Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here last night that he has found that Jews in four East European countries he has just visited “enjoy complete equality.” In a statement issued upon his return to Geneva, he declared:
“I have just concluded a visit to Eastern Europe at the invitation of the Jewish communities of Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia and Rumania. This was my first trip to these countries in over 30 years. My visit, during which I met Jews in all walks of life, has assured me that the Jewish communities of the new Socialist republics enjoy complete equality. They are making an important contribution to the upbuilding of their countries; and this, I am glad to say, is fully recognized by their governments.
“The Jewish communities are enabled to maintain their religious and cultural identities; they can live a Jewish life in freedom. There is, indeed, no conflict of principle between the Socialist ideologies of those countries and the loyalties of the Jews to their age-long traditions, their identification with the Jewish people and their collaboration with the World Jewish Congress as the expression of the unity of the Jewish people. This is understood and appreciated by their governments.”
“I firmly believe that the Jewish people should develop its relationships with these new states and forms of society. We share a common interest in the maintenance of peace and in the peaceful solution of social problems in many areas of the world. We were particularly happy to meet again with the Jewish community of Yugoslavia, which was among the founding members of the WJC and has remained constantly loyal to us, despite the tensions between East and West. Yugoslavia could serve as an example of how nationality and minority problems could be handled.
MET WITH JEWISH LEADERS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, AND RUMANIA
“We are glad that the Jewish communities of Czechoslovakia and Hungary are now in closer contact with us, after so long an interval, and the Rumanian Jewish community has once again resumed its rightful place in the councils of world Jewry. We had fruitful meetings with representatives of Jewish organizations in those countries, and were also privileged to have friendly and useful discussions with high government officials, including Mr. Geza Tikwicki, a member of the executive council of the Yugoslav Government, and Mr. Josef Pranter, president of the Hungarian State Office for Religious Affairs.
“The secretary-general of the religious affairs department of the Rumanian Prime Minister’s office, Prof. Dogaru, explained the attitude of the Rumanian Government to a number of Jewish citizens, and gave due credit to their national contribution.
“I gathered from his declaration that the Rumanian Government had full understanding of the determination of the Jewish people everywhere, and Rumanian Jewry in particular, to maintain Jewish traditions and Jewish identity. The Rumanian Socialist Republic notes with satisfaction that the Jewish people had reestablished its national homeland.”
“The Rumanian Government considered justified the natural and WJC efforts to unite the Jews of the world in defense of their common interests and ideals. They regarded also with satisfaction the fact that Rumanian Jewry has again taken its place in the WJC.
“The Rumanian Government also noted with satisfaction the resolution adopted by the WJC Assembly which called for vigorous action in the fight against neo-Nazism and anti-Semitism, expressed hope for a speedy termination of the war in Viet Nam, and pledged Jewish support for the fight for social justice and the equality of rights for races and peoples. The Rumanian Government regarded the Jewish people as an ally in the struggle for these aims,” Dr. Goldmann’s statement concluded.
At a press conference, Dr. Goldmann said that his remarks about the position of the Jews in Yugoslavia, Rumania, Czechoslovakia and Hungary also applied generally to Poland, which he visited two years ago, but not to the Soviet Union. There are today about 110,000 Jews in Rumania, 80,000 in Hungary, 18,000 in Czechoslovakia, and 6,500 in Yugoslavia.
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.
