125 Hours Without Food

In a reception hall of the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv, usually given over to the festive clinking of brandy glasses toasting newlyweds, stood a long and sombre line of army cots. On them lay 51 men, mostly middleaged, skull caps on their heads, prayer shawls on their shoulders, lamenting and praying. They were fasting, not feasting. Occasionally, panting in Israel's worst heat wave in years, the men sipped weak tea; but they ate nothing. All were Rumanian Jews, onetime leaders in their communities, and they were on a hunger strike to protest Communist ill-treatment of their brethren in Rumania.

Six years ago, Rumania's Red regime had allowed--even encouraged--its Jews to emigrate to Israel. It cooperated with Rumanian Zionists, furnished them with ships and visas (at exorbitant fees), thus packed off 150,000 of the country's 350,000 Jews. Suddenly policy changed: the regime jailed hundreds of Zionists, some in dank, medieval dungeons. In October and November 1953, two showcase trials labeled the Zionist defendants as "enemies of the state" and "U.S. agents." A few weeks ago, Rumanian Jews in Israel received word of four more trials held in secrecy.

One of the fasting 51 explained their hope: "We will be proud if our fast helps to arouse the conscience of the world to the plight of Rumanian Jewry." The world's conscience seemed busy elsewhere. But not in Israel. Crowds gathered outside the synagogue. After 72 hours of fasting, some of the men began dropping. A medical team, keeping anxious watch, ordered six to take food immediately. By the fourth day. 10,000 people had walked past the cots where the men lay. For matter-of-fact Israel, this was a rare demonstration of respect. President Moshe Sharett arrived to join others who were begging the men to give up their hunger strike. He added: "The nation is full of admiration for your heroic deed, and the government stands behind you."

At 7 o'clock one night, after 125 foodless hours, the 45 men agreed to end their fast. They were given coffee and one rusk apiece. Whether they had softened any Communist hearts in Rumania was doubtful, but the fasters hoped that their brethren imprisoned in Rumania, hearing of the deed, would find at least a little solace.

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