Perhaps the boldest admissions as yet made public about anti-Semitism in Poland came to light today in official reports received here from Warsaw. The reports bring evidence given this week before the Polish Sejm (Parliament) Commission on Internal Affairs, showing that courts, prosecutors and police officials condone anti-Semitism, wink at discriminations practiced against Jews, shut their eyes to the dismissal of Jews from their jobs, and impose difficulties on Jews seeking the right to emigrate to Israel.
The evidence was given by Hersch Smoliar, chairman of the Association of Jewish Cultural Organizations; and Dr. David Sfard, executive secretary of the Association. Both pleaded with the members of the Sejm for tightening of laws which presumably forbid anti-Semitism, and for bringing practices into line with the laws.
“There are countless instances,” Mr. Smoliar testified, “in which prosecutors, militia officials and police have failed to act promptly or with sufficient vigor against the anti-Semitic hooligans. The courts are too mild in their treatment of anti-Semites, and have created the impression that the Polish people need not observe the laws protecting all minorities in Poland.”
Attacking the “limitless arrogance and impudence” of anti-Semites, Mr. Smoliar told of Jews losing their jobs and suffering many indignities as well as economic repressions.
JEWISH SPOKESMAN ASKS GOVERNMENT TO FORM COOPERATIVES FOR JOBLESS JEWS
He called upon Parliament to establish new cooperatives for the re-employment of jobless Jews, and for the formation of credit associations to help finance remodeling of homes for Jews in Poland recently repatriated by the Soviet Union.
Praising the government’s “correct and humane policy” of permitting Jews to emigrate to Israel, Mr. Smoliar told the Parliamentary Commission that, often, customs and passport officials refuse to permit the repatriates to leave for Israel “where they wish to join relatives.” Many of the repatriates, he declared, have found, upon coming to Poland, that their relatives had already departed for Israel, but they are being forced to stay on in Poland, although denied housing and robbed of opportunities to find work.
The chairman of the association also implied, in his testimony, that government subventions for the maintenance of Jewish shrines in Poland have been curtailed or cut off recently. He appealed to the Commission for special government funds to conserve the site of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Jewish cemetery in the capital.
Dr. Sfard complained to the Commission that “racism is being practiced” widely, and attacked sharply the practice of “polite anti-Semitism” by government officials “who cover their tracks by leaving no trace of illegal acts contrary to the laws of the land.”
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.
