Dr. Goldmann Outlines His Views on Jewish Position in Soviet Russia

The problem of the Jewish community in Soviet Russia is not one of discrimination against the Jewish individual as a citizen but one of unequal treatment of the Jewish minority as a whole–Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization declared at a press conference here today.

Dr. Goldmann deplored the fact that in discussing this issue at the recent meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Subcommittee too much stress was placed on anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union. While it is true, Dr. Goldmann said, that anti-Semitism exists and that some of the anti-religious articles in the Soviet press manifest an anti-Jewish tenor, he felt, nevertheless, that to accuse the Soviet Union generally of anti-Semitism is unjustified and distorts the character of the real issue.

“The issue is not discrimination of the Jewish individual but the denial to the Jewish community the same facilities accorded other religious and national minorities, ” he said. “It is on this issue that all efforts must concentrate. On it depends the existence of the large Jewish community in the Soviet Union as a distinct group. ” He added that there were signs indicating that the Soviet leaders begin to realize the existence of the problem, “Although one has to be careful in evaluating the situation, one may hope that a certain improvement may develop, ” he stated.

In discussing the problem of Moroccan Jewry, Dr. Goldmann, noting recent indications of anti-Jewish manifestations both by the Moroccan police and the press, expressed the hope that the Moroccan Government, which till now had pursued a policy of equal treatment of its Jewish population will continue on this path and that its leaning more and more toward the Arab League and the strengthening of Arab nationalist tendencies in Morocco will not express themselves in anti-Jewish policies.

The major problem in Morocco, Dr. Goldmann said, is the denial de facto of the right of those Jews who want to emigrate, to do so despite the many solemn promises given by the Moroccan authorities to respect the principle of freedom of movement. This is an inhuman policy with regard to thousands of Moroccan Jews who wish to go to Israel and join their families and start a new life. There is no justification for such a policy; even Arab countries like Iraq, Yemen and Egypt have allowed thousands of their Jewish subjects to leave and go to Israel.

EVALUATES RECENT ZIONIST CONGRESS; FINDS RESULTS POSITIVE

In discussing the Zionist Congress, recently held in Jerusalem, Dr. Goldmann said that, contrary to inaccurate reports in the American press, his evaluation of the Congress, was as a whole, a positive one. “There was more unanimity of view and less difference of opinion than in previous years, ” he said. “There was no ideological fight between Israelis and Diaspora Zionists, and there was no conflict between Israel’s Prime Minister, Mr. Ben-Gurion and the Zionist Movement.

“The whole movement was united in recognizing the necessity of continuing and strengthening the Zionist movement and in the vital tasks it has to fulfill in helping consolidate the State of Israel and create and foster the ties between the Diaspora and Israel without which the future of both would be endangered,” Dr. Goldmann continued. “There was also general agreement on the necessity to enlarge the movement and bring in all those communities and organizations which are ready to accept Zionist philosophy and the Zionist concept of Jewish life with Israel as its center. There was also unanimity regarding the necessity of an ideological offensive on Diaspora Jewry, especially in order to substantially increase the immigration to Israel from the free world.

“The sensational talk about dissolving the Zionist organization and creating a new overall Jewish body is based on many fallacies, ” Dr. Goldmann said. “First, it is not correct that the totality of the Jewish people accept the Zionist concept of Israel’s role and the Zionist solution of the Jewish problem. Also, there is no reason why those who do accept it cannot be united within the Zionist movement with its great history and proud record of achievement. To speak of dissolving the Zionist organization and creating something new is one of those dilettante good advices which do not comprehend the realities of Jewish life and the tremendous difficulties involved in creating such an overall organization.”

DEPLORES STRAINED RELATIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS UNITED STATES ZIONIST GROUPS

The leader of the World Zionist Organization emphasized that another important and new aspect of the Congress was the participation of more than 30 new organizations both as members or as Fraternal delegates and observers. This was the first step in the direction of enlarging the Zionist movement, he said. There was also achieved a streamlining of operations of the new Zionist executive which will also be strengthened by the joining of several leaders of Israel parties who will enhance the authority of the executive, Dr. Goldmann stated. He especially welcomed the joining of the executive by Moshe Sharett, Mr. Levanon, of the General Zionists, and Mr. Zisling of Achdut Avodah.

The world Zionist leader deplored the strained relations between various American Zionist groups and the continued existence of two Confederations of General Zionists for which, he said, there was little ideological justification and which, in his opinion, was one of the reasons for the failure to agree on the new executive.