Youths Sit-in at Hadassah; Officials Say Hadassah Concerned with Soviet Jewry

A large group of young people calling themselves “Jewish Youth for Action” staged a sit-in at the offices of Hadassah today alleging that the women’s Zionist organization was not active enough on behalf of Soviet Jews. The charge was rejected by Mrs. Rose L. Halprin, honorary vice-president of Hadassah and chairman of its public relations department, who acted as spokesman in the absence of Hadassah’s national president, Mrs. Faye Schenk, who was out to town today. About 80-100 youngsters aged 15-20 occupied the Hadassah offices and took over its switchboard at about 8:30 this morning and vowed to stay overnight if necessary until they were received by Mrs. Schenk. They chanted “We want action now,” verbal commitments not enough” “words into action” and “Am Yisroel Chai.” They held up banners and taped the lobby walls with pictures of Soviet Jews held prisoner. Police arrived shortly after the sit-in began but according to a Hadassah spokesman they were summoned by outsiders. The spokesman said the police were not being asked to evict the youngsters as long as they did not bar access in the office to Hadassah staff. A JTA reporter said that as of noon there were about 40 youngsters sitting in and munching matzos between impromptu prayer services, Hebrew songs and shouts for action.

The demonstrators handed out mimeographed sheets listing their grievances against Hadassah. They alleged that the organization, while a constituent of the American Jewish Conference for Soviet Jewry, failed to fulfill its pledges to act on behalf of Soviet Jews. They demanded, among other things, that Hadassah contribute “meaningful funds” to efforts on behalf of Soviet Jewry, that it urge members to attend rallies for Soviet Jews and publicize them in its mailings and publications. Mrs. Halprin told the JTA reporter that the charges against Hadassah were “not true.” She said the organization is “constantly concerned” with Soviet Jewry and contributes a substantial share in the campaign for Soviet Jewry. Miriam Taub, a Hadassah official in charge of the Soviet Jewry program, said “They’re perfectly decent, nice kids but they use nasty tactics…They don’t listen. They distort. But I think they are nice Jewish boys.” Miss Taub and Hadassah executive director Hannah Goldberg conferred with some of the youths this morning. Mrs. Halprin, who is former chairman, American Section of the World Jewish Congress, said that Hadassah has done “everything that the organized Jewish community has proposed in respect of Soviet Jewry.”