A Tale of Two Ghettos Jews Pl2

AJ R Information Volume XLVII No. 7 July 1992 £3 (to non-members) Don't miss . In the aftermath of Los Angeles AGM Report p9 Entombed in silence p3 A history of the A tale of two ghettos Jews pl2 ews and Blacks are both similar and different. Their Jews, on the other hand, remained models of family Palace and greatest similarity lies in the common and never-to- cohesion even after Emancipation released them from be-forgotten experience of persecution - an experi the conformity engendered by ghetto life. Generations press J ence distilled in the word ghetto. For European grew up with fathers as well as potent role models: Jews ghettoisation meant social exclusion and resi talmudic sages, later bankers and businessmen, and, ress gossip dential confinement on the order of popes or princes. finally scientists and artists. about the Ghettos for American Blacks were not created by Young Blacks with 'absentee' fathers have a narrow pRoya l family is the price we pay, government fiat; rather they resulted from White range of role models drawn either from show biz or however reluctantly, prejudice and their own inability to break out of the the world of sport. Neither entertainment nor sport - for freedom of inner-city poverty trap. as demonstrated by Jimmy Hendrix or Mike Tyson - expression. If Black deprivation, it must be borne in mind, are pursuits likely to inculcate essential middle-class unchecked, it could transcends the merely material to encompass the lack values of self-discipUne and deferred gratification. ultimately have of a stable family structure. Slavery severed the bonds In the last 30 years or so other potential Black role undesirable of family life and in the 130 years since its abolition models have emerged in the shape of charismatic consequences. One that grievous damage has not been repaired. politicians. Alas, most of them — from the Nkruhmas might be and Mugabes of post-colonial Africa to Malcolm X parliamentary and Farrakhan in the U.S.A. - have turned out to be legislation idols with feet of clay. cirumscribing press Jews had a contrary experience since Israeli state freedom. Another, hood. However much we may smart under the current potentially even negative image of the Jewish State, we can still take more far-reaching, pride in the fact that neither a Likud nor a Labour would be the government in Jerusalem would dream of tampering discrediting of the with the country's basic democratic structure. entire monarchical In the U.S. Black teachers and others schooled in the principle. negrocentric ideologies of Farrakhan and Dr Jeffries Monarchy, though | have educated a generation of ghetto youths to somewhat j compensate for deprivation with pathological hatred outmoded, promotes I - of 'Whitey', of Jews, of Koreans and so forth. In an stability. Presidents, atmosphere where a sizable minority of Afro-Ameri as de Gaulle and cans believe that U.S. government laboratories pro Nixon have shown, duced the Aids virus to wipe out Blacks, the savagery do not. Even non of the Los Angeles rioters becomes expUcable. executive presidents can, pace Waldheim, The bitterness surrounding the Rodney King case be a disaster. It owed much to the fact that no politician occupying would be the height the White House since Lyndon Johnson has had the of paradox if a statesman's vision to mobilise the resources of (what Conservative Britain is still) the world's richest country to create a less race- swung towards divided society. Republicanism. In The Nazis made much of Europe judenrein. Since such an event the no conceivable scenario can make the United States a journaille will have country of uniform pink pigmentation, the heirs of a lot to answer Abraham Lincoln will have to devise means of for. D A street in the Jewish quarter of mediaeval \\\ promoting Black-White amity. AJR INFORMATION JULY 1992 Red Cross accusation meeting took place in historic Belvoir *Our' man in Europe Castle, whose chatelain, the Duke of Rut Israeli treatment of detainees in the Occu land, proposed him. pied Territories has been sharply criticised Elected, he became the Euro Tories by the International Committee of the Red spokesman on Social and Employment Cross in Geneva. The Red Cross said that it matters. This was a difficult assignment, as believed Israeli troops were using physical Mrs Thatcher did not share the Soziale and psychological pressure to obtain infor Marktwirtschaft concepts dear to continen mation and confessions in violation of the tal centre-right groups like the German Fourth Geneva Convention. D CDU. He also played a key role in the Euro- Parliament's Latin American delegation, Judith Kerr honoured where he argued for more sensitive treat ment of poverty-stricken debtor countries. Judith Kerr received a rare honour by Labour's victory in the 1989 Euro elec having a primary school in Berlin Wilmers- tions put an end to Fred's almost permanent dorf named after her. The daughter of the transit between London, Brussels and Stras famous critic Alfred Kerr, Judith is herself bourg. Approaching 70, the indefatigable the author of a well-regarded children's veteran of business and politics can now book entitled When Hitler stole the red channel more of his energies into the rabbit. In a speech at the naming ceremony presidency of the Anglo-Jewish Association. she accepted the honour in the name of the I Fred Tuckman and S»r Geoffrey Hotve. (The 500-strong AJA organises lectures, children who had perished. D Photo: private. publishes a journal, and runs an Anglo- Israeli scholarship scheme.) Not a patch on Moshe he refugee turned politician in his 'Politician', these days, has a derogatory adopted homeland is a rare specimen, connotation miles removed from Aristotle s The French national press have been having but he does exist. The U.S.A. had zoon politikon (i.e person involved in civic great fun with some old photographs of T Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and the affairs). Fred Tuckman, OBE, is the sort of Jean-Marie le Pen which seem to indicate U.K. the parliamentarians Alf Dubs and person who gives politics a good name. that in the early 1950s his eye patch was on Fred Tuckman. Dubs, characteristically, D R.C. the other side. The rumour is that Jean- heads the British Refugee Council, and Fred Marie's press office have refused to Tuckman was a Euro MP for ten years. comment on suggestions that the patch may Born at Magdeburg in 1922, Fred came be a pure affectation adopted in admiration SHORT OR LONG TERM CARE to Britain in 1939 with his mother and of that great hero of the French National sisters. During the war he served as a Are you looking for residential care for Front Moshe Dayan. D yourself or for someone close to you? wireless mechanic in the RAF. Postwar he took a degree at the London School of The Otto Schiff Housing Association offers a very attractive option. Economics, entering LSE as a 'pink' Fabian We can offer short or long term care in our five Socialist and leaving as a pale blue Bow residential homes and sheltered accommodation Group Conservative. (His Bow Group con for old people with a Jewish refugee background. Israel's The Homes are situated a stone's throw from temporaries included Sir Geoffrey Howe Kenwood and Hampstead Heath. Very finest Wines and Leon Brittan.) After graduating Fred It is our aim to enable residents to maintain their worked for Marks & Spencer, then as dignity by providing an ambience that makes them feel part of the community and allows them to SHIPPED BY Company Secretary and Personnel Manager regard their environment with affection. Hobbies for BIA Ltd, and eventually joined Hay and other interests are actively encouraged. Management Consultants. The last named In addition we can offer the following: HOUSE OF sent him to Southern Africa and, from Single rooms, many with en-suite facilities 1970, to Germany. Physiotherapy HALLGARTEN The German posting had its pitfalls. Occupational therapy Interviewing a prospective employee, Fred Social activities, including art classes, discussion groups and outings told him he was a Jew. 'Why' asked the YARDEN and GAMLA Transport to the AJR Day Centre other 'are you telling me this? You wouldn't Visiting Doctor tell me if you had VD!' So that his children AVAILABLE NOW Jewish traditions catered for should be brought up in this country, Fred Experienced social workers available for commuted between England and Germany consultation Please write or phone for weekly for almost ten years. For further information please contact: full information On a parallel track he had meanwhile Gloria Randall Ruth Finestone embarked on a political career, initially in Otto Schiff Housing Association of DALLOW ROAD local government. He served on Camden Association Jewish Refugees LUTON BEDS Central Office Hannah Karminski House Council, where he chaired both the Library LU11UR Osmond House 9 Adamson Road and Arts, and Parks and Open Spaces The Bishops Avenue London NW3 3HX 0582 22538 committees. At the first direct European London N2 OBG Tel: 071-483 2536 elections in 1979 he stood as Conservative Tel: 081-209 0022 candidate for Leicestershire. His adoption AJR INFORMATION JULy 1992 inzig - a small town in the Rhineland - A Rhenjsh memorial had Jews living in it intermittently Ssince the 11th century. In the 1930s the community comprised 16 families earning their living from trade in live-stock and agricultural produce. After Kristallnacht a few Jews emigrated; the rest perished. Postwar Sinzig, a larger and more pros perous town, showed no traces of the former Jewish presence. This was an omis sion Richmond-resident AJR member Richard Meyer resolved to rectify.

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