Lexicographer Refuses to Delete Terms Offensive to Brazilian Jews

Professor Silveira Bueno, author of a Portuguese-language school dictionary which defines the words “Jew,” “Synagogue” and other terms affecting Jews and Judaism in offensive, racist terms, has refused to alter those definitions, although ordered to do so by President Janio do Salvo Quadros of Brazil, it was learned here today.

Several months ago, President Quadros ordered that the school dictionary, the standard lexicon used by Brazilian schools, be revised to eliminate “all definitions offensive to nations, races or religions.” The dictionary, in use in Brazilian schools for many years, interprets the word “Jew” as meaning “a businessman without a conscience,” calls a synagogue “a place where Jews do underhand business,” and uses other offensive terms for defining the words “rabbi” and “Sabbath.”

Professor Bueno a well-known philologist, it developed today, has submitted a “revised” version of his dictionary, eliminating definitions found offensive by Jesuits, Negroes and Panamanians, but insisted on retaining the terms offensive to the Jewish people. He insists he can “prove” that Jews are “swindlers.”

The Confederation of Jewish Institutions of Brazil today sent a new protest against the “revised” dictionary to President Quadros, seeking his further intervention in the matter. The campaign against the racist dictionary has been conducted for many years by a prominent Jewish attorney and writer here, Dr. Fernando Levisky.

(Samuel Bronfman, chairman of the North American executive of the World Jewish Congress, wrote earlier to President Quadros, congratulating him on his order for revision of the dictionary. Mr. Bronfman stated that “such positive action, bearing the authority of the President of the Brazilian Republic, will undoubtedly help eradicate the seeds of prejudice,” and added that the action “sets an example that other nations will follow.”)