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Morton Blackwell's Subject Files
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Jewish Institute for
National Security Affairs
Box: 12
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
Saul I. Stern
President
January 5. 1984
Herbert A. Fierst
Chairman of the Board
Seymour Abensohn
Treasurer
Mr. Morton Blackwell
Elliot H. Cole
Vice President
Special Assistant to the President
for Public Liaison
Nathan Golden
Vice President
Office of Public Liaison
Lyle Ryter
The White House
Vice President
Washington, DC 20500
Stephen Rosen
Secretary
Dear Morton,
I thought the enclosed would be of interest to you.
Shoshana Bryen
Executive Director
The first is from the Washington Jewish Week. It
contains SO many factual problems that I have enlisted the aid
of others to respond. I will let you know if the responses see
Board of Advisors
print.
Sen. Rudy Boschwitz
Lt. Gen. Devol Brett (Ret.)
Paul S. Cutter
The second is from a quarterly magazine supplement
The Hon. Jack Kemp
to the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. It raises good points which
I. L. Kenen
are of concern to the American Jewish community.
Prof. Walter Laqueur
Max M. Kampelman
Ivan Novick
Best wishes for the New Year.
Prof. Eugene Rostow
Edward Sanders
Lt. Gen. Eugene Tighe (Ret.
Jacques Torczyner
Gordon Zacks
Adm. Elmo Zumwalt (Ret.)
John Shoshana Bryen
Sincerely,
Gen. John Vogt (Ret.)
Executive Director
SB/mk
1411
V
NW
Suite 1002
Washington. D.C. 20005
(202) 347-5425
America. They helped Israel in the
1
ne
same
crusaumg
Jews Spurn
past with arms and diplomatic sup-
pressed at another set of briefings
port, and now are a source of earn-
for Jewish groups organized by the
ings for Israel's vital defense
White House. "The same forces
that operate in the Mideast operate
Reagan's
industry.
in Central America," said to this
Trooper in campaign
The Reagan administration
reporter Michael R. Gale, who was
White House liaison with the Jew-
Central America
hopes such considerations will tear
American Jews away from their
ish community until earlier this
traditionally liberal positions and
month.
Crusade
toward the support of the counter-
Critics take strong exception to
revolutionaries in Central America.
the administration's generaliza-
One of the dedicated troopers in
tions. They argue that poverty and
that campaign is Richard Krieger,
repression, not the Soviet Union,
associate coordinator of the State
cause rebellion in Central America.
Department's Office of the Coordi-
About 100 groups numbering 25
ISRAEL SELLS ARMS TO
nator for Refugee Affairs.
to 200 local leaders from various
PRO-U.S. REGIMES
A six-foot, 200-pounder still as
Jewish organizations have come to
solid looking as the wrestler he was
Washington since March for brief-
as an undergraduate in the 1950s at
ings on the situation in the Middle
New York University, Krieger was
East. The White House liaison
BY JERRY STILKIND
an officer with the Federation of
makes sure that they also get a
Jewish Philanthropies for 14 years
briefing on the PLO ties in Central
before joining the Republican Na-
America and anti-Semitism in Ni-
T
he campaign by the Reagan
tional Committee in 1980 as direc-
caragua.
administration to enlist
tor of Jewish affairs: He was
Speaking to this reporter, a
American Jews in its crusade
appointed to his State Department
spokeswoman for the Nicaraguan
against the revolutionaries of
post a year later.
embassy, Angela Saballos, acknowl-
Central America has had no visible
In the past two years, Krieger has
edged there were ties to the PLO.
success so far. Jewish leaders and
spoken to more than 100 groups
But she was reluctant to discuss the
organizations are putting no
throughout the country: ethnic
issue because, she said, she did not
pressure on their friends in
gatherings, conferences on terrorism
know much about it and, in any
Congress who are critical of the
and refugee affairs, and meetings of
case, it would be used to discredit
administration's policies.
organizations concerned with inter-
her government among American
For Rep. Clarence D. Long (D-
national issues. Many of the groups
Jews.
Md.), the reason is simple: "The
have been Jewish. In all cases, he
Nicaraguan Sandinistas are still
great majority of Jews have too
mentions how certain international
outraged at Israel's aid to the So-
much sense to get involved in
crises have created or could create
moza dictatorship, Saballos em-
backing small groups in Central
refugee populations.
phasized. "The only international
America trying to keep power by
The announced core of his mes-
debt of the Somoza government
murder and assassination."
sage to Jewish groups is "The PLO
that we didn't pay (about $60 mil-
Another strong supporter of
Connection in Central America."
lion) was to Israel because it was
Israel, Rep. Michael D. Barnes, (D-
He points out that the PLO trained
directly for arms. It was a moral
Md.), is, like Long, chairman of a
"several" Nicaraguan Sandinista
question for us," she said.
sub-committee important in making
guerrillas in the Middle East in the
Her bitter tone~comes from the
policy for Central America and a
early 1970s. In 1980, the PLO es-
belief that Israel supplied arms and
long-time critic of the President's
tablished an embassy in Nicaragua.
ammunition to the Somoza regime
policies. He, too, is a logical target
down to the end, even after the
for lobbying. Nevertheless, no
Jerry Stilkind, a Washington
United States had cut off its aid in
Jewish leader or organization has
freelance writer, is a student of
1979. The fighting left about 40,000
asked him to modify his opposition
Central America.
dead in a population of 2.5 million.
since the White House and the
State Department began their
PLO boss Yasser Arafat celebrated
Published reports and U.S. gov-
the first anniversary of the Sandi-
ernment sources who asked not to
campaign last spring.
nista's triumph in July 1980 in
be identified agreed that Israel was
This refusal to join the
a major supplier of the Somoza
administration comes despite the
Nicaragua. Krieger tells his audiences that
government. According to the au-
campaign's emphasis on two points:
another sworn enemy of Israel, Col.
thoritative Stockholm International
the long-standing ties between the
Muammar Qaddafi of Libya, has
Peace Research Institute, Israel in
Palestine Liberation Organization
lent money to Nicaragua and sup-
1975 became a major source of
and guerrilla movements in Central
plied it with arms. The guerrillas in
planes, artillery, small weapons and
America; and the charges that the
El Salvador, Krieger says, also have
ammunition in Central America.
revolutionary government in
ties to the PLO and Qaddafi.
There are no official figures on
Nicaragua is anti-Semitic and drove
But this is only part of the issue
Israel's arms exports because the
out the small Jewish community in
to Krieger. "The enemy in Central
government has a long-standing
1979 and 1980.
policy of not making them public,
America, the major enemy in the
The Nicaraguan government
according to Victor Harel, press
Middle East, the major problem in
makes no apologies for receiving
counselor at the Israeli embassy in
Europe is the same, and it is the
and giving aid to the PLO, but
Washington.
Soviet Union," he says. "Its target
strongly denies having
Arms purchases
is the destabilization of any country
discriminated against the Jewish
Over the years, there have been
with ties to the West, in general,
community.
many reports in major newspapers
and to the United States, in partic-
Israel in turn makes no apologies
on Israeli arms sales. A usually
ular."
for having sold arms to Nicaragua
reliable independent observer of
prior to the 1979 Sandinista take-
Jewish Week, Dec-29, 1983
this murky world is a group of
No decisions
Washington-based newsletters pub-
"I think the discussion between
remaining Jews in Nicaragua as saying there was
lished by a private company called
the two countries this past summer
no anti-Semitism there.
Defense and Foreign Affairs, Ltd.
covered all areas where El Salva-
Finally, the American Jewish Committee first
Michael Collins Dunn, the publica-
dor needs aid, in agriculture, maybe
investigated such charges in 1980 and found no
tions' managing editor, compiled a
internal security," an Israeli embas-
basis for them. Its director of Latin American
list from various sources of Israeli
sy spokesman said. "But no deci-
affairs, Jacabo Kavadloff, is now reinvestigating
sales to Central America as of 1982.
sions have been made, to the best of
the charges because of Rabbi Rosenthal's work,
He reports El Salvador bought
my knowledge." U.S. State Depart-
but he has found no reason so far to change the
about 24 French-built fighter planes
ment sources also said they were
earlier conclusion. Furthermore, he said, a Pana-
from Israel beginning in 1975, 25
not certain what closer Israeli-El
manian rabbi representing the World Jewish Con-
Israeli-made Arava short take-off
Salvadoran ties might include.
gress who visited Nicaragua this summer along
and landing planes (particularly
Sandinistan anti-Semitism
with a Roman Catholic and a Protestant clergy-
good for counterinsurgency fight-
The accusation that Sandinista
man "found no reason to accuse the government of
ing) from 1974 to 1981, 200 Uzi
anti-Semitism drove the small Jew-
anti-Semitism."
submachine guns and 200 80mm
ish community of 50 persons into
President Ronald Reagan seized on the anti-
anti-tank rockets.
exile was made last May by Rabbi
Semitism charges on July 20, even though four
Guatemala purchased, according
Morton M. Rosenthal, director of
days earlier the U.S. embassy in Nicaragua report
to Dunn, 11 Aravas, 10 to 25 RBY
the Latin American Affairs Depart-
ed "the evidence fails to demonstrate that the
Mark 1 armored vehicles beginning
ment of the Anti-Defamation
Sandinistas have followed a policy of anti-Semi-
in 1975, up to 20,000 Galil assault
League.
tism or have persecuted Jews solely because of
rifles and an unknown number of
In an article in the ADL Bulletin,
their religion."
Uzis.
he charged that "Nicaragua today is
The President told about 200 people, including
Honduras, Dunn said, purchased
a country without Jews, but not
Rabbi Rosenthal, that "Jews were terrorized into
12. French-built Super Mystere B-2
without anti-Semitism." Antonio
leaving Nicaragua," and that "the Sandinistas
fighter planes in 1979, two Aravas
Jarquin, the Nicaraguan ambassa-
seem always to have been anti-Semitic."
in 1980, 14 RBY Mark 1 armored
dor in Washington, replied in a
Perhaps Rabbi Rosenthal would not have been
vehicles, 10 107mm mortars in
nine-page letter on Aug. 2, arguing
at the meeting if the Sandinistas had replied to his
1979, 16 160mm mortars in 1979,
that, after an investigation by his
concerns in 1981 when he first quietly brought
nine 106mm recoilless rifles in 1979
government, he could confidently
them up with Nicaraguan officials. Repeated re-
and some 4.2 inch mortars in 1979.
state "that the accusations are
quests for information were not answered-not
Israel had several reasons for
false."
until he went public with his charges last spring
selling arms to the Somoza regime.
The Nicaraguans did not respond
and the Nicaraguans saw their enemies picking up
For one thing. dictator Anastasio
to all of the rabbi's charges. For
the accusations.
Somoza's father arranged arms sales
example, he wrote that a bomb
The rabbi told this reporter that his work is not
to the beleaguered Jewish forces in
thrown at the synagogue in Mana-
meant to support the administration's policy in
the 1948 War of Independence and
gua, the nation's capital, the year
Central America. Now that he has the attention of
Nicaragua remained a friend of Is-
before the Sandinistas were victo-
the Nicaraguans, he has asked them: What
rael at the UN. For another, contin-
rious, was a clear example of Sandi-
charges, if any, are pending against Jews who have
ued Arab hostility has forced the
nista anti-Semitism.
left the country; what is the status of their
Israelis to develop a defense indus-
Other examples of anti-Semitism,
property; and whether their safety can be assured
try all out of proportion to the size
Rabbi Rosenthal stated, could be
if they were to return.
of its economy, This makes the sale
found in a pro-government newspa-
His charges are being used by the enemies of the
of weapons an economic necessity.
per in 1982 that raised the old
Sandinistas and they are being publicized in
Thus, Third World countries and
canard of Jews controlling the fi-
Jewish magazines and newspapers. Rabbi Rosen-
nances of the world.
liberation movements that support
thal's position happens to coincide with the ad-
the Arab, cause have helped bring
In some instances, the rabbi
ministration's position," this reporter was told by
about the very condition they de-
seems to overstate his case. For
Morton Blackwell, program officer of the White
plore-a large Israeli defense indus-
example, he wrote that the Sandi-
House Central American Outreach Group.
nistas drove out all Jews. The am-
try ready to sell to almost anyone
'We're trying to build a national consensus for
bassador's response lists eight Jews
the President's policies," Blackwell explained. He,
ready to buy.
The only help the Sandinistas
living and working in Nicaragua,
like the State Department's Krieger, is not dis-
and others who still own property
could get in the early 1970s was
couraged because the campaign does not seem to
from Cuba and the PLO because
there even though they are out of
have had any effect in Congress.
both were anti-American. Strained
the country. The ambassador also
For one thing, they say, they are forbidden by
invited those who left to return-
relations with Israel were inevitable
law from urging anyone to lobby Congress. For
once the revolutionaries came to
provided they had no ties to the
another, they believe it will take time. "We have a
power. This might not possibly be
ousted dictatorship.
big educational job to do."
the case in El Salvador and Guate-
Another problem is that the only
But those on the side of the Central American
mala, where military repression has
individuals named by the rabbi as
forced almost all of the center and
having grievances against the Sand-
inistas stand accused of having
moderate left to join the extreme
left guerrillas in the hills. The cen-
been close to the Somoza family,
and of income tax and other frauds.
ter had no history of anti-Israeli
leanings but this could change if,
A long Washington Post article
for example, closer ties now planned
in August quoted some of the few
between El Salvador and Israel lead
to counterinsurgency aid by Israeli
experts.
doves in Congress who are pro-Israel have strong
reasons to believe that the campaign will never
succeed. They argue that the PLO ties to the
revolutionary left, while real, are minimal, and
that there is no reason to believe they will amount
to more in the future.
No firm evidence
Also, there is no firm evidence 80 far that
systematic anti-Semitism drove out the Jewish
community of Nicaragua. Certainly, the Sandinis-
tas did not understand one of the most basic fears
of Jewish communities all over the world-perse-
cution and expulsion-until they saw the political
damage that such charges could have on their
support in this country.
Finally, congressional critics of the administra-
tion's policies have distanced themselves from the
Nicaraguan and other Central American revolu-
tionary movements.
They say they are not supporting the Nicaragua
government but are opposing the administration's
attempts to overthrow a government it does not
like. They do not support the guerrillas in El
Salvador or Guatemala, but oppose what they say
is a waste of economic, diplomatic and military aid
on right-wing regimes that either never had or
have lost the support of their own people. Similar-
ly, they have no faith that the Nicaraguan coun-
ter-revolutionaries could win without massive U.S.
aid.
The underlying theme here is the need to stay
clear of a Vietnam-type swamp. That probably still
has powerful appeal in the American Jewish com-
munity, particularly when one can read and see
daily reports about government backed death
squads in El Salvador and Guatemala and former
leaders of the Nicaraguan dictatorship heading the
counter-revolutionary forces.
on Nicaragua for support in the Unit-
IN THE
ed Nations.
killed. At the same time, I would get a
Nicaraguans flew to Israel to take
telephone call claiming that my broth-
courses in such subjects as agriculture
er-in-law had been shot and killed."
WAKE OF THE
and community organization. And Is-
The Sandinistas also covered the
raelis traveled to Nicaragua to help
walls of their factories both inside
with agricultural settlement and to
and out - with such warnings as:
conduct a mobile course in agricultural
"Death to the Jews," "Isaac will be
PLO-BACKED
cooperation. By 1969, Israel was ex-
killed," "Beware of Sandinista Jus-
porting about $100,000 worth of prod-
tice."
ucts to Nicaragua, primarily synthetic
The terrorists weren't just anony-
fibers.
mous graffiti artists and voices on the
REVOLUTION
It took a seven-week long civil war
phone. In May 1979, Stavisky recalled
to topple the Somoza regime. An esti-
that he was riding in his car with his
The exiled Jews of Nicaragua
mated 10,000 Nicaraguans were killed
12-year-old son when he stopped at a
and half a million were made home-
traffic light in the capital city of Mana-
less in the bloodbath. But the Sandin-
gua. A motorcyclist pulled up beside
ask the world for help.
ista struggle to undermine the Somoza
the car, put a gun to Stavisky's head
regime began many months earlier
and said, "We know your number. I
By Stewart Ain
and among the first to feel it were the
am going to kill you, you dirty Jew.
Jews of Nicaragua, who numbered
When the revolution comes, I am go-
only 50 in 1978.
ing to get you. You sold arms to So-
moza from Israel."
The Palestine Liberation Organization is at work not only
"Nicaraguan Jews never encoun-
in the Middle East but on the very doorstep of the United
tered anti-Semitism until the Sandinis-
The terrorist then sped away. Sta-
tas started their revolution," recalled
visky is convinced that the man was a
States - Central America. And as in the Middle East, its
target is the Jew. Already virtually every Jew in Nicaragua
Isaac Stavisky, a 43-year-old Nicara-
Sandinista because, had he been sim-
has been forced into exile by that country's PLO-backed
guan-born Jew. "Even before the San-
ply a deranged fanatic, "he would
have killed me then and there."
Sandinista regime, and the PLO is using Nicaragua as its
dinistas came to power, they began
threatening Jews. A favorite tactic was
The Nicaraguan Jewish community
base of operations in Central America and Panama.
to anonymously phone Jewish homes
received a clear message of intent in
One Latin American ambassador said the amount of PLO
with warnings that, 'We are going to
1978 when five Sandinista sympathiz-
arms and financial support pouring into Nicaragua repre-
sents an "Arab offensive" unprecedented in Central Amer-
get you Jews.' They claimed that we
ers wearing face handkerchiefs fire-
ica.
were responsible for the killing of
bombed Managua's only synagogue in
The ties are clear between the PLO and the Sandinista
Nicaraguans because of guns sold to
the middle of Friday night services.
regime that ousted President Anastasio Somoza Debayle on
the Somoza regime by Israel."
The gasoline bomb set fire to the main
July 17, 1979. A Sandinista spokesman, Jorge Mandi, stated
He said also that Sandinista graffiti
entrance. Two of the worshippers ran
that many members of the Sandinista movement had been
were widespread during the revolu-
to a side door to escape but were met
tion, much of it directed against Jews.
by a burst of automatic gunfire. "Get
to Palestinian bases in Jordan. He also said that in the early
1970s, "Nicaraguan and Palestinian blood was spilled to-
Such scrawlings as "Death to the Jew-
back inside, you dirty Jews, or we'll
kill you."
gether in Amman and in other places during the Black
ish Pigs" were commonplace. And the
fact that they were signed with the
The two worshippers, Lazlo
September battles."
.He went on to say that a "number of Sandinistas took
initials FSLN left no doubt that they
Gewurstz and Gyula Pinkes, were
part in the operation to divert four aircraft" seized by the
were put there by the Sandinista Na-
forced back inside the burning build-
PLO and sent to airfields in Jordan. "It is natural, therefore,
tional Liberation Front.
ing. Stavisky said both men are survi-
that in our war against Somoza, we received Palestinian aid
In addition to graffiti, the Sandinis-
vors of Nazi concentration camps and
for our revolution in various forms," Mandi said.
tas also waged a terror campaign
this traumatic experience "evoked ter-
Only recently, Daniel Ortega Saavedra, the leader of the
against the Jews of Nicaragua. Sta-
rible memories which they thought
Sandinista junta, dedicated a geothermal energy plant to
visky, who together with his brother-
they had put behind them when they
the late Patricio Arguello Ryan, one of the squad of PLO
in-law, Saul Retelny, ran a complex of
fled from Nazi terrors and found ref-
members who was shot and killed by Israeli security forces'
three factories that manufactured
uge in Nicaragua."
in 1970 as the group tried to hijack an Israeli airliner at Lod
yarn, textiles and candy, was a victim
Other worshippers called the fire
Airport. Ortega hailed the slain Sandinista idol as an "ex-
of that campaign. It included anony-
department and the blaze was extin-
emplary internationaiist" who died in the "people's strug-
mous phone calls to Retelny that
guished before it spread beyond the
gle."
threatened both his life and that of his
doors. The arsonists had earlier fled
The Somoza regime, on the other hand, was friendly
wife.
shouting anti-Jewish slogans and
toward Israel. When Israel declared its independence in
"The calls came to his business of-
"long live Sandino."
1948 and was then forced to fight its Arab neighbors for its
fice and to his home at all hours of the
The synagogue was one of the first
very survival, Somoza was one of the few who came to
night," Stavisky said. "One favorite
properties confiscated by the Sandinis-
Israel's aid. He acted as a middleman to surreptitiously
tactic was to call my brother-in-law
tas when they seized power. Last
channel arms to Israel at a time when
around three o'clock in the morning
April, Carlos Arguello, the vice-minis-
Israel needed it most.
and tell him that I had been shot and
ter of justice in Nicaragua, told the
Israel never forgot Somoza and in
Human Rights Committee at the Unit-
later years sent arms to him in his bat-
ed Nations that the governing junta
tle against the Sandinistas. The two
had turned the synagogue over to the
nations maintained cordial relations
Association for Sandinist Children to
and exchanged non-resident ambassa-
be used for social purposes. The four
Stars of David on the outside of the
dors. And Israel could always count
building were covered with propagan-
NSIDE Philadelphia Jewish Expenent) Winter 1983
da posters; and the inside walls and
But no sooner did he return than
Despite this evidence, not everyone
stained glass windows were plastered
Gorn was arrested and jailed on
is convinced that the Jews of Nicara-
with anti-Zionist propaganda.
charges of stealing land. During his
gua fled because of anti-Semitism. The
In 1981, Rabbi Morton M. Ro-
imprisonment, he was ordered to
American Jewish Committee's director
senthal, director of the Anti-Defama-
sweep the streets twice a day. He was
for Mexico and Central America, Ser-
tion League of B'nai B'rith's Latin
70 years old at the time.
gio Nudelstejer, found in 1980 that al-
American Affairs Department, quietly
Isaac Gorn flew to Costa Rica as
though the Jews of Nicaragua left dur-
began asking Nicaraguan officials
soon as he learned of his father's ar-
ing the revolution, they did so because
about the status of Jews in Nicaragua.
rest. He contacted officials in the Min-
they saw no future for themselves in
He provided them with the names of
istry of Defense, who interceded in the
that country.
three Jews who claimed that their
elder Gorn's behalf. Gorn was then
"During the conflict that brought
property had been illegally confiscat-
cleared of the charges against him and
down the Somoza regime in Nicara-
ed. The officials said they would look
released. For the next six months, he
gua, virtually the entire Jewish com-
into the matter, but did nothing.
ran his jeans factory until one day the
munity of some 75 families moved out
Last June, Rosenthal again met with
Sandinistas came and told him it was
of the country," he wrote. "The San-
Nicaraguan officials and they refused
no longer his. Some employees
dinista government, it should be
to even acknowledge the presence of a
warned Gorn that if he did not stay
pointed out, has not demonstrated
synagogue in Managua. They said
away, they had orders to bomb his car.
any anti-Semitism or anti-Jewish
only that a building owned by a man
"To make things doubly painful,"
stance; simply, the community had al-
named Abraham Gorn had been con-
said Isaac Gorn, "when they later
most vanished by the time it came to
fiscated along with his other assets.
drove to his home to kick him out of
power. Some Jews had suffered from
But after members of the Nicara-
there too, they drove up in my confis-
the, earthquake that devastated the
guan Jewish community-in-exile pro-
cated car. My mother had left Nicara-
capital city of Managua some years
duced a copy of a 1975 notarized con-
gua two weeks earlier to see a doctor
ago, others fled during the revolution-
tract recording the purchase of land
in the United States. So my father just
ary fighting. A few have returned, but
for the purpose of constructing a "Jew-
sat in the street until a friend finally
seemingly just to liquidate their hold-
ish temple," the Sandinistas conceded
picked him up and took him to the
ings."
that the synagogue existed and offered
Costa Rican Embassy.
Abraham Karlikow, the AJC's direc-
to give it back to the Jews who had
"When I heard the news, I went
tor of foreign affairs, said that in light
fled.
back to Costa Rica and hired a charter
of the ADL charges, his office is going
That has not lifted the spirits of
plane for $500 to fly my father out of
to reexamine the situation. He has-
Gorn's son, Isaac, 47, who like Sta-
Nicaragua. They wouldn't let him take
tened to point out that Jews have been
visky and many other Nicaraguan
a commercial plane. He went to the
quick in the past to level charges of
Jews now lives in Miami.
airport in an embassy car. The Sandin-
anti-Semitism.
"They say it was all a mistake -
istas had guards watching him to
"The ADL spoke to some Nicara-
taking away the synagogue - but
make sure he wouldn't run away.
guan Jews in order to come up with its
they knew what they were doing from
Where was he going to run - a 70-
conclusions," Karlikow said. "We
the beginning," he insisted. "They
year-old man?"
want to see what the other Nicaraguan
just never expected to have so much
There are other stories. Freddy Luft
Jews have to say. When we put out
pressure placed upon them."
came to Nicaragua from Rumania after
our position paper three years ago, we
It was Abraham Gorn who, as presi-
World War II and by the time of the
were satisfied with it. In the end, we
dent of the Nicaraguan Jewish com-
Sandinista take-over, he owned a tex-
may be wrong. Then again, we may be
munity, first apprised Rosenthal of
tile plant and two retail stores. He
right."
conditions in Nicaragua after the San-
hired a member of the Sandinista par-
He pointed out that the Nicaraguan
dinistas took over. The two men had
ty to be his general manager. This man
Jewish community is not totally deci-
met in 1978 when Rosenthal was on a
warned him that once the Sandinistas
mated; three or four Jews still live
visit to Nicaragua. And it was informa-
gained control, Luft's business would
there. He said that efforts might be
tion provided by Gorn and other Jews
be confiscated and Luft thrown in jail.
made to contact them, as well as the
that led the ADL to claim that the Jews
So Luft went to the German Embassy
Sandinista government. But he
of Nicaragua were forced from their
in Managua and was evacuated along
stressed that he did not want to offer
homes because of anti-Semitism on
with members of the German commu-
any opinion about the ADL findings
the part of the Sandinistas.
nity.
because he did not want to "prejudge"
Despite his status as president of the
Max Najman was the honorary con-
the outcome of the AJC investigation.
Nicaraguan Jewish community, Gorn
sul of the State of Israel. He was forced
Farrel Broslawsky, a professor at
was not immune to harassment from
to flee in 1978 after the Sandinistas'
Los Angeles Valley College, sharply
the Sandinista authorities. In January
clandestine radio station announced
attacked the ADL report in an article
1979, part of his clothing factory was
that he was marked for death because
printed in the L. A. Weekly and reprint-
burned. Isaac Gorn said the insurance
company agreed to pay $1.5 million
of his post with the Israeli govern-
ed in Israel Today (Sept. 23, 1983). He
ment.
maintained that Gorn and Stavisky
for the damage but that his family nev-
Najman left his plastic factory in the
were close friends and associates of
er saw a penny of the money. He spec-
hands of his son, Jimmy, who ran it
Jose Somoza, the dictator's half broth-
ulated that the Sandinistas may have
taken at least part of it.
for one year until the Sandinistas came
er "who headed the vicious National
The elder Gorn left Nicaragua at the
and told him it was being confiscated.
Guard and who was best known for
end of June 1979 when the fight for
He protested to the newspaper La
his delight in the more refined forms
power intensified. Gorn waited in Mi-
Prensa, after which the Sandinistas
of torture. With the fall and flight of
ami for the revolution to end and then
came looking for him. He then man-
the Somozas, the business activities of
aged to flee on foot to Costa Rica.
Abraham Gorn and his associates
returned to Managua because, his son
said, "He felt he had done nothing
wrong."
came under Sandinista judicial scruti-
world to see and is an evil echo of
ny. Evidence was found linking him to
history. Virtually the entire Jewish
armament shipments to the National
community of Nicaragua has been
Guard in the twilight days of the dicta-
frightened into exile.
Please share
torship."
the truth that Communism in Central
Broslawsky argued that not every
America means not only the loss of
attack upon an individual who hap-
political freedom but of religious free-
pens to be Jewish is motivated by anti-
dom as well."
Semistism. "Bugsy Siegal was not
There are reports that the Sandinis-
killed because he was a Jew; Meyer
tas are sending arms to leftist rebels in
Lansky was not hounded because he
El Salvador. Meanwhile, the Israelis,
was a Jew
the same is true of a
with the encouragement of the United
small number of Jews who fled Nicara-
States, have been sending captured
gua after the Sandinista revolution
PLO arms to rebels in Honduras who
and who now publicly whine that they
are bent on overthrowing the Sandin-
were the victims of Sandinista anti-
ista regime.
Semitism." During a visit to Nicara-
Throughout this international in-
gua, Broslawsky could not find any
trigue, the Nicaraguan Jewish commu-
evidence of anti-Semitism - no post-
nity-in-exile is angered because of the
ers, no graffiti and no one who would
lack of knowledge or concern being
corroborate the evidence in the ADL
displayed by fellow Jews in the United
report.
States. Gorn has said that he doesn't
The Sandinista government is also
know of one Nicaraguan Jew who was
upset about the ADL findings. Nicara-
interviewed by the AJC before it is-
guan Ambassador to the United
sued its report clearing the Sandinistas
States, Antonio Jarquin, told represen-
in 1980 of any anti-Semitism.
tatives of ADL last August that his
"They are just as bad as the Sandin-
country has nothing against Jews. He
istas," he said of the AJC. "They don't
denounced anti-Semitism as "morally
want to see that our synagogue was
reprehensible" and said that it is con-
taken over. They are only looking at
trary to Nicaraguan law.
one side. My father believed in the
Nevertheless, as Rosenthal pointed
country. Whatever he made, he in-
out last June, the "Nicaraguan situa-
vested in Nicaragua. Now he has lost
tion demonstrates that one does not
it all."
need official policy in order to perse-
To counter the AJC charge that the
cute a small community. It can be af-
Jews left because they saw no future in
fected far more subtly by threat, in-
the country, Gorn cited the rebuilding
timidation and confiscation, thus
of the synagogue following the 1972
avoiding the condemnation that Nu-
earthquake as evidence of their desire
remberg-type laws would invite."
to stay. He said that although half of
And sometimes the Nicaraguan
the Jewish community left after the
newspapers speak louder than diplo-
earthquake, those who stayed poured
mats. During the initial weeks of the
$100,000 into rebuilding the syna-
Israeli incursion into Lebanon, Nuevo
gogue.
Diario, the Managua newspaper that
He also dismissed the AJC's conten-
closely adheres to the government
tion that no Jews remain in Nicaragua,
line, claimed that the Israelis "used
when in fact there are four left. One of
the myth of God's chosen people to
them is protected because he is the
massacre the Palestinian people with-
brother of a Castro confidante; two
out mercy."
others are old men with French pass-
In a subsequent edition, the paper
ports; and the fourth carries a Venezu-
wrote that the "world's money, bank-
elan passport.
ing and finances are in the hands of
Gorn's countryman, Isaac Stavisky,
descendants of Jews, the eternal pro-
expressed concern for Jewish people
tectors of Zionism. Consequently,
in other Central American countries,
controlling economic power, they con-
no matter how small their numbers.
trol political power as now happens in
"A lot of people don't know what is
the United States."
going on," he said. "They think they
It added that President Reagan's
are in an oasis here in the United
support of Israel during the conflict
States and that the hatred for Jews will
must mean that he has "Jewish ances-
not come to them.
try."
"But it's not just on behalf of the few
Reagan himself spoke out against
remaining Jews in Nicaragua that we
the Sandinista regime last July at a
speak. It is for the other Jews, those in
meeting with ADL officials and Isaac
Peru who are now leaving because of
Stavisky. He said the "self-proclaimed
the PLO activity there. There are 3,000
blood unity between the Sandinistas
Jews living in Peru."
and the PLO is evident for all the