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Jews in Latvia Have Cultural Autonomy but Make No Use of It Charges Latvian Minister of Education

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The Jews in Latvia have a cultural autonomy secured by special law and by the existence of a Jewish Educational Department in the Ministry of Education, declared Professor Stroibeck, Latvian Minister of Education. Prof. Stroibeck has made grave charges against the Jewish population of Latvia, stating that although their cultural autonomy is secure, they do not make use of it, and have not demonstrated their willingness to make use of the privileges given to them. He reproaches the Jewish leaders for the fact that in the schools and colleges maintained by the Jews, the language of instruction is either German or Russia and not any of the Jewish languages.

The Jewish press here is attacking the assimilationists who are dominent in Jewish life, declaring that they are undermining the Jewish autonomy in Latvia, by their indifference to a distinct Jewish culture.

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