Rabbi Cohen Raps Rongy’s Claim That Charge of Bias to Jewish Medical Students Unwarranted

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those students who work their way through what is admittedly the hardest professional course.

“Dr. Rongy says, ‘Every Jewish student of proper competence and talent can eventually succeed in entering the doors of almost any medical school in this country.’ Does Dr. Rongy mean by this that the many Jewish students who have been excluded from American medical schools are both incompetent and untalented? If he does, then he adds fresh insult to deeply wounded spirits.”

EXCLUSION POLICY DANGEROUS

Rabbi Cohen takes the view tha “the exclusionist policy that has won the approbation of Dr. Rongy is dangerous to both public health and private welfare.” He maintains that hundreds of young men, excluded from American colleges, go to foreign schools “some of which are admittedly sub-grade in laboratory equipment and teaching personnel. These men will later practice in America,” says Rabbi Cohen, “with possible ill results to patients and mayhap serious harm to the general reputation of Jewish physicians.” The spiritual leader declares further that “no friend of Jewish youth can accept Rongy’s tacit position that, because discrimination exists in employment, therefore discrimination in medical education is justifiable. The second is as indefensible as the first.”

Quoting Dr. Rongy’s statement: “It is very, very rare that a Jewish doctor can gain a first-rate appointment to a medical faculty,” Rabbi Cohen asks: “Is such a situation fair to Jewish candidates for medical education, and to the millions of Jewish citizens in America?”

The rabbi further takes the view that “this exclusionist virus from medical departments” is linked considerably with increasing discrimination against students in schools devoted to other professions.

Furthermore, the rabbi decries the Rongy attitude that “we have too many Jewish doctors.” “Preventive medicine,” says Rabbi Cohen, “is rapidly coming forward. So likewise is the socialization of medical practice, in the opinion of former City Health Commissioner Harris and other authorities as well … This will call for more physicians.” Besides, he believes there is an increasing tendency of young Jewish physicians to practice in suburban and rural areas.

“The existence of discrimination against Jewish medical candidates,” Rabbi Cohen says in summarizing, “constitutes a focus of infection that must be studied and adequately treated by wise Jewish leadership. It must neither be condoned nor approved by specious reasoning or by jugglery of questionnaires.”

Executive Director, university graduate, thoroughly experienced in Jewish Center work, publicity, financial campaigns, program building. etc., available soon. Address inquiries to Box 12-A, Jewish Daily Bulletin.