Esthonia Jews’ Cultural Autonomy Menaced As Yidishists-hebraists Strive

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

There is a split in the Jewish Cultural Council of Esthonia which was established to carry out the provisions of the law passed in 1925 by the Esthonian Parliament, guaranteeing cultural autonomy to the Jews. The Yiddishists and Hebraists on the Council have been at loggerheads for some time. The Yiddishist members of the Council have now resigned as a protest against what they term the systematic ignoring of the Yiddish language. The position is extremely acute and the future of Jewish cultural autonomy in Esthonia, the only country in which it still exits, appears to be in danger.

The law passed in 1925 by the Esthonian Parliament guarantees cultural autonomy, including the right of compulsory taxation to all communities in the country which number at least 3,000 souls. The Jews of Esthonia, who number more than 3,000, decided unanimously at a conference of all the Esthonian Jewish Communities held in Reval shortly after the passage of the law to claim the right of autonomy granted under the law. Previously, the Jewish Communities in Esthonia were recognized only as private organizations.