Eight thousand people of all faiths attended ecumenical memorial services in the Central Cathedral of Sao Paulo for Vladimir Herzog, a prominent Brazilian Jewish journalist who died last month while under detention at military headquarters for questioning on alleged involvement in a political movement which Brazilian authorities considered illegal, according to information received today from Sao Paulo. The Brazilian authorities issued a communique claiming that a suicide note in Herzog’s handwriting was found in his call.
Herzog was buried at the Jewish cemetery in Sao Paulo on Oct. 27 as a wave of indignation over his death swept the country. University faculty and students, journalists, intellectuals and members of the clergy participated in a series of demonstrations in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte and in Brasilia, the capital, according to the information reaching here. An estimated 600 persons attended the funeral.
‘A JEW HAS DIED’
The ecumenical service was celebrated by Rabbi Henry I. Sobel, of the Congregacao Israelite Paulista; D. Evaristo Arns, Cardinal of Sao Paulo; and the Rev, James Wright, representative of the Episcopalian churches of Brazil. Other clergy attending were the Archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Dom Helder Camara and Rabbi Marcelo Rittner.
“I am a rabbi, I am here in the cathedral this afternoon to participate in this ecumenical service because a Jew has died,” Rabbi Sobel said. “A Jew who escaped from the Nazi persecution. A Jew who immigrated to Brazil and who was educated and perfectly integrated here, Philosophy, arts, journalism and television; for Vladimir Herzog, to be a Jew meant to be a Brazilian.”
Continuing, Rabbi Sobel said; “I am a rabbi. More important, I am here because a man died, and as a rabbi my concern is not only for Jews but for all men; human rights for all people, of all religions, races and colors, whether they live in Brazil or in any other country of the world. And Vladimir Herzog was a man, a man of vision, depth and dedication.”
DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Referring to his defense of human rights, Rabbi Sobel declared; “Wherever a man may live, whether in Brazil or in any other country, he must be respected as a human being. The synagogue may not be passive in this regard. Our rabbis knew very well that religion does not begin nor end in the sanctuary. Religion in general, and Judaism in particular, must find its application in the social and political context of society so that these same rights may be defended.”
Replying to questions after the service, Rabbi Sobel said, “Anti-Semitism may not be considered a factor in the tragic passing of Herzog, a Jew, Nor can the recent vote in the United Nations to condemn Zionism as a form of racial discrimination be linked directly or indirectly to the latest events. This issue is entirely political and it may not be taken out of its proper perspective,” Rabbi Sobel said.
Rabbi Sobel, 31, was born in Lisbon, lived in the United States until 1970 and was educated at Yeshiva University and at the Hebrew Union College. He will be touring the U.S. on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal from Nov. 17-Dec, 10 and again from Feb. 16-March 19.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
