Several hundred American Jewish soldiers were entertained by the local Jewish community at a Purim party yesterday, although for a time it appeared as if it would be called off because of anti-Jewish agitation.
Yesterday morning, two of the Jewish leaders here called a meeting of the community council and advised that the party not be held since it might furnish ammunition for the anti-Semites who could spread stories about “Jewish gaiety and riches” and “Jewish balls with orchestras” etc.
Their fears were a result of a concerted anti-Jewish campaign which has been waged by sections of the Masstricht press. Chief target of the attacks has been M.E. von Geldern, a Jew, who is secretary of Licut,-Col. Schierman, chief of the Dutch Government’s military mission here. City Counsellor Schrienmacher writing in the newspaper Veritas, a local daily, declared that he did not object to von Geldern personally, but to the presence of a Jew on the military staff. This was the second published attack on von Geldern.
The Jewish community council, which is headed by E. Wesley, voted to hold the party after hearing from J. Schleijen, a prominent Maastricht Jew, and Capt. Meyer Goldman, Jewish Chaplain attached to the 29th TAC of the 9th Air Force. The affair went ahead on schedule and Jewish infantrymen, airmen, and other troops of all types filled the hall, danced with the few young women left here, chatted with the children, nibbled on cookies and had themselves a good time.
The Jewish leaders, however, decided to appoint a committee to see Licut,-Schierman and protest the continued anti-Jewish propaganda.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
