Jewish Actions Committee Leaders in Prague Attack Zionists; Question Their Loyalty

Bitter attacks against Zionist members of the Prague Jewish Community were made by Jewish Communist speakers here at the first meeting ##ded by the Actions Committee of the Council of Jewish Communities of Bohemiaevia and of the Prague Community. The Actions Committee was formed last week ##lowing the change in the Czechoslovak Government.One of the Communist speakers objected to the fact that Vestnik, the official ?an of the Council of the Jewish Communities, was being edited “in a Zionist ?rit.” Another speaker–a Communist official in the social department of the Prague Jewish Community–impugned the loyalty of Zionists as citizens.

Frantisek Fuchs, Social Democratic vice-chairman of the Council, who is a member of the Actions Committee, told the audience that it is necessary for Jews to ##n “parties of progress,” emphasizing that reaction and anti-Semitism always go ?d-in-hand. The ouster of Kurt Premysl Heller, a former Communist, from the board the Prague Jewish Community, was demanded by some of the speakers. Heller was ?ently expelled from the Communist Party.

A representative of the Trade Union Council urged the staff members of the ##ci1 and of the Jewish Community to Join the ranks of organized labor. He warned ##t otherwise they would be exposed to dismissal. Among those attending the meeting guests were Arnost Friacher, chairman of the Council of Jewish communities, and ##el Stein, chairman of the Prague Jewish Community.

The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee of Moscow has addressed a communication to the council here asking for reports on Jewish community activities in Czechoslovakia and copies of Jewish periodicals published in this country.