VOLUME 1 No.3 MARCH 2001 journal Association of Jewish Refugees 'MJik-rf Unquiet on the Westminster front Reflections on the interaction of politicians, press and public ast November Americans cast their politicians as much as it needs teachers ^lots. In February Israelis went to the POLLING^ and doctors if it is to fimction properly. Wlls. Within weeks we are likely to be Waugh's cynicism also infected '^"ig the same in this coimtry. The US STATION journalists who didn't necessarily share Action result looked seriously flawed. his dyspeptic disposition - pace the ^ Israeli election was called endless column inches of unwarranted '^^^cipitatejy to overcome a security obloquy heaped upon the Dome, which, ^is compounded by parliamentary as far as it was a disaster, was a media- ®^^lock. By contrast, the UK general manufactured one. And, as if cynical ^<^tion looks set to be a routine affair, journos weren't enough, the 'licensed' ^'^" nobody challenging the outcome. Jewish jester Jackie Mason has recently ^ before we crow too loudly about been invited by BBC2 to make inane '^tain's greater stabihty and maturity. comments about the US elections. (Not let ^s remember that a bare six months to be outdone, the Jeivish Chronicle gave ^80 a Poujadist fuel protest half- him an opportunity to further envenom Paraiyse d the country, threatened the the Arab-Israeli conflict). If some ^•ect^, d government, and reduced the sections of the media generate cynicism Polio^ to passive bystanders in the face - and therefore apathy - others do the ofi "itimidation. This was a spasm of the Harold and Mary Wilson leaving the polling opposite, but with equally malign intent. station in Great Smith Street fi: tish body politic - a lurch into They run populist scare campaigns '^ssness triggered by a group of outlines of the political process by designed to stir local grassroots action sSneved individuals set on reversing emitting a smoke screen of cynicism. against easily identifiable targets such as Visions of the democratically chosen The resulting miasma allows certain paedophiles and asylum seekers. ^cutive Something similar had swamp flowers to flourish - such as the However, notwithstanding all these PPened in the miners' strike of the Judeophobic Taki, the Ezra Pound fan AN defects, British democracy continues to ^f^ly 1980s - with the vital difference Wilson, and the late Auberon Waugh, evolve. It is no exaggeration to say that m those days the Prime Minister who once penned a humorous piece in certain important respects it has '^^oyed media support. about Auschwitz as a tourist attraction. evolved fiirther than similar systems /*hich brings us to the role in politics Waugh's worst defects - defects which elsewhere. Hugely contentious issues, ''^^dia moguls, like Rupert Murdoch vitiated everything he WTOte - however, like capital punishment or the right to Coru-ad Black. It is axiomatic that were his snobbery and an ingrained view abortion, which still disturb the internal ' nien are happier with nght-of- of all politics as corrupt, and of all peace of the USA, were laid to rest over , "^e than left-of-centre governments - politicians as self-seeking here decades ago. Nor are immigrants '^ doesn't necessarily follow that they megalomaniacs. This entertainingly into this country (as we know from actually 'deliver' the electorate's gloomy view of public affairs may have personal experience) subjected to the l^^^s. (After all, till January 2001 all chimed in well with the image he same discrimination as they are in ^ "ig Western countries had left-of- cultivated of himself as a world-weary present-day democratic Germany. So let • ""^ administrations). What the media Catholic country squire - but it is of no us be thankful for Westminster - and ,iO ^Pable of, however, is bliuring the possible use to society, which needs come polling day, go out and vote! ffi^ AJR contributes to success of UK's first Holocaust Memorial Day by Ronald Channing As its contribution to the first Holocaust harrowing footage of Bergen - Belsen Memorial Day in the United Kingdom, the taken by Sydney Bernstein - film evidence AJR initiated and sponsored events on the that had remained censored until 1997! campuses of the University of Sussex and Janina Fischler-Martinho moved the Imperial College London, altogether audience deeply with her account of reaching some 2,000 students. survival in the Lodz Ghetto against seemingly impossible odds. Other 'Remembrance Through Film' minorities victimised by the Nazis were Lecturers and teachers joined students remembered in a session led by Jack from Sussex and Brighton Universities, Gilbert with film-makers Luke Holland and and a number of Holocaust refugees and Judy Ironside and local broadcaster Simon survivors from the city, to participate Fanshawe. Gaby Glassman conducted a freely in a full day of sessions on workshop on the Holocaust's Prince Charles and Ben Helfgott after Holocaust Remembrance Through Film. lighting memorial candles at psychological legacy, well attended by The opening session was chaired by Central Hall, Westminster students and survivors, one of whose Professor Edward Timms, Head of the accounts left an indelible impression. Centre for German-Jewish Studies which on national television, at which Prince developed and organised the day's Campus's musical commemoration Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair and programme. University Vice-Chancellor, Imperial College, and its director of music Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks were Professor Aiasdair Smith, said that one Richard Dickins, in co-operation with the joined by the Archbishop of Canterbury could not be neutral between good and AJR, presented a concert featuring Olivier and the Roman Catholic Archbishop o^ evil and stressed the virtues of tolerance Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, Westminster, as well as the leaders of the on a campus of cultural and ethnic played with immense musicality and opposition, together with Holocaust diversity. He thanked the AJR for their passion. Messiaen composed this for the survivors and victims of more recent support and anticipated that a rewarding players and instruments - violin, cello, genocides who presented powerful day would carry a wider message. AJR's clarinet and piano - available to him whilst testimony. Head of Community Relations, Ronald a prisoner in Stalag VII where it was first It is anticipated that the AJR'' Channing, invited Prof Smith to feature performed in 1941. As in Sussex, a full experience and support in marking the event permanently in the university's concert hall validated this as the Holocaust Memorial Day in the annual calendar university's contribution to Holocaust universities will also be called upon fo^ Following a showing of The Children Memorial Day. next year's commemoration by othe^ Who Cheated Hitler, a film on the Other Holocaust Memorial Day events in campuses. Kindertransport, witness Bea Green and which AJR members or representatives the film's producer Sue Read responded played a role included former Kinder Berlin child survivor to lively questioning. Holocaust course David Jedwab and Bea Green returning to convenor John Jacobs led a session on Liverpool Street Station where they first gathering Victims and Survivors, showing film of arrived in Britain 62 years ago; a ceremony Coinciding with the German HolocaU** ghettos and camps which included in Camden Council Chamber led by the Memorial Day, the tenth gathering ° Mayor at which Cllr. Roger Robinson child survivors took place at the Europe^'' recalled the long fight against fascism, Academy in Bedin. The purpose of ^^^ and the vivid testimony of two survivors gathering was to enable participants t" was given; at the University of York where discuss, without inhibition, problert^* Dr Erika Harris, whose parents suffered connected with their past. Participant' persecution in Slovakia, related the came from all over Germany and spo''^ Holocaust to modern genocide; in the about their experiences of raci^ Ma West Midlands, Belsen survivor Paul persecution as children of 16 or young^ Oppenheimer spoke at universities and and the impact this had had on their li^^ schools; and AJR historian Dr Anthony subsequently. Having been uprooted' Grenville was interviewed on BBC radio. many lived in other countries befo"^ National ceremony returning to Germany in an attempt * Prof Edward Timms, with students, The AJR was well represented at the reconnect with their roots. participating in the day-long Holocaust ceremony of commemoration held in the To mark Holocaust Memorial DaVj Remembrance Through Film. Central Hall, Westminster, and broadcast participants walked to Grunewal Station and recited kaddish on platfof"^ 17 - from where Berlin Jews v*'^'^ Pro: AJR Journal Personnel deported. A plaque specified that ZiJ9 Richard Grunberger Editor-in-Chief Ronald Channing Executive Editor Marion Koebner Staff Reporter Andrea Goodmalcer Dept Secretary & Advertising Co-ordinator (trains) had deported them, th^^ Gloria Tessler Arts Correspondent Dr Anthony Grenville Historical Researcher avoiding mention of person^ Katia Gould Editorial Adviser Gerta Regensburger & Lionel Simmonds Proof Readers responsibility. AJR Journal, 1 Hampstead Gate, la Frognal, London NW3 6AL Gaby Glasstria'' Tel: 020 7431 6161 Fax: 020 7431 8454 e-mail: [email protected] Cler Band of brothers Richard Grunberger NEWTONS Leading Hampstead Solicitors he US Declaration of Independence sometime MP and dog food salesman, 22 Fitzjohn's Avenue, states: "We hold this truth