Cultural Condition of Jewish Communities in Portugal Described

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

A report of Jewish cultural work in Portugal was presented to the Congress of the World Union of Jewish Youth today, by M. Hill Hiller of Portugal.

There are two Jewish communities in Portugal, he said, the Sephardic and the Askenazic, who are living in complete isolation of each other. Both are alike, however, in being very far removed from Jewish life abroad. Besides these two Jewish communities which number altogether about 1,000 souls, there are in Portugal about 10,000 Marranos among whom the spirit of Judaism is very strong. But the majority have not the courage to re-enter Judaism. The Club of Jewish Youth in Portugal has therefore made it its aim to revive Jewish life in Portugal It has succeeded in breaking through the wall which separated the Askenazim from the Sephardim and also in attracting the Marranos. The Club has a membership of 53.

Mr. Weksler of Russia, spoke on the persecutions suffered by the Jewish nationalist youth in Russia. The position of the Jewish nationalist youth under the Soviet regime, he said, is much worse than it was under the Czarist regime. Every movement with a Zionist tendency is being persecuted and its members arrested and exiled. But in spite of all the difficult conditions, the Jewish national youth continues is work. It publishes its periodicals and carries on its propaganda. There are 150 young Zionists, he said, in the Russian prisons and internment camps.