The World Jewish Congress reported today that after a six-week interruption, the Yiddish weekly “Folks Sztyme” has reappeared on Polish newsstands. The paper contains articles on the “normalization” of Jewish institutional life in Poland and reports on assurances from “the highest state authorities” that any anti-Semitic manifestations in the country would be opposed.
According to the paper, the activities of the Social and Cultural Association of Polish Jews were resumed on December 30 and the State Jewish Theater was reopened. On the same day, “Folks Sztyme” reports, the Polish Minister of Religious Affairs, Jerzy Kuberski, met with representatives of the Jewish Religious Union, the Social and Cultural Association, the Jewish Historical Institute, and the State Jewish Theater. Kuberski stated on behalf of the Military Council on National Salvation that “the foregoing Jewish institutions can enjoy full support and understanding on the part of the (Communist) Party and the State authorities.” He affirmed “the resolution of the highest authorities … to fight all manifestations of anti-Semitism, no matter who and how expressed them.”
Meanwhile, the London-based research arm of the WJC, the Institute of Jewish Affairs (IJA) indicated that veiled anti-Semitic references continue to surface in segments of the general Polish press. The IJA monitoring sources reported on published attacks accusing KOR and Solidarity as being “cosmopolitans” — a term identified in Eastern Europe with Jews. They have also been charged with having “Zionist-Trotskyite” connections, the IJA stated.
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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.