‘Double Loyalty’ of U.S. Jews?

The issue of double loyalty with regard to American Jews surfaced in the article “A Case of Uncertain Espionage” and in the letters (Dec. 22).

Over the past year 11 Americans have been found to have spied against the United States in behalf of foreign governments. Undoubtedly these American traitors are of various ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds. It is intriguing that the issue of loyalty, with regard to the ethnic group identified with each spy, has not been raised with the exception of the American Jew found to have spied against the United States. The discovery of a naturalized Chinese-American’s spy activities did not result in similar questioning of that community.

It is with great shame and outrage with which I read the questioning of loyalty upon any group of Americans. Such inquiries wreak of ignorance and bear the design of thinly disguised bigotry.

But why, particularly in this instance, the double standard for American Jews? Is it because of the substantial aid that Israel receives from the United States? This is wholly irrelevant and clearly not the issue. The loyalty of American Jews is not attached to aid for Israel. Besides, the typical American Jew, as is the typical American, outside of the decision-making apparatus of this nation. For those who find themselves in such a position, the conflict presented in decision-making and access to critical information is no greater than that confronted by any American who must deal with an issue on which he has strong feelings. Or should we, for instance, prevent, say any Greek, from holding a government job that would in some form or other involve the nation of Greece?

Anti-Semites are all too ready to crawl out of their dark crevices so as to grab an issue upon which they gleefully disseminate their hate. The suggestion that we should exclude Jews, or at least Zionists, from government positions that relate to the Middle East, is ludicrous. Are we to segregate our government according to the sentiments of every personality involved? If you reply in the affirmative then the same standard must be set for other Americans whose government positions involve issues and foreign nations with which they identify. This would involve the complete upheaval of our American bureaucracy.

Ultimately, American Jews are guilty of but one thing--pride in their heritage. The same “crime” is evidenced in the German, Italian, Greek, Asian, Latino and other communities. American Jews are no less loyal than any other segment of our population. History records their readiness toward patriotism and hard work in behalf of their nation. The actions of one man do not speak of a people.

JOSHUA REICHLER

Los Angeles