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No Jewish Youth Group Can Be Permitted in Russia, Soviet Delegation Says

October 30, 1961
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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A delegation of Soviet youths now touring major American cities made it clear to the B’nai B’rith here that no Jewish teen-age organizations would be permitted in the Soviet Union.

This was emphasized by the delegation in a discussion with Dr. Max Baer, national director of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization. “All Russians are equal citizens of the USSR,” Albert Belyaev, member of the central committee of the Soviet Young Communist League, said. “Establishment of groups along religious or ethnic lines would defeat this objective of a single national identity.”

Responding to a question by Dr. Baer, the leader of the delegation denied there is any contradiction when the Soviet Government stamps the word “Jew” on its passports as part of its policy of identifying its ethnic groups by nationality. The meeting with B’nai B’rith officials was held at the request of the Soviet delegation.

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