An attempt to set fire to all Zionist youth clubs the city of Dorohci, near the Bessarabian border, was barely prevented by action of local authorities, it was reported here today.
The report said that anti-Semitic hoodlums this week raided the clubs and wrecked all the furniture there, before the police arrived. They also invaded a synagogue and attempted to set the building afire.
The internal strife within the Jewish community in Rumania is assuming a sharper character with the passing of each day, and is being watched by the Government. Of the competing groups, one is led by Dr. William Filderman and the other by M.A. Saraceanu, former executive secretary of the Union of Rumanian Jews.
The fight between the two started after the formation, last summer, of a Democratic Committee in Rumania, in which the Jewish Communists, the Hashomer Hatzair, the Ichud Party and various outstanding Jews participated. The Zionist Organization, the Jewish Party and the local section of the World Jewish Congress refused to join the new body. The central committee of the Union of Rumanian Jews similarly decided not to join the Democratic Committee. However, Saraceanu joined the new body contrary to the decision of his central committee. Whereupon he was expelled from the Union.
NEW JEWISH GROUP CLAIMS TO BE THE SOLE REPRESENTATIVE BODY
The expulsion of Saraceanu resulted in the establishment, by him and his followers, of a Democratic Jewish Union which held its own conference last January, attended by 109 delegates. Later the new organization changed its name to Jewish Union and advanced its claim as the only Union of Jews in Rumania.
Dr. William Filderman, president of the Union of Rumanian Jews, who is not recognized by the new central Jewish body, does not deny the existence of the Union formed by Dr. Saraceanu. He has dealt with various Government offices as president of the Union of Rumanian Jews, was cordially received there, and was also given replies by them. However, last week, the Rumanian radio carried a broadcast declaring that there are no more Unions of Rumanian Jews, and that the only union existing is the one led by Mr. Saraceanu. The broadcast added that “Dr. Filderman is not authorized to speak for the Union.”
The Zionist Organization of Rumania, the Jewish Party and the local branch of the World Jewish Congress do not recognize Saraceanu’s organization and are all maintaining contact with Dr. Filderman’s group. The Yichud, which unites various Zionist groups, has, thus far, taken no stand in the conflict between the two competing Unions. Dr. Filderman is still holding his post as president of the Federation of Jewish Communities, since no congress of Jewish communities has been held subsequent to Rumania’s liberation from the pro-Nazi regime.
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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.
