The general secretary of DAIA, the representative organization of Argentine Jewry, warned 300 delegates attending the organization’s national convention at Mar del Plata that a new form of anti-Semitism, originating with the Left, functioning in cooperation with the Arabs and the extreme Right, posed a threat to Argentine Jewry.
Dr. Jose Kestelman also noted the great increase in Arab propaganda here and other developments which, he said, sharpened the situation of Argentine Jewry. He noted with approval the increasing activity of organized Jewish youth in Argentina in such causes as the defense of the Jews of the Soviet Union.
Gregorio Faigon, president of DAIA, who reviewed world developments concerning the Jews and the State of Israel, noted a lessening of activities by Argentine anti-Semitic organizations but warned that they continued to be fully organized and ready for action at any moment.
Dr. David Elnecave told the convention that Arab anti-Israel propaganda was on the increase and complained that Israeli counter-measures were not adequate.
Gregorio Fainguersch, president of the Buenos Aires Kehilla. called for the unification of various bodies and committees conducting activities in behalf of Israel in order to eliminate duplication. He described Argentine Jewry as essentially a Zionist community. The convention heard a strong plea for support of youth emigration to Israel from Menachem Boaz, a youth leader, who accused the older generation of obstructing the youth pioneering movement.
JEWISH COMMUNITY WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH OGANIA REGIME IN ITS POLITICAL ‘REFORM’
Dr. Faigon, in a statement to the convention, announced that the Jewish community as such would not take part in the new projects being evolved by the Ogania government to set up a new representative format to replace the outlawed political parties and the system of parliamentary debate.
In another statement dealing with Latin American developments, Dr. Marc Turkow, general secretary of the Latin American Jewish Congress, a branch of the World Jewish Congress, voiced concern over the orientation of the new regime in Peru, describing it as a nationalist movement which would be inclined to work with the socialist countries. Other speakers at the convention included Marc Uveeler of New York, executive director of the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture and Dr. Moises Goldman, chairman of the Latin American Jewish Congress, who paid tribute to the first Jewish settlers in Argentina who arrived 80 years ago.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
