strife- by the outbreak of war. In Glasgow he had torn Middle East, and the role of Jerusalem as found true humanity, "human understanding TUC AND RACIALISM a city holy to three faiths. and a basic love for one's neighbour of what­ Lord Fisher, president of the Board of ever colour, creed, or nationality". Deputies, sent a telegram to Mr. Len Murray, JEWS AMONG KATYN VICTIMS general secretary of the TUC, expressing the B'nai B'rith Award Board's appreciation of the TUC's attitude to A delegation from the Polish Jewish Ex- racialism as expressed during its Brighton Servicemen's Association took part in the The 1976 B'nai B'rith First Lodge of congress. Lord Fisher compared the present consecration of the memorial to the Katyn England award to any member of the Anglo- racialist campaign in Great Britain with the victims at Gunnersbury cemetery. There were Jewish community judged to have made an practices of the Nazis and Fascists in the some 200 Jews among the 14,000 Polish outstanding contribution to B'nai B'rith and 1930s and 1940s. He called upon political ofiicers massacred at the Katyn Forest near to Anglo-Jewry, has been given to Mr. Michael Parties to emulate "the courageous stand Smolensk in 1940, and Kaddish for them Sacher, president of the Joint Israel Appeal. was said at a number of London synagogues. taken by Congress". Israel's Ambassador, Mr. Lord Shinwell and Sir Keith Joseph also Playing Golf for Israel Gideon Rafael, attended the Congress and said attended the consecration ceremony. he felt very much at home there, because he Nineteen-year-old Neville Chesses of Bir­ had been a trade union member for 40 years LEGACY TO ISRAELI AMBASSADOR mingham won the JNF national golf cham­ —as member of a kibbutz he belonged to a pionship held at the Abridge Golf Club, union of agricultural workers. The Electri­ Mr. Cyril Quixano Henriques, who died last Essex, At the prize-giving ceremony, Mr. cians' Union expressed its disappointment December, left £5,000 to the Israeli Ambas­ Obrart, chairman of the organising committee that the TUC General Council had not sup- sador to be disposed of in accordance with said that the tournaments of the Jewish Ported its protests against the treatment of instructions in a sealed envelope, £1,500 each National Fund had raised nearly £100,000 dur­ Jewish workers in the Soviet Union. to Middlesex Hospital, London, and Hadassah ing the golfing season. Hospital, Jerusalem, £100 and his marriage RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AND RACE certificate, the first recorded between British- Remembering the Victims RELATIONS born Jews in India, to the Jewish Historical In the House of Lords, Baroness Vickers Society, and after a number of other bequests Rev. Dr. Isaac Levy spoke at the Ajex Proposed an amendment to the Race Relations the residue to be shared between the Bernhard annual remembrance service at the East Ham ^ill to include religious discrimination. It was Baron St. Georges Jewish Settlement in cemetery which was attended by 400 members defeated on the grounds that the law was Stepney, founded by his late cousin Sir Basil including 13 North London branch representa­ already sufficiently intricate without such a Henriques, and the Jewish National Fund. tives. The service was held in memory of Jews Provision which would considerably add to the who died during the war and of Mrs. Dora Work of the Race Relations Commission. Dur­ NEW OWNERS FOR EAST AND WEST Bloch, killed in Entebbe. Her second cousin ing the debate. Lord George Brown said that LIBRARY Sonny officiated with the Rev. Levy. in his long experience living in an Anglican- The Forces Reserves Association and the Jewish atmosphere, it was exceedingly diffi­ The Hebrew Publishing Company has Willesden Branch of Ajex organised an inter­ cult to distinguish between what was called bought "East and West Library", the promin­ denominational remembrance service for religious and racial. Lord Hailsham said that ent English publisher of Judaica, founded in those who died in concentration camps and Jews came in all shapes, sizes and colours. 1944 by the late Dr. Bela Horovitz. prisoner-of-war camps. The service was shared There were black Jews in Ethiopia, yellow by a Catholic priest, an Anglican clergyman Jews in China and white Jews with fair hair and Rabbi Dr. Herman of the Neasden *nd blue eyes, the best "Aryan" characteristics, With acknowledgement to the news Synagogue. ^ey were not a race, and discrimination service of the Jewish Chronicle Jews participate in Community Relations against Jews was religious discrimination. For the first time, the Leeds Jewish Repre­ AN M.P.'s RELIGION sentative Council took part in the annual , Conservative M.P.. Mr. Robert J. Adley, Leeds Community Relations Festival by arrang­ {'as publicly declared that as a niember of ing a Jewish open evening at the New Syna­ the Church of England, he no longer wishes Your House for:— gogue. Non-Jews, including schoolchildren, JO be described as a Jewish M.P. He was were invited to visit the synagogue and follow the only M.P. of Jewish origin on either side a conducted tour. The festival extends to °t the House of Commons to vote with the CURTAINS, CARPETS, members of the Hindu and Sikh faiths. Israeli Government in support of its embargo on dancing was included in an intemational con­ arms to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. cert at the tovm hall. •^hen he was recently invited to attend a FLOOR COVERINGS 'fleeting on behalf of Soviet Jewry in Bourne- Centenarian in Blind Society Home ''^outh, he declined, saying that to attend SPECIALITY Miss Ida Mittler, a resident of "Rokefield", would prevent him from his devotions at the Jewish Home for the Blind, recently ^vensong in the Christchurch Priory. The celebrated her 100th birthday. She was born Principal speaker at the meeting was an­ CONTINENTAL DOWN in Vienna and came to this country as a other Conservative M.P., Mr. John Cordle, refugee in July, 1939. Miss Mittler is com­ '^ne proprietor of the "Church Times". QUILTS pletely blind and until her arrival in this FORMER REFUGEE APPOINTED J.P. country was a teacher of languages. Despite her age she still makes a point of reading Mr. Charles H. Guttmann, well known to brailled French books and writes poetry. ^any in our midst by his communal activities, ALSO RE-MAKES AND RE-COVERS especially under the auspices of the Belsize Bad Luck for Cardiff Square Synagogue, has been sworn in as a ESTIMATES FREE ^Justice of the Peace (Juvenile Division). In the past ten years, the Cardiff community iSF- Guttmann is senior English master of has had nine rabbis. The latest was the Rev. ^he Hall School, Hampstead. DAWSON-LANE LIMITED Wilfred Wolfson who is aged 70 and who has (Eetabllched 19M) resigned for personal reasons: He has just CORRECTION married the widow of Mr. Gershon Cohen, a The purchase price for the La Sagesse Con- 17 BRIDGE ROAD, WEMBLEY PARK former president of the Cardiff United Syna­ j'ent in Golders Green, to be converted into Telephone: 904 6671 gogue, as his fourth wife. He was previously f Jewish community centre, did not amount a rabbi at Darlington, Wolverhampton, Ply­ '° £5,000,000, as stated in the Anglo-Judaica Personal attention ot Mr. W. Shaekman. mouth, Bristol, Swansea, Grimsby and at column of our previous issue, but to £500,000. synagogues in Canada and South Africa. Page 4 AJR INFORMATION November 1976

STORM AT ANNE FRANK HOUSE Dr. Henri van Praag, chairman of the Board NEWS FROM ABROAD of Anne Frank House in Amsterdam refused UNITED STATES Rabbi Dr. Manfred Swarsensliy 70 to allow a Middle East discussion to be held on the premises. It had been proposed by the In our August issue we reported that Rabbi President addresses B'nai B'rith Business and School Youth Organisation which Dr. Manfred Swarsensky (formerly Berlin) includes among other political groups the retired as rabbi of the "Temple Beth-El" in Dutch Palestine Committee. The organisation At the Washington B'nai B'rith Convention, Wisconsin, whose minister he had been from itself is linked with the Dutch Reformed President Ford declared that Israel was one 1940 onwards and that a Chair for Jewish Church. Dr. van Praag referred to the regula­ of the United States' traditional allies, that Leaming, had been established in his honour tion in its charter that the institution supports he had called for stronger ties with Israel by the local Catholic "Edgewood College". the "longing of the Jewish people for their and that these ties had never been stronger. It is now learned that Rabbi Swarsensky own State as historically realised in the State Most of the U.S.A's military aid went to will be the first occupant of this Chair. of Israel". The group seeking to use the build­ Israel and to Iran. Mr. Ford said that the Many former Berliners will still remember ing had refused to admit the Israel Working young David had been very strong and the courage with which Dr. Swarsensky gave group on the ground that "Zionism is an instru­ muscular and carried the most sophisticated comfort and confidence to his congregants ment in the hands of capitalism and imperial­ weapon of his day. Referring to Entebbe, during the years of persecution and the per­ ism". Members of the staff of Anne Frank he declared that as an action for liberation sonal help he rendered to many of them, House have protested against the Board's "it has freed our hearts to fuller under­ especially those in search of a covmtry of decision and threatened to resign. standing of the universal meaning of inde­ refuge. They will be pleased to learn that pendence. A free people must never capitulate on October 22, Rabbi Dr. Swarsensky cele­ to terrorism." He promised that there would FORMER SS MAN TO RESIGN PARTY brated his 70th birthday. We wish him many LEADERSHIP be no imposed solutions for peace in the years to come of undiminished youthfulness, Middle East and that the U.S.A. would vigour and creative work. Mr. Friedrich Peter, the chairman of the proceed as before in the closest, constant Austrian Freedom Party, accused by Mr consultation with Israel before, during, and Rabbis ban mixed marriages Simon Wiesenthal of being a former member after any negotiations. The Conservative Rabbinical Assembly's of the notorious 1st SS Infantry Brigade Committee on Jewish Law has issued a state­ during the war, has announced that he will American Zionists meet ment that rabbis and aU organisations should not lead his party in the next Austrian work to prevent intermarriage. Conservative General Election in 1979, but will retire The annual general meeting of the Zionist rabbis should not ofBciate at marriages be­ earlier. He has admitted that he was a Federation of America was attended by tween a Jew and a non-Jewish partner, member of the brigade which murdered Jews Senator F. Mondale, the Democratic candi­ unless the non-Jewish partner was converted. and others in the Soviet Union, but denied date for the ofiSce of Vice-President, by If a couple refuses to give children a Jewish that he was involved in any illegal acts. Joseph J. Sisco, the former Undersecretary education and to convert them where neces­ He felt free from personal guilt. of State, now president of the American sary, the Jewish marriage partner shall not University and by Mr. Heinz Galinski, the be allowed to belong to a congregation. GIBRALTAR'S PROMINENT JEWS first representative of the post-war Jewish community in Germany to be invited to such Sir Joshua Hassan who again topped the a gathering. Representatives of the Canadian NAZI BOOKS BANNED IN ARGENTINA poll in the recent Gibraltar elections, will and Mexican Jews were also present. Mr. After a number of anti-Jewish outrages in continue as Chief Minister of Gibraltar, a Galinski reported in detail on the problems the country, including bomb and rifie attacks post he has held since 1964. All members of the 30,000 Jews now living in Germany. on synagogues and other Jewish property, of his party, including Mr. Isaac Abecassis Israeli General Sharon, the commander of the Argentine Government seized Nazi and and Mr. Abraham Serfaty, were re-elected. the Israeli Army west of Suez during the antisemitic literature printed by the Editorial Mr. Solomon Seruya, Gibraltar's Minister of Yom Kippur War, gave details of the enor­ Milicia publishing group and prohibited the Economic Development until he emigrated mous supplies of arms which not only Russia, company from distributing such material. to Israel in 1969, has been appointed Israel's but Westem countries as well, had sent to Apart from Hitler's "Mein Kampf", the pub­ ambassador to the Philippines. Egypt and other Arab countries in recent lications included writings by Goebbels and years. Egypt and Saudi Arabia, he said, had other Nazis and the notorious forgery '"The ITALY Protocols of the Elders of Zion". become the largest weapon depositories in New leader for Italy's Jews the Middle East, they had received four times Mr. Peled, the former Jerusalem Immigrant as much as Israel. Absorption Minister, said that Argentine Dr Pietro Blayer, 74, forced to resign his Jews were "sitting on top of an earthquake", high ofiice in the Italian Commercial Bank and the Israeli Government and the Jewish by the fascist racial laws in 1938, has been Yale Lecturer wrote for Nazis Agency must encourage large-scale emigra­ elected president of the Union of Italian Mr. Vladimir Sokolov-Samarin, a 63-year-old tion to Israel. Jevrish communities. Italy's 35,000 Jews are Yale university lecturer of Russian literature, organised in 22 communities. During the war, INTERNATIONAL WRITERS PROTEST Dr. Blayer whose family is of Hungarian has resigned under pressure from his col­ AGAINST UN INIQUITIES leagues because it was revealed that he wrote origin, hid in the mountains of Tuscany and antisemitic editorials in 1943 for a pro-Nazi At the invitation of the French political secretly made his way to Rome in 1943 in newspaper in the occupied Soviet town of phUosopher Professor Raymond Aron and anticipation of the liberation of the city. Oriel. He explained that he had been an Professor Andre Lwoff, a winner of the opponent of Bolshevism and the Nazi censor Nobel Prize in medicine, some 300 prominent Bombs in Rome had forced him to include anti-Jewish re­ personalities from the arts, sciences and After a demonstration by 50,000 people in marks in his articles. He had not known literature met at a conference in the Paris support of the Lebanon Palestinians, bombs then that Jews were being murdered. His Hilton Hotel to protest against the politicisa- were thrown at Israeli and American ofiSces authorship of such articles had recently been tion of the UN Specialised Agencies. Alan and a Synagogue. The demonstrators came revealed in the Soviet Yiddish journal "Soviet­ Sillitoe and Lynne Reid Banks represented from all over Italy and included several ish Heimland", and he said this was done by writers from Britain. Another British repre­ hundred uniformed soldiers who hid their the KGB to discredit him. Four of his col­ sentative was Professor Richard Hoggart who faces behind red handkerchiefs. leagues subsequently denounced him as a resigned as assistant director-general of Unesco in 1974 in protest at the exclusion of Israel NORWAY'S NO TO LYBIA pro-Nazi and active antisemite under the from its activities. The invitation to the German occupation. conference said that while Israel continues Norway's Chess organisation which is com­ to be the target of attacks by the automatic peting in the Chess Olympics in Israel, de­ Rabbi Hertzberg's jubilee majority of Arab, Moslem and Communist clined an invitation to a rival chess contest in States "the issue has become wider and more Lybia as "a clear political demonstration". The At a dinner to mark the twentieth anni­ serious—at stake is the functioning of inter­ invitation had been received by Norway's UN versary of Rabbi Dr. Arthur Hertzberg's national organisations in general". delegation in New York. ministership at Temple Emanuel-El in Engle- wood. New Jersey, messages from President JEWISH STUDENTS MEET IN TEHERAN Ford and President Katzir were read. Dr. GREEK PATRIARCH CONDEMNS Hertzberg is president of the American PALESTINIANS Some 40 Jewish students from a number of Jewish Congress, a Jewish Agency executive During a press conference at the end of a countries attended a seminar in Teheran, the member, professor of history at Columbia ten-day visit to Paris, Patriarch Hakim, head of capital of Iran, under the sponsorship of the University and a leading authority on Zionism. the Greek Catholic Church of Lebanon, Syria World Union of Jevirtsh Students. They were President Ford's message began: "Dear and the Middle East, said that a solution must the guests of the Iranian Jews and visited com­ Arthur. It is difBcult to imagine how one be found for the Palestinians who had a munities in Isfahan and Shiraz. man can combine so many careers, rabbi, "sacred cause". He added, however, that their S. AFRICAN WOMAN ACTUARY university professor, scholar and author who behaviour made them a "State within a State" has earnea wide respect and recognition." and that it was intolerable that they should Mrs. Stephanie Behrend, a 24-year-old South President Katzir said that "it was hard to have attacked the Lebanese who had African Jewess, is the first woman actuary to know which of Rabbi Hertzberg's many roles humanely sheltered them as refugees. "They qualify in the country in 20 years. She has be­ and talents we should be most grateful for." have no right to stay in Lebanon". The come a fellow of the London Institute ot Professor Hertzberg is 55 and came to the Patriarch was formerly the Greek Catholic Actuaries after completing her studies by States as a child from Poland. Archbishop in Israel. correspondence. WBg^aaag,w mjs^^-^-m'faK^mmsis^!}

AJR INFORMATION November 1976 Page 5

/• /. Maitlis leave the country, moving north and seeking new refuge in the lands of the Slavs where Jews had lived since earlier times. The immigrant Jews from Khazaria were later HISTORY OR FICTION? followed by offshoots of judaised Khazars, and together with immigrating Jews from the West helped to lay the foundation of the great Marginal Notes on Koestler's "The Thirteenth Tribe" Jewish communities in eastem Europe. Let us now turn to Koestler's essay in A great deal has already been written about intolerance and persecution in Byzantium, history and the evidence he produces for the the Khazars, their origin, rise to power and had settled in Khazaria long before the theory that present-day Jewry is not of Semitic later conversion to Judaism. The news of the conversion of the Khazars. We have to accept but of Turkish origin. He claims that Western existence of an independent Jewish kingdom that Jewish influence made itself felt among immigration of Jews to eastem Europe was, in a far-off land, between the Black Sea and the semi-nomadic Khazars who welcomed the if at aU, minimal and could not have been of the Caspian Sea, has evoked deep emotions new arrivals. The religion of the Jews, their profound influence on the development of and stirred the imagination of mediaeval Jew­ customs and way of life must have had a Jewish life in this territory. He maintains that ish communities in the West, setting in motion profound effect on their way of thinking and the West was empty of Jews, particularly after many a phantastic tale and legend in the daily life. As in many other countries, the the Crusades and the ghastly massacres of the centuries to come. This extraordinary and Jews were an important civUising factor. They "Black Death" (134849) and therefore could fascinating story about the Khazars has given helped to introduce new advanced methods of not provide masses of immigrants to Poland. rise to a rather sensational theory about the soil cultivation, irrigation and the cultivation There was, as Koestler asserts, a virtual exter­ destiny of the Khazars after the fall of their of rice, and in addition trade and exchange of mination of the old Jewish communities in kingdom in the thirteenth century, which goods with neighbouring countries. Their pre­ Germany and France. The Western countries Arthur Koestler, the well-known writer and sence was highly beneficial for the develop­ remained "Judenrein". essayist, has taken up in his recently published ment of the land and its people. If this was the case, and if there were no book "The Thirteenth Tribe"."* The keynote Jewish arrivals from the West, as it is of his comprehensive study into Jewish history Saga of a Jewish Kingdom commonly accepted by historians, the altema­ is that the immigration of the Khazars into tive is that it was the mass immigration of the Slav lands in the course of centuries It seems, however, doubtful whether the the Khazars which had a lasting effect on wholly transformed East European Jewry and bulk of the population in Khazaria a la longue the formation and development of the fiourish­ that, thus, present-day Jews are in toto of fully accepted all the tenets and observances ing Jewish centres in eastem Europe. This Khazar descent. A historical travesty ? We will of Judaism after the royal house and the upper Turkish tribe vrith Ugro-Finnish blood in its have to come back to it further on. stratum of society had adopted the Jewish veins is therefore, according to Koestler, the To be sure, in his quest for historical truth religion. There were irregularities in the "Thirteenth Tribe", which settled in the Slav Koestler is not entirely original. We heard observance of certain precepts, and we even lands and thus, in Koestler's words, became already simUar theories before, but they were hear of some strong syncretistic leanings "the cradle of the numerically strongest and not taken too seriously by Jewish historians. among the converts which displeased many culturally dominant part of modern Jewry". However, what strikes us in his learned ap­ Jews in other lands. Nevertheless, Jews all By the way, this is not an entirely new and proach is his tendentiousness and his inaccurate over were heartened and thrUled by the wel­ original theory. It was already put forward by interpretation of historical facts. Let us, there­ come news of an independent Jewish kingdom A. N. Poliak and others, and refuted by serious fore, first tura to the historical events as far in a far-off land, whUe diaspora Jewry was scholarship. However, following Koestler's as they are known, then assess the pros and oppressed and in sheer despair. Many fan­ argument, have we also to assume that today's eons, and finally come to a more realistic and tastic stories and romantic tales were in circu­ Sephardim, or for that matter the old commu­ less phantastic conclusion. lation about the "red Jews" as the Khazars nities in Yemen or Kurdistan, who play a were called because of their slight Mongolian prominent part in modem Jewry, descend What do we know about the Khazars and, pigmentation, and a belief was current that from the Turks and are not of Semitic origin consequently, about the origin and rise of they were the remnant of the lost biblical either ? It seems that the otherwise clear­ Jewish communities in Eastem Europe ? It "ten tribes". Wonder upon wonder, and one headed author has grossly overstated his case, is known that the Khazars were of Turkish, might have thought that redemption was close stressing that Eastem Jewry was 100 per cent Ugro-Finnish stock. They occupied, as the at hand. of "Khazar origin" which is fanciful and historian Salo Baron relates, a strategic posi­ historically misleading. tion at the gateway between the Black Sea The cheerful news of an independent Jew­ and the Caspian Sea, where the two super- ish kingdom in Khazaria also gave rise to Naturally, the question arises how to assess ^wers of the period, Byzantium from the great excitement among the Jews of Spain, the extent of an original Khazar immigration West and the Arabs from the East, confronted and set in motion the famous correspondence to Poland in order to make it appear a each other. It was the time, when Muslims in between Hisdai ibn Shaprut, the famous decisive numerical factor and a formative their victorious drive conquered great parts scholar and statesman in the service of the cultural force in the final upbuilding of the of Asia and were poised to attack the Russian- Moorish Caliph AbdiU Rahman in Cordova, and east European communities. Historians speak yUdng lands of Kiev. Their onslaught was, Joseph, king of the Khazars in the tenth cen­ only of a Khazaric offshoot, in all probabUity however, stemmed by the mighty Khazars in tury. The enthusiastic Hisdai was ready to representing judaised Khazars. Yet, by which the year 732, which became a turning point leave his country and join the king, but means can we determine their size and their m the future destiny of the Russian peoples. beforehand he sought ofiScial confirmation of cultural heritage and thus evaluate their the news he had received. In his reply, the decisive impact on the formation of an It stands to reason that with the polarisation king furnished Hisdai with some valuable Ashkenazic Jewry in eastem Europe ? Salo of the East between the two major powers of data and details about his state, the people Baron states quite clearly that the bulk of the time, Christianity and Islam, the Khazar and their conversion to Judaism. The Jewish the Khazar population was absorbed by the kingdom could only preserve its independence mediaeval world was fuU of inquiry and Mongols. Well, how large was the Khazar hy adopting a neutral religion, uncommitted expectancy. There are, however, some scholars immigration, quite apart from the real Jews, towards either of them. It was Judaism, and who have doubts as to the authenticity of the which joined the exodus to safer abodes in consequently King Bulan of the Khazars correspondence or at least of part of it. decided in 740 to adopt the Jewish creed, the Slav lands ? '^ike him, but 200 years earlier, in the sixth Be it as it may, by the end of the tenth On the other hand, Koestler seems to over­ century, the Arabian king Dhu Nuvas and his century the decline of the once vigorous and look the fact that the new arrivals from People had embraced Judaism, and for the mighty Khazar kingdom set in. The gradual Khazaria must have met Jewish immigrants of Same reason. Politically, the Jewish religion disintegration started under the blows of the a much earlier date. We know of Jews from oecame a barrier against the Byzantine Empire Viking-Russian raiders and other hostile the West who settled first in Bohemia and ^^ one hand and the advancing Arabs on peoples. The Khazars fought many defensive Moravia and at a later date entered Poland. the other. The conversion was in a sense a battles but finally succumbed and in the They and other arrivals have played an declaration of neutrality between the two thirteenth century fell victim to the great important role in the socio-economic life of opposing powers. onslaught of the Mongols under Jenghiz Khan. Poland. On the whole, Jews with their experi­ One should also not lose sight of the fact In the words of Salo Baron "its population was ence in finance and commerce were greatly ^hat, apart from a considerable Jewish largely absorbed by the Golden Horde which beneficial to the economy of that under­ d^spora in the East, there were ancient Jew- had established the centre of its empire in developed coimtry, and some of them served '^h settlements in the Crimea, which were Khazar territory". Thus came an end to the as tax collectors, mint makers and traders. reinforced by streams of newcomers from Jewish kingdom of the Khazars, a dramatic It is also interesting to note that as far back °yzantium and Persia. Jews, fleeing from chapter in the history of the Jews. With the as the eleventh century we hear of a reputed decline of the Khazarian kingdom, Jews who scholar, R. Moshe of Kiev, who belonged to I nl..*^^"'' Koestler. The Thirteenth Tribe, Hutchinson of had settled in former centuries started to •-onijon (1976). £4.75. Continued on page 6 Page 6 AJR INFORMATION November 1976 commonly accepted, demographically of Ash- HISTORY OR FICTION? kenazi-Semitic origin but of Ugro-Finnish biological stock. The moral of this vague ass­ Continued from page 5 ertion has two aspects. Firstly, antisemitism is entirely on the wrong track, a clever decep­ the distinguished band of disciples at the by his preconceived ideas and tendencies. This tion and basically misconceived. It, apparently, academy of R. Jacob Tarn, in Rameru, North­ also applies to his attempt at explaining concems neither the Jews in general, nor hini, em France. "scientifically" the problem of Yiddish. If the estranged Jew, personally. Secondly—and In the city of Kiev itself there were two there was no substantial immigration of Ash­ now, by a sophisticated twist comes his inten­ Jewish quarters, one of Jews from Khazaria kenazi Jews with their cultural heritage and tional, even malicious, conclusion—as present- and another one of Jews from the West. Early Yiddish as a vemaciUar, how on earth could day Jews are not real Semites and have no rabbinic writing, for instance by Rashi (llth the language strike deep roots on the Slav historical or genealogical link with ancient c), refers already to established Jewish com­ soil, develop and become a potent, creative Jews, they have no justified claim to the Prom­ munities in Knaan, the rabbinical designation cultural factor in the life of East European ised Land! They are not the true heirs of the of Slav lands, along with the famous centres Jews? But Koestler is not at a loss for an old, national inheritance—a fallacy of a rare in Spain and in Byzantium, calling special answer which has all the attributes of a fer­ consequence. Evidently our author tries m attention to certain liturgies which were cus­ tile, sophisticated mind. Yiddish did not come vain to explode a national "myth" of which tomary among the Jews in eastem Europe. It to Poland with the Jewish arrivals from the he himself would like to get rid. Yet at the was apparently the early start of a spiritual West, but it grew up in Polish lands. The same time he nolens volens provides the Arab awakening of Polish Jewry which was to Khazars, he argues, invented it! They had to propaganda with a new deluding and mischie­ flourish in later centuries. A serious student leam German in their daUy contacts and com­ vous conception that Jews have no historical of history has to take all this into account mercial dealings with the German colonists and, for that matter, legal rights to Erets before he draws any doubtful conclusions. and burghers in the Polish cities. At any rate, Israel, the home of their ancestors. To put it Another hasty conclusion by Koestler should as far as Koestler is concerned, Yiddish is a mUdly, Koestler's argument is a premeditated also be considered. If Jewish life in German corrupt language, a jargon, of no cultural disservice to Israel and to the Jewish people lands had ceased in the period under discus­ value. However, these and similar theories on the whole. sion and if no Jews were left, there, from have long been refuted by modem scholarship. It remains only to ask, how it can be explained Koestler, once the militant Revisionist of where could Jews have come to Poland? In Jabotinsky's camp, has experienced many fact, Jews continued to live in larger or that there was a Westem Yiddish dialect which survived until recent years in the West? ideological transformations. For a long time, smaller numbers in Westem lands, even after the radical cosmopolite has felt rather uneasy expulsions and massacres. One should not for­ Is this also a cultural offshoot of the linguisti­ cally potent Khazars? inside the Jewish fold with a Jewish past get either that not all communities suffered which he tries eloquently to abjure. Judaism and were destroyed. Jews who saved them­ Evidently, Arthur Koestler's historical and all it stands for is evidently a traumatic selves from the horrors and escaped, fled east­ knowledge of the formative cultural and reli­ experience from which he would like to free wards and found a haven of peace on Slav gious forces inside Judaism is by far not com­ himself. By the theory of Khazar-Turkish gen­ soil. Even those who were expelled from many plete, and this brings us to another funda­ ealogy, he hopes to have proved to himself a place in the course of years, retumed imder mental problem: the doctrine of conversion in and to others, that he has freed himself of the changed conditions, started afresh and re­ Judaism, and its practical application. Jews burden of the Jewish, national heritage and newed their broken-up communal life. Even in have no doctrine of race, as Koestler is in­ can now live quietly and unperturbed in the the darkest days of the Middle Ages in Ger­ clined to think. Conversion is not a racial act, dreamland of a cosmopolitan El Dorado. many, Jewish communities had a number of but one of faith. The Khazars, as we know Koestler, the historical writer, believes to great spiritual leaders, prominent rabbis and from history, were not the only people to have destroyed the "myth" of a Jewish con­ many an outstanding academy of leaming. accept the Jewish religion. As soon as a non- tinuity. The Jews with their long amd painful The Jewish spirit prevailed. Life had to go on Jew accepts the tenets of Judaism, gets cir­ experience wUl not worry unduly and psss and Judaism had to be strengthened all along. cumcised and conforms to the principles of it over. It was an unbroken continuity, regardless of religious life he ranks as a full member of persecution and prevailing uncertainties. This the Jewish people, with no distinction arising was Jewish destiny, and Jews accepted it. from his origin or genetic extraction. Conver­ HISTORY OF JEWS IN WESTPHALIA sion to Judaism was not considered a "racial" The Historical Commission for Westphalia The Problem of Yiddish disabUity. On the contrary, Jews have taken (Munster) has entrusted its member DT- pride in famous proselytes. Such outstanding Bernhard BrUling with a systematic researcn Perhaps one should be reminded that in men and teachers like Avtalyon, R. AJdva and of the sources pertinent to the history pt those days a widely popular Yiddish folk lit­ R. Meir were regarded as proselytes, or des­ the Jews in Westphalia. This, of course, in­ erature flourished in the ghettoes of Germany cendants of proselytes. So it was with the cludes the need for going through the local and elsewhere, which should bear witness to land registers which carry entries of tne Khazars. Their judaized remnants, as far as property of the former Jewish communities the undying and creative spirit under adverse they survived, became fully integrated into (synagogues, schools, cemeteries, etc.). Some conditions. To all this and to many other the Jewish people. Jewish continuity is not spadework has already been done in this factors the author does not pay any attention. based on blood but on the spiritual heritage, matter by the Jewish successor organisations He is committed to his theory which has to be on religious belief and national identity. (J.R.S.O. and Jewdsh Trust Corporation)- i" proved. co-operation with these bodies, the chairman Koestler's attitude to many a weighty pro­ But for Koestler the conversion of the of the Cemetery Commission of the "Zen­ blem of Jewish destiny and history is coloured Khazars is a pleasant story with a moral tralrat" compUed a list of "Jewish Cemetenes attached to it. He argues that racially the in the German Federal Republic" during tne Khazars were and remained of Turkish extrac­ years 1952 and 1953. E.G.l>- CLUB 1943 tion and as such they spread out and settled in Slav lands. Thus the bulk of east European Vortraege jeden Montag um 8 p.m. im Jewry are their descendants. Consequently, the SELF AID OF REFUGEES Hannah Kanninski House, predominant part of modem Jewry is not, as 9 Adamson Road, N.W,3. TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL CONCERT 22 November. Dr. K. S. Menzies: Where does China go? Monday, November 15, at 7.45 p.ni. 29 November. Ida Herz leitet ein: Gorta Radiovision SchaUplatten gesprochen von Thomas Queen Elizabeth Hall, Mann (Die Bekenntnisse des Hoch­ Service staplers Felix Krull u.a.). (Member R.T.R.A.) London, S.E.1 6 Dezember. Paul Friedmann: Pick of 13 Frognal Parade, Beauty-spots in England (with colour THE LONDON MOZART PLAYERS slides). Finchley Road, N.W.3 Conductor PETER SUSSKIND 13 Dezember. Dr. Erwin Seligmann: War SALES REPAIRS Moses ein Jude? Soloist JAMAS VASARY 20 Dezember. Musik und Dichtung: We can provide a quick and Ticlcets at £1.00 and £2.00 from Box Office only. Alice Sommer Piano recital. Ilse efficient Colour Television Royai Festivai Hali (01-92B 3191) and at £5.50, Saenger liest Gedichte von Eduard £4.50, £3.50 (incl. VAT) from Self Aid of Refugees, Saenger. F. R. Ruhemann liest eigene Service. 8 Fairfax Mansions, London, NWS 6JY Erzaehlungen. (435 8635) (01-328 3255/6) AJR INFORMATION November 1976 Page 7

JUBILEE OF SAN PAULO CONGREGATION K.C. ANNIVERSARY BANQUET Forty years ago, refugees from Central Europe founded the Congregacao Israelita Paulista, the Jewish community in Sao Paulo Under the auspices of the K.C. in Britain, The anniversary function re-aflBrmed the which has a Jewish population of some 50,000, a banquet was held at "The Londoner" on serious-mindedness of the leading members slightly more than Rio de Janeiro. The Congre­ September 18, to celebrate the 90th anniver­ of the K.C. The principal speaker was Sir gation now includes some 2,500 famUies, and sary of the foundation of the Viadrina in Ludwig Guttmann, one of those prominent and its history is being written by Eva and Irene Breslau, the first German-Jewish fraternity, widely recognised former refugees in this Hirschberg, the widow and daughter of and the 80th anniversary of the K.C. (Kartell- country who have remained loyal to their Dr. Alfred Hirschberg who was for many years Convent deutscher Studenten juedischen community of origin. The Viadrina, he said, its director and founder of its joumal, the Glaubens), the umbrella organisation of aU was not just a club, but it was founded with Cronica Israelita. (He had been editor-in-chief German-Jewish fraternities founded on the the then unique idea—to fight antisemitism at of the CV Zeitung in Germany.) A film has pattem of the Viadrina. It is certainly no the universities. Sir Ludwig drew parallels already been made telling the history of the accident that the former members of the K.C. between the problems of that period and congregation — its title is "Un Estranho No still keep contact with each other and that today's need for securing Jewish existence. Ninho" (A stranger in the nest). The first there are K.C. groups in Britain (with about He equally stressed the obligation of fighting rabbi of the community was the former 150 members), the United States (about 350), against the discrimination to which now other Heidelberg district rabbi, Dr. Fritz Pinkuss, Israel (about 130), as well as in some Euro­ underprivUeged groups are exposed and men­ who is at present chief rabbi and professor pean countries (including Germany) and in tioned as an example the difficulties he had for Hebrew and Jewish history at the Sao South Africa. Obviously, the upheavals of the to grapple with in his work at the Olympics Paolo University. UntU 1956, the congregation thirties and forties have not weakened but, for the Handicapped. had no synagogue, but since then a beautiful on the contrary, strengthened the urge to Dr. W. S. Matsdorf (Jerusalem) conveyed community centre and synagogue building retain the bonds of friendship and comrade­ the greetings of the K.C. group in Israel. have provided a home for the religious services ship forged during the formative university He recalled that the Viadrina had advisedly and the many Jewish institutions which have years. This applies not only to the K.C. but chosen the yeUow colour for its emblems, grown around the congregation. More and also to the two main other fraternities open mindful of the medieval yellow badge which more, the membership includes a great number to Jews at German universities, the Zionist they wanted to transform into a badge of of BrazUian Jews, and services are held both K.J.V. and the F.W.V. whose dinner on the honour. In a way, he said, they thus antici­ in the Liberal and in the Orthodox tradition. occasion of its 95th birthday was reported pated the slogan coined by Robert Weltsch The founding committee in 1936 had 75 mem­ in our August issue. on April 1, 1933: "Tragt ihn mit Stolz, den bers, but by now the congregation has become For various reasons there were quite a gelben Fleck !" a most important Jewish establishment in few Jewish students in pre-1933 Gfermany who WhUst originally the K.C. had an anti- the South American sub-continent, with many did not share the ideology of the K.C. The Zionist bias, this controversy has now lost its ramifications in other South American coun­ Zionists were antagonistic to the K.C.'s meaning. In memory of its perished members tries and links vrith Israel and European "assimUationist" tendencies. Others were it has planted a forest of 10,000 trees, and the communities. active in Socialist student groups of various British K.C.'s scheme to provide educational shades, which consisted to a high extent of scholarships for orphaned chUdren in Israel Jewish members. Last but not least, most had reached £4,000 within two months. HEROES OF ISRAEL FOREST foUowers of the German-Jewish youth move­ The impressive and enjoyable function was Dame Peggy Ashcroft, Sir Harold WUson ment strongly disagreed with the life style presided over by the chairman of the British and Henry Moore have become patrons of the of the "schlagende Verbindungen" which group. Dr. Lothar Nelken, to whom thanks are "Heroes of Israel Forest" to be planted by they considered as symbols of the "establish­ also due for the great amount of preparatory the Jewish National Fund to commemorate the ment". Today, all these former differences work he undertook to make the celebration Entebbe rescue mission. Sir John Gielgud have become irrelevant. a succeiss. W.R. appealed for the fund on BBC radio.

With the Compliments of BROD GALLERY Fine Old Master Paintings

24, St. James's Street, London, SWIA IHA.

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FIGHT FOR THE CAVE OF MACHPELA THE ISRAELI SCENE Shortly before the beginning of Yom Kippur, a group of several hundred young TERRORISTS FRUSTRATED BY ARRESTS RECORD NUMBER OF TOURISTS Arabs forced their way into the area of the On the eve of Rosh Hashana, Ludwina During the Jewish year that has just ended Cave of Machpela, the reputed Tomb of the Janssen, a 23-year-old Dutchwoman from —5736—the total number of tourists in Israel Patriarchs, in Hebron. They defaced and tore Breda, was arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport. exceeded 800,000, a new record. On the eve up Torah scroUs, prayerbooks and other books Another Dutchman, Marius Nieuwberg, 31, of Rosh Hashanah, President Katzir went to and damaged cult objects and furniture. The was arrested in Bombay. Both of them had Ben-Gurion Airport to welcome the last group desecration of the synagogue-room in the been given the task of checking the Air France of Soviet Jews to reach Israel in the old year. Mosque on the site of the Cave followed Route between Paris and Bombay, via Tel At the same time it was announced that Israel rumours that members of the ultra-Orthodox Aviv, in preparation for a skyjack planned for has now more than three mUlion inhabitants. Gush Emunim movement had desecrated the eve of Yom ICippur. Janssen admitted to copies of the Koran and other Moslem holy the police that she was a member of the books, which had been found scattered on the Dutch Marxist-Leninist Red Youth Organisa­ FIRST DRUSE COLONEL floor of the mosque. One of the Torah scroUs tion which has contacts with the I.R.A. Both Colonel Said Abdel Hek of the GalUee destroyed had been brought into the town she and Nieuwberg together with twelve vUlage of Churfish, is Israel's first Druse to by Rabbi Goren, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, others, had received their training at a South attain that rank in the Israel Defence Force. when the Israeli Army entered Hebron U} Yemen camp run by supporters of the Popular Members of his community think he may the closing hours of the Six-Day War. Rabbi Front for the Liberation of Palestine. be the first Israeli Druse general one day. Goren rent his garments and recited lamen­ tations in conformance vrith the tradition MASTERMIND FROM ISRAEL in case of such desecration. The Sephardi NEW SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Ovadia Yossef, ruled that Fifteen million sets of the "Mastermind" it should not be followed because of the Sixty-five-year-old Justice Yoel Sussmann game have been sold throughout the world incidence of the High Holy-days. Both Chief has been appointed president of the Israel in four years by the makers, Invicta Plastics Rabbis urged restraint and abstaining from Supreme Court of which he has been a mem­ of Leicester. It has become the fastest seUing revenge in response to the tragedy. Troops ber since 1963. He received his training at game of aU times, and increased the firm's were eventually brought in to disperse the German universities and at Cambridge. turnover from less than £1 miUion in 19'71 to demonstrators, and the Cave of Machpela £10 million in 1975. At a "Literary Luncheon" was closed to both Moslems and Jews. After to launch two new word-games, managing a day of rioting, a curfew was clamped on BRIBES FOR OFFICERS director Ronnie Samson revealed that the Hebron and on Nablus, the biggest town of original idea had arrived on his desk "in a Two members of the Israeli Purchasing the West Bank. Arab students in several dirty brown envelope from a Romanian in towns staged "sUent" strikes. Elsewhere Mission in New York, Lt. Col. Granit and Israel". It had contained part of a used Corn troops had to use tear-gas to clear roads Major Zeevi, have been arrested on charges Flakes packet perforated vrith holes, some blocked vrith blazing tyres. of accepting bribes of several thousand dollars. coloured match-sticks and a set of rules in They are the first Israeli officers accused of Hebrew. There are now seven versions, one of When the matter was discussed in an emo- having been bribed by foreign contractors. them in BraUle, and there is to be a National tionaUy charged atmosphere in the Knesset, Mastermind Championship in London. Every there were fierce exchanges between members CHARGE AGAINST GOVERNOR third British household owns a set. one of whom accused another of making OF BANK OF ISRAEL antisemitic remarks. "GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS" The designated new govemor of the Bank RELIGIOUS VIGILANTE GROUPS of Israel, Asher Yadlin, has been accused Dr. Gerald Cromer, criminology lecturer at of shady financial dealings in his previous the Tel Aviv Bar-llan University, has founded In the Knesset, Rabbi Lorincz of Agudath ost as director of Kupat Cholim, the medical the first "Gamblers Anonymous" group in Israel warned that there might be a dan­ Sealth service of Histadrut Labour Federa­ Israel seeking to cure compulsive gamblers. gerous social explosion and that religious tion. The Government has issued a statement The only gambling officially permitted in vigilante groups may be organised to stop that it had not known of these allegations Israel is based on football pools and the Sabbath traffic traveUing in a sensitive area when it nominated him. Mr. Yadlin was ofBcial State lotteries, but there are a number of Bnei Brak, the religious town near Tel arrested and denied that there are any grounds of underground clubs in the main towns. Aviv. The main Eastern Tel Aviv Highway for the charges. runs through Bnei Brak, and there have THWARTED YOUNG LOVE already been violent clashes between Ortho­ A 37-year-old Haifa Jew met 26-year-old dox and non-Orthodox residents along ^ ORDE WINGATE'S SON ON A 500-yard section of the road on a nuniber HONEYMOON VISIT Arab Christian Miss Habashi in El Arish in of Friday evenings. The Knesset was recaUea northern Sinai where he was doing reserve from summer recess to discuss the matter. Major Orde Wingate, the son of the famous military duty. They feU in love and were Rabbi Lorincz accused the police of misbehav­ war-time Chindit leader, spent his honeymoon engaged to be married. In spite of her ing in curbing the zealots who tried to in Israel and visited the Orde Wingate famUy's resistance she went to Haifa ready prevent cars from travelling along the road. Children's VUlage of Youth Aliyah where the to convert to Judaism, but the Haifa police Mr. HiUel, the Police Minister, said that the young couple received gifts. Major Wingate's sent her back on the grounds that residents police were already trying to do the Orthodox mother has for many years been an active of the occupied areas were not aUowed to a favour by directmg traffic. campaigner for Youth Aliyah. live in Israel without a permit. The girl was so distressed that she committed suicide by taking poison. THE PLIGHT OF SYRIAN JEWS JAPANESE PILGRIMS TO JERUSALEM According to a statement bv Mr. Gideon The Japanese Makoya Sect undertook their Hausner, Minister without Portfolio, in the twelfth annual "PUgrimage to Zion", carrying Israeli Parliament, about 175,000 Russian banners vrith the inscription "God lives, Israel Jews have submitted applications to join their lives". famUies in Israel, but have so far received no reply. Mr Hausner also reported that the THE FIRST TBREE MILLION 4,500 Jews in Syria were "virtual hostages Overconne the probierri of dry air in and forced to live a life of shame and de­ Any day now, Israel's Jewish population stuffy homes and offices! For your health's salce and that of your gradation". When President Amin visited Syria wUl top three mUlion through natural in­ pets, piano, furniture, antiques, paintings earlier this year, they were forced to turn crease and immigration. There are already ADD the required mojsture with an out "to give him a warm welcome", as was proposals that "this event of great Zionist reported in a Damascus newspaper. national and public significance" should be According to reliable reports, a numbei celebrated by a special award to the person of Syrian Jews have managed to reach ttie or baby concerned. About 500,000 Arabs and Christian-held areas of Lebanon and to sau Druse live in Israel. At the end of 1975, from there to Cyprus. They are elderly a^*^ the population of the West Bank was about poor, and are supposed to have been helpe" 600,000 and that of the Gaza strip and by representatives of an unnamed Christiau northern Sinai 430,000. organisation. There are some 4,000 Jews lei EGRO HUMIDIFI in Syria. BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE (made in Switzerland) 51 Belsize Sath THE HUMIDIFIER CO. I wish to buy cards, envelopes and folded po**' and Festivals at 6.30 p.m. and on tho day 25 Bridge Road, Wembley Parte, marlced letters from all camps of both world war"' at 11 a.m. Middlesex, HAS 9AB Please send, registered mail, stating price, to: ALL ARE CORDIALLY INVITHD Telephone: 01-904 7603 (est.1958) PETER C. RICKENBACK 14 Rosslyn HIII, London, N.W.S AJR INFORMATION November 1976 Page 9

Erich Gottgetreu (Jerusalem) multi-mUlionaire and philanthropist, made Carreras into the largest tobacco firm in the country. In pre-Hitler Berlin, hundreds of THE JEWISH TWIST IN THE TOBACCO SAGA street-comer tobacconists were connected with the Jewish-owned firm of Loeser & Wolff and From Luis de Torres to Walter Moses and Gregorio Rubinstein its three cigarette factories in Eastem Prussia. Other weU-known German-Jewish cigarette- With the news that the distinguished bio­ discovery. But when the Spaniards later took makers were Garbaty-Rosenthal, ManoU- chemist. Dr. Gregorio Rubinstein of Buenos possession of Cuba, they soon realised how Mandelbaum and I. Neumann. Aires, has invented a commercial method of much the "Indios" loved their cigars. From In pre-Israel Palestine, Dr. Walter Moses, producing nicotine-free cigarettes from lettuce that moment, smoking was taxed—the world's formerly an active and influential Zionist youth leaves, the Jewish role in the tobacco saga first tobacco tax. leader in Germany, pioneered the cigarette seems to have reached a dramatic climax. Jewish participation in the preliminaries to industry by establishing the Dubek factory — Historians teU us that the first to bring the joumey to "tobacco land" was considerable, the first in the country to be set up with Jewish tobacco from Central America to Europe was a fact stressed by such distinguished scholars capital and Jewish labour. a baptised Jew — Luis de Torres, Columbus' as CecU Roth. Among more popular writers on Clearly, smoking was enjoyed by Jews, even chief interpreter on his 1492 expedition. In the subject is Simon Wiesenthal, head of the the most orthodox, quite as much as by any Cuba, Torres addressed the natives in aU the Vienna documentation centre on war crimes. other people. An old Chasidic-Yiddish folksong languages he knew, including Spanish, Hebrew, Wiesenthal's Segel der Hoffnung: Die geheime teUs of the wonderful days after the coming Aramaic and Arabic. He was particularly hope­ Mission des Christoph Columbus (Walter Ver­ of the Messiah, when "The trees wUl bear fresh- ful about Hebrew, since many people thought lag, Olten, 1972), uses hitherto overlooked baked cakes. Their branches wUl be pipes and that the descendants of the Ten Tribes of sources in Spanish and other archives, and mouth-pieces, Their leaves wiU make Turkish Israel might live in such remote places. How­ argues convincingly that Columbus was pro­ tobacco, and every Chasid wiU smoke to his ever, the "Indios" knew no Hebrew and had bably of Jewish descent; his aim may have heart's content. . . ." never heard of the Ten Tribes nor the Ten been to find not only a new sea route to India, Commandments. but also a homeland for the persecuted Spanish The Spaniards were also disappointed that Jews — and perhaps a land already inhabited JEWS IN NEW SOUTH WALES the natives had no gold at all. However, the by descendants of the Ten Tribes. GOVERNMENT After 11 years of Liberal Party rule, the chief Indio showed them at least one novelty: Moreover, Columbus and his navigators un­ voters in New South Wales elected a Labour the dried leaves of a plant caUed "tobacco" doubtedly used "Jewish" maps and nautical govemment. The only two Jewish members which the natives roUed up and smoked. Torres instruments on their expedition. Cartography of the Labour party were given cabinet posts: apparently tried smoking there and then and in the Iberian peninsular in the second half Mr. Sydney Darid Einfeld, 67, former presi­ enjoyed his flrst Cuban cigar. He took some of the fifteenth century was, to a large extent, dent of the Executive CouncU of Australian samples back to the Santa Maria and demon­ the province of Jews. There were even special Jewry, was made Minister for Consumer strated the art to Columbus. But the admiral schools for cartographers, particularly in Affairs. Mr. David Paul Landa, a nephew of disliked the taste and remained a non-smoker. Majorca, directed by Jewish scholars, p

Dor/o/1 Dunbee House Qhocolates 117 Great Portland Street, London, W.l make very special gifts Tel: 01-636 8677 Grams: FLEXATEX LONDON, HOUSE OF HALLGARTEN TELEX. Caxton Chocolate Coe Ltde 53/79 Highgate Road, London. NWS 1RR INT. TELEX 2-3540 Undon N22 6UN Choose HaUgarten—Choose Fine Wines Page 10 AJR INFORMATION November 1975 THEATRE AND CULTURAL NEWS NEWS FROM GERMANY Munich. When the old "Schauspielhaus an der MaximUianstrasse" closed its doors exactly FRENCH SS MEN IN WUERZBURG FIGHT MACCABI MEETING IN BERLIN 50 years ago, the last play performed there In spite of strong protests from Nazi-rictims For the first time since the Nazi era, was "Der Stoerenfried", a Bendix-comedy, with organisations, French SS veterans, members Adele Sandrock in the lead. The theatre then members of the European executive of the of the 8,000 strong anti-Communist Charle­ became "Kammerspiele im Schauspielhaiis' magne Division which fought on the Eastern Maccabi Federation held their annual con­ with a new and young ensemble, which in­ front during the war, met in Wiirzburg. ference in Germany. Representatives of the Their meeting formed part of a reunion of cluded Lina Carstens, who is also referred to Maccabi World Union met at Berlin together in the next item. members of the former 18th SS Panzer Grena­ vrith representatives of German-Jewish organi­ dier Division "Horst Wessel". When they sations and the West German Sports Federa­ BBC Television provided the rare pleasure attacked television and press representatives, of an excellent German production, the fito police had to intervene. The mayor of tion. The secretary-general of the Federation, "Lina Braake", story of an old peoples' home Wiirzburg, Herr Zeitler, regretted that there Mr. Karlheinz Gieseler, said Israel should in Germany, with the outstanding performance had been no legal means of preventing the turn to sports organisations in Europe in order of Lina Carstens, who joined the Munich- meeting. Some of those attending had taken to avoid isolation after her boycott by African, part in the defence of Hitler's bunker in 1945. Falckenberg ensemble in 1926. The male Asian and Arab sports organisations. protagonist of the film, which was also shown RETRIAL FOR NEO-NAZI at the "Gate" cinema, Notting HiU Gate, was In January, a Hamburg court sentenced JUBILEE OF JACOBSON SCHOOL Fritz Rasp (84), who proved an equal partner 37-year-old Wolf-Dieter Eckart, self-appointed To mark the 175th anniversary of the and has retained his charm and gentlemanly elegance. chairman of a "Freundeskreis der NSDAP", foundation of the Jacobson-Schule in Seesen, a small extremist group, to a suspended Films. The National FUm Theatre, London, prison term of 8 months and a fine of a former pupU of the school, Gerhard Ballin, DM 3,000 (about £700). Eckart appealed who still lives in Seesen, published a Fest­ announces a series of German Brecht films, against the sentence which has now been schrift about the history of the school. Its running until November 14. They include annulled by the Karlsruhe Supreme court. founder was the Jewish financier Israel "Dreigroschenoper", "Herr Puntila und sein A retrial was ordered. In his news bulletin Jacobson whose aim it was to bridge the gap Knecht", and "Aufstieg und FaU der Stadt "National Socialist German News Service", between young Jews and Christians by a Mahagonny". Eckart wrote: "Hit the Jews in their mali­ Radio "European Section" BBC. News in ciously grinning mouths. Smash their windows, "paritatische" school. The Jewish component mark their houses. Bum down their syna­ gradually diminished, and the name was weU over 30 languages is still broadcast from gogues—all that are stUl standing". abolished under the Nazis. Today, this has "Bush House". Active in the "Schulfunk" are, amongst others, actor-writer-producer Milo TRADE UNION TO BAN PLO SUPPORTERS been remedied and since 1975 the school has been called "Jacobson-Gymnasium". Sperber and, well-remembered from "Laterndl" The Trade Union Branch for the chemical, days, Marianne Walla and Hanne Norbert (wife paper and ceramics industry has threatened E.G.L. of the late character actor, Martin Miller). to exclude from its ranks eight young Darm­ stadt trade unionists who donated a TV fee NEUKOELLN'S ISRAELI TWIN TOWN Erich Wolfgang Korngold, who emigrated to of about £200 to the PLO. The secretary the U.S.A. and died there in 1957, was a most A number of Neukolln officials visited Bat promising opera composer who as a child explained that such a donation which had Jam near Tel Aviv, the twin town of Neukolln been acknowledged in a Communist news­ which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The prodigy had his first opera "Violanta" per­ paper, greatly damaged the image of trade mayor of Neukolln, Dr. Stucklen conveyed formed at Munich and Vienna during the unionism. messages of good wiU from the Lord Mayor First World War. Korngold's greatest success was "Die tote Stadt" in which Maria Jeritza SURVEY OF COMMUNITIES AND of Berlin and the President of the Federal ORGANISATIONS House of Deputies. achieved world fame. Radio Vienna honoured the composer recently with a remarkable per­ The calendar for the current Jewish year, HOCHHUTH'S "THE REPRESENTATIVE" formance of that opera. The composer's father, published by the German Section of the Jewish TO BE FILMED National Fund, carries details about the Julius Korngold, is remembered as one of Jewish communities (about 65) and "Landes­ CCC Films, founded soon after the war by Austria's leading music critics. verbaende" (8) in the German Federal Arthur Brauner, a Polish-Jewish survivor of Honour Bestowed. Writer and journalist Republic and West Berlin, as well as about several concentration camps, plan to film Rolf Josef Wechsberg received the Austrian "Ehren­ the Federation of the eight communities in Hochhuth's play "The Representative" which kreuz" for art and science. the German Democratic Republic. It also accuses the Pope of connivance at Nazi mis­ includes information about other Jewish deeds. Paul Scofleld, Curt Jurgens, O. E. Hasse "Illustrierte Neue Welt" is a new Jewish organisations, among them seven B'nai B'rith and many other well-known actors have been periodical in Vienna, to which Peter Herz is Lodges in the Federal Republic. approached to play leading parts. a regular contributor. S.B

FAMILY EVENTS CLASSIFIED TWO HUNGARIAN LADIES, very Personal good cooks avaUable for parties. WIDOW, INDEPENDENT MEANS, Entries in the column Family The charge in these columns is AJR Employment Agency, phone in 60s, with many interests, no Events are free of charge. Texts 15p for five toords. 01-624 4449. famUy, good home, is looking for NURSING COMPANION. Conti­ a gentleman in the same position should be sent in by the 15th of nental lady, German-speaking, the month. Situations Vacant for companionship. Car owner pre­ seeks non-residential position. Also ferred, Wembley area if possible. HOUSEKEEPER (lady), able to night duty and as travelling com­ When replying, please give tele­ cook and run nice home for one panion. Please call 01-458 8698 be­ phone number. Box 623. Deaths person, live out, cleaner kept re­ tween 6 and 9 p.m. WIDOW, OWN HOME, indepen­ quired from approx. 9-3 o'clock, ALTERATIONS OF DRESSES, dent means, many interests, no Meyer. — Ludwig Meyer passed not weekends. Hampstead area. etc., undertaken by ladies on our family, wishes to meet gentleman, away on September 3, aged 88. Good salary for right applicant. register. Phone AJR Employment also independent, for companion­ Deeply mourned by his wife Please phone 01-794 6808. Agency, 01-624 4449. ship. Age about 65-70. Please reply Dorothea (nee Warschauer), chil­ Miscellaneous vrith telephone number to Box 621- dren and grandchildren. 34 Clare­ KIND COMPANION/HELP wanted REVLON MANICURIST / PEDI- ELDERLY WIDOW, Vienna born, mont Avenue, Woking, Surrey. for elderly active Viennese lady. independent but lonely, residing Small flat Hampstead Garden CURIST. WiU risit your home. 01-445 2915. Swiss Cottage flat, would like to Pretrfelder.—Mrs. Margot Pretz­ Suburb. Telephone 01-340 7821 or meet cultured gentleman, 70s, for write to Box 622. BILDER, ZEICHNUNGEN, companionship. Box 620. felder, of 9 Eldon Court, Eldon Drucke, Illustrierte Bucher Grove, Hampstead, N.W.S, passed Situations Wanted deutscher, deutsch-jiidischer, ost- AJR Enquiries away after a long Ulness, on Sep­ jiidischer Herkunft gesucht, Gute Preise. Box 624. Wirth.—Mrs. J. Wirth, last known tember 13. Deeply mourned by her SURREY AREAS near Richmond/ address 3 Boyton House, Welling­ husband. Kew / Wimbledon, also Hammer­ FOR YOUR NEXT SIMCHA: ton Road, London, NWS OTH. smith and Putney areas: Lady, car Stock liquidation. Limited quant­ Seligmann.—Mrs. Ilse Seligmann, owner avaUable for shopping, ity sUver and gold embroidered Pollak. — Miss M. PoUak. Last Israeli made satin kappels. Half known address 58 Pembridge of 43 Redington Road, London, cooking, companionship. Would price. Box 625. Villas, London, Wll 3ET. N.W.3, passed away on October 9, use car for outings, transport, 34 aged 70. Deeply moumed by her hours per day, Mondays to Fridays. Accommodation Vacant Buechse. — Dr. E. M. Buechse. brother, Alfred Adam and famUy, Please contact AJR Employment WIDOW, 77, seeks lady, to Uve in Last knovni address Grove Lodge —nursing, shopping, cooking. DaUy ChUd Care Unit, 8 MusweU HUl, 55 Hayam Road, Haifa, Israel. Agency, 01-624 4449. help kept. Box 626. London, NIO 3TD. SSHI

AJR INFORMATION November 1976 Page 11

EMIGRATION FROM ROMANIA New York Rabbi Schindler, chairman of the NEWS FROM THE EAST Conference of Presidents of Major American LENIN'S FRIEND SPEAKS OUT THREAT TO KIEV MOURNERS Jewish Organisations, recently visited Romania KGB officer Lebed has warned Kiev Jews and reported that the treatment of Jews was Eighty-four-year-old Professor Ernest Kol- that if they recited prayers at the Babi Yar praiseworthy, but Romania's emigration policy jnan, formerly of the Moscow State University, monument in memory of the 33,000 Jews kiUed was not. Some emigration, though "sluggish Resigned from the Communist Party which by the Nazis in September 1941, they would be and uncertain" was allowed, but many Roman­ ne joined in 1918, and accused the authori- jaUed "not for days, but for years". He added: ian Jews who wanted to be re-united with iies of continuing Stalin's repressive methods, "Now that there is a Soviet monument at Babi their famUies in America and elsewhere, were wl ^ v*^^"" *° ^'^- Brezhnev, he said that Yar, we wUl not aUow you to insult it with not aUowed to do so. Rabbi Schindler added ^^° he served in the Soriet Army in the Zionist provocations". The Soviet monument, that when the U.S. Congress granted Romania ?«cond World War, his sister was burned in the unveUed last summer does not mention that most favoured nations status in respect of sas ovens of a concentration camp, whUst his a great number of the victims at Babi Yar trade, it had been hoped that emigration orother, a founder member of the Czecho- were Jews. would greatly increase. It had not done so. jp^yak Communist Youth League, was mur- In spite of these threats, however, two Before the concession, 2,600 Jews emigrated uered by Stalin. He denounced discrimination dozen Jews were eventually allowed to re­ in one year, in 1976 there would probably be "gainst Jews and other nationalities in "a cite prayers at the memorial on condition no more than 2,300. 6;oviet Prison of Nations" equal to that of that they stood some distance from the monu­ J|^sarist days. Prague-born Professor Kolman ment and said their prayers quickly. They r^^, a friend of Lenin and worked together were permitted to place wreaths nearby, but Obituary with Khruschev and other Soviet leaders, the inscriptions, some in Hebrew, were re­ fnr J'f^v ^ member of the State Committee moved by the police. ior Cybernetics and the Czechoslovak Acad­ MISS IRENE CASPAR! emy of Science. CANDLES IN LENINGRAD Miss Irene Caspari, who recently died at Since Rosh Hashana, a Leningrad Jewish the age of 61, "made a considerable and cultural group formed nine months ago, has distinctive contributions to educational psycho­ PROTEST FROM BRITAIN attempted organised studies of Judaism. The logy", writes The Times. She had come to group celebrates on Friday nights by lighting this country from Germany in 1935, and T J^JJ^ing a visit of members of the Greater candles and singing. Most of its members are from 1954 onwards, worked in the Depart­ ha J '^ Council to Moscow, participants between 19 and 30 years. One member, 42- ment for ChUdren and Parents at the in D •* letters about the treatment of Jews year-old Vladimir Sverdin, an engineer who Taristock Clinic; in this capacity, she was t? «;nssia to Mr. Shub, chief secretary of lost his job two years ago when he applied responsible for many new developments in af J Jwoscow City CouncU. The letters origin- to emigrate to Israel, is now working as a training and clinical practice. She also was Jpu °™ ^^^ Women's Campaign for Soviet night watchman in Leningrad sports grounds. a member of various committees and study in^V' ^^^ Architects, Engineers and Build- He said to a visitor: "We realised that we can­ groups and has a number of publications to ng.Industries Committee for the Release of not exist vrithout at least elementary know­ her credit. soviet Jewry and the National Council of ledge of Jevrish life". goviet Jewry. The letters concerned six MARGERY BENTWICH gussian Jews who want to emigrate from STORY OF RUSSIAN JEWESS IN The notable riolinist Margery Bentwich, a f^^Ksia. Lord Ponsonby, chairman of the G.L.C. SILLITOE PLAY sister of the late Norman Bentwich, has died "aa a private talk with Mr. Shub who said he A play by the well-known writer Alan in Israel at the age of 89. As a pupU of Jpif• V'^'^self a Jew, but that there was no Sillitoe "The Interview", based on the story Leopold Auer, she was acclaimed as a virtu­ *^wish problem in Russia. of Soviet Jewess Ida Nudel, was performed oso riolinist before the First World War and in the church of St. Martins-in-the-Field before played with Sir Henry Wood at the old almost 1,500 people. Actors Colin Blakeley, Queen's Hall. She also played to large Janet Suzman and Gerry Sundquist took part audiences in Breslau and Berlin. When DANCING AT MOSCOW SYNAGOGUE in a moving reconstruction of 44-year-old Ida Norman Bentwich became Attorney-General Nudel's struggle to leave Russia and join her for Palestine after the war, she and her ov^^^^'S people danced outside the main husband and sister in Israel. The author ex­ sister Thelma Yellin formed the nucleus of -/j°agogue on the eve of Rosh Hashana. plained that he had been involved in the move­ musical life in Jerusalem. Together with anH^^ was no interference from the police, ment for the release of Soviet Jews since he Norman she wrote a book "The PUgrim vpa '"^ street was blocked to traffic. Last wrote a piece in the "Times" two years ago, Father" after her father's death. She devoted Q^.' the authorities directed traffic to pass asking for freedom for Yuli Tartakovsky and much of her life to her sisters and their jp^ine the synagogue in order to prevent Yuri Podriachik, both of whom are now in Israel. families and found inspiration in the mysteries •^ws from congregating there. He hoped the play would have a similar effect. of Christian Science.

INTRODUCING MELANIE HALL HAMPSTEAD HOUSE COLDWELL RESIDENTIAL EDGWARE NURSING A luxurious private home for the HOME elderly in Finchley, 1 Hendon 12 Lyndhurst Gardens, N.W.S HOTEL 36-38 Orchard Drive, Edgware, Avenue, London, N.S. for the elderly, retired and slightly ^ach resident has his or her own DIETS AND NURSING MIddx. 'Oom — each one individually handicapped. Luxurious accom­ SERVICES AVAILABLE Registered with the Borough of furnished. modation, central heating through­ Lovely Large Terrace & Gardens. Barnet and staffed in accordance ^0 offer 24-hour nursing care out. H/c in all rooms, lift to all Very Quiet Position. with their regulations. floors, coloured TV, lounge and and attention; have a doctor visit­ North Flnchley, near Woodhouse We provide full nursing care for ing and on cafll; beautiful gardens comfortable dining room, pleasant Grammar School. '•ont and rear; excellent cuisine gardens. Kosher food. Modest the sick elderly and for the and boast a homely, Jewish terms. Enquiries: MRS. COLDWELL chronically III of all ages. atmosphere. Rooms from £50 p.w. 11 Fenstanton Avenue, Matron: Miss K. McAte«r Please lel.: Matron on 01-349 9641 London, N.12 ^_____ for appolnlment. 01-452 9768 or 01-794 6037 Tel.: 01-445 0061 Tel: 01-958 8196

ROSEMOUNT GUEST HOUSE "AVENUE LODGE" GROSVENOR NURSING THURLOW LODGE "-Icensed by the London Borough d Excellent food. Colour TV. Bamet) HOME for the elderly, retired and slightly Central heating. Large garden. handicapped. Luxurious accom­ Golders Green, N.W.II Registered by the Borough of Camden 17 Parsifal Road, London, For geriatric and convalescent modation. Centrally heated, hot ••ORTH-WEST LONDON'S EXCLUSIVE patients. Long or short term. and cold water in all rooms, lift N.W.6. HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND to all floors, colour television RETIRED Comfortable TV lounge and Tel.: 01-435 5856 & 8565 spacious dining room. Lift to all lounge and comfortable dining * Luxurious tingle and double roona room, kosher cuisine. Pleasant *tlh telephone. floors. Kosher cuisine. Day and Continental Boarding House night nursing by qualified staff, gardens. Resident S.R.N, in atten­ * Principal roomt slth bathroom m dance. 24 hours supervision. Well-appointed rooms, excellent feed. TV. •ulte. under supervision of matron. Garden. ConQenlal atmosphere. Reasonable Single rooms from £40-00 p.w. ratea. A permanent home for ttie elderlv. * Lounge with colour TV. Single and double rooms. Fees Security and contlnultY of manaeement * Koaher culalne. from £5000 per week sharing. Ring for appointment: assured by * Lo»ely garden*—eaay parking. Ring for appointment: 01-794 7305 Of 01-452 9768 Mrs. A. Wolff & Mrs. H. Wolff (Jnr) 01-203 2892 01-452 051B 11-12 Thurlow Road, 3 Hemstal Road, London, * "ay and night nuralng. NW6 2AB Tel.: 01-624 8521 ^•ae talephone Ihe Matron, 01-455 OSO* 85/87 Fordwych Road, London, N.W.2. London, N.W.3. "—"'^^•^^ ma

Page 12 AJR INFORMATION November 1976

Letter to the Editor MISCELLANEOUS CARDINAL DOEPFNER ELEANOR RATHBONE HOUSE C.B.F. NEWS Sir,—Your obituary of Cardinal Julius Mr. Ben Helfgott, who was elected Joint Doepfner (A.J.R. Information, September, Applications for Admission Hon. Treasurer and Appeal Chairman of the 1976) does not mention that Doepfner's mem­ Central British Fimd, came to this country ory is rather marred by the role he played in Our Flatlet Home, Eleanor Rathbone House, in 1945, under the auspices of the C.B.F., continues to be fully occupied and its facilities with 731 boys and girls—all survivors of the 1969 in shielding the Munich suffragan bishop are greatly enjoyed by all who live there. In concentration camps. He is also chairman of Matthias Defregger who had been accused of accordance with general trends, the demand the '45 Aid Society—created for the purpose being responsible as a Captain in the Nazi for this kind of "sheltered accommodation" is of maintaining close links between the mem­ Army for the shooting of 17 hostages in the steadily rising, whilst that for admission to bers of this group and of rendering support Italian village of Filetto in June, 1944. An the Old Age Homes is declining, because to those Jews who have become refugees people want to run their own households as due to the various upheavals of the post-war attempt was made to prosecute Defregger in long as they are able to do so; as a result, the years. Mr. Helfgott also distinguished himself West Germany but the Public Prosecutor dis­ average age of applicants to the Old Age as a sportsman; he represented Britain twice continued the proceedings on the ground that Homes is much higher than in the past. at the Olympic Games as a Weightlifting Champion and is Bronze and a Gold Medallist Defregger acted "on superior orders", a de­ As our readers know we are keeping a fence which the Nuremberg Charter had ex­ Waiting List for the flatlets, which may, how­ at the Commonwealth and Maccabi Games ever, have become obsolete in the course of respectively. pressly excluded in the case of war crimes, time. Some of those registered may meanwhile At the annual dinner of the Central British but which in breach of that Charter has been have found suitable altemative accommoda­ Fund, Theodore D. Feder, the Geneva-based successfully pleaded by defendants accused of tion, whereas others may not have registered overseas director of the American Jewish Nazi crimes in West German Courts on many when the flatlet scheme was started because Joint Distribution Committee, said the fund occasions. the chances for their admission then appeared was constantly facing agonising decisions in very remote. Whilst there still does not seem a its attempts to assist needy Jews and appealed At the time Doepfner asserted that the chance of an early admission to one of the to World Jewry to double its support. During shooting of hostages was not a crime under large flats (meant for couples), we should the 63 years of its existence, the "Joint" had international law, and he was heavily criti­ like to review the Waiting List for the one assisted innumerable Jews, but might have room bed-sitter flatlets, because in the months to cut down its services if funds continued cised for his attitude not only by the Italian to come there may be vacancies which should to be insufficient The guest of honour at the Resistance, but also by well-known West be offered to those in need of them. dinner, Mr. Jean Heidler, representative in German anti-Nazi Catholics, siic/i as Hans Britain of the UN High Commission for Refu­ Kiihner, the President of the Intemational Will those who have already registered con­ gees, paid a particular tribute to the CBF. firm to the office (mark "Attention of Mr. CBF Chairman Lord Nathan announced that Association of German-Speaking Writers in E. A. Lomnitz") that they are still anxious for its 1976 programme the CBF hoped to be Zurich who in an open letter addressed to to be considered as potential tenants, and will able to distribute £350,000. The total so far Cardinal Doepfner went so far as to say: "A those who so far have not registered ask for collected is £120,000. an application form. They will then, in due Church which through one of its highest dig­ course, be invited to meet a small sub­ nitaries, the Primate of Germany (i.e. Doepfner committee. LONDONER'S PRIZE FOR YOUTH WORK —F.H.) tries to make excuses for and to cover Generally, applicants should definitely be Mr Meir (Cyril) Abelson who emigrated up su£h matters, becomes unworthy of belief-" able to run their household unaided and not from Hamijstead to Israel in 1971, is one F. HELLENDALL be much older than 70 years. As in the past, of five recipients of the Hazani Prize for preference will be given to those who are in social work for his voluntary services to 5 Endersleigh Gardens, restricted financial circumstances. Future Jerusalem youth activities, including the study London, N.W.4. applicants may first wish to see the house of Judaism among under-privileged children AN ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR (5 Avenue Road, Highgate; bus 41 from with hardly any Jewish background. He is Archway to Crescent Road). They should re­ an ofiBcial of the Justice Ministry and a £250,000 was anonymously donated in port to the caretaker's office on the ground member of B'nai B'rith and has contributed Britain to the Tel Aviv university. The money floor and will be shown one or two flatlets the prize money of about £345 to the pro­ will go to an endowment fund for researcn and the communal rooms. vision of scholarships for poor students. into natural sciences.

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