Jewish Labor Committee Urges Intensification of Cultural Activities

A call for intensification of spiritual creativity within the American Jewish community through education of the younger generation, sharpening of interest in the value of the Yiddish language, literature and culture, and in the spiritual heritage of murdered Eastern European Jews was sounded here today at the closing session of the three-day biennial convention of the Jewish Labor Committee. Some 400 delegates representing 500, 000 members in the United States and Canada attended.

In a resolution dealing with Jews in the Soviet Union, the JLC called for “an open skies policy for the Jews of the USSR. Let us see and hear what is happening to them. We demand an accounting of what has happened to Jewish cultural life under Soviet rule. We condemn as libelous Khrushchev’s charge that the Jews in the USSR are themselves indifferent to the Yiddish language, literature and theatre. This accusation is immediately refuted by the avidity with which Jews arriving in Poland and Israel from Russia seize upon Yiddish books and newspapers, like parched men at their first sight of water. Let there be an end to this policy of cultural strangulation. Let those Jews out who wish to emigrate.”

In a series of resolutions, the committee urged the United States Government to “exert fairness and justice in the question of Israel”; admit Egyptian Jews forced to flee persecution, reversal of its policy of “pandering to the anti-Jewish, discriminatory tactics of King Ibn Saud.” The JLC also expressed support of Israel’s reaction to continuous Arab incursions and attacks.

ADOLPH HELD URGES U.S. “FREEDOM FLOTILLA” IN MIDDLE EAST

Adolph Held, who was re-elected national chairman of the JLC, suggested, in an address, that the United States go before the United Nations with a proposal for the establishment of a maritime “flotilla for freedom” to be stationed at the entrances to the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Akaba “to assure innocent passage of all shipping regardless of the flags flown from mastheads or the destination of the goods carried in the cargo holds.” He applauded the decision to alert the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean during the recent Jordan crisis as a move which demonstrated that “dealt with boldly, the Khrushchev-Nasser axis would retreat.”

Both Jacob Pat, executive secretary of the Committee, and Nathan Chanin, general secretary of the Workmen’s Circle and chairman of the JLC administrative committee, hit Nikita S. Khrushchev and other top Soviet leaders for anti-Jewish activities in and out of the USSR. Mr. Chanin charged that Khrushchev shared with Stalin and the executed Lavrenti Beria guilt for a campaign of physical and cultural genocide against Soviet Jewry.

Mr. Pat accused the new Soviet leadership of ordering an anti-Jewish campaign in Poland last October to drive Wladyslaw Gomulka out of power as Polish Communist chief. He stated that Khrushchev and his colleagues proposed the arrest of 700 Polish Jewish writers. Communist Party officials and others as part of an effort to divert the hatred of the Polish people from Russia to the Jews.

Gomulka refused to accept this plan, Mr. Pat continued, but Khrushchev succeeded in initiating in Poland an anti-Semitic campaign. Under these circumstances, the Gomulka regime decided to permit Jews to emigrate from Poland and thus remove a danger to the Polish Communists.

In a special report to the delegates, Mr. Pat struck out at the American Council for Judaism, specifically objecting to its use of the term “Hebrew religion.” The Council, he went on, “acknowledges the religion of the Jews, but does not recognize the people which has preserved that religion for thousands of years.”

J.L.C. OFFICIAL BLASTS PROMINENT JEWS WHO AID “WHITE CITIZENS COUNCILS”

Charles S. Zimmerman, vice president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and chairman of the national trade union council of the Jewish Labor Committee, made a blistering attack on scions of large American Jewish organizations “who win tolerance awards, find themselves tendered testimonial dinners by major Jewish organizations, yet utilize the forces of violent pro-bias groups in the South in order to prevent legitimate trade union organization.” Mr. Zimmerman, naming prominent Jewish manufacturers and financial factors in industry, said that the pages of anti-Semitic, anti-Negro and anti-labor publications show a link between these manufacturers and attempts to use racism and White Citizen Council participation in destroying active attempts by labor to organize.

The Jewish Labor Committee raised $1,000,030 in a two-year period, Benjamin Tabachinsky, national campaign director, told the delegates. He announced a special $100, 000 fund to aid those Jews who are escaping from Poland’s wave of anti-Semitism. The monies will be expended to aid Jewish labor leaders escaping to the West.

Dr. Frank Graham, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina, also addressed the convention. Messages were received from Israel Foreign Minister Mrs. Gold Meir, Israel Ambassador Abba S. Eban, president of the AFL-CIO George Meany, David Dubinsky, president of the ILGWU, and others.