“iron Curtain” Jews Urged to Participate in World Jewish Congress

Jewish communities in countries behind the Iron Curtain were urged here today by Dr. Nahum Goldmann to renew their relations with the World Jewish Congress which starts its session here on August 4. In a statement issued in his capacity as acting president of the World Jewish Congress, Dr. Goldmann said:

“I am very gratified by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union. The re-establishment of these relations is of importance to Israel and the Jewish people as a whole. We all hope that this act means a definite end to all attempts which have been made in the past to create a Jewish issue in some of the East European states and to the unfounded anti-Jewish allegations which at a certain stage seemed to imply a matter of policy.

“The importance of the resumption of the relations would still be greater if it were also to re-open the way for more cooperation between Jewish communities in Soviet Russia and Eastern Europe and the rest of the Jewish people. The World Jewish Congress has always strived to have Jewish communities in all parts of the world participate in its program and in its work. Unfortunately, the participation of the Jewish communities in Eastern Europe which were affiliated with the W.J.C. has practically ceased.”

Pointing out that the forthcoming plenary session of the W.J.C. would welcome such participation, Dr. Goldmann emphasized that “nothing would be more desirable” than for the Jewish communities behind the Iron Curtain to renew their relations with the World Jewish Congress.