JEWISH LIFE IN EAST GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00446R000400170024-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 28, 2005
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: March 25, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN

Marc3 26, 1965 ApprCIAAM9,0446R000400170024-41435
,
Jewish Life in East Germa
n
T
XTENSION OF REMARKS
Or
HON. ABRAHAM J. MULTER
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, March 25, 1965
Mr. MULTER. Mr. Speaker, I com-
mend to the attention of our colleagues
the following article which appeared in
,,~1 [e,iv k Herald Tribune on Febru-
C i ra, concerning the almost non-
existent Jewish community in Commu-
nist East Germany:
,,SINGLE RABBI FOR NINE SYNAGOGUES
(By Martin G. Berck, of the Herald Tribune
staff)
There are 1,500 avowed Jews who live in
Communist East Germany. Most are elderly
persons who receive pensions that enable
them to live rather comfortably. As victims
of the Nazis, they get a degree of preferential
treatment from the state. They worship in
nine synagogues maintained by the state,
with services conducted by laymen, a few
part-time cantors, and a single rabbi remain-
ing in the country.
Those who want it can get kosher meat
from a slaughter house in East Berlin.
Matzoh for the Passover season is available
from Hungary. Prayer shawls are imported
from West Germany and Israel. Kosher
wine, sweet or dry, comes' from Bulgaria.
The East German Jewish community
maintains two old-age homes, with state
funds. It publishes its own religious and
other printed material, including a Hebrew
calendar and a newspaper that appears four
times a year. As the eastern remnant of a
prewar German Jewish population of 600,000,
it sees to the upkeep of 125 cemeteries, many
centuries old, scattered throughout the
country.
An account of this dwindling branch of
Jewry emerged last week in an interview with
Helmut Aris, a resident of Dresden, and a
member of East Germany's Communist Party,
who serves as president of the Union of Jew-
ish Congregations in East Germany.
Mr. Aris and two Protestant clergymen-
Dr. Moritz Mitzenheim, Evangelical Bishop of
Thuringia, and Dr. Gerhardt Bassarik, direc-
tor of the Evangelical Academy in East
Berlin-formed an unusual delegation to the
Pacern in Terris convocation of scholars and
statesmen convened here by the Center for
the Study of Democratic Institutions.
TWENTY YEARS
Here for a 5-day stay, they said they be-
lieved themselves to be the first East Ger-
mans in 20 years to have attended an inter-
There are perhaps 30 Jews under the age
of 20 in all of East Germany. According to
Mr. Aris, the community sees to it that those
of, school age receive instruction twice a
month in Jewish religious and cultural mat-
ters. In the last 2 years, there have been two
religious Jewish weddings in East Berlin.
Ritual circumcisions-there was one re-
cently-are performed by a Jewish physician
in East Berlin. Two bar mitzvahs-the cere-
monial admission of 13-year-old Jewish
males into the adult congregation-will be
celebrated in Dresden in the coming months.
ROTATING RABBI
For such important occasions, the rabbi,
who is Dr. Martin Riesenburger, travels to
wherever his services are needed. Otherwise,
the rabbi, who is a civil servant, visits the
congregations on a rotating basis. There is
o ue in East Berlin, where about
750 Jews live. There are two p aces o
worship in Leipzig, and others in Dresden,
Erfurt, Karl Marx Stadt, Schwerin, Magde-
burg and Halle.
The one in Dresden shares a cantor with
nhanel of a
cemetery. For some services there. is a choir
composed of young Protestant theologians.
As with other denominations in East
Germany, statistics on Jews are based only
on persons who are registered on community
lists. The Jewish community takes no ac-
count of persons of Jewish ancestry who are
not registered.
According to Mr. Aris, many of the children
of mixed marriages choose to remair% Jewish
and participate in what he described as a
"very lively cultural and religious life." Be-
sides religious services, there are concerts held
in the synagogues.
Is there pride in Israel?
"But of course," Mr. Aris replied. He went
on:
"The Jews of East Germany are proud of
the accomplishments of those Jews who are
in activities that once were closed to Jews,
activities that Jews in the German Demo-
cratic Republic could carry on if there wer
enough of them, such as agriculture."
NO POLITICS
Mr. Aris put questions of domestic and in-
ternational politics off limits on the group
that he is not a political man. These in
eluded questions concerning the antipath
of the Communist bloc nations to Zionis
and to Israel, and the subject of anti-Semi-
tism in the Soviet Union.
Is a religious commitment consistent wit
a Communist society's view of a "socialist'
man?
Those who are pensioners were described
by Mr. Aris as being distributed "normally"
through the worker and professional classes,
and in the small private sector of the econ-
omy. Only in agriculture are Jews not repre-
sented a phenomenon that makes them en-
vious of the farmers in Israel.
Contacts with Israel are limited to ex-
changing greetings on the Jewish New Year
There are more active contacts maintains
with Jews in the Communist bloc countries
presumably through their central Jewis
councils, but not with Russia, where they
are no such organizations.
Mr. Aris seemed anxious to convey a pie
ture of Jewish life in positive terms: Eas
Germany is a place sincerely trying to mak
amends for the past, a place where Jew
live in dignity, equality and freedom. A
for whether there are grounds for optimis
among Jews Interested in the survival o
their community, Mr. Aris had this to say
"Jewish existence always required opti
mism. The ups and downs of Jewish his
tory have shown that the ones with natur
Greek Independence Day
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
HON. FRANK J. HORTON
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, March 25, 1965
Mr. HORTON. Mr. Speaker, every
year the 25th of March provides us with
an opportunity to pay our respects to
the intellectual achievements of the.
Greek people, as well as their steadfast
and wholehearted commitment to de-
mocracy, and defense of the best of
Western ideals.
In fact, today represents the 144th
anniversary of the independence of the
modern state of Greece. Yet I am sure
we are all aware that it is impossible to
even talk about Western civilization
without mentioning the contributions
which the Greeks throughout history
have made. Indeed, it is in the ancient
city-state of Athens that the idea of de-
mocracy was first discussed and applied.
The (great minds of antiquity-Socrates,
Plato, Aristotle-debated and analyzed
the myriads of possible political systems,
and many of their insights remain valid
to the present day. At the same time,
others were founding or shaping the out-
lines of a great number of the arts and
sciences with which we are all familiar:
poetry, drama, painting, sculpture, and
architecture; geometry, trigonometry,
zoology, botany, physics, and mathe-
matics. Our world today would be a far
more primitive place had not these and
other Greeks first begun to explore and
explain their surroundings in meaning-
ful human terms.
Lest it be thought that their succes-
sors on that rocky peninsula achieved
nothing, we need only recall the culture
and glory of the Byzantine Empire, as
well as the achievements of Nikos Kaz-
antzakis, George Seferis, Elia Kazan,
Dmitri Mitropoulos and many others in
our own time.
The determination of the Greeks to
fight for their heritage and their ideals
Yes, said Mr. Aria. "Judaism hrys alway
been with progress, and has not been bound
by dogma-Judaism has always been sociall
oriented."
He cited Old Testament laws for freein
slaves every 7th or Sabbatical year, and fo
redistributing land every 50th year, th
United States, which, of-course, has no diplo- Jubilee.
matic relations with East Germany. A State "There need not be any contradiction be
Department spokesman in Washington said tween Socialist belief and the carrying out
that other groups, mostly of clergymen, Jewish principles and belief," said Mr. Aril
athletes or journalists, have visited here from "Even though the reconciling of religio
East Germany from time to time, but not, faith and dialectical materialism might pre
so far as he could remember, for a political sent some problems, it need not be ap
conference. East Germans must first obtain preached in philosophical terms, but in ter
a temporary travel document from the Allied of everyday living."
Travel Office in West Berlin before applying Everyday living for Jewish pensions
for a U.S. visa. means getting along on around 650 Ea
. Mr. Ails is a 57-year-old administrator of marks a month, a sum equivalent to abo
a scientific institute connected with the $160 at the official rate but with far great
chemical industry in Dresden. Like many buying power than it might indicate.
of his fellow Jews, he spent most of the war couple living on two pensions could mans
as a slave laborer. He escaped and went into comfortably, Mr. Aris said. As officially re
hiding at the time of, the destruction of o nized victims of the Nazis, their pensio
Dresden by Allied bombs shortly before the are higher by around 200 marks than oth
war's end. Mr. Aris f has a
has a son who is augh ea r t East Germans, and they are permitted actory an el costume department t of e a retire at an earlier age. For men, It is 6(;
who heads s the otor th costtume of
state-owned theater. - for women 55.
CPYRGH
T
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d NGRESSIONAL RECORI) APPENDIX March 26, 465
has been demonstrated time and again, urn in the past as a sort of lackey in the measure and the lead bill we Q PtgG H
from the battle of Thermopylae, to the ervice of Western "imperialism." d not feel
battle of Missolonghi, to the, battle of This crude and dishonest caricature of the rated into the zinc bill, we
Athens during the second World War. an has been drawn, of course, by Commu- it would be desirable to duplicate the
We are, therefore, privileged and hon- 1st propagandists-especially the Chinese- Senate hearings. It was the decision of
ored to acknowledge our debts to Greece, ided and abetted by such people as Nasser's the House Armed Services Committee
nd Be, Bella's Arab smear artists in Cairo to expedite action on these disposals by
and our friendship and sympathy for the nd Algiers. It is a caricature that has mud- accepting the Senate amendments, even
Greek people. I take this opportunity to led a lot of soft-headed people in the West, though we felt that it would have been
add my own best wishes to those of others nd it has persuaded some of the Congo's better to proceed with hearings on each
on this anniversary, and express the con- eighbors to support the so-called rebels individual disposal request, and in aC-
Viction that the glory of Greece and the gainst Tshombe and his legitimate govern-
closeness of our relations with that coun- ent in Lkopoldviile. quate, e, ee with evidence our con cer cerning ing the receive subject
try will forever remain, ommunist playing matter of pending
Mr. Speaker, Greek, achievements and e guilty of game, having commwittinglyitttoed u unspeak unspeak yable - ing those who introduced bills, thus measures gi on
rd on
accomplishments are known to me be- trocities against whites and blacks alike. this subject full opportunity to be heard
oa'tie I have many Greek constituents. ut now, as a result of Tshombe's conversa- and have their witnesses heard and thus
t. have the greatest admiration and re- ions in Nairobi, the Congo's neighbors are enable our committee to make its own
speOt for those Whose ancestral bond is king a new look at the situation. The record in our own committee hearings.
to ree. Their contributions-reli- udan, for example, has indicated that It will However, I feel that we have dis-
gious, civic, athletic, social, political , cul- -- Ionger lend itself to the shipment of Al-
considerably rian, Egyptian, and Communist arms to the harred our duty to the House and to all
tural, hed economic--have home community of ed-led anti-Tshombe forces. And Uganda hose concerned in accepting the Senate
Y as said much the same thing. mendments in this particular instance,
Rochester, N.Y., and earned the Greeks Similar declarations may be expected from ven though we do not want it to be
the lasting friendship of their fellow ther members of the OAU, including Presi- nderstood or construed that this estab-
citizens.. at Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya. The true na- ished a precedent that would be followed
So, on this occasion while, my thoughts re of the Congolese rebellion is becoming n the future.
are meant for all Greeks, they, are ear to such leaders, and they don't like what
ey see. So Mr, Tshombe is slowly but sure- We have made every possible effort to
prompted particularly by my apprecia- i gathering support where it conts. It's afeguard the national interest in these
tion and affection for those I have the out time. isposals and to prevent the disruption
honor to represent in Congress. f markets and price variations to the
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. extent that can be done by legislation,
Lead, Zinc, and Copper Disposals and we have taken great pains to assure
h
Tshombe's Strength
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
Or
HON. WILLIAM S. BROOMFIELD
OS $2ICfiiGAN
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
thursday,"March 25, 1965
Mr. tROOMFIET4 Mr. Speaker,
there is an old saying that you cannot
keep a good man down. And that adage
is certainly coming true in, the case of
Premier Moise Tshombe of the Congo.
Two years ago, it was even the cus-
tom in our State Department to under-
estimate his abilities, rundown his ac-
complishments and to attempt_ to paint
him as some sort of a tool of Western
Imperialism.
'He was reviled by the Reds, and still
is. He was fought by the petty politi-
clans and would-be dictators who
preached their own doctrine of race and
religious hatred.
But he has survived, stronger and
more respected than ever, offering a
v'dice of, hope In a continent torn by
hatred and violence. For the benefit of
my colleagues, I am inserting in the
RECORD a copy of an editorial which ap-
peared in the Washington Sunday Star
of March 22, 1965, entitled "Tshombe's
Strength."
+ As the editorial states, it is, indeed._
about time and I hope that the admin-
istration, and the State Department will
CPYRGHT
eeting of the Organization of African Unity,
as begun to pay dividends. He has made
silo BE'S STRENGTH
Premier Moise Tshombe of the Congo has
town significantly stronger in recent days.
[is trip to Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in the
ere will be orderly, fair, equitable dls-
EXTENSION OF REMARKS posal procedures and that our commit-
oi7 tee will be in a position to followup these
matters to make sure that the intent of
HON. PHILIP J. PHILBIN this legislation is being followed in every
OP MASSACHUSETTS feasible, practicable manner.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In all these disposals, it is our expec-
tation that the Government will make
Thursday, March 25, 1965 a profit from the sales taking place as
Mr. PHILBIN. Mr. Speaker, I am de- a result of the action of the Congress
sirous of expressing my warm apprecia- on this bill.
tion to all those who were so helpful and There are so many people who are
considerate to me and our committee in serving and assisting our committee in
facilitating the favorable consideration these matters that it would not be pos-
by the House on Tuesday, March 23, un- sible to enumerate all of them here. I
der unanimous consent of the bill, H.R. do want to express my warm, personal
1.496, as amended by the Senate. This appreciation to my very distinguished
measure authorizes the disposal, without chairman, the Honorable L. MENDEL
regard to the 6 months waiting period, of RIVERS, who contributed so invaluably
lead, zinc, and copper from the national to the results achieved, to the officials
stockpile and the supplemental stockpile. of the Government, particularly the
As the House understands, this bill General Services Administration, the
provides for the disposal of certain urg- Office of Emergency Planning and those
ently needed strategic materials, prin- of from industry who gave us the benefi-
a their views and their valued cooper-
cipally lead, zinc, and copper that are ation.
urgently needed by industry to alleviate current shortages which are causing a am also especially s thankful
and d c to sues
part-time operation and unemployment eral distinguished ed friends
in certain industries, and are now threat- of the committee and the House who
ening to cause even greater unemploy- introduced
r
e and d who bills for the disposal
withdrew their
ment and more serious conditions in request for House graciously
se committee edre hearings
these industries. rouse committee tls
I want to commend the subcommittee in order to expedite final action. Some
of these are: its prompt, expeditious consideration gentleman from m N : York the [Mr. PPIRNIE 1,
in reporting the lead and zinc bills when the distinguished gentleman r. mRCI
they were before us. It was our expecta.- eticut I IN], bhfembrs of
tion a.nd intention to proceed promptly the Armed d Services C both members owith consideration of several brills for dis- esteemed colleagues, se, and our
posal of copper that were pending in the esteemed the the di distin?;uished
gentleman
House, but which lacked needed reports from Connecticut [Mr. MON-
AGANI, the distinguished gentleman from
from the Federal agencies concerned. Montana [Mr. OLSEN], the distinguished
However, when the lead and zinc bills gentleman from Rhode Island, [Mr. ST
were sent to the other body, certain GERMAIN], the distinguished gentleman
amendments were added to the zinc bill from Indiana [Mr. HARVEY], the distin-
providing for copper disposal. We guished gentleman from Michigan [Mr.
should have, much. preferred to conduct HUTCHINSON], and my valued colleague,
our own hearings on copper in the House, the distinguished gentleman from Mas-
but under the circumstances, since this sachusetts [Mr. CONTE].
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