Despite the change in Soviet leadership, there is little reason to expect that the long tradition of Soviet anti-Semitism will be halted by Khrushchev’s successors, Myer Feldman, special counsel to President Johnson, declared here today. He was the featured speaker at a rally staged here today to protest the persecution of Soviet Jewry.
Mr. Feldman, who had flown here from Washington to attend the mass meeting stated that he was representing both himself and President Johnson who, he said, was “gravely concerned” over the plight of Russian Jewry. The efforts of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, the organizers of today’s protest rally, were praised by Mr. Feldman, who stressed the need for similar protest meetings throughout the country.
More than 2,000 persons crowded a sunlit square on the lower East side where the rally was held. Other speakers included Sen. Jacob K. Javits, Kenneth B. Keating, Rep. John V. Lindsay, New York Attorney General Louis J. Lefkowitz, and State Comptroller Arthur Levitt who read a message from Robert F. Kennedy, Democratic candidate for Senator from New York.
All the speakers emphasized the need to arouse world opinion in protest against the denial of religious freedom to the Soviet Union’s 3,000,000 Jews. Senators Javits and Keating referred to the Ribicoff amendment which specifically condemned anti-Semitism in Russia but which, after being passed by the Senate, was dropped in favor of a watered down general disapproval of religious persecution anywhere in the world. Both pledged themselves to continue in their efforts to get the United States Senate to pass an unequivocal condemnation of Soviet anti-Semitism. In his message to the rally Mr. Kennedy also vowed to work for a Senate resolution against Russian Jewish discriminations, if he is elected.
A petition calling on President Johnson and the United States Government to use its moral influence in helping to alleviate the plight of Soviet Jewry was shown to Mr. Feldman. The petition will be delivered to the White House later this month by a special committee representing the Student Struggle organization.
LABEL KATZ HOPES KREMLIN SHIFT MIGHT AID RUSSIAN JEWRY
At another meeting, Label A. Katz, president of B’nai B’rith, expressed hope today that the shift of power in the Kremlin would encourage a re-examination by USSR authorities of “state-inspired discriminations” against Soviet Jews.
Addressing 2,200 persons attending the all-day conference of the B’nai B’rith Metropolitan New York Council, Mr. Katz said that the successors to Khrushchev can “respond affirmatively” to worldwide protests of disabilities imposed on Soviet Jewry “by promptly restoring to them their religious and cultural rights.”
“This is asking no special considerations for the Soviet Jewish community,” Mr. Katz stressed. “It is asking only equality with other Soviet nationality groups of rights that are guaranteed by Soviet law.” Mr. Katz said there were no immediate indications of the attitude of the new Soviet rulers. “But so long as there is no change in the persistent patterns of religious discrimination and cultural destruction, the moral conscience of the world must continue to express itself forcefully on this issue,” he declared.
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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.
