Heads JAC, Mihoels, Fefer and Epstein, in 1944 have written the letter. Have sent it to Stalin, and in week also to Molotov. A genre — not that application, not that requirement. Asked to transform Crimea into the Jewish Soviet Socialist Republic, that is to balance in the rights with Ukraine and Russia.
Relations of the Soviet power with Jewry knew the liftings and descents. The nadir has been reached in 1940 In premilitary years the Soviet management tried to save up fragile friendship with strong and aggressive the neighbor, and world Jewry has taken of an active Antigerman position and jogged to war. Therefore many adjusted Antigerman Jews have been discharged of the posts, some have been arrested.
With Hitler’s attack to Russia all was changed. There was an idea of the strategic union with Jewry. Time the American Jews have jogged Vudro Vilsona] to the introduction into the First World War on the party of England in an exchange for the declaration of Balfur, now, in 1941, has solved the Soviet management, it is necessary to agree with Jews that those have provided support of the United States — Russia.
Two conducting Polish socialists-nationalists Victor Alter and Henrik Ehrlich have been at first pulled out from prisons. They have suggested to create the Jewish antifascist committee into which representatives of Jews of all countries occupied by Germany would enter. The Soviet management has guessed that such organization can appear too strong, too independent of Moscow, so — useless. Аlter and Ehrlich have been returned in prison and in due course are shot.
JAC has arisen later, in 1942, and it represented only the Soviet Jews. The problem remained the same — to mobilize the American Jews for support of Soviet Union in its war with Hitler. In national memory there was a triumphal trip of Mihoels and Fefer to the USA in 1943
Why have they been selected? Perhaps, Mihoels and Fefer used national popularity among the American Jews? Hardly. Goset didn’t go in America on tour, photoplays weren’t, Americans could estimate talent of Mihoels only on an episode in the Antiamerican film «Circus». Poet Itsik Fefer — the master of one theme — happiness of the Jewish people at the most correct in the world of the Soviet power. How many (on) readers he had in States — I find it difficult to tell. Sent not a handsome man-romanticist of Markish, not the author of excellent children’s verses of Kvitko, but the agit-poet. Why have sent Mihoels and Fefer? After all there are Epstein, Vatenbergi, Talmi who know America, know not only Yiddish, but also English. Therefore don’t approach that the American communists. Not associating Soviet Jews were necessary betrayed, but with communism.
The trip long and carefully prepared, halls have been rented, the press is warned, the arrangement with outstanding figures about a meeting is established. Six weeks however flied, Americans haven’t established to visit high importance. It is impossible to tell that Americans never saw the Soviet Jews — there there were diplomats (to the plenipotentiary inclusive), sales representatives, correspondents, etc. But they represented the state. And here — Jewish «national diplomats», also speak in Yiddish.
Nevertheless — them accept not as «representatives», and as present politicians. The Soviet heads, unlike American, in general-political questions never were interested in reasons of Mihoels-Fefer. In America both have made unexpected discovery for themselves: it has appeared that they on the wide range of questions aspire to learn the large political figures, which opinion the American statesmen and leaders of the international Jewish organizations. Whose merit in phenomenal success of a trip? Mihoels and Fefer, or people, whose surnames in a caption aren’t mentioned?
The merit is faster than the concept. Every day at first «white», and then and Hitlerite propagation repeated that «Jews rule Sovdepiya». Propagation was a success. Having faced Mihoels and Fefer, Americans have thought that here before them very influential Jews. Probably, Americans believed that through the Soviet Jews it is possible to affect the Soviet management, having activated the Jewish lobby in Moscow.
As a result of a trip — the direct contact pieces of the American and Soviet Jewish organizations interrupted during the period of «the big cleaning» are restored. JAC, unlike Ozetov and Evsektsy — the organization noncommunistic which is headed by popular leaders in the people, having a direct exit to the country top management. The independent port of financing, without a presentation of conditions has opened. But the American Jews give money not to Stalin and Molotov (or Umansky and Litvinov), and to the Soviet Jews. Value JAC has sharply increased. The considerable part of the Soviet elite (not only Jewish) hopes for strengthening of the American influence. Leaders of JAC have decided that they isn’t simple politicians, but political thinkers of the state scale.
Some years ago Nikolay Anisin in the interesting book «the Call from Stalin» has in detail described one of possible variants of an intrigue which conducted, in its opinion, Lozovsky and Molotov’s wife, Polina Jemchujnaya. But in real life of Mihoel and Fefer have tested dizziness of the American trip. Excellent results of a trip have been estimated. Financing, apartments, summer residences, business trips, and so forth But they wanted more. Have asked Crimea. But not in sense of a summer residence, and in sense of republic.
Whence at them this idea undertook? The American Jews have advised? But the American Jews didn’t ask from Roosevelt Florida, Alaska… And English didn’t suggest Churchill to think of the organization of an independent county. Those were involved with Palestin. Really they planned a spare variant — for a case of failure of the Zionist project?
At first the letter of Mihoels, Fefer and Epstein on the Jewish autonomy in Crimea has been sent to Stalin — to the best friend of the Soviet Jews. In two weeks have sent the same letter to Molotov. Strange — would make on the contrary — all would be logical, at first — to the kingpin, then — Rather to the kingpin… The Text didn’t change — that Stalin that Hammers — all one… And people they were expert: all three have endured «great cleaning» not «under an alien firmament». Clarification of the country from enemies of the people actively also have publicly approved. Stalin and Hammers had no reputation of people trouble-free. And the letter!.
If Stalin wanted to kindle «the state» anti-Semitism — for this purpose was to publish this letter in the central newspapers «as a basis for discussion» enough. If I have read this text in less authoritative edition, I would think that it is awkwardly made Antisemitic forgery. It had no analogs. In a wartime when Crimea is still occupied by Germans, heads of JAC have analysed work of the Soviet government concerning the Jewish population — and have found serious lacks in its work. Correction ways are offered.
The letter extremely business. Any compliments, any thanks, any guarantees. Courageous subordinates write such letter to the chief about whom it is precisely known that it just about will remove «under article». In such tone and style it is possible to write and to the zits-chairman. On idea — the request, and on style — the complaint in the Strasbourg court.
In the beginning — about the Holocaust of which Hitler is guilty. Logic difference: Hitler has arranged the Holocaust, and Stalin should give Crimea. By the way, charges to a Stalin management take in the letter of four times more place, than to Hitler. The Jewish intelligency is forced out from chairs, from scientific research institute, from KB by shots not Jews, and the Jewish candidates and doctors are occupied on unskilled works. (It the guest from the future — from Israel 1990th years as if you read the letter of the chairman of the Zionist forum of Scharansky to prime minister Rabin has already come.) as Crimea here will help? Whether there is in five high schools of Crimea enough of workplaces for the Jewish shots which have been forced out from 500 high schools of the USSR?
Then the complaint to an extreme lack of establishments of the Jewish culture follows. And here to do the competing newspaper, to open five more theaters, to restore schools and technical schools it is not so necessary. Not for this purpose write, that instead of Crimea to receive Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin’s meeting in Yiddish… (By the way, in the same 1944 when the country lacked literally everything, Sovnarcom has paid 60 thousand dollars author’s to son-in-law Sholom-Alejhema Bentsionu Goldbergu though the international copyright of the USSR didn’t recognize. In my opinion, this fact contradicts the thesis about «the state anti-Semitism» in the USSR.)
At a part of Jews burzhuazno-nationalist vestiges from which, according to authors of the letter, Crimea will cure-will cure have become aggravated. In the Soviet tradition of the people, suffering burzhuazno-nationalist vestiges, treated at all in the Crimean natural zone.
Are necessary not bread and shows, and the earth. In the Birobidzhan autonomy it is not necessary to be engaged in additional financial injections too. Far this Birobidzhan. The Earth is Crimea. With the status of Crimea — all is clear, not independent areas or area, and union republic. With capital not in Armjansk, but in Simferopol. More it is required nothing.
How much there corresponds economic structure of Crimea to professional structure of the Jewish population in the USSR? About a problem of employment speech didn’t go at all. It in Palestin it is possible for the professor to hand over a broom and to declare it realization of principles Zionism and an embodiment of precepts of the founder. The backward poor became a victim of the Holocaust. It was the native speaker Yiddish. Highly educated Russian-speaking Jews have escaped — engineers, doctors, science officers, journalists etc. They didn’t aspire to pass in rural and hotel economy. They were satisfied quite with the right to summer holiday in Crimea. How not Jewish population of Crimea will concern the Jewish republic? Whether it will feel class solidarity with the Palestinian Arabs?
Heads of JAC know that idea JSSR in Crimea has exclusive success among the Jewish broad masses… And among the best representatives of the people of the USSR… And who will explain correctness of the decision «not to the best»? Mihoels and Fefer? Or a companion the Mauser? And who will finance resettlement to Crimea? Narcomfin Zverev let finds money? Companion Zverev shouldn’t worry — money for resettlement and the organization of state structures will be given by «labor Jews» — workers and peasants mean. Unearned Jews will give for Palestin, labor — for Crimea. Who is more?
But the main thing — the letter is written from a force position. From a position of force political. In 1944 clever people converged by thoughts that after war of the USSR will be depending on the USA, and companion Stalin if wants to remain the nominal head of the USSR, will be compelled to execute transatlantic recommendations. And these recommendations will be dictated by the American Jews. The plan of Marshall already soared in the sky. Companion Stalin wanted to remain the nominal head of the USSR, but even more he wanted to remain the real governor — and the plan of Marshall together with the Amerika-Jewish dictatorship has been rejected.
While Stalin’s decision wasn’t found out, from Crimea had time to deport Tatars, Armenians, Greeks… Nevertheless their position was where better, than at Palestinians — in due course they could return.
The newspaper «Tomorrow» № 47 (888) from November, 24th, 2010
Evgenie Lobkov