Klarman Describes Condition of Latin American Jewry As a ‘diaspora of Misery’

A claim that Latin American Jewry constitutes a “diaspora of misery” was made here yesterday by Yosef Klarman, head of the Jewish Agency’s Youth Aliya department. Klarman stopped off here briefly after a tour of Jewish communities in South America. He said that because of the situation there, “aliya from such countries assumes a different aspect and youth aliya too, in relation to such countries, assumes a pressing urgency and is sometimes akin to a rescue operation.” Klarman admitted that there was “no particular anti-Jewish movement” in Latin America. But he claimed that “Jews are caught up in the social strife and general turmoil that is shaking the Latin American continent from end to end.” He cited the example of Chile where a new regime headed by Marxist President Salvador Allende recently took office. “We are not complaining of anti-Semitism here but they are going to have a new law abolishing private schools. The Hebrew school in Santiago will, of course, be affected because it is a private institution, even if the law was not intended against it.” Klarman claimed that he could cite many other examples. He said “the point of active steps to alleviate such situations has no doubt been reached.” He reported that in 1970, Youth Aliya absorbed 1000 orphaned children and 3750 children of new immigrants who were unable to give them a proper education. He said Youth Aliya now cares for 10000 children from 37 countries.