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American Singer in Israel Not Permitted to Sing in German; Minister Explains Reason

January 3, 1951
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“The use of the German language in plays, films, operas, recitations and vocal recitations would antagonize a large section of the Israel population, who cannot forget that German is the language of the people who, a few years ago, brought disaster to one-third of the Jewish nation, “Moshe Shapira, Minister of Interior, declared in Parliament last night.

Mr. Shapira’s statement was in reply to a question from the floor as to why the government’s censorship board forbade Kenneth Spencer, an American bass, from singing the German lyrics of Shubert, Mozart and Brahms at concerts. Minister Shapira emphasized that the “cultural values of Germany have not been suppressed and are still taught in Israel’s schools.” He added that the present ban is only on the German language.

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