Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
A Weekly Newspaper for Southern Jewry — Established
xxxv
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1960
Soviets Claim
150 Synagogues
Function in IJ.S.S.R.
VIENNA, (JTA)—The Soviet
Government, apparently disturb
ed by the mounting criticism of
its treatment of Russian Jewry,
fame out with n report in the
official weekly publication of the
Soviet Embassy here asserting
that Jewish religious services are
being held in 150 synagogues
throughout the Soviet Union.
The publication, named “So
viet Union Today,” said that a
new edition of the Siddur, the
Jewish prayer book, was being
prepared for publication and
that the Moscow Jewish religi
ous community had a bank ac
count of 500,000 rubles. It as
serted that the Moscow syna
gogue was visited by 500 Jews
daily and by 1,500 on the Sab
bath.
The publication stressed that
Chief Rabbi Yehuda Levine was
head of a rabbinical seminary
in Moscow and that the Jewish
religious community paid each
student 1, 200 to 1,500 rubles a
month and provided free lodg
ing and food for the seminary
students. The report also said
that the Moscow synagogue had
a ritual slaughterhouse, and that
the Moscow Jewish community
published a Jewish calendar an
nually.
The cities in which the syna
gogues were listed as being lo
cated included Berditchev, Lvov,
Cherson, Chmelnizki, Kiev, Len
ingrad, Minsk, Nikolajev, Odes
sa, Poltawa, Riga, Zhitomir,
Tashkent, Tbilissi, Tchemigow,
Vilna and Biro-Bidjan.
Soviet Bloc Refuses
To Supply Evidence
Against Eichmann
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Israel
drew virtually a total blank in
response to requests to several
East European countries to sup
ply evidence on the activities in
those countries of Adolph Eich
mann, it was disclosed this week.
More than two months ago Is
rael appealed to all such coun
tries having any information
whatever, on the man who di
rected the extermination of Eu
ropean Jewry to provide help in
the preparation of his trial. The
only country to give a positive
reply, it was reported, was Yugo
slavia, which promised help.
This negative attitude, it was
noted, conflicted sharply with
the many articles and statements
in the Soviet Bloc press, after
the announcement last May 23
of Eichmann’s seizure, welcom
ing the arrest and urging pun
ishment. Israel sought material
from East Europe, a major thea
tre of Eichmann’s extermination
efforts, to obtain at the trial the
fullest possible picture of the
holocaust suffered by European
Jewry.
.‘56 Algerian .
At Rosh Hash ,,afi
0 V^ .»'«* V j°l- 0l 5aV
[tv®
No. 41
ALGIERS, (JTA)—Thirty-six
Jews were seriously wounded at
Constantine, when a hand gren
ade exploded among the wor
shipers leaving the city’s prin
cipal synagogue after services on
the second night of Rosh Hash
onah As a result, the entire
Jewish population in Algeria
feels insecure, fearing further
attacks from the FLN, the move
ment of anti-French Algerian
rebels.
The FLN appealed publicly to
Algerian Jews several months
ago for support in its “fight for
independence,” warning that, if
that support were not given.
Algerian Jews would “suffer the
consequences.” There have been
sporadic bombings and tossing of
hand grenades against Jewish
shops here the last few months,
but Thursday night’s incident at
Constantine was the most severe
suffered by Algerian Jewry to
date.
The worshipers were leaving
the Constantine synagogue,
last week when a terrorist, evi
dently hidden near the gates in
front of the house of worship,
lobbed the grenade. Men and
women fell wounded, and panic
enveloped most of the worship
ers as well as Jews in their
homes throughout the city. Pol
ice authorities announced that
they are pressing efforts to ap
prehend those responsible for
the outrage. Thus far, however,
no one responsible has been ap
prehended.
NEW YORK, (JTA)—A spe
cial Rosh Hashonah program
broadcast to the Jews of the
Soviet Union this past weekend
by Radio Liberty, which beams
programs to all parts of the So
viet Union in Russian and 17
other languages from transmit
ters in Western Europe and the
Far East. The broadcast empha
sized that the 3,000,000 Jews liv
ing in the Soviet Union have not
been forgotten by their co-reli
gionists abroad who are free to
worship as they please.
PARIS, (JTA)—All syna
gogues throughout France, in
cluding those in this capital city,
were crowded to capacity dur
ing this year’s observance of
Rosh Hashonah. Not only in
Paris, but in many other centers,
public auditoriums and, in some
cases, large, private homes were
pressed into use as temporary
^ ...Hied
Rites
houses of worship, according to
reports reaching here last week
end.
Several synagogues in Paris
conducted special services in the
ritual familiar to North African
Jews, playing host to Jewish im
migrants from Tunisia, Algeria
and Morocco.
At the Reform Temple here,
services were conducted for
American tourists. Special serv
ices were conducted at all
American military bases, large
numbers of American Jewish
servicemen turning out for the
services at Fontainebleau and at
other U.S. installations.
NEW YORK, (JTA)—A total
of 674 Jewish policemen—about
half the estimated number of
Jews on the force—were given
the day off Saturday to observe
Yom Kippur, the Police Depart
ment announced. The depart
ment said that all Jewish mem
bers of the force who requested
the day off were relieved of
duty by sundown on Friday.
The other Jewish policemen pre
sumably either did not request
time off or were not regularly
scheduled to work during the
Holy Day.
Representative Ha I pern
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1960, Jewish
WASHINGTON—
Has Active Record in 86th Congress
Representative Seymour Hal-
pern of New York holds the
1958-60 House record for in
stances of activity on Jewish
issues, according to an analysis
of the 86th Congress.
The sole House member of
Jewish faith who is a Republi
can, Rep. Halpern, a ' liberal,
votes according to his independ
ent conscience rather than along
party lines. He is found with
the liberals of both parties,
aligned against both the Demo
cratic and Republican old guard.
Rep. Halpern is portrayed by
his supporters as a younger edi
tion of Republican Senator Jacob
K. Javits who generally stands
with liberals regardless of party.
Elected to Congress in 1958.
Rep Halpern represents the
Queens area. In his first term
he initiated more than 100 in
stances of activity on Jewish
issues in addition to a better
than average score on general
legislation He has achieved re
spect and status in official
Washington as an energetic legis
lator.
Rep. Halpern recently asked
Secretary of State Herter to in
vestigate an Arab diplomat's
speech that the Congressman
found shocking. The speech was
delivered here on August 29 by
Ambassador Mostafa Kamel of
the United Arab Republic. The
Arab Ambassador attacked the
American “Jewish minority” in
language reminiscent of Hitler
and Goebbels. The Ambassador
also told Arab exchange students
it was their “duty” to inject
anti-Jewish and anti-Israel pro
paganda into the election.
Rep. Halpern made known to
Secretary Herter that “there has
been enough difficulty with na
tive bigots injecting religious
issues into the current election
without the Ambassador of the
United Arab Republic entering
the fray.”
Was the State Department to
permit an Arab diplomat to
openly instruct his nationals
here on visitors visas to become
anti-Jewish “agitators as well as
political campaign workers in
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
our internal election?”
The State Department studied
Rep Halpern’s inquiry. The
text of the Arab speech was
carefully examined. As a result,
the State Department revealed
that “certain aspects . . . gave
the Department concern, and
were brought to the Ambassa
dor’s attention.”
In a rare crackdown on Arab
anti-Semitism, Ambassador Ka
mel was called to account and
given a stern warning coinci
dental with arrival at the United
Nations of his leader, Gamal
Abdel Nasser.
Another aspect raised by Rep.
Halpern concerned the Depart
ment. It pertained to the pro
priety of the estimated 4,000
Arab students here participat
ing in anti-Jewish agitation and
American politics. This matter
was referred to the Department
of Justice for investigating. Just
ice agents are following the
situation “closely,” it was stated,
“and any abuses which may
arise are dealt with promptly.”
Rep. Halpern last year made
news when he visited Israel. He
saw no reason why an American
Congressman could not also visit
the Arab-held Old City of Jeru
salem. He was mindful of the
indignity inflicted by Arab
states upon American travellers
of the Jewish faith.
At first denied entry, Rep.
Halpern insisted that the U.S.
Embassy in Tel Aviv arrange
his visit, through the Mandel-
baum gate into Jordan, despite
the Jordanian ban on all Jews
of any nationality.
Rep. Halpern told the U.S.
diplomats that if Congress votes
huge sums to the Jordanian
Arabs, an American Congress
man should be free to travel in
that country.
The State Department’s posi
tion was obviously impossible. It
could not justify exclusion of an
American Congressman by the
Arab “Nuremberg law.” The
United States Ambassador in
Amman, Jordan, was forced to
demand that Jordan permit the
precedent-making visit. Cairo
and Baghdad screamed in out
raged horror as a New York Jew
walked with immunity on Arab-
held territory.
A member of the House Com
mittee on Banking and Cur
rency, Rep Halpern fought
American approval of a $56 mil
lion World Bank loan to Nasser.
The loan would enable Nasser
to widen the Suez Canal. Free
transit should be a requirement
for the pending loan, said Rep
Halpern.
A bitter fight ensued Rep
Halpern organized a protest by
many members of his banking
committee. This caused Presi
dent Black of the World Bank
to invite Rep. Halpern for a
two-hour discussion.
Mr. Black maintained that the
Bank was an economic rather
than political institution and
could exert no pressure to lift
the anti-Israel Suez restrictions.
But, having done his homework.
Rep. Halpern was able to cite
actual instances in which the
Bank made political conditions
before approving loans.
The loan was finally granted.
However, the Halpern battle
shook high places to the extent
that American support shortly
('merged for a considerable
World Bank loan to Israel to
build a new seaport at Ashdod
Also, the U.S. Export-Import
Bank assented to finance the
purchase of New Boeing 707
commercial jet airliners by El
A1 Israel Airlines. Such facilities
were envisaged as moves to off
set the Arab air and sea block
ade of Israeli commerce
The Arab propaganda appar
atus has attacked Rep. Ralpern
a number of times. Rep Halpern
is amused by such criticism. His
philosophy is that an American
Congressman, regardles of his
own religion, is duty-bound to
uphold the consistent dignity of
the United States and its citi
zens of Jewish and other faiths
alike.
A Child Builds A Succah
By BETTY CANTOR
She looked at him with those eyes that
reveal her soul and asked, “Daddy, this year
ran we build a Succah?’’ She had the innno-
cence of her six years and always expected
an affirmative answer.
He stopped his icork of pruning bran
ches from the rank growing mimosa tree
and answered patiently, “Darling, next year.
1 promise you.” To soften his refusal, he ex
plained, “You see it takes special equipment.
poles, and we don't have them.”
But, she was already out of hearing,
busying herself with the things a child docs,
kicking at the pine combs, looking at a bird.
pursuing a butterfly.
I said. “You know, the mimosa leaves
look like palm branches.”
She had returned. “Palms are right for
a Succah. Can I build one, myself?” With
out watting for a reply, tcithout the proper
equipment. a Succah was fast growing in
her mind. Anything is possible for a child
She had her brother drag the heavy
ladder to the back yard and prop it against
the much-used swing-set. With his help and
growing interest, the swings were wrapped
around the poles and secured out of the way.
Then they started climbing, placing the
mimosa branches over the top and to form
sides. They weren’t always successful. The
branches fell. The day was growing warmer.
Tempers flared. Brother left, but she per
sisted making repeated trips to drag the
branches up from the heap in the street
She was finally persuaded to rest and
continue tomorrow.
The minute she returned from school,
she rushed into the yard to finish her work.
She rearranged the branches—they were
not entirely to her liking. 1 watched and
listened from the kitchen window. Her
evert/ more was a joy to see and all her
efforts were accompanied by song, now
happy, now sad. plaintive, reflective, un
knowingly composed and sung.
Finally, she proclaimed it finished.
Would l come and see her Succah? We
walked into the yard together. From a dis
tance I could see that the branches were
already dying. She had arranged around the
whole, a circle of crabapples, gathered from
the fallen ones in the front yard. Her eyes
watched me expectantly. As I stepped into
the circle, a magic circle it was, enough of
childhood's dream and fantasy returned to
me. to see xchat she saw. A most beautiful
Succah, covered with palm branches and
adorned with the choicest fruits of the sea
son The scent of the fruit was there, the
beautiful blue sky icas there, and there was
the child.
"Yes,” l promised, hardly able to speak,
“we shall have our meals here. “She added,
“We'll have fruit, and cookies and all good
things.” She was pleased.
That evening when the children were
asleep, my husband and I walked together
in the yard under the full moon. We stepped
into the circle of crabapples. We surveyed
the icork of our child, the Succah, a symbol
of man's thanksgiving to God, a symbol of
man's humility We were thankful for if and
for her.