Goldmann to Hold Talks with Moscow Jewish Community Leaders About Possible Relations Between Soviet

World Jewish Congress President Nahum Goldmann and representatives of the Moscow Jewish community are due to meet to discuss the possibilities of Soviet Jewish relations with the world organization. The WJC Governing Board last night authorized Goldmann to proceed with this meeting which will probably take place in Paris in a few weeks.

This decision was in response to a message received through Rumania’s Chief Rabbi, Moses Rosen, from leaders of Jewish communities in the Soviet Union and in Poland seeking information on possible relations with the WJC. Rosen told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that Jewish communal leaders from the Soviet Union, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Poland and Rumania met in Bucharest last September and unanimously decided to seek closer relations with world Jewry.

Rosen wrote Goldmann a few days later to inform him of this request. It was only last night, after much soul-searching, that the Governing. Board approved these exploratory talks. Several Board members apparently feared that a decision to meet and talk with representatives of the “official community” might weaken the fight of the Jewish activists in the Soviet Union.

NEED TO ENCOURAGE SOVIET JEWS

The Board was moved, however, by Rosen’s plea which stressed that maintaining the Judaism of Soviet Jewry is a primary consideration. Rosen told the JTA that he explained to Board members that even if 100,000 Soviet Jews were to emigrate every year, the demographic growth of the community is such that “there will still be three and a half million left in ten years time.”

Rosen stressed that these Jews should not be abandoned but should be encouraged to remain Jews. He also pointed to Rumania’s example. “Our close relations with world Jewry has helped secure a legal emigration policy.” he said. The Rumanian Chief Rabbi told the JTA that the Soviet Jewish decision to seek closer ties with world Jewry was taken with the full knowledge and the approval of the Soviet authorities.

Rosen added that the Soviet delegates seek in the first phase an observer status. He did not rule out, however, the possibility that closer ties will be sought at a later stage. Answering protests from some of the Board members as to the representative status of the official Moscow communal organization, Rosen said: “They (these members) now ask for free elections in Moscow as a precondition. How come they have not asked for similar elections in South Africa, Argentina or Chile?”

NO DETAILS ON TALKS

Goldmann, apparently deeply moved by the proposal, recalled that his first contacts with Soviet Jewry date from 1935. “This,” he said, “is the first time that contacts will take place at Soviet initiative.” He warned the Board that unless it approves the exploratory talks he might have to resign: “I shall find it difficult to remain president of an organization like the WJC which refuses contacts with any Jewish group.”

Goldmann told the Board that other WJC leaders, apparently members of the Executive Board, will be present at the talks. He did not rule out the possibility of a WJC delegation visiting the Soviet Union at a future date for talks with both Jewish leaders and Soviet officials.

A WJC official press release stated last night only that “the Governing Board authorized Dr. Nahum Goldmann to seek exploratory talks with Soviet authorities and Jews in the Soviet Union about the possibilities of Soviet Jewish relations with the WJC.” The communique gave no details as to when and how these talks will take place.