A three-point program for securing contact with Soviet Jewry was placed today before the current world executive session here of the World Jewish Congress. The program was outlined by Israel M. Sieff, chairman of the WJC European executive, to the delegates of Jewish organizations from 20 different countries. It suggests:
1.An attempt be made by the president of the WJC, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, and the executive of the organization to obtain permission for the sending of a delegation to make contact with Soviet Jewish communities.
2. If this cannot be done, an approach should be made to a United Nations body for guidance on action to be taken to “preserve a traditional culture which has grown and developed for centuries and is now being forced to perish.”
3. A delegation representing Jewish communities in the USSR and the East European countries interested in the survival of Jewish culture be invited to meet the president and executive of the World Jewish Congress to discuss how contacts can be resumed between these communities and the remainder of world Jewry with the approval of the appropriate governments.
Mr. Sieff granted that it might be difficult to implement his proposals, but insisted that an attempt had to be made to prevent the death of a center of Jewish life and culture. He reported that on two occasions the European executive had approached important members of the Soviet Government asking for interviews to discuss proposals to enable the Congress to re-establish contact with the East European Jewish communities. Both requests were ignored, Mr. Sieff said.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, voiced the concern of American Jewry for the plight of East European Jews who, he said, had kept alive a “Jewish spark.” Pointing out that the treatment accorded a small, weak minority which for centuries had been a victim of prejudice was an indication of the character of a civilization, Dr. Goldstein said that this was one of the tests by which the USSR would be judged.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the world Jewish Congress, left by plane today for Bonn to meet with West German leaders in his capacity as president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. He was scheduled to return tomorrow for the final sessions of the four-day conference of the World Jewish Congress executive. He will leave Thursday for South America to inaugurate United Jewish Appeal campaigns in various countries there.
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