Jews in the Soviet Union

Press, 16 January 1986, Page 16

Jews in the Soviet Union

Sir,—lt may be of some interest to readers to learn that the founder of communism, Karl Marx, although himself, as Engels stated “was of the purest Jewish blood,” was rabidly anti-Semitic. He made his position crystal clear in his essay “On the Jewish Question”:— “To abolish the Jew one must abolish capitalism. What is the secular cult of the Jews? Huckstering! What is his God? Money! Very well, empancipation from huckstering and from money and therefore Judaism would be the self emancipation of our Epoch, out of its own entrails bourgeois society continually creates Jews.” (Karl Marx’s Selected Essays, New York International Publishers, 1926, page 87. This essay was left out of the later edition, 1959.) It is significant that Lenin endorses Marx’s essay in volume 18 of his works. It becomes clear why the Soviet Union is just as basically anti-Jewish as it is anti-Christian. — Yours, etc., R. A. DOW. January 14, 1986.

Sir,—l am aware of the Jewish Autonomous Region of the Soviet Union, but by Jewish nationalism I meant Zionism and Jewish culture. In 1982, at least eight Jews campaigning (and that was probably their crime) for the right to emigrate to Israel or for the preservation of Jewish culture were arrested or tried. In 1984, five Jews were imprisoned for “associating in unofficial (and that was their crime) groups to preserve Jewish culture” and possibly for “systematicjyly preparing samizdat” (not officially censored publications).

Another 11 Jews, all “with a history of harassment for their attempts to leave the U.5.5.R.,” were imprisoned on criminal charges, charges which would probably not be criminal in our country. Different countries of course have different crimes. The obvious tragedy is that when some Jews apply for permission to leave the Soviet Union, they are refused; when they protest, their protests are considered criminal and they are arrested.—Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. January 14, 1986.

Middle East conflict Sir,—l heartily commend the letters written by G. Yardley (January 9) and I. Hood (January 11). It is pleasing to know that there are people who see beyond the pro-Zionist outbursts of the United States and Israel when acts of terrorism are committed by frustrated Palestinians. No-one condones killing innocent people at airports but it is important to look for the reason behind it. When will the United States stop supporting the military aggression by Israel and help the Palestinians have a place of their own. At the present rate there will be increasing violence for decades to come. When will there be a sensible United States President elected who will understand and see as clearly as your correspondents?—Yours, etc., J. T. ZARIFEH. January 13, 1986.