World Conference of Jewish Organizations Discusses Soviet Jewry

The World Conference of Jewish Organizations convened here today and began consideration of reports of the growing concern of both Jewish and non-Jewish public opinion throughout the world over the situation of the Jews in the Soviet Union. The delegates took note of proposals for action by CCJO’s constituent organizations to help obtain an improvement in the lot of Soviet Jewry.

The delegates examined a copy of “Judaism Without Embellishment,” by T. K. Kychko, published in Kiev by the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences and noted “with deep distress” that the text and illustrative caricatures “reflected virulent intolerance and prejudice flagrantly in violation of the penal code of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic which outlaws such incitements to national and religious hostility.”

The conference expressed the hope that, in the light of this provision of Ukrainian law and of the Soviet Union’s repeated assertions that it would not tolerate anti-Semitism, the Ukrainian authorities would take appropriate action under the law.

The delegates also heard reports on steps taken by Jewish philanthropic organizations to insure that matzoh will be sent to Jewish religious leaders in Russia for distribution to Soviet Jews for the coming Passover. They expressed concern that the continued inadequacy of baking facilities and flour for matzoh in Russia would prevent large numbers of Jews from observing Passover in the traditional manner. They agreed that permission to ship matzoh to a limited number of communities in Russia, though welcome in itself, would be inadequate to meet the need.

The conference re-elected as chairman Dr.Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress; Label Katz, president of B’nai B’rith, as co-chairman; Sir Barnett Janner, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, vice-chairman; and Yehuda Hallman of New York, secretary-general.