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Economics Seen Largely to Blame for So. American Anti-semitism

September 3, 1964
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The major problems of Jewish communities in many countries throughout the world are related less to anti-Semitism than to changes in the economic and social structures of those countries, Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum, member of the Jewish Agency executive, reported.

Addressing a meeting of the Mizrachi Women’s Organization board, Rabbi Kirshblum cited Latin America particularly as one of the areas where there was an “explosive situation” developing from economic and social changes creating “grave problems for Jewish life.”

Citing the existence of “an unofficial bond” between Nazis who fled to Latin American countries after the fall of the Hitler regime and Arab residents, Rabbi Kirshblum said that the governments in those countries were generally opposed to the “hostile acts” of the two elements. “But much remains to be desired as to effective action of governments and the church to restrain those outbursts,” he declared. His report was based on his participation in a series of meetings of major Jewish organizations in Israel and Switzerland.

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