Argentine Jews Fear ‘risky Consequences’ of Present Developments

The Argentine Jewish community today girded all its forces to fight neo-Nazism, “Marxist nationalism,” and “dogmatic” Catholic teachings in the public schools under the aegis of provincial governments.

The bolstered defense campaign was the result of an extraordinary, country wide conference of Argentina’s Jewish leadership which last night concluded a three-day assembly sponsored by DAIA, representative body of Argentine Jewry. The sessions, held at Cordoba, were attended by 93 Jewish leaders from 20 communities in this country.

An exhaustive review of the situation now facing the Jews in this country was made at the conference by Dr. Isaac Goldenberg, president of DAIA, Mark Turkow, Latin American representative for the World Jewish Congress, made a special report about the resurgence of neo-Nazism in other countries of South America.

Reviewing the changed political and socioeconomic situation in Argentina, Dr. Goldenberg said: “Our problem, is not a matter of more anti-Semitism or less anti-Semitism, but the fact that certain, fundamental changes in the economic and social structure of the country exposes the Jews to highly risky consequences.”

The leader cited the spread, throughout Latin America, of “Marxist nationalism, blended with an aggressive posture.” He pointed to the spread of the Tacuara movement, which he identified as “a nationalist group acting similarly to other Nazi groups in Latin America, small in numbers but motivated by Nazi revanchism as a result of Nazism’s defeat in World War II.”

It is known, he said, that leaders of the Tacuara movement have assailed the viability of Argentine democracy in general. While other “power factors” are involved in the antidemocratic movement, he warned, the net impact on the situation of the Jews must be carefully evaluated, and steps must be taken to counter the effects on Jewry.

JEWISH CHILDREN FORCED TO CLASSES IN CATHOLIC TEACHINGS

Dr. Tobias Kamenszain, president of the Buenos Aires Jewish Community and head of the Federation of Argentine Jewish Communities, analyzed the public school situation now existing in most of the Argentine provinces. He pointed out that Catholic, religious teachings are now being impressed upon all students, Jewish and non-Jewish, in the primary schools under provincial jurisdiction.

Professor Leon Dujovne, addressing the conference, pointed out that, after ex-President Arturo Frondizi had introduced the “provincialization” of the national school system, the public schools developed the practice of obligatory Catholic teachings. “This teaching, he said, “is unintentionally but strongly anti-Semitic.” He noted that, while Jewish pupils may, if they wish, bypass the public school instruction in religion, their only other choice is to attend special classes in “Christian ethics and morals.” These classes, however, he asserted, “are also dogmatically Catholic” in their content.

“It is necessary,” he told the conference, “to stop spreading religious teachings in the schools wherever it is as yet possible to do so, and to find means to establish courses in the Jewish religion.” He advocated an approach by Jewish leadership to moderate Catholic circles in this country in an effort to ameliorate the situation.

Still another delegate, Jaime Finkelszsten, prominent Zionist leader, told the Cordoba conference that Jewish education must be strengthened “to immunize the Catholic influence” in the public school systems of the provinces. Various leaders insisted that steps must be taken to bolster lay teaching in the public schools.

Summarizing the results of the conference, Dr. Goldanberg said: “We must depend upon ourselves, though our forces are small. We must obtain the solidarity of the Jewish parents. ” Declaring there was no reason for “panic,” he said: “It should be understood that economic and social processes in Latin America are not Jewish processes. But they affect the Jewish position. The efficient defense of that position depends on accurate knowledge and understanding of the general situation.”