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Mrs. Kaminska, in Vienna, Says She Has No Plans to Return to Poland

August 29, 1968
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Ida Kaminska, director of what had been the Warsaw Government-sponsored Jewish State Theater of Poland, told newsmen here today that she had no plans to return to Poland but may visit the United States and was definitely going to visit Israel. Mrs. Kaminska arrived here yesterday with her husband, the actor-producer Meir Melman, on what was described as an extended visit.

The actress’ departure from Poland followed this week’s revival of last spring’s officially inspired anti-Jewish campaign in that country – this time in an effort to Justify Poland’s participation in the Soviet-sponsored invasion of Czechoslovakia on grounds that “Zionist” plotters had taken over the Czech Communist Party. But she refused to comment on the political situation in her homeland. She told reporters, however, that “there is anti-Semitism everywhere, including Poland; the only place without it is Israel.” Asked about the fate of her Yiddish theater, Mrs. Kaminska said she could not forecast its future but had not left it in a very happy state. She said she was given a “very nice” send-off by non-Jewish friends and admirers as well as by Jews and had no difficulty leaving Poland. Mrs. Kaminska would not say where she planned to settle permanently. She has a brother in Israel, Yosef Kaminska, who is first violinist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, her husband also has a brother in Israel.

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