Soviet Organ Accuses Judaism of Being an Enemy of the Soviet People

A 1,350-word article that reviles Judaism as an enemy of the Soviet people, prominently published last month in the leading newspaper of Minsk, capital of the Bielorussian Republic, was reported today by the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry.

The article, which charges Judaism with being “the enemy of human culture,” and “the hotbed of a code of morality hostile to (the Soviet Union)” appeared in the February 2 editions of “Zviazda,” largest Bielorussian-language daily. Its author is listed as J. Muraviev, a senior lecturer at the V. I. Lenin Bielorussian State University. The tone of the article is similar to other anti-Jewish material published in the Soviet Union and bearing official Soviet imprimaturs, which Jewish organizations here have exposed.

The Muraviev article, entitled “The Shadow of the Synagogue,” conjures up crude and medieval distortions of Jewish ritual and practices and condemus Judaism as not only an out moded religion but one that “defends what is dead and rotten,” and denies man’s right to struggle for a better world.” It calls the United States “the center of contemporary Judaism” and declares that American Jewish organizations are headed by “such leaders of big business as Guggenheim and Morgenthau, Harrimanand Rockefeller.”

The culterts, together with photo copies of the original article, were made public by Label A. Katz, president of B’nai B’rith and chairman of the steering committee of the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry, a coordinating body of 24 national Jewish organizations. Mr. Katz described the “Zviazda” article as “hysterical anti-Semitism.” declaring that “its abusive character is obviously intended to promote the policy of suppression of Soviet Jewish if by intimidating the Jews of Minsk.” The city’s population of 500,000 includes some 30,000 to 40,000 Jews.