Rosen: 1084 Rumanian Jews Made Aliya to Israel in 1980; 509 Are Waiting for Exit Visas to Israel

During 1980, 1084 Rumanian Jews went on aliya to Israel and presently there are 509 Jews in Rumania who are waiting to receive exit visas to Israel, Rumania’s Chief Rabbi, Moses Rosen, disclosed here today.

Addressing a press conference at the Joint Distribution Committee’s headquarters, Rosen said that an exit visa’s application takes between four to eight months until it is approved, which is “a short period” in terms of Communist countries’ bureaucratic procedures. Rosen added that any Rumanian Jew who desires to go on aliya is free to do so without fear of harassment or the threat of being fired once the intention to emigrate is declared.

Rosen, who was in New York to discuss the JDC’s 1981 aid for Rumania, described the 35,000-member Rumanian Jewish community as a minority that enjoys full religious, cultural and social freedom. “We are free to state our love for Jerusalem and proclaim that we are part of the Jewish people, “Rosen said. He added, however, “At the same time we are devoted citizens of Rumania” and “we have to be loyal to the government.” He said that “a climate of confidence” exists between the Jews of Rumania and the government.

ANTI-SEMITIC INCIDENT DENOUNCED

In reply to a question citing recent reports of an anti-Semitic article in one of Rumania’s newspapers, Rosen confirmed that last Sept. 5 an anti-Semitic article was published in the Bucharest weekly, “Septemena” (The Week), by an unidentified author. Rosen said that anti-Semitic articles have been rare in the Rumanian press in the last 30 years and that the article in September was an “exception.”

Noting that the article did not mention the word Jew, Rosen said that he protested the anti-Semitic content of the article in public statements and in private meetings with high officials. A letter of protest to Septemena, which he wrote, was not published, Rosen said, but on Oct. 24 the editor of the newspaper published an article denouncing anti-Semitism in sharpest terms.

JEWISH LIFE IN RUMANIA

Turning to the issue of Jewish life in Rumania, Rosen warned that Rumanian Jewry is facing “a leadership crisis.” He said the Jewish community is in great need of spiritual and religious leaders such as rabbis, ritual slaughterers and teachers. He said that the major challenge and task of Rumanian Jewry is to preserve its Jewishness.

Noting that half of the members of the Jewish population in Rumania are over the age of 65, Rosen, who is also president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Rumania, described his community as “an elderly Jewish community but not a dying one.” He said the community has difficulty finding young students who are available to join training for Jewish leadership and spiritua positions.

According to Rosen, there are presently 61 functioning synagogues out of 120 synagogues in the country, and 24 Talmud Torah schools. “We do everything we can to maintain Judaism, “Rosen declared, stressing that “there is a danger” to the continuation of Judaism in Rumania.

Ralph Goldman, executive vice president of the JDC, said his organization’s budget for Rumania in 1981 will amount to $3,808,000. He said that JDC programs provide assistance for the many Jewish aged in Rumania and include programs of cash relief, winter relief, clothing distribution, food packages, health services and Passover supplies.