First Secretary Vladimir Bogachev, of the Soviet Embassy here, told a meeting held at Washington’s Agudath Achim Synagogue that, in some fields, such as education and professional advancement, Jews have greater opportunity than any other national group in the USSR.
The Washington newspaper, The Jewish Week, reported that Mr. Bogachev stated after the meeting that Soviet Embassy speakers would appear before other Jewish groups if invited to discuss Soviet policy toward Jews. The newspaper pointed out that the meeting here was not under auspices of the synagogue but sponsored by a group known as the Jewish Mutual Aid Society, which is not affiliated with the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington. A Community Council spokesman said no previous Soviet-Jewish meeting is known to have occurred in the Washington area.
In his talk and in answers to questions, the Soviet diplomat insisted that Jews enjoy full rights in the Soviet Union. He declined to comment on a suggestion by Dr. Alfred Henley, chairman of the meeting, that the USSR move “rapidly, enthusiastically, widely and energetically to make up to the Jews for their past mistreatment.”
The meeting was attended by about 250 persons. Mr. Bogachev is attached to the Soviet Embassy press department, and is deputy chief editor of the magazine, Soviet Life, Rabbi H.J. Waldman, of Agudath Achim Synagogue, said “we heard an official Russian position” at the meeting and “no opinions were changed.” The rabbi said his synagogue rented space for the meeting under an open door policy of making space available to any Jewish organization.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
