Pan-american Zionist Parley Told That Anti-semitism Has Grown in Latin America

Anti-Semitism in Latin America has grown in recent years because of Arab-financed propaganda, a Pan-American Zionist conference was told here. Prof. Gil Sinay of Santiago University and president of Chile’s Jewish community, said the propaganda “is presented as anti-Zionist and anti-Israel, but it is definitely anti-Jewish and must be treated as such.” One of the Sources of negative attitudes toward Jews is the economic crisis experienced by many Latin American nations, according to Jacob Leszcz of Montivedo, Uruguay, president of the Latin American Confederation of General Zionists.

They addressed more than 250 delegates, including 92 from 10 Latin American nations, at the parley, the first of its kind, co-sponsored by the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and the Confederation of General Zionists. Dr. Emanuel Neumann, president of the World Union of General Zionists and chairman of the Jewish Agency–American section, described the purpose of the parley as the strengthening of ties between General Zionist groups in the Western Hemisphere and the Jewish communities in North, Central and South America. A Canadian delegation was also present.

Steps were taken toward linking all Jewish communities in the Hemisphere for the advancement of General Zionism and for implementation of programs to elevate educational standards. During four days of sessions, delegates exchanged views in English, Spanish, Yiddish and Hebrew, with simultaneous translations provided, and reviewed the problems that have afflicted communities in Latin and North American countries.

A principle resolution adopted by the parley called for an exchange of high school and college delegations and expansion of camp programs by communities affiliated with the Pan American General Zionist movement in order to increase educational programs needed to assure greater Jewish identity. The parley resolved to establish an exchange program of speakers and to introduce an enlarged publications project to include magazines, pamphlets and newsletters for the interpretation of Zionist and other Jewish issues seen as vital to youth. The conference also called for the establishment of institutes to train leaders; facilitation of Latin American youth’s participation in the ZOA’s Kfar Silver and Mollie Goodman high school studies in Israel; and development of Latin American cultural programs at ZOA House in Tel Aviv.

Leon Ilutovich, ZOA executive director, told the delegates that Latin America-North America study missions are being planned and that reciprocal tours by leaders of all organized Zionist groups are slated. They will learn each other’s needs, he said. An inter-American General Zionist affairs committee is being formed, he announced.

Jews in South America number 800,000 with the largest communities in Argentina and Brazil. Prof. Sinay of Chile, said, He pointed to the shortage of Hebrew teachers and rabbis as major needs which can be provided by North American communities. He indicated however that a yeshiva that has been functioning for several years in Buenos Aires aids in training Orthodox rabbis and that the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York has aided in encouraging the Conservative movement in South American communities. A step of great significance was taken this year with the establishment of the Instituto Studio Judaicus in the University of Chile for the training of Hebrew teachers, he said, Prof. Sinay said that, contrary to the impression gained by the predominance of Yiddish among delegates to the parley, Yiddish is declining rapidly and Hebrew is replacing it as the second language either to Spanish or Portuguese. He also declared that in order to encourage entrance of youth into the Jewish teaching profession, it is necessary that they have a college degree and the new Judaicus institute in the Chile University is helping solve the problem.

Jacobo Leszcz, Montivedo leader, declared that Uruguay has long recorded friendly attitudes towards the 50-year-old Jewish community, that the “positive relationship” persists, and that while there is sporadic anti-Semitism, there is no fear of an emerging official anti-Semitism. Mr. Leszcz took pride in the fact that the comparatively small Jewish community of Uruguay not only has one of the three daily Yiddish newspapers published in Latin American countries–the other two appearing in Buenos Aires, Argentian–but also that the Montevideo paper now has a daily Hebrew page.

A report on conditions in Argentina submitted by Mordecai Dayan, general secretary of the Argentinian Zionist Organization and a cousin of Israel’s Defense Minister, Moshe Dayan, explained that the anti-Semitism that was in evidence in his country five years ago was the result of political and economic conditions. He declared emphatically that Argentinians generally are not anti-Semitic. He said anti-Israel and anti-Zionist campaigns that emanate from Arab embassies “in no sense influence public opinion and certainly have not poisoned the press.”

Latin American spokesmen joined with North American leaders in urging combined efforts to encourage aliya to Israel and to assist young people in preparing for settlement there. ZOA president Jacques Torczyner pointed to the increase in the number of young Jews who are preparing for aliya. He said that at least 7,000 will go to Israel this year–twice last year’s number of aliya participants from this country–and declared that the figure will grow. He stated that the 600,000 affiliated members of all Zionist movements in the United States “who form the largest single organized force in the country besides the synagogue memberships,” are united on the question of aliya.