Volume XXIX No. 4 April, 1974 INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE AssooAnm at OWISH RERKEES m &IEAT UHTAM

'*^. Rosenstock tortured Europe that they should wear the Yellow Star 'with pride'." And in an article "Passover today and 30 years ago" (MB, Tel Aviv, 1963) he wrote: "Today we know that a FEAST OF IDENHnCATION few years later the Yellow Star had to be worn not only as a badge of humiliation but as a label for the transport into the gas chamber." "In every generation, every Jew must feel Willehad Eckert and Pfarrer Professor D. Yet in the same article he reminded his readers ^s if he himself came out of Egypt." This is Eberhard Bethge. The recipient of this year's that the events of April 1933 had evoked a the keynote of the Seder night. Passover is medal was Dr. H. G. Adler (London) in recog­ new feeling of Jewish self-identification. °ne of those Jewish festivals, where religion nition of his recently-published book "Der For Robert Weltsch himself the awareness •merges with secular history, miracle with fact, verwaltete Mensch". This comprehensive work, of the specific position of Jews who were legend with reality. The Seder, as Chaim which will be reviewed in this joumal shortly, culturally integrated into their environment Raphael puts it in his beautifully laid out describes in detail the anti-Jewish measures had already started in his student days in Haggada with his topical explanations ("A of the Nazi regime. Based on innumerable Prague. It made him a critical analyst of the Feast of History", Weidenfeld & Nicolson, documents, it is of particular importance for Jewish scene before this became an obvious 1972) "has a unique quality in that it is a Jews from Germany, because it lays stress on necessity by force of circumstance. In his ceremony which brings together—and always the initial stages of the persecution, when we concept of Zionism the claim for Jewish-Arab has throughout history—all kinds of people of were the first victims. As the masses of the understanding has, from the very beginning, Jewish origin, no matter what weight they exterminated Jews lived in Eastem Europe, always been one of the foremost issues. This normally attach to this in terms of belief, there has always been the danger that the is reflected not only in the deeply founded practice, political philosophy, social interests recording of our own share in the Holocaust essays on general Jewish subjects, which are or family loyalties". is being neglected. republished in the volume, but also in the Until 1933, we used to read the Haggada As there was no difference in suffering profiles which are reprinted in the section •'s a story which related to the past. We were between Central European and Eastern Jews, "Juedische Gestalten", e.g., of Martin Buber aware of the links with this past, but we did it is fitting that we commemorate the Holo­ and Georg Landauer. His critical approach to not expect that it might become for us a caust together. In London, we have done so the German-Jewish symbiosis is based on the niatter of the present, that we in our days throughout the years on the anniversary of recognition not only of the problematic aspects •night become subjected to collective discrimi­ the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and we earnestly of this coexistence but also of the positive nation and persecution and that those of us, hope that many of our members will attend values which emanated from it for both the *ho did not have the good fortune of a new this year's Commemoration Meeting, which Jews and for European culture. This attitude exodus, were doomed to slavery and extermina­ will be held on Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m., at made him a custodian of our heritage, and tion. the New London Theatre. (Further details are several essays which are included in the book When in those days we enjoyed the beauti­ announced in this issue on page 3.) first appeared in publications of the Leo Baeck ful scenery of the Rhine, we certainly remem­ Institute, with which he has been associated bered the Rabbi's Passover flight from Bach­ since its inception, especially as editor of the arach. Yet we felt secure. "It could not happen Seder Night 1933 Year Books. again," it was "ein Maerchen aus uralten To revert to the first Seder after the Nazis The exodus of the Jews from Germany was Zeiten". Yet the volcano erupted again. It a slow process. The reason was not that the did so with a vehemence which a million times had come to power, we remember the message given to us by Robert Weltsch in his his­ leaders of Gennan Jewry had to plead with exceeded the event in the small town during the Pharaohs of the day: "Let my people go." we Middle Ages. It affected not only all the torical article, published in the "Juedische Rundschau" of April 4, 1933, under the head­ On the contrary, the Nazis were quite ready °ld established families in that part of Ger- to let them go, and the pressure for emigra­ "^any, but the Jews of the whole country and ing "Tragt ihn mit Stolz, den gelben Fleck!" finally the major part of European Jewry. We are reminded of this article anew in a tion grew harder from year to year. Yet many ^f>day, these twelve years from 1933 to 1945 collection of essays and articles by Robert Jews were first reluctant to leave. Some thought have themselves become past history, but they Weltsch, published by the Leo Baeck Institute that the regime would be overthrown soon, ^Ul be with us to the end of our days. on the occasion of the SOth birthday of this and though, in hindsight, it is easy to blame outstanding and courageous Jewish publicist them of shortsightedness, we now know that (Robert Weltsch: "An der Wende des there were several situations, when the fate "Brotherhood Week" in Germany modemen Judentums. Betrachtungen aus of the Government was in jeopardy. It was also fuenf Jahrzehnten." Geleitwort von Hans not easy for middle-aged people to embark Yet we also have to take notice of the efforts Tramer. J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), Tueb­ on a life of adventure and uncertainty. Last oy political and cultural representatives of ingen, 1972, 309 pp. DM 49). "Tragt ihn mit but not least, in the course of time, when Post-war Germany, who try to keep alive the Stolz, den gelben Fleck!" was a signal of en­ emigration had become the only chance of niemory of the past happenings and to create couragement when it was written. It reminded survival, the obstacles to finding refuge be­ a new relationship between people of different the German Jews that they could only with­ came greater and greater. In this connection ^rtgins and religions, especially between stand the shock of the happenings if they it is good to be reminded in the outstanding Christians and Jews. Last month, as in the gathered strength from their Jewishness book by A. J. Sherman, "Island Refuge" Past years, "Brotherhood Week" was observed ("Das angegriffene Judentum muss sich nun (reviewed in our January 1974 issue) that by functions of various kinds all over Westem zu sich selbst bekennen"). Yet with his intel­ Anglo-Jewry not only raised substantial funds Germany and in West Berlin. lectual honesty, Weltsch wrote ten years later for the rescue and relief of the persecutees The climax was the award of the Buber- in "Haaretz" (Tel Aviv): "I must confess that but that Jewish politicians and communal I sometimes regret the popularity which my workers, like Lord Samuel, Lord Bearsted, «osenweig Medal. The fact that, for several slogan of 1933 obtained. Since then, the years, Brotherhood Week has been linked with otto Schifl' and Sir Robert Waley Cohen, to situation has fundamentally changed, and quote only a few names at random, from 1933 ^hese two spiritual leaders of German Jewry in whilst the exhortation was appropriate ten Itself indicates the importance, which the spon­ onwards constantly pressed the British Govern­ years ago, when one could not yet recognise ment of the day to relax the admission policy sors attribute to the creative power of what and not even foresee the true character of *as once German Jewry. The handing-over to this country, Palestine and the British National Socialism, it is certainly not in keep­ Commonwealth. eeremony was held in Berlin's Hochschule ing with the tragic reality of our days. Today, tuer Musik, where addresses were delivered I would not dare to appeal to the Jews in oy Mayor Klaus Schuetz, Pater Professor Dr. Continued on page 2, column 1 Page 2 AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Feast of Identification FROM THE ISRAELI SCENE Continued from page 1 The identification of Jewish politicians with GOLDA MEIR PRAISES THE "YEKKES" VISIT BY MAYOR KLAUS SCHUETZ their community of origin is one of the remark­ Under this heading, the "Mitteilungsblatt" "Ich bin ein IsraeU" able features of Anglo-Jewish history. Today of the AJR's fraternal organisation in Israel On the occasion of his visit to Israel, the many of the 46 Jewish members of the newly published a report about an address, delivered Mayor of West Berlin, Klaus Schuetz, elected Parliament also take an active part in by Prime Minister Golda Meir at a meeting addressed a meeting of 500 former Berliners Jewish affairs. The fact that statistics of the held in memory of Giora Lotan (Georg in Tel Aviv. Paraphrasing the famous saying Lubinski), the creator of the National Insur­ of the late John F. Kennedy, the Mayor ex number of Jewish MPs are compiled by the ance system in Israel, who passed away a Jews themselves and not by malevolent claimed: "Ich bin ein Israeli". The Mayor short while ago. She praised Lotan's con­ of Tel Aviv, Shlomo Lahat, who was on the quarters as acts of discrimination, like the structive work and, remembering also another platform and responded in German, said: "Icn notorious "Judenzaehlung" in Gennany during deceased leading Israeli of German birth, bin ein Berliner. And I don't just return the the First World War, is a healthy indication Giora (Georg) Josefthal, asked: 'Have we compliment; I was actually bom in Berlin." . of the position of British Jews in public life. ever properly put on record, how much the Yishuv and the State of Israel owe to the To mark the visit, Israelis bom in Berlin Of course, this does not entitle us to turn a contributions made by the Aliyah from Ger­ planted an avenue of trees in a JNF forest blind eye to the dangers which may arise for many in so many and diverse spheres, how in honour of their birthplace and presented any minority in times of an economic crisis. many outstanding personalities they produced, a certificate to that effect to Mayor Schuetz. At the last meeting of the Board of Deputies and how many achievements are due to before the elections, the President, Sir Samuel them? And all this," she added, "was done Fisher, uttered a waming on racialism in case in a spirit of correctness and modesty". DAYAN WORRIED BY EMIGRATION the National Front should be successful. Now "Considering the misunderstandings, to Addressing students at Bar-llan University we know that the National Front obtained which the 'Yekkes' have often been subjected, Mr. Moshe Dayan, the Defence Minister, saw only 80,000 votes in a total poll of some 30 mil­ it was gratifying to hear such warm words that emigration is the most crucial problem lion, but nevertheless we have no right to be of understanding and recognition from a per­ facing Israel today. "I am afraid to asK sonality of the standing of Prime Minister complacent. whether more people are coming or, more are Golda Meir", comments flie "M.B." leaving." Israel must have constant immigra­ Passover also has to remind us of the pre­ tion if she were to survive. The great chal­ carious situation of Jews in many lands abroad, lenge to Israeli society today was to prove a especially in Soviet Russia and Arab countries. drawing power for the millions of Jews living We have to realise that the terms "freedom" DILEMMA OF AFRICAN STATES abroad. The image of a nation to which they and "democracy" have different connotations The Black African States belonging to the would want to come must be created. in the West and in the Eastem bloc. Yet all Organisation of African Unity, which has Lately there have been many re.ports that a the same we must hope that those Jews who adopted a strong pro-Arab stand, are re­ growing number of new immigrants are want to stay in these countries and, at the ported to be hard hit by the sharp increase deciding to leave Israel, with considerable same time, wish to remain identified with their in oil prices and the cut-back in supplies. emigration from such towns as Carmiel ano The oil price increase is affecting the Black Ashod, which have large populations of new­ Jewish heritage, will be given the right of States' balance of payments, and they also comers. self-expression, and that for the sake of all face the prospect of having to pay more for those, who wish to leave, the call "Let my imports while their own exports decline. people go" will not be left unheeded. Aid from Israel, which was cut off when ALIYA BID the African States broke off relations, would AMENDMENT TO AUSTRIAN now seem to be greatly missed. The African A campaign for the promotion of emigrati^ NATIONALITY ACT States are beginning to ask what they are to Israel from Britain was launched with 40« going to get from the Arabs in return for meetings and nine emissaries from Israel paf' We have been asked by the Austrian Em­ their loyalty over the Arab-Israeli dispute. ticipating. Public rallies were held in a nuni' bassy, 18 Belgrave Mews, London, S.W.l, to Conversely South Africa, on whom an oil ber of provincial centres, with a youth meeting publish the following announcement: embargo was placed as a price for the Af­ in London. Zionist youth organisations "According to an Amendment to the ricans' breaking with Israel, has been little arranged "aliya seminars" during March. Austrian Nationality Act which entered into affected. The campaign is part of an international force January 1, 1974, emigrants who were effort organised by the Jewish Agency i» forced to renounce Austrian citizenship be­ several countries in the first half of this year, tween April 5, 1933, and March 13, 1938, res­ but in Britain the campaign will be extended pectively after March 13, 1938, and lost ARSON ON CHRISTIANS for an indefinite period at the request of the Austrian citizenship when acquiring another Recent arson attacks on the premises of Zionist Federation. This follows a sharp de­ nationality during thetr stay abroad may three Christian groups in Jerusalem were im­ cline in emigration from Britain to Israel- re-apply for Austrian nationality provided Having steadily decreased since 1969, last year mediately denounced by the Minister for Rel­ it suffered its largest drop in more than Z" (1) permission to establish permanent resi­ igious Affairs and by the Mayor of years. It is stated, however, that interest ^ dence in Austria has been granted to the Jerusalem. Intruders broke into all three emigration has grown in the past few months applicant by the "Amt der Landesregie­ buildings, setting fire to the contents and and that there is also an improvement in the rung" (provincial govemment), and causing" considerable damage. Police are quality of applicants. (2) applicant's pennanent address in Aus­ working on the assumption that the fires tria has been registered with the Amt were caused by anti-missionary groups. How­ Speaking at a luncheon held by the Angl^ der Landesregierung concerned. ever, two of the targets, the American Bap­ Jewish Association in London, Israel's nev* tist Centre and the Swedish Theological In­ Ambassador, Mr. Gideon Rafael, called on the Application should be made to the stitute, are not linked with any missionary AJA to establish an exchange programme be­ Amt der Landesregierung of the last activities. tween Anglo-Jewish and Israeli students. !• place of residence in Austria no later Charges are still pending against some ac­ would, he said, be most valuable for Israeli than December 31, 1974. tivists accused of participation in several students and particularly for the sabras to For further information please call the minor arson incidents at the premises of al­ come into contact with the younger generation Austrian Embassy (Consular Section), 01-235 leged missionary groups more than a year of British Jews within the framework of aO 3731." ago. organisation such as the AJA.

OCTOBER WAR TOLL A memorial volume published by the Is­ raeli Govemment contains the names of 2,521 members of the Defence Forces who died during the October War and its aftermath. The names of another 32 men known to have Greyhound Guaranty Limited been killed as well as those still officially listed as missing on the Syrian front were Bankers omitted at the request of relatives. Of the Israeli soldiers and airmen killed nearly a quarter, 609, were officers, the high­ 5 GRAFTON STREET, MAYFAIR. est percentage of officers to die in battle in any of Israel's wars. LONDON, WIX 3 LB The memorial contains the names and ranks of those who died and the names and Telephone: 01-629 1208 addresses of their parents. The introduction includes the Memorial Prayer, David's Lament Telex: 24637 Cables: Greyty, London, W.l and Psalm 83. AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Page 3 HOME NEWS ANGLOJVDAICA Book Week GENERAL ELECTION IN COMMEMORATION OF THE MARTYRS This year's Jewish Book Week, held at the In the General Election, the extreme Right- Meeting on April 21 B'nai B'rith Hillel House in London, for the wing National Front led by Mr. John Tyndall first time catered specifically for the elderly put up 55 candidates, 23 in the Greater London As readers will have seen from the front section of Anglo-Jewry. Robert Rietty, the area, 31 in the provinces and Home Counties page article of this issue, this year's Meeting actor, read stories and other items for senior and one in Belfast The Communist Party put to commemorate the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising citizens, and it is hoped that Mr. Rietty's up 44 candidates, including eight in Greater and the Six Million Jewish Martyrs of Nazism visit will be the first of a series of such London. will be held on Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m., in events. The Jewish Book Council, which or­ .A record number of 100 Jews, including the New London Theatre, Parker Street, Drury ganised the Week, are also planning to send eight women, contested seats. Of these, 46 Lane, London, W.C.2. The main speakers will speakers and narrators to a number of homes Were elected in the new Parliament—the be Mr. Airey Neave, M.P., and H.E. The Israeli for the aged during the coming year. The largest number ever—and one, Mr Harold Ambassador, Mr. Gideon Rafael. As usual, the younger age groups were also catered for by Lever, was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy programme also includes the recitals of addresses and lectures. of Lancaster in Mr. Wilson's new Administra­ prayers and ghetto songs as well as the light­ As already mentioned in our previous issue, tion. In the last Labour Cabinet he was Pay­ ing of candles by children of Ghetto survivors. the programme of Jewish Book week included master-General. Mr. Lever is acting as the The annual memorial meetings are a joint four evening functions, one of which was Prime Minister's adviser on economic and enterprise of all major Jewish organisations co-sponsored by the AJR. Its subject was financial policy, with membership of all and the AJR has been associated with them "Jewish History in Modem Writing," with Cabinet committees concemed with the throughout the years. It is hoped that many Professor Dr. Abraham Wasserstein (Jeru­ nation's economy. members and their families will attend the salem) and Dr. Aubrey Newman (Reader in function, which is dedicated to the memory History at the University of Leicester) as the The following eight Jewish MPs also of their relatives and friends who perished in speakers. It was a particularly stimulating obtained senior or junior positions in the the holocaust. Admission is free, and tickets evening. Wilson administration: Mr. Edmund Dell (Pay­ for reserved seats may be obtained from the master General), Mr. Samuel Silkin, QC Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and (Attorney General), Mr. John Silkin (Minister Women, 100 Crawford Street, London WIH Leicester Centenary «>r Planning and Local Government), Mr. IAN. Tel.: 723 8444 (stamped and addressed Reginald Freeson (Minister for Housing and envelope to be enclosed). The Leicester Hebrew Congregation's cen­ Construction), Mr. Joel Bamett (Chief Secre­ tenary was celebrated by a service addressed tary of the Treasury), Mr. Gerald Kaufman, by the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, Mr. Robert Sheldon, and Mr. Stanley Clinton LEO BAECK CENTENARY CELEBRATION assisted by the Rev. Raphael H. Levy of the Davis. New West End Synagogue, London. The Text of Addresses Published packed congregation included many well- On May 30, 1973, the centenary of Rabbi known personalities, such as the Lord Mayor, Dr. Leo Baeck's birth was celebrated at a town dignitaries and Mr Greville Janner. In "EVEN-HANDED" POLICY function under the auspices of the B'nai B'rith 1231 the Jews were expelled from Leicester Callaghan on Middle East Leo Baeck (London) Lodges, the AJR and and there was a gap of 600 years before the the Society for Jewish Study. The speakers formation of a new community 100 years ago. Mr. James Callaghan, Labour's Foreign were Dr. Eva G. Reichmann, Rabbi Jakob Today the community numbers some 270 Secretary, before the election in an article in J. Kokotek, Rabbi Dr. Solomon Goldman and families. The Times" after a visit to Cairo and Jeru­ Rabbi Hugo Gryn. The full text of the As part of the celebrations, an exhibition salem, wrote of Labour's "traditional ties with addresses has now been published in a well was held at the Leicester Museum and Art Israel". laid out booklet, which wUl be of interest Gallery, featuring objects of Jewish religious to both those who attended this memorable ritual and mementos of contributions by . "We would", he said, "be faithless friends function and those who were not able to be members of the Jewish community in in­ « We deserted her now. Nor would we deserve present. All speakers excelled by the high dustrial and civic life and their benefactions any respect from the Arabs if we did so". In standing with which they assessed Leo to the city. Practical terms this means that the Labour Baeck's position in Jewish life and thought, Gpvemment, though mindful of the power combining an assessment of his teachings with wielded by Arab oil, would see Bntain's personal reminiscences. Copies of the booklet Swastikas in Leeds national interests in the Middle East as best may be ordered from the AJR, 8 Fairfax served by giving broad support to the Kissinger Anti-Jewish daubings appeared in the Mansions,. London, N.W.3 (40p. including Moortown area of Leeds, after a lapse of ten Policy both on energy and peacemaking. The postage). general foreign policy of the Wilson Admini­ years. They were on doors and notice boards stration, like the West Germans, is an Ameri­ at the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue, ean alliance rather than the Gaullist concept LEEDS AGED HOME DAY CENTRE Street Lane Gardens, and the Moortown of European unity under French leadership. Synagogue, as well as outside the Judean Club and the home of a prominent Leeds When he arrived in Israel after his visit to A day centre, operated jointly by the Jew. ^gypt, Mr Callaghan said that he had made Leeds Home for Aged Jews and the Jewish It clear in Cairo "that British Labour would Welfare Board, has been opened at the not put off old friends to cultivate new ones. Donisthorpe Hall in Leeds. The centre offers Food Prices °ut that does not mean that we cannot culti­ a wide variety of activities. vate friendship with the Arabs" and it had At a meeting of the Council of Manchester Oeen discussed in Cairo how this aim could and Salford Jews, the chairman of the Oe pursued. Recalling that President Sadat With acknowledgement to the news Manchester Jewish Consumers' Council criti­ service of the Jewish Chronicle. cised the delegates. Mr. S. Taylor said he was had said that he would recognise or acknow­ despondent with the so-called representatives ledge Israel, Mr. Callaghan advised that the of the community who, by their lack of in­ ''gyptians should be taken seriously and "you terest, tended to indicate that there was no Will find that you have a long way to go before problem of food prices. He stressed that the "eaching a negative conclusion". However, Your House for:— aim of his council was to alleviate the plight Earned Mr. Callaghan, the state of war was of the poorer members of the community ^Iways implicit in the existing situation. Egypt CURTAINS, CARPETS, who were undergoing hardship in order to ?id not want to make a lone settlement with buy kosher food. Despite repeated publicity, IsraeL FLOORCOVERINGS little help had come from the community itself and he again appealed to members of SPECIALITY the community who felt that they had been MANCHESTER MAYOR overcharged to send the shopkeeper's bill to J London-born Councillor Fred Balcombe, the CONTINENTAL DOWN his council for investigation. i-abour representative for the Collegiate ward On the Manchester city council, is to be the QUILTS •Jext Lord Mayor of Manchester and the sixth NEXT ISSUE OF "AJR INFORMATION" ]Jew to be so honoured. Since settling in ALSO RE-MAKES AND RE-COVERS jjlanchester in 1928, 62-year-old Mr. Balcombe Publication Date Deferred Ras always been involved in communal work, ESTIMATES FREE Due to the special working schedule se is a founder member of Manchester Hillel ^jiouse of which he is now a life vice-presi­ DAWSON-LANE LIMITED of our printers, the Sharon Press, dent, and is also the chairman of the Jewish during the Passover Holy-days, the pro­ r^ds' and Girls' Brigade and Club, a gov­ (Established 1946) duction of the next (May) issue of AJR ernor of the King David Schools and a foun­ 17 BRIDGE ROAD, WEMBLEY PARK Information will be slightly delayed. der member of the Manchester Jewish Blind Telephone : 904 6671 Readers will receive their copies about ^ociety. He is also involved in work for many May 10. non-Jewish organisations. Personal aUentlon of Mr. W. Shackman. Page 4 AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 NEWS FROM ABROAD JEWRY IN THE EAST PROTESTS CONTINUE UNITED STATES ARGENTINA Jews in the Govemment Embarrass A petition signed by 200 Soviet Jews asked Public Support Israel the Soviet Communist Party central com­ The Minister of Social Welfare and Presi­ mittee to concem itself with the repeated re­ A nation-wide canvas of 1,496 households dent Peron's private secretary, Mr. Jose fusals they had received of their applications by a leading American opinion poll organiser Lopez Rega, addressed leading Argentinians to emigrate to Israel. Seventy Jews were ar­ shows that public opinion is lining up in sup­ of Arab extraction and Arab diplomats in the rested and underground railway stations and port of Israel. Thus the fear of American Presidential residence near Buenos Aires on roads near the centre of Moscow were shut Jews that the pil shortage in the United his return from negotiating trade agreements to forestall the handing in of the petition. States would result in the general public in Libya. Mr. Rega said that the appearance All those arrested were freed after being blaming Israel and would rebound on the of the names of Jewish officials on Argentine kept in a "sobering up centre" for several American community would appear to be Govemment cables to his mission in Tripoli hours. groundless. had caused misunderstandings, with the Of the people questioned, 66 per cent Libyan negotiators. Libyan officials obtained A statement was later issued by 16 pro­ agreed that there should be no yielding to a wrong view of Argentina's relations with minent Jewish activists complaining to West­ Arab restrictions over oil, with only 20 per Arab countries because of "religious aspects ern newspapers about the preventive arrests. cent against. In October, 58 per cent agreed arising from the Argentine Govemment's In Moscow, two Soviet Jewish intellectuals. with this statement compared with 20 per cent composition". Dr. Vitaly Rubin and Mr. Vladimir Galatsky, who did not. fasted for twelve days because the Soviet Some Argentine Government officials com­ authorities have not allowed them to emi­ mented that Mr. Rega's remarks appeared grate to Israel. A third. Professor David Negro Press aimed at Mr. Jose Ber Gelbard, a Jew who is Azbel, continued his fast for 17 days, and was An American Jewish Congress sampling of Minister of Economy and Finance, whom he joined by Miss Ida Nudel, a Moscow econom­ regards as his chief rival in the Government. ist, who fasted for nine days. In a joint state­ leading Negro newspapers in the United The view is also expressed that Mr. Rega States shows that the overwhelming majority ment they said they had ended their fast on would not have spoken without the Presi­ medical advice. They believed that their ob­ were either favourable to Israel or even- dent's knowledge, and that Mr. Gelbard may handed in their news reports and editorials jective to alert world public opinion to the now be regarded as a liability in the Govem­ serious plight of the Jews, in the Soviet on the October War. Only one of the 15 ment's attempts to safeguard oil supplies. Negro newspapers studied was opposed to Union had been achieved. Israel. Four Jews who began a fast in the central GAOL SENTENCES IN OSLO post office in Kishinev also in protest at not Children of God In Oslo five Jews received gaol sentences being allowed to leave for Israel, were ar­ of between five-and-a-half years and one year rested together with two Jewish bystanders, The Children of God, an ultra-fundamental­ and one was acquitted. The charges arose and all w^ire gaoled for 15 days. ist, religious cult, founded in Califomia in from the killing of Ahmed Bouchiki, a 1968 and headed by David Berg, has recently Moroccan, in Lillehammer near Oslo in July. distributed virulent anti-Jewish and anti- Announcing the verdict, the judge said he Israel pamphlets. took it for granted that Israel's intelligence DEPARTURES After an investigation Mr. Louis Lefkowitz, was behind the affair. The court had taken New York State's Attorney-General, ac­ into consideration the situation in the Middle Mr. Pavel Litvinov has been allowed to cused the sect of breaking the State's secular East as a motive for the killing, but the leave the Soviet Union. He is the grandson of laws, and also of "brainwashing", begging, question of guilt had no bearing on the Maxim Litvinov, the Soviet Foreign Minister personality distortion and a campaign forcing motives. Norwegian law could not tolerate during the 1930s, who was a Jew and whose people to join as meml)ers. He declared that killing and the use of violence. widow, Mrs. Ivy Litvinov, lives in Hove. the actions of the group should not be per­ After repeated refusals over several years, mitted to be hidden behind the facade of rel­ The Prime Minister^ Mr. Trygve Bratelli, indicating that his Government would con­ the family of Mr. Mikhail Kerbel, of igion but should come under the umbrella of Kharkov, have been permitted to emigrate to State regulation and scmtiny. sider an application for pardon, said that the affair had strained relations between Norway Israel. There were world-wide protests about and Israel. the case. ITALY Support for Divorce Law GREECE Swastikas The approval by Parliament in December, BAN ON ADVOCATE OF JEW 1970, of Italy's Divorce Law has divided the Ten swastikas were painted on the marble Mr. I. S. Yezhov, the non-Jewish lawyer country. Because of the forthcoming ref­ doors of Salonika's Central Synagogue, the who conducted the defence of Mr. Alexander erendum on whether to abrogate the law, firat desecration of a synagogue reported in Feldman, has been struck off the advocates Italian Jewish leaders have adopted a firm the city since the Second World War. register of the Ukrainian Republic. The stand. Praising the law as "putting an end to appeal of Mr. Feldman, the 26-year-old Kiev grave disparity of treatment among citizens Invitation to Israeli CliUdren Jewish engineer who was sentenced to three- of different faiths", the council of the Union Leaders of the Greek Jewish youth com­ and-a-half years' imprisonment in November of Italian Jewish Communities said that munities at a special meeting in Athens on a charge of "malicious hooliganism", has divorce, explicitly admitted by Jewish law, is been rejected by the Kiev district court. an expression of the fundamental principle of agreed to invite Israeli children to spend a freedom. holiday in Greece in June and July. The chil­ dren, whose fathers were killed in the Oc­ tober War, will take part in the yearly "Anti-Zionist" Harassment holiday camps organised by the communities. DESTRUCTION OF CEMETERIES An increase in the harassment of Italian Odessa's daily newspaper Znamia Kom- Jews by so-called "anti-Zionist committees" AWARD TO INDIAN MAJOR munizma has announced that the old Jewis/i and the "anti-Zionist Documentation Centre" President Giri of India awarded the cemetery in the city is to be destroyed. It ^ has been reported by the European office of Shourya Chakra decoration to Major C. J. assumed that the cemetery is part of an area the American Jewish Committee. Lists of Elias of the Indian Army Ordnance Corps for zoned for development. The cemetery is one Jews are sent to Italian cities in an effort to outstanding bravery during the 1971 Indo- of the most important in European Russia incite non-Jews to take revenge on the Jews for Pakistan War. Major _Elias, the first officer since the beginning of the nineteenth cen­ "the genocide perpetrated by Israel against the of his corps to win the award, was on active tury, where personalities famed in Russian Palestinians". Propaganda is also addressed service during the Chinese campaign against Jewish culture and literature are buried. directly to Jews, containing "a short list of India in 1962 and on both .the western and They include the Yiddish and Hebrew writer, Zionist personalities in Italy . . . blood rel­ eastern fronts during the Indian-Pakistan Mendele Mocher Seforim; the Russian Jewisn atives of the Israeli pillagers. . . ." First on War when Bangladesh emerged as an in­ writer, Simon Samuel Frug; and the family the list are the rabbi and president of the dependent State. His father, a former prin­ of the writer, Isaac Babel. . Ferrara Jewish community, followed by 105 cipal of the State Bank Staff College, is ad­ There are also reports that the JewisD names which apparently include every Jewish viser for training, planning and development cemetery outside the former Jewish hospital man, woman and child in the city. of the Andhra Bank. in Lvov in the Westem Ukraine has been destroyed, and a market opened on the site- STOCKHOLM COMMUNITY The synagogue nearby has been converteo ISLE OF MAN into a sports hall. . A biennial return reports a decrease in the Last autumn a group of youths destroyea size of the Stockholm Jewish community. In INTERNMENT 1914/18 & 1939/45 tombstones in the Jewish cemetery in tne 1973 the membership was reduced to 4,982 I buy envelopes and folded letter Ukrainian town of Chernigov, shouting anti- with the death of a total of 100 members and forms from these and other camps. Jewish slogans in the streets and smashioS with 37 members leaving. There are, it is Please send to: PETER C. RICKENBACK, the windows of several Jewish houses. Soffle estimated, at least 3,000 Jews living in the city of the youths were later sentenced to l'' not registered with the community. 14 Rosslyn HIII, London, N.W.3. days' imprisonment. AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Page 5

Frits Friedlander (Melbourne) Kraus stood for emancipation of women and for sexual freedom, and his attitude was approved by Sigmund Freud who entered into a correspondence with him. However, KARL KRAUS CENTENARY when Kraus learned in 1910 that his per­ sonality was critically dissected in a session of the Vienna Psychoanalytical Society, he Anniversary of his Birth, April 28 was outraged and hence made the futile at­ tempt to denigrate psychoanalysis. He also broke with the once admired Bewundert viel und viel gescholten.... literary taste. He disliked Hofmannsthal and Harden, because he took exception to Faust, II, 3 Schnitzler; and neither Jakob Wassermann Harden's chauvinism and to his stilted lang­ It was at Berlin's "Meistersaal", after the nor Thomas Mann nor Rilke appealed to him. He admired the early Gerhart Hauptmann uage. He also shot his polemic arrows at First World War, that I first saw and heard and the early Franz Werfel; but he later Alfred Kerr, the leading theatre critic, who Karl Kraus. He read a selection of his own blamed Hauptmann for his complacency and did his best to pay him back in his own coin. Work and gems from the work of his favour- tumed against Werfel. On the other hand, he But, although outstanding writers like ^e authors. Up to this date I had known gave full praise to Peter Altenberg, Else Walter Benjamin and Robert Musil objected Kraus as one of the representative, but also Lasker-Schuler and Georg Trakl. His essay to him and although, in 1925, Anton Kuh controversial, writers of his time. Now I re­ "Nestroy und die Nachwelt" (1912), in which tried to ridicule him, Kraus maintained his alised that he also possessed the dynamic he praised this writer of comedy with un­ position, because he had many followers. His torce of an eminent actor. The audience re­ limited enthusiasm, proved how deeply he was admirers included Franz Kafka, Alfred Polgar sponded to him enthusiatically, and he ab­ rooted in the Viennese tradition. and Kurt Tucholsky. sorbed gleefully their applause. His renunciation of his Jewishness certainly The Karl Kraus whom I saw had already was a deplorable aberration. He left arrived at the pinnacle of his literary fame, Judaism in 1899 and joined the Catholic Won after many fights and drawbacks. From Shakespeare to Offenbach Church twelve years later. He derided No lack of means had obstructed his path. Theodor Herzl in his pamphlet "Eine Krone Born a son of a wealthy Jewish manufacturer Kraus who was so critical of modern fuer Zion" (1898), heaped abuse on the m Gitschin (Bohemia) on April 28, 1874, he literature admired Strindberg and Wedekind, Eastern Jews, and so on. Yet he resigned Was still a child when his parents moved to because their presentation of the woman as from the Catholic Church as a protest against Vienna. There he first attended a high an elementary force of nature corresponded its policy during the First World War. He school. Afterwards he studied law and later with his own point of view. His capacity for also revised his views on Herzl, disowned his German and philosophy at the University till work was enormous. He wrote pamphlets, lampoon against him and, under the pressure he broke off his studies to become a journal­ essays, aphorisms and also poetry. Further­ of Nazism, stressed his allegiance to Judaism. ist. From 1894-1896 he worked for the pro- more, he revised texts of Offenbach oper­ iiinent Austrian daily, "Neue Freie Presse". ettas, translated Shakespeare's sonnets mto German (1933) and rearranged the German His inclination to swim against the current Anti-War Drama asserted itself soon. He published a pamphlet version of some of his plays (1934/35). From 'Die demolierte Literatur" (1897) in which December 1911 onwards, he wrote "Die At the end of the First World War, in 1918- he attacked Hermann Bahr, the influential Fackel" alone from cover to cover. At the 1919, he published his greatest work, the Uterary critic, as well as the eminent poets, same time, he continued to fascinate huge drama "Die letzten Tage der Menschheit". It «voured by Bahr: Hofmannsthal, Schnitzler, audiences with his readings. We owe a was rather an immensely huge essay in oeer-Hofmann and Leopold von Andrian. masterly portrait of Kraus to Oskar dramatic form than a drama. Critical of This unabashed attack caused a sensation. Kokoschka, showing a brooding genius, work­ Reinhardt and Jessner, Kraus himself admitted Encouraged by the success of the pamph- ing lonely at night time. that the play could only be performed on a •et, Kraus took the decisive step of his life in Besides "Die Fackel" he published a series Mars theatre. Nevertheless the work was a 1899: he left the "Neue Freie Presse", of brilliant essays. "Sittlichkeit und magnificent indictment of the barbarity and though he was offered a splendid position, Kriminalitaet" (1908) called for a reform of senselessness of war, on the same level as and founded his own magazine "Die Fackel". the criminal law; "Die chinesische Mauer" the classic anti-war novels of Barbusse, Re­ Jn this respect he followed the example of (1911) disclosed the hypocrisy of European marque and Renn. morality; "Der Untergang der Welt durch Maximilian Harden who had hit the jackpot The drama's distinct pacifist credo appealed With his outstanding magazine "Die Zukunft" schwarze Magie" (1922) branded the corrup­ tion of joumalism, etc. especially to the Socialists in Austria, who (1892), and Harden generously gave the used to look upon its author as a sympathiser younger man good advice. with their cause. They were therefore bit­ terly disappointed when Kraus, who was in fact a middle-class conservative, made the "Die Fackel" Guaranteed investment grave mistake of supporting the reactionary Dollfuss regime. All those who considered The first edition of "Die Fackel" appeared with leading institution themselves as progressives felt that they had ^n April 1, 1899, and was sold out at once. It been let down by him, and the circulation of had to be reprinted several times. From then "Die Fackel" decreased so rapidly that he Onward the circulation grew from number to was threatened with financial ruin. number. 11% NET Kraus's weapon was a relentless and deadly Under this stress he wrote "Die dritte Wal­ striking satire, and with this weapon he at­ equivalent to 15.7% gross at purgisnacht" which was published only tacked everything which he considered cor- posthumously in 1952. There he settled his ^Pt and rotten in public life and in private basic rate of 30?^ account with the Nazi movement and, with ^^iety, and particularly in the field of Vien- the pathos of a prophet, foresaw its final col­ •lese joumalism. Of course, the victims of his Money back after one year lapse. This was his legacy. He died on June attacks reacted with unbridled hate and 15, 1937, in Vienna. abuse. He was overflooded with offensive and or valuable options After Hitler's downfall his name rose to threatening anonymous letters, and once he fame again. His literary estate had been sent Was even physically assaulted. But he was by to Zurich and was thus saved from the ''o means intimidated. clutches of the Gestapo. Later it was brought Kraus accused joumalists not only of cor- BREMAR INSURANCE back to Vienna, where a "Karl Kraus-Archiv" Jljiption, but also of the misuse of the was founded. Stores of books, doctoral theses 'German language. The stmggle for the purity SERVICES LIMITED and articles have been written about him. °f this language was his magnificent obses­ Managing Director: C. F. Flesch The Kosel-Verlag, Munich, is publishing a sion. He was in the habit of publishing quota- complete edition of his work and, owing to "ons from the daily press to show how jour- Members of the Bremar Group, the strong demand, a reprint of "Die Fackel". •lalists violated this purity. But, I think, he Intemational Merchant Bankers The Republic of Austria honoured Karl Was wide off the mark when, in his essay Kraus, who was always proud of being an Heine und die Folgen" (1911), he held the Austrian, by issuing a stamp on the occasion strange view that this master of German Bremar House, 27, Sale Place, of the centenary of his birth. This dis­ Prose lent his countenance to the mishandling Loncion, W2 1PT. tinction, however, cannot cover up the failure ^^ German by the joumalists. -Phone: 01-2621198 Telex: 21969 BREMARCO LDN. of a genius, who only realised that he was also No less wilful and peculiar was Kraus's a Jew when Hitler's shadow fell over Austria. Page 6 AJR INFORMATION April, 1974

Erivin Rosenthal (Cambridge) read this thought-provoking theological e3^ position. The deeply religious rabbi and teacher is to be congratulated on the vigour JEWISH THEOLOGY IN OUR TIME and enthusiasm with which he propounds his theology, a Jewish theology for our time. His Rabbi Maybaum's Latest Book and its spirit can best be summed up by his concluding paragraph of which the final sen­ The vitality and literary productivity of Dr. as in the previous chapter he makes not suf­ tences may be quoted: "The State of Israel is Maybaum are truly amazing. In his latest ficient allowance for Buber's signal con­ greatly helped in its contribution to civilisa­ book* he forcefully pleads for a trialogue be­ tribution to Biblical studies, especially in his tion by its closeness to the diaspora. When tween the three monotheistic religions. It is Konigtum Gottes and Moses). we call the diaspora galut, this Hebrew con­ an intensely personal book, the fruit of much Within the confines of a review it is im­ notation reminds us that both the State of prolonged study and deep reflection, suggest­ possible to take up point by point Maybaum's Israel and the diaspora outside Israel are ive and stimulating. plastic formulation of his exposition. But as galut: as long as the Messiah has not yf* In the first chapter. From Hasidism to far as Islam is concerned, it must be stated come, every community lives in the galut, in Theology, this progressive rabbi is re­ that, while Islamic culture influenced Jewish the unredeemed history of man chosen to freshingly provocative in his severe criticism culture in philosophy and science, its law did carry the yoke of the galut, moving in tra­ of Martin Buber and his presentation of not exert any substantive influence on Jewish vail, in suffering and in hope towards the Hasidism no less than of Hasidism itself. Nor law. It was the other way round. Nor was kingdom of God." does he spare Anglo-Jewish Orthodoxy. The there in the Middle Ages no difference be­ principal purpose of his treatise is to portray tween Jews and Moslems in Christian eyes progressive Judaism as prophetic Judaism in and Christian attack. To say that Jewish Or­ ISRAELI PUPILS LEARN OF BAECK the form of a commentary on Franz Rosen­ thodoxy in Israel and in England is pat­ zweig's Star of Redemption (now available in terned on Islam and that Orthodox rabbis are The centenary of Leo Baeck's birth passed an English translation in the Littmann Library in fact ulema (Moslem "divines" correspond­ comparatively unnoticed in Israel, and Israeli series) from the progressive point of view, ing to our hakhamim) overlooks the fact that youth knows nothing of men like Baeck, and to extend the post-Vatican II "dialogue" fundamentalism is an intemal phenomenon although recently some of his books have between Christians and Jews to Islam. Such a and not borrowed from Islam. After all, been published in Hebrew translation. It >s trialogue is, indeed, badly needed with 400 Judaism claimed a divinely revealed, therefore noteworthy that at the high school million Moslems and has already been begun eternally valid law long before Islamic in Haifa which bears Baeck's name the cen­ in this country and elsewhere. Maybaum law was developed—largely influenced by tenary was used as an occasion for tellinS over-estimates the "reform" movement Jewish law. the children something of the man and the (known as modernism) in Islam, for it is a world in which he lived. very tender shoot to date, apart from those Medieval Judaism under Islam This school is one of the successful founda­ politicians who are content with an Islamic tions of the immigrants from Germany. Its ideology in modem national Moslem states. Medieval Judaism under Islam adopted in students publish their own newspaper, and But this is a minor matter, considering that its jurisprudence certain forms of Islamic the latest issue which just came into our hands even the Christian-Jewish dialogue has not jurisprudence, but nothing of substance. Post- has a front page picture of Baeck and an yet reached the stage of a real mutual dis­ emancipation Jewish Orthodoxy had no need introductory article describing Baeck's lU^ cussion, but is rather a statement of the posi­ to borrow from Islam. The author does not and work. Several leading teachers contribute tion of the two sides. The Arab-Israeli con­ make sufficient allowance for historical con­ short messages on Baeck. The (female) editor flict is also not conducive to the inclusion of tinuity, for the fact that the problems are mentions among the most important events of Islam turning the dialogue into a trialogue. basically the same, though they may take on the last semester the 25th anniversary of the Yet, for the Jewish theologian Maybaum it different forms and require different solu­ State of Israel and the centenary of Baecks has a specific Jewish aim to lay the founda­ tions in different circumstances. He sees birth. tion of the messianic future when all man­ Christian or Islamic influence where, under The dedicatory foreword of the meritorious kind will pray to the one and only God, and Islam and Christianity in the Middle Ages headmaster of the school, Dr. Max Elk (before when prophetic Judaism will be con­ and in modern times, the peculiar situation the war rabbi in Stettin) bears the following summated. of Judaism and the Jews forced on the Jews words: "Our school has been called after an apologetic stance for the sake of self-pre­ Baeck because of his great personality a^ servation. The modem sociological jargon scholar, leader and visionary. He stood at the Courage and Conviction created the word "acculturation" for the helm of German Jewry in the days of jts Only a theologian can do justice to this "dirty" word assimilation. But this has not af­ greatness and of its downfall under the pungently written call to positive action, and fected Jewish law nor the normative charac­ villain's rule. He taught the values of Judaisni- I am not a theologian. But out of regard for ter of the Torah. We must not forget that it he realized them in his own life, and he the courage and passionate conviction of this was the Halakhah (and antisemitism!) which linked them with all the magnificent anO deeply committed progressive rabbi I should have preserved Judaism and not the pro­ lofty ideas created by the whole of mankind- like at least to draw attention to an impor­ fession of ethical monotheism and the idea of Judaism was in the centre of his thought, but tant contribution to a better understanding of universal brotherhood. We need only read at the same time he knew the value of every the three monotheistic faiths in accord and Hermann Cohen's classic chapter on the Law man who has been created in God's image« fundamental differences, to their con­ in his posthumus Die Religion der Vemunft without difference of race, religion or nation- temporary relevance and their common task. aus den Quellen des Judentums. In general. Don't let us forget his teachings: for this i^ Whether or not one agrees with Maybaum's Dr. Maybaum puts a rather personal inter­ the tmth which should also emanate frojo interpretations and conclusions matters less pretation on Islam stemming from his under­ our country. We are called upon to wal* than that we take up his challenging thesis, standing of the Moslem call to prayer. Yet in his ways, to accept his tenets and to coHJ; give it careful consideration and find our prayer does not only promote prosperity and bine them with the upbuilding of the country- own position. "the good life" in this world, but foremost (Translated from Hebrew.) paradise, salvation in the hereafter which Such guiding principles for the graduates Franz Rosenzweig—Today's Guide to the of Perplexed (as Maimonides' Guide was for his latter, together with the Day of Judgement, of a high school deserve the applause generation) stands as chapter II in the centre plays a large part in Islam. all concemed with real humanity in Israel> of his understanding of the characteristic fea­ However, though one may criticise details especially at a time when we read in the tures of the three faiths and of their dif­ and doubt formulations, one must on no ac­ Israeli press about mixed marriage famili® ferences in theological perspective. Only in count belittle the intrinsic value, topicality of new immigrants from Russia who wer this way does Maybaum see an opportunity and the brilliant, often felicitous language of forced to emigrate because of the abuse they for then- renewal and co-operation in the an arrestive treatise on prophetic Judaism, suffered from neighbours and mischievious service of mankind which must tum its back on prayer and on the relation of the in­ aggression by Jewish children against their to overweaning pride in man's technological dividual Jew to the Torah. It would be in­ school-mates of mixed "racial" origin. achievements and to materialisitic greed. vidious to single out particular topics or There were also some unpleasant repoij parts, but no reader can fail to be impressed, in May 1973 that an Arab school in Haiia Maybaum draws on Rosenzweig's ex­ had to be moved to other premises, becaus istentialist interpretation of the direct close e.g., by the sub-chapter "Shylock, the tragic the Arab pupils were attacked or abused oy, relationship between the individual and his Champion of the Law" in the main part of Jewish children from the neighbourhoo God and ignores Rosenzweig's positive at­ the book, a real gem, or chapter HI, The (certainly not by children of the Leo Baec titude to and practice of the halakhah (just Home-coming of the Humanist, which is par­ School, we may assume). R- ticularly interesting and challenging. * Trialosua between Jew, Chrlttlan and Muellm by Everybody who claims to be a (The above note by Dr. Robert Weltsch was W^iheri rgnaz Maybaum. (The Littmann Library of Jewish Civili­ several months ago but its publication was held over w zation) London. 1973. Pp. xi, 179. £3. Jew—^whatever he may mean by that—must the October War intervened.—The Ed.) AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Page 7

L J. Maitlis big cities and commercial centres of Russia, trying their poor lot in stock-exchange gamb­ ling and always losing. In the remarkable gallery of Sholem A SAGA OF EAST EUROPEAN JEWRY Aleichem's characters and personages we find the figure of Tevye the dairy-man, The modem Jewish and non-Jewish reader Sholem Aleichem's world is colourful, alive honest and deeply rooted in the old tradi­ Knows very little of the social conditions and and flourishing. In it we meet the rabbinic tions. By now, Tevye has become in­ the spiritual qualities of the Jews in Eastem scholar and the unlettered man, the dreamer ternationally famous, but not so in the days Europe, their history and way of life, re­ and hang-over, the craftsman and toiler of of Sholem Aleichem. Sholem Aleichem sees sourcefulness and cultural achievements, in the soil, the small merchant and pedlar, and in him the embodiment of the typical folk- particular at the close of the nineteenth cen­ last not least, the early arrival of the young Jew, straight, pious and godfearing, warm­ tury. It is for this reason that I would like to Jewish revolutionary permeated with the hearted and loving, of indestructible hope recommend to the readers of the AJR In­ ideal of national and universal liberation. It (bitohen), of glowing faith and trust in ad­ formation a well-written book by Maurice is a complex, dynamic world with its spiritual versity. Tevye is an ordinary man, unlettered Samuel, the distinguished American writer depth, a religious intensity and a genuine but not illiterate, who speaks in his simple and critic who died a couple of years ago. It Jewish way of life. Sure, it is a hard weekday way, circumstationally, in detail, with quota­ IS an exciting narrative, which deals with the life with untold frustrations and deprivations tions and misquotations from the Bible ac­ World of the great Yiddish writer Sholem but compensated by a great eternal belief companied by some popular rabbinic com­ Aleichem, published in the 'forties and re­ and fortitude, holy and festive days, as­ mentaries, with many philosophical reflections issued now by Vallentine, Mitchell* for the sociated with a multitude of graceful customs and historical parallels. In long monologues henefit of the present generation. It is the and a particular gaiety. It excelled with its he tells his friend Reb Sholem Aleichem of eolouriul, flourishing and dynamic world of folk wholeness, a deeply rooted, earthly his manifold troubles and vicissitudes, ang­ Russian Jewry at the turn of the last century. Jewishness with its national identity and dis­ uish and calamities, but he never loses heart. Samuel wrote his book in the early 'forties at tinctiveness. In their sorrow and despair By nature Tevye is an understandable, the height of the vicious and monstrous these Jews have shown their mettle, ardour tolerant father, but betrayal and apostasy, as Physical liquidation of European Jewry at the and courage, piety and endurance, fervent in the case of his daughter. Have, are for hope and an indomitable spirit to survive. him beyond forgiveness. Here the indulgent, hands of the Nazis. To be sure, at the time of affectionate father reveals a hardness of an his writing Samuel did not or could not as Sholem Aleichem's towns and townlets, like unbreakable quality. Tevye never surrenders, yet perceive the magnitude of the tragedy Kasrilevke, Mazepevke, Yehupetz, Boiberik he remains like a rock. In his particular case, Which had by then befallen his brethren in and Bohopolie (all symbolic names of the hope and gaiety follow gloom, light and for­ Eastern Europe, although some of the per­ remote, strongholds of the Yiddish speaking titude follow distress and bewilderment. petuated crimes were already known. masses), are filled with jolly paupers, spiritually unbroken, gay and optimistic Comparing the present state of American In the words of the author his book "is a creatures. Some of them, like the eternal for­ Jewish life with this quaint, salubrious and Sort of pilgrimage among the cities and in­ tune-dreamer Menachem Mendel, are lured highly intense Jewish world of far-off days, habitants of a world which only yesterday from their narrow, backward townlet into the with its special hue, traditions and practices, harboured the grandfathers and grand- involvement and commitment, Samuel is 'i^others of some millions of American startled and perplexed. With a slight irony 'Citizens." His aim is thus to acquaint the he muses about the radical changes which younger generation of American Jews with took place inside American Jewry, having the world and folkways of their ancestors in become non-involved and drifting away into 'Russia before their arrival on American soil new forms of life and a desire to escape ^Dd the great demographic changes which from it all. Old, living traditions and genuine took place since then. practices became petrified and formalised. . We ask ourselves, what kind of world was By appointment to Festivals of old with their sanctity and H.M. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother purity, happiness and joy, are remembered 't that fascinates the present writer and Confectioners with a nostalgic pang. They have become, Which he portrays with so much detail, in­ Ackermans Chocolates Ltd. Loncion like the day of Sabbath, "at best only the sight and warmth, following in the footsteps vestiges of an interesting folklore", but are °^ Sholem Aleichem's great saga. And more often an irksome reglementation. The turthermore, how does this bygone world, magic of the old world with its refreshing Which has retained most consistently the old ACKERMANS customs and meaningful habits has com­ "lodes and ways of life, compare with the pletely vanished. From a Jewish point of Contemporary American Jewish scene? To be view the present generation stands spiritually ^ure, the world of Sholem Aleichem is like Cnocoiated .J^e oLuxe with empty hearts and empty hands, a pre­ ^^y other one, a mixture of good and bad, sentiment which is of great concem to the tensions and paradoxes, benign and unhealthy, IN BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED ^t is inhabited by all sorts of people, queer, author and reviewer alike. 'I'Ustrated and helpless, people with high PRESENTATION BOXES Maurice Samuel's writings are in general of "Jioral qualities and a burning desire for re­ high literary quality. His present volume of demption. In short, it is the Jewish world of Sholem Aleichem and his world was written ^sarist Russia with its Pale of Settlement, cJLiaueur cnocotated with much insight and a warm, under­ the overcrowded and congested towns and standing approach. True to the style of his ^^ges, inhabited by insecure, poverty- great master, it does not occasionally lack good stricken and persecuted Jews. Sholem nfarzlpan ipeciauuei humour, some salutory irony and wit. The Aleichem, the great artist and humorist, saw book is a serious study with an exciting nar­ the nobility and beauty of Jewish life as well rative into the world of Eastern European ^s the defects, its incongruities and grotes- Jewry at the tum of the century and as such ^ueness. He portrayed all this with his mas- .UJiabetic ckocolates it is greatly appreciated. ^rty pen and a loving, benevolent smile "loving his reader to tears. As a son of his People he laughed vrith his people identifying himself with his funny, often grotesque THREAT TO PANOV •characters. His humour is refreshing and From a telephone conversation between •Comforting and flows from the depth of a Galina Rogozina from Leningrad and West­ Warm, sincere and feeling heart. Indeed, em journalists in Moscow, it would seem thajt ''holem Aleichem was the true voice of Rus- her husband, the former Leningrad Kirov ?ian Jewry. In long monologues he chatters ballet dancer Valery Panov, is faced with a Incessantly about his people, their threat of forcible deportation. He had, she Peculiarities and misfortunes, happy, funny said, been told that tough measures would be used if he did not leave the Soviet Union ^"d tragic events, with a fatherly eye for the without his wife. This threat has been in­ restitute, the oppressed and underdog, always terpreted as preparation for another forcible Using the ordinary language of the common deportation along the lines of the exile of "lan. 9 GOLDHUBST TERRACE, Alexander Solzhenitsyn. FINCHLEY BOAD, N.W.6 (01-634 2743) Leading figures in British show business Maurice Samuel: The World ot Sholom Aleichem. appealed to the Soviet authorities to allow \'ali'entme, , Mitchell. Lon

DR. OTTO KOHNSTAMM Among the victims of the Turkish Airlines disaster in France were Dr. and Mrs. Otto Kohnstamm. Bom in Nuemberg 73 years ago, IN MEMORIAM Dr Kohnstamm qualified in Munich in 1927 and, until 1933, held positions with several hospitals in Germany. On coming to this MR. F. G. BOAS planning to spend his retirement in the country, he obtained a medical qualification in countryside, which he loved so much. The lawyer, Mr. Fritz G. Boas, died on Edinburgh. He set up his practice in Willesden February 15 at the age of 84. An outstanding This mere enumeration of the various stages shortly before the outbreak of the Second of his career in itself bears witness to his World War. He was also a past honorary jurist, he practised at the Berlin Kammer­ secretary and, at the time of his death, a gericht prior to his emigration. In this country, many-sidedness. Yet the decisive point was committee member of the Willesden Division he was one of the few of his age group, who that he made a success in each of these of the British Medical Association. studied anew and, after having obtained his spheres. His personality was marked by a English qualifications, practised as a solicitor. In the Jewish sphere. Dr. Kohnstamm In this work, he excelled by his expert know­ harmony between thought and action, between rendered invaluable services to the residents ledge, his exactitude and conscientiousness emotional depth and intellectual power, be­ of homes for the aged. He was honorary and, being familiar with two legal systems, tween seriousness and cheerfulness. medical officer of homes and flatlets run by became the trusted adviser of many former the Jewish Welfare Board and held a suni- Compared with many other former refugees lar position at the Lewis Hammerson Home refugees. Many of them owe the settlement of he had particularly numerous contacts with their restitution claims to his unstinting at The Bishop's Avenue. At the same time, efforts. English people of various strata. Yet, at the he was a helpful and understanding doctor Mr. Boas was associated with the Zionist same time, he retained his identity. When, a to his numerous patients, many of whom had, movement since his student days, when he few years ago, a plaque was unveiled in Sand­ like himself, come to this country as refugees. wich in commemoration of Richborough Camp, Dr. and Mrs. Kohnstamm leave a daughter became a member of the KJV. He joined the of 20, and their tragic death is moumed by AJR in London as one of its first members. it was the obvious choice that he should act his relatives as well as a wide circle oi Later, his experience became particularly valu­ as our spokesman. He served many Jewish friends. able for the Council of Jews from Germany. He causes and was an active member of the AJR was a member of the Council's London Execu­ and the Ex-Service (1943) Association. He tive and took part in its deliberations as long helped, whenever help was needed, and he as his health made this possible. When the did so without any ado—it came quite naturally DR. MAX PLAUT financial instrument of the Council, the Leo Baeck Charitable Trust, was created he to him. It so happened that the last function Dr. Max Plaut (Hamburg) died on March 8 drafted its articles. He was also a Board mem­ he attended a few weeks before his death was at the age of 72. He was active in Jewisn ber of the United Restitution Organisation. the Board Meeting of the AJR. Impressed by affairs throughout his life. Before 1933, he His integrity and helpfulness as well as his the reports of our activities, he spontaneously took a leading part in the work of the German- offered his co-operation in one of our welfare Jewish youth movement and, for some time, loyalty to Jewish causes will be remembered was the youngest member of the Repraesen- with gratitude and affection not only by the schemes, and he was also happy to meet so tantenkollegium of the Hamburg Jewish com­ organisations to which he rendered signal ser­ many old friends on that occasion. Little did munity. In 1933, he was appointed Syndikus vices but also by his numerous clients and they know that this was to be the last reunion of the Jewish community, and later he also personal friends. We extend our sincere sym­ they had with him. pathies to his widow and the other members became head of the North-Western districj He derived much happiness from the love office of the Reichsvereinigung. He stayed ai of his family. his post throughout the difficult years whicn of his wife and help-mate, Ruth, and his followed and was repeatedly arrested. As late children and their families. His friends all as 1944 he was one of the 200 Jews wJio LEOPOLD (POLDI) KEW over the world feel united with them in their could leave Germany in exchange of Saroiw sorrow. Germans in Palestine. After the war, he re­ The news of the death of Leopold (Poldi) WERNER ROSENSTOCK turned to Germany, settling first in Bremen Kew on Febmary 28 at the age of 64 came and, in 1965, in Hamburg the city in which ne as a great shock to his numerous friends and had spent the major part of his life. He re­ fellow-workers. He spent his formative years sumed his Jewish activities and was particU' DR. JULIUS MEYER larly involved in the work for Christian-Jewisn in the German-Jewish youth movement understanding and adult education. He was (DJJG), where his gift for leadership stood Dr. Julius Mever died in London on Febru­ also president of the Lessing Academy J" its first test. He was then very closely asso­ ary 12, at the age of 83. He was bora and educated in Frankfurt/Main and served with Wolfenbuettel, which was founded in 1971 to ciated with Ludwig Tietz. In the difficult times distinction in the German Army in the First promote scholarly research of the cultural ano from 1933 onwards, he showed much courage World War. He buUt up a successful practice religious history during the past 200 years- and resilience. He was head of the vocational in Frankfurt as a solicitor. A man of strong On the occasion of his 70th birthday, a re­ training centre in Niederschoenhausen, and it social consciousness, he was politically a markable Festschrift under the headins testifies to the lasting impact he made on his "Kritische Solidaritaet—Betrachtungen ^oro Socialist which did him some harm in certain deutsch-juedischen Selbstverstaendnis" . wa» pupils, now spread all over the world, that circles. In London, he joined the AJR soon published in his honour. Many of his fi"*^/? j, they retained their contacts with him through­ after its foundation. When, towards the end of and former fellow workers now live in tnii' out the decades. He voluntarily stayed in the Second World War, the AJR started a large-scale clothing collection for the relief country, and with his unfailing loyalty he re­ Germany as long as constmctive rescue work of the remnants of European Jewry, he was newed the contacts with them, whenever tne was still possible. When, after the November in charge of the Department. He later estab­ opportunity arose. They will always gratefuiiJ 1938 pogroms, England became one of the lished himself as a lawyer in restitution mat­ remember him. main countries of refuge, he was called upon ters and became an expert on the complex to help organise the Transit Camp in Rich­ Lastenausgleichsgesetz. Only a few months borough. There, during the turbulent months before his death he travelled to Duesseldorf to DR. WOLFGANG VON WEISL before and after the outbreak of war, he was plead in a difficult case before the "Ober­ a tower of strength for his fellow refugees. landesgericht"—a case he won against all Dr. Wolfgang (Zeev) von Weisl, who died in Later, in the army, he was one of the few expectations. Israel at the age of 78, was an old-standinB so-called "enemy aliens", who attained the Zionist who emigrated to Palestine as earw Dr. Meyer was a very devoted member of as 1922. He was bom in Vienna, the son oi » rank of a captain. After the war, his technical B'nai B'rith whose ideals of "benevolence, titled Jew, and after having graduated ^ knowledge and organisational ability and, brotherly love and harmony" inspired him and medicine, practised all his life as an exper above all, his gift of getting on with people were his guideline in all his actions. He was on allergies. He also wrote several boo^.' of various backgrounds made his work as a a founder-member of the Leo Baeck (London) including "Kampf ums Heilige Land" (l^*?/ factory manager in Birmingham invaluable. Lodge in 1943 and served the lodge for many and was a correspondent for European new* Finally, he and his wife acquired a hotel in years as Secretary. From 1962 to 1964 he was President, while simultaneously his wife, Mrs. papers. For some time he was an impo.^t^,* Honiton (Devon). He sold it only recently. Lore Meyer (a member of the AJR Board), member of the leadership of the Revisioni" was President of the Leo Baeck Women's movement. Lodge. He was a man of great integrity, unam­ bitious but alwavs ready to work behind the BBCHSTEIN STEINWAY BLUTHHER scenes. His knowledge of the lodge, its mem­ BELSIZE SQUARE SYNAGOGUE bers and its life was unrivalled and is reflected F=ine9t selection reconditioned PIANOS in a "History of the Leo Baeck Lodge" which 51 Beldie Square. London, N.W.3 Always interested in purchasing he had practically completed at the time of SYNAGOGUE SERVICES well-preserved instruments. his death. He was greatly loved and respected are held regularly on the Eve of Sabbath JAQUES SAMUEL PIANOS LTD. for his personal qualities. and Festivals at 6.30 p.m. and on the day 142 Edgwtfe Road, W^ We wish to extend our sincere sympathy to at 11 a.m. Dr. Meyer's widow, his two married sons and ALL ARE COroiALLY INVITO) Tel.: 723 8818/9. his grandchildren. lW^il•BH!lUl^lLMWM^^lBf^^!^aPJ^g?^ai«T•-^^•^'.:^^-:'•yt.^'

AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Page 9

APPOINTMENT TO GOVERNMENTAL FROM THE GERMAN SCENE OFFICE Mr. Kurt Treitel, until now deputy clerk "THIRD REICH" PUBLICITY JEWISH MUSEUM IN WEST BERLIN? of Chigwell Council, has been appomted a _A new periodical, "The Third In the periodical of the Friends of the senior legal assistant of the Treasury's Reich—Events from 1933 to 1945 with Text, Berlin Museum, Professor Dr. Irmgard Wirth, Solicitor's Department. The son of the fonner Pictures and Sound", is planned in 52 fort- the Director of the Museum, described the re- Berlin lawyer. Dr. Theodor Treitel, who re­ mghtly issues, together with a number of establishment of a Jewish Museum as one of cently died at Otto Schiff House, he came to gramophone records. A publicity proposal to the foremost duties of the Berlin Municipal­ this country when he was 17 in 1939. In a Use small flags bearing a swastika and the ity and the Berlin Museum (now located in profile published on the occasion of leaving slogan: "What really nappened during that the re-erected building of the Old Berlin his former position, the "West Essex Gazette" period?" has met with protests in West Ger- Kammergericbt in the Lindenstrasse). She writes that he started his working life in this iiiany. Some TV stations refused to accept ad­ makes this suggestion in connection with an country as an assistant gardener at Golders vertisements, sayinf that the periodical article "Reminiscences of Max Liebermann", Green Cemetery for £2 a week. He later went glorifies the Nazi regime". written in 1957 by the last director of the into commerce but, in 1957, decided to follow Jewish Museum in Berlin, the late Professor his father's footsteps and become a lawyer, Dr. Franz Landsberger who, after his emigra­ studying at evening classes to obtain his ARAB SUPPORTERS GAOLED tion in 1939, was director of the Jewish general certificate of education and, in 1962, Museum of the Hebrew Union College in Cin­ joining a firm of solicitors as articled clerk. A Karlsruhe court sentenced three young cinnati. The old Jewish Museum was accom­ After having obtained his legal qualifications tjermans and a Jordanian citizen to gaol modated in the administrative building of the he went into local govemment work. terms of between six months and three-and-a- Jewish community, Oranienburger Strasse. half years. They were charged with plotting Some of the exhibits were saved and are now acts of violence in co-operation with Arab deposited in Cincinnati and in the Israel underground groups in West Germany to Museum in Jerusalem. CHURCHILL FELLOWSHIP AWARD strengthen Gennan public support for the E.G.L. Mrs. Gaby Jacobi, Head of the Department Arab cause". of Domestic Science and Fashion at the Luton Technical College, was awarded a travelling MEMORIAL IN LUDWIGSHAFEN Churchill Fellowship for services to the con­ sumer. Mrs. Jacobi is a daughter of Dr. Max A plaque with the inscription "Here once Dienemann, last rabbi of Offenbach. stood the Synagogue of the Ludwigshafen Jew- SCHOENBERG EXHIBITIONS }fh Community" was affixed to the wall of the Rheinpfalz-Gebaeude". At the unveiling The West Berlin Academy of Arts and the ceremony, addresses were delivered by the National Gallery are prepanng exhibitions on THERESIENSTADT DOCUMENTS i-ord Mayor of Ludwigshafen, Dr. Werner Lud­ the occasion of the forthcoming centenary of AT BRANDEIS wig, and by Rabbi N. Peter Levinson. Arnold Schoenberg's birth. The functions will be incorporated into this year's Berlin Nine hundred pages of original German Festival Weeks. The Academy arranges the High Command documents dealmg with Jews KARL FEDERN displays under the motto "Schoenberg in in Theresienstadt have been presented to Information Required Berlin", showing for the first time Brandeis University by Mrs. Emma Gold­ documents, photos and letters relating to scheider Fuchs (Newton, Mass.). Mrs. Fuchs . Professor St. Steffensen, who is engaged the period, when the composer was a was in Theresienstadt together with her first Ul research work on German refugees in member of the Prussian Academy of Arts husband, who worked in the camp administra­ Denmark, would welcome any information (1927-1933). The National Gallery lays accent tion and secreted the documents as they passed J"egarding Karl Fedem and also leading to on Schoenberg's association with the "Blaue through his hands. He gave them to his wife the whereabouts of his two sons, who lived Reiter" movement which, founded by Kan­ for safe keeping. Just before the end of the Ul London for a time. Replies to Professor dinsky, Kubin and Marc, existed in Munich war, he and his 17-year-old son, John, were Steffensen should be sent c/o Institut for until 1914. It is intended to demonstrate the taken out of the camp and never seen again. ^ermansk Filologi, Kobenhavns Universitet, interrelation between music and painting and After the war, she and her daughter leamed Uster Volgade 10, DK 1350, Kopenhagen, between tone and colour. that the father had died in Auschwitz, and "enmark. E.G.L. the son had died elsewhere. J.TA.

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AJR GLASGOW Until a short while ago, the Society of MISCELLANEOUS Jewish Refugees in Glasgow (affiliated to the AJR) was the only group in the Provinces BRING AND BUY SALE AT AJR CLUB DR. FELIX SIEBURG, 90 which continued to hold regular local func­ This year's Bring and Buy Sale of the AJR Dr. Felix Sieburg, one of the youngest tions for its members. This was mainly due Club, held on Febmary 24 in the hall of residents in body and mind of Heinrich Stahl to the efforts of its past chairman, Mr- Hannah Karminski House, was again a full House, will be 90 on April 2. In Berlin, where Berthold Bergmann who, unfortunately, died success. The attractive and lovely items, in­ he lived before he came to this country. Dr. last year. As in other Provincial places, the cluding pieces of art, clothing, artificial Sieburg was a practising lawyer. In this need for meetings of former refugees, has de jewellery and household gadgets, were country, he and his late wife first settled in creased in the course of time, especially as bought by the great number of enthusiastic Oxford and, as long as the AJR still organised members all over the country are informed visitors, and refreshments were served on current developments by AJR In­ local functions, took a leading part in the formation. With the consent of the member^ in the AJR Club room. Altogether, work of the Oxford branch. He has continued £500 was raised which will benefit the in Glasgow it has therefore been arranged to take a deep interest in our efforts and also that the membership with the Society of Ahava Children's Home in Israel, the Gertrad been a most understanding supporter of our Schachne Fund and the Margaret Jacoby- Jewish Refugees in Glasgow be transformed cause. We extend our sincerest congratulations into a direct membership with the AJR and Orgler Fund. The atmosphere throughout the to Dr. Sieburg. afternoon bore witness to the strong com­ that from now onwards, members pay their munity feelings between the members of the subscriptions direct to London. The balance club. Special thanks are due to all donors C.B.F. CONCERT left over from previous local contributions, and organisers of the sale as well as to those together with the audited books of the who rendered their services on the sales On Thursday, May 23, a concert for the society, have been transmitted to London. stands and acted as hostesses. benefit of the Central British Fund will be It testifies to the sense of solidarity among held in the Royal Festival Hall. Andre the former refugees in Glasgow, that they Previn will be conducting the London Sym­ continued their activities for many decades HAPPY BIRTHDAY phony Orchestra, and the soloist wUl be and it goes without saying that, whenever Rudolf Serkin. The programme will include there is a desire for convenmg a local gather­ To describe in detail the gratitude which the works by Beethoven and Brahms. ing, AJR headquarters would be only too AJR owes to its Deputy General Secretary, At its latest Council Meeting, the C.B.F. pleased to give a helping hand. Like AJR IW' Dr. E. A. Lomnitz, might be considered as made grants totalling £30,000 for Jews in and formation, most of the other services of the tantamount to blowing our own trumpet, be­ coming out of Eastern Europe, in North AJR are at the disposal of members, cause his achievements are part and parcel wherever they may live. of the activities at Fairfax Mansions. Yet it Africa, and towards the running of a day Care Centre for old people in Bombay. would be a serious omission, if the 70th birth­ JONAS FRAENKELSCHE day of our colleague on April 30 were left FAMILIENSTIFTUNG entirely unnoticed in this paper. On behalf of GRAMOPHONE RECORDS REQUIRED all those who co-operate with Mr. Lomnitz, and Information Required on behalf of the innumerable people to whom The AJR would be pleased to receive long- Anybody who can give information about he has devoted his interest, compassion and playing records in good condition for the the capital assets held by the Jonas Fraen- unflinching services, we express our deep-felt Flatlet Home, Eleanor Rathbone House. kelsche Familienstiftung, Breslau, until 1939, gratitude to him and, not quite unselfishly, Readers who can donate records should should get in touch with: Mrs. H. Cobn- wish him undiminished strength and enthu­ kindly first get in touch with Mr. E. A. Lom­ Wolkowicz, 178, Av. Winston Churchill, 1180 siasm in his work for a very long time to come. nitz, AJR (phone 624 9096). Bruxelles, Belgium.

FAMILY EVENTS died on February 28, at the age of CONTINENTAL LADY, German- 90. She is deeply moumed by her speaking, seeks non-residential WIDOWER, 70, wishing to settle Entries in the column Family daughter, son, daughter-in-law, position as nursing companion. in Israel, would like to meet lady, Events are free of charge. Texts grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Also night duty and as travelling same age, as companion. Box 378. should be sent in by the 15th of relatives and friends. companion. Box 379. the month. INDEPENDENT, intelligent, lively Welsh.—Mr. Fred Max Welsh of Men lady, would like to meet gentleman Birth 54 Gilling Court, Belsize Grove, in similar circumstances, not RETIRED GENTLEMAN, convers­ Orthodox and not over 65 years, Eger.—Kurt Leo and Rosalind London, N.W.3, died on March 11, aged 85. Deeply mourned by his ant with stock control, experienced for companionship. Box 381. Eger are pleased to announce the driver, seeks part-time general birth of a son, David Avram, on wife, Liesbeth Welsh, relatives and many friends. office work. Box 385. WIDOWER, Vienna born, wants to January 19. 5 Cairn Avenue, Lon­ meet attractive, refined lady not don, W5 5HX. Wilmersdoerffer.—On January 7, Accommodation Vacant over 58, living N.W. London, for Miss Alma Wilmersdoerffer, aged friendship or eventual marriage- Birthday 77 years, passed away after 3i sad VERY NICE FURNISHED ROOM Box 382. years of suffering. Funeral took to let, centrally heated, constant The AJR Club sends the most place at Waltham Abbey Jewish hot water, near many stations and ATTRACTIVE JEWISH LAPV heartfelt warm wishes to dear Cemetery. Deeply moumed by her shopping centre. W.5. Tel: 01-997 (and her two children) would like Mrs. Clara Freyhan on the occasion niece, Mrs. L. Taussig, and her son 8062. to meet gentleman (and his of her 95th birthday. Peter. children), a widower or divorcee Miscellaneous Thanks for Condolences aged between 40 and 50. Box 383- Deaths Boas.—Mrs. Rachel Boas and her EXCLUSIVE FUR REPAIRS MISSING PERSONS Banmann.—Mrs. Vally Baumann family wish to thank all those AND RESTYLING. All kinds of (formerly Berlin) died on fur work undertaken by first-class Personal Enquiries friends who have written to express renovator and stylist, many years' March 19 Deeply mourned by their condolence during their re­ Litten.—Ruth Litten, bom 1920. her family. experience and best references. cent bereavement. Phone 01-452 5867, after 5 p.m. formerly Neustrelitz. Last known address (1941): "The Barn, Eisenstaedt.—Mrs. Lotte B. Eisen­ CLASSIFIED for appointment, Mrs. F. Philipp, staedt of 11, Colin Crescent, 44 Ellesmere Road, Dollis Hill, Frensham, Surrey. Used to know London, N.W.9, passed away on The charge in these columns is London, N.W.IO. Dr. Fritz Rosenthal and his brother February 13. Sadly missed by her 15p for five words. Adolf. Please contact urgentiy- relatives and many friends. GERMAN AND ENGLISH COINS Box 384. Situations Vacant WANTED. High prices paid. Tel: Kupfer.—Mrs. Marie Kupfer, form­ 01-455 8578 after 6 p.m. AJR Enquiries Women erly of Chessington Court, N.2, Brent.—Mr. G. R. Brent, last known died at Osmond House on Febru­ CONTINENTAL LADY, 50s, plan­ The AJR EMPLOYMENT ning American holiday, looking for address: 121 Salmon Street. ary 19, in her 93rd year. She was AGENCY needs part-time Home- London, N.W.9. the sister of Fina Weinmann, New travelling partner. Driving licence helps (shopping/cooking), com­ useful. Box 380. York, and is moumed by her panions and attendants for the EUera.—Mr. Hans Ellem, la^* nieces Rosi Fischer, Liesl Sinclair elderly who require personal assis­ CARPETS. CUSHIONS and other known address: Flat 84, Peter* (nee Woltar), Daphne White and tance. Please telephone: 01-624 soft furnishing repairs undertaken. Court, Porchester Road, London. Suzanne Woltar, and many cousins. 4449 for an appointment. Tel: between 8 and 9 a.m.. Flat 6, W.2. or near relatives. 01-459 0856. Plaut.—Dr. Max Plaut (Hamburg) Situations Wanted CHANGE OF ADDRESS passed away on March 8.—F. & B. Personal Vincent, nee Plaut, relatives and Women In order to ensure that you friends. MIDDLE-AGED ATTRACTIVE receive your copy of "AJR ALTERATIONS OF DRESSES, WIDOW, independent means, Information" regularly, please Sochaczewski.—Mrs. Gertrad Kate etc., undertaken by ladies on our would like to meet a gentleman, inform us immediately of any Sochaczewski of Sunridge Court, register. Phone: AJR Employment also independent, for companion­ change ot address. The Ridgeway, London, N.W.ll, Agency, 01-624 4449. ship. (London area). Box 377. »!rfcg»»ia w!Sf^^^^^z'Wi^s^p^'^y.-y'A^-^ I! Wi! :ai8WB!^aiBB>- • ''•^lfm^Kr^?rmfm>•••''•^'!!•' vjjWff "aeggawwa

AJR INFORMATION April, 1974 Page 11

Egon Larsen FORTY YEARS OF RELIEF WORK Annual Report of CBT. ENZO SERENI: PIONEER AND PARACHUTIST Eastern Europe, from where over 30,000 Jews emigrated in the year 1972/73, was the The representatives of Italy's Jewish com­ Dafni and Joel Nussbacher. They were all principal concern of the Central British Fund munities gathered at a Jewish school in required to assume noms de guerre for their for Jewish Relief and Rehabilitation, and Rome a few months ago to pay tribute to a secret work; most of them chose English accounted for £105,000 in grants. Financial help was given to those wishing to leave and hero whose name is still very well remem­ names, but Sereni called himself Shmuel also to relieve the old and sick who were bered in the Italian capital: Enzo Sereni Barda—he wanted to be recognisable as a unable to do so. So great were the demands fAJR Information, October 1973). Outside his Jew. During his training period he broadcast upon it that during the year to 30th June, 1973, own country, however, the extraordinary from Cairo for the Allied cause to the Italian the CBF altogether spent £263,000, exceeding story of his life and death is little known. people, blaming the King for having sold out its income during this period by £20,000. The Serenis were an old Italian family; his subjects to Mussolini. After one particular­ This information comes from the Annual their name can be found in the Jewish cata­ ly sharp radio talk the Egyptians arrested Report of the CBF which, in 1973, celebrated combs of the Via Appia. Throughout the cen­ him; none of his friends knew where he was. 40 years of active and varied work. turies, they had belonged to Rome's patrician He went on hunger strike; after ten days he society; Enzo's father, a Professor of was taken to hospital, nearer to death than Mr. H. Oscar Joseph, O.B.E., President, Medicine at the University, was court physi­ to life, and eventuallv released. describes how it was founded in 1933, its cian to King Victor Emmanuel III. Since the main activity being centred in the Jewish Refugees Committee, with which some 63,000 Risorgimento, the Serenis had become rapid­ Captured by Germans German and Austrian refugees registered. ly assimilated, treating their Jewish ex­ After completing his training he was ap­ Between the end of 1938 and the outbreak traction as no more than a nominal private pointed instructor and moved with a small of war, 40,000 arrived in the UK and to meet matter. Enzo, bom in 1905, was attracted by group—including Hanna Senesch, Reuben the consequent expenditure, the CBF raised Zionism as a teenager: the rise of Fas­ Dafni and Joel Nussbacher—to Bari in Italy's nearly £3,000,000. cism—which a good many Italian Jews liberated south. The group, five in all, was Towards the end of the war, the Jewish regarded with sympathy—perturbed him pro­ Committee for Relief Abroad was set up foundly. "I feel myself a Jew when Jews are flown to Yugoslavia in March, 1944, to make contact with the partisans and to cross into financed by the CBF, to take personal relief attacked and insulted", he wrote in his diary. to the surviving Jewish remnant on the con­ "I feel myself a Jew not only at home or in Nazi-occupied Hungary. Most of them paid tinent. At one time over 100 people were the temple, but always, at every hour of the with their lives: Hanna Senesch as well as working in the relief and rehabilitation pro­ day". Haviva Reich, who jumped on a later mis­ grammes in Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy sion. On May 15, 1944, it was Enzo Sereni's and Greece, some remaining until the estab­ own turn. He took off with an Italian radio lishment of the State of Israel. Mission to Germany 1933 operator and was dropped in the Ferrara dis­ After graduating as a doctor of medicine One of the most exciting and rewarding trict; the plan was that he should reach the ventures of the CBF was bringing 732 children and serving in the Italian Army, where he 40,000 Jewish and anti-Fascist refugees in from the concentration camps to this country Was given a commission, he exchanged the that area and organise their escape to the and tackling the task of their rehabilitation. luxury of his family's aristocratic villa in south. But the pilot lost his way, and instead (These children, now grown up, formed the Rome for the primitive life of a pioneer settle- of coming down near Ferrara Enzo and the '45 Aid Society through which they maintain •Dent, the kibbutz Givat Brenner, in radio operator found themselves in the hills contact, helping one another in practical ways Palestine. He was sent on missions to Europe north of Florence, which were swarming with and regularly expressing their gratitude to the to try and connnce the Jews that their German troops. The two parachutists lost CBF by a substantial financial donation.) future lay only in the creation of a Jewish each other. Within a matter of hours, the The CBF was also prominent in the establish­ homestead; his last tour was to Germany in Germans captured them. ment of the Jewish Trust Corporation, which 1933, where he helped to organise the With a group of Italian partisans he was recovered the heirless and communal property emigration of young Jews from Hitler's Third taken to Dachau. The S.S. Commandant lined in the British Zone of Germany. Reich to Palestine. them up and asked provocatively, "Who's the In the early 1950's, it was proposed to put In an English-language biography published Jew responsible for the air-raids on Ger­ the CBF into cold storage, in the belief that some years ago (Enzo Sereni by Clara Ur- many?" and without a moment's hesitation, its work had been completed. But before this quhart and Peter Ludwig Brent, Robert Hale, Enzo Sereni stepped forward: "I am the could be done, the Russian invasion of 1967), he appears with all the characteristics man". It tumed out that the Nazis knew Hungary in 1956 resulted in some 1,800 Jewish of an early saint; others who knew him well refugees arriving, to be followed after Suez quite a lot about his work with the parachut­ by a similar number from Egypt. Many needed describe him as a twentieth-century con­ ists. He was charged with having organised a help and a hard core are still regularly sup­ dottiere, dynamic and passionate, but with whole network of Allied agents whose secret ported. the mind of a classical scholar. When the radio messages guided the British and Since then the scope of the CBF has been War broke out he persuaded his parents to American bombers—it was no doubt an ex­ extended beyond aid to Jewish refugees arriv­ follow his example and emigrate to Palestine: aggeration, but he proudly accepted the res­ ing in the UK, to include the persecuted he was well aware of the danger that Mus­ ponsibility. and underprivileged in other countries. In solini would soon be emulating Hitler's ex­ We do not know how he died. But the the past ten years, CBF work overseas has ample and persecute the Italian Jews. Dachau file index—kept with that meticulous covered the emigration and resettlement of Enzo Sereni was already 39, married and efficiency which was so typical of the Jews from Moslem countries, grants to the With a family, when he volunteered for the Nazis—carries this entry: "Prisoner No. elderly and sick who remain, educational Parachute unit which the British were setting 113160, Block 23. Bora June 22, 1905. projects, rehabilitation programmes for new ^P in the Middle East. Altogether, 240 immigrants in France, Sweden and Denmark, Resident at Tel Aviv. V3 (the code word for and an annual welfare project in Israel. The Parachutists from Palestine were trained in members of the British Forces) Barda, Jewish Refugees Committee helped Jewish ''gypt, among them some whose names, like Shmuel. Arrived October 9, 1944. Taken to Czech students in this country at the time of ^reni's, are now household words in Israel: Special Punishment Cell for interrogation. the Russian invasion to complete their studies ^nna Senesch and Haviva Reich, Reuben November 17, 1944. Died November 18, 1944." and obtained visas for several hundred Iraqis.

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Herbert Freeden Thus is does not come as a surprise when, after the first enthusiasm to be in the Jewish State, disappointment sets in. However, only two per cent emigrate again, and if those LETTER FROM JERUSALEM who remain on transit in Vienna or Rome without ever setting foot in Israel are in­ Absorption of Russian Immigrants only 10,000 are going up now. Instead of a wait­ ing time of just a few weeks, the newcomers cluded, the figure rises to three per cent—a very small proportion indeed. Whether there is war or truce—the Rus­ are being given temporary accommodation sians are coming, someone wrote in an for an undetermined period. Fifty hotels have Opinion Poll on Public Morale aftemoon paper. Indeed, a paradoxical situa­ been taken over by the Govemment and Although the public's spirits are not very tion has arisen: Moscow sends arms to the turned into immigrants' hostels—a blessing high these days, the great majority (82 per Arabs and Jews to Israel. Only one factor has for the hotel-keepers as with the recession of cent) are "certain" or "think" they will be changed recently; the public concem about tourism, most hotels are under-booked. able to adjust to the present situation if the the immigration from the Soviet Union has Nevertheless, after a year or so in the state of alert continues, says a survey of the country, 85 per cent of the Russian im­ died down, either for lack of interest or, as Israel Institute of Applied Social Services far as the press goes, "manipulated", so as migrants are happy with their housing—which is often better than it was in the USSR. and the Communications Institute of the not to draw undue attention of the Arab Hebrew University on "Public Morale in world to this phenomenon. A bigger problem is that of job satisfaction Israel". The majority of the public sees no The October War seems to have had little and social acclimatisation. In the wake of the special problem in withstanding personal bearing on the migration movement. If any October War, serious dislocations occurred on economic difficulties (72 per cent) and in interrelation can be made out at all, then the labour market which have not yet been concentrating on their work (71 per cent). only that it has provided an additional overcome, and which have especially affected the academic community. Almost 4,000 young Enquiries were made about four possible impetus. In the months of October and types of personal difficulties which may stem November 1973, the number of new arrivals Israelis who have graduated from higher in­ stitutions of learning are looking for work. from the present situation: economic, from the East reached a record of 4,000 each. emotional (mood), concentration on work Since then, the figures have fallen to pre-war As 40 per cent of the newcomers from the Soviet Union are academicians—physicists, and entertainment-relaxation. Looking at the level and for the present year, the forecast is percentages replying "Not at all difficult" or 33,000—the same as last year. engineers, teachers, professors, doctors—it is "A little difficult", it appears that it is Before immigration from Russia assumed not easy to find places for them in their own professions. Many insist that the status of easiest to cope with personal economic prob­ present dimensions, there was an unspoken lems and concentrating on one's work. Most fear that the Kremlin might try to "conquer" their job be no lower than the one they held in Russia. The Ministry of Absorption con­ difficult is the entertainment and relaxation Israel in a peaceful way—by despatching problem. large numbers of Jewish communists as centrates much effort and large funds on find­ "olim." In this way, it would have been pos­ ing or creating satisfactory employment. A With respect to worries in general, 42 per sible in a democratic manner to establish a physician, e.g., is supported for up to three cent say they are worried "always" or regime in Israel faithful to Moscow. Alas, just years while he takes refresher courses. One "almost always". With respect to specific the very opposite has happened. The im­ hundred million dollars have been allocated worries, 67 per cent state that the economic migrants from Russia are almost all sworn to retrain the immigrants. But even so, not situation of Israel is "very worrying" or antagonists of the Soviet regime and hate everything goes according to plan. Only few "worrying", while only 36 per cent say so everything that is tinged with socialism, Mar­ girls and young women are prepared to be with respect to their personal economic situa­ xism and collectivism. On the other hand, trained as nurses although most hospitals are tion. they have not strengthened the liberal camp badly understaffed. There is a clear trend to be content either, as one would have assumed. In their The majority of Russian Jews arrive in the with one's personal economic resources- large majority they have joined the rightist country without a knowledge of Hebrew. Sixty-four per cent of the public say their parties, or are in sympathy with their aims, About half of the younger people (ages 18-29) family income today is "definitely sufficient' and even there, with the extreme wing. It is consider mastering the language their main or "sufficient" for most of their needs. K easy to gauge that an influx on the present absorption problem. On the other hand, many must be recalled that only 49 per cent r^' scale, should it continue over the years, of those who earn their living through plied so before the war (July-September would change the political party pattern in manual labour, admit that they manage well 1973). Similarly, readiness for concessions Israel in favour of the nationalistic forces. without knowing Hebrew. Yet from a social continues to be far and above what it was Though the October War has hardly in­ viewpoint, the language remains a central ab­ before the war. fluenced the extent of the immigration, it sorption problem. Thirty-eight per cent of those The majority of the public also oppose definitely worsened the conditions of in­ asked in a recent enquiry, consider social life demands for wage increases made by tegration, both in work and society. As a in Israel less satisfactory than in the Soviet workers' unions. Sixty-four per cent think it result of transport difficulties, building ac­ Union, and some think they have gone down is "undesirable" or "most undesirable" to tivities have slowed down. Instead of 50,000 in social standing, not the least because of continue with these demands under the pre­ housing units built annually before the war. their insufficient knowledge of Hebrew. sent situation.

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