The problem of racial prejudice was scrutinized by lay and clerical leaders at a two-day conference called by the National Conference of Jews and Christians in Columbia University. At a series of seminar discussions held in the Horace Mann auditorium, speakers thrashed out the question of how to “create mutual aid and understanding between religious groups in the American community.”
The highlight of the discussions, how the tide of Hitlerism may be stemmed, concerned chiefly the question of what to do to thwart growth of the cancer in this country.
The view expressed by John La-Farge, associate editor of America, was that until the United States takes stringent measures against lynchings of Negroes, her claims against Jewish atrocities will remain invalid.
SAYS JEWS SHOULD WALK SOFTLY
C. E. Silcox, Institute of Social and Religious Research, pleaded that Christians in this and other countries take forceful measures to preserve Jewish equality. He said in part:
“Hitler does not need a Nazi propagandist in the United States to stir up antagonism against the Jews. What will happen depends largely on how the Jew accepts the situation.
“If he presses for what he considers his rights, and what probably are his rights, he will arouse embarrassment in city after city and likely make the situation worse. And when I say this, I want you to know that I am sympathetic with the Jew. If we have the right at present to tell the Jew to walk softly, we also should advise the Christians to create a better attitude toward the Jews and every other group.”
Henry S. Leiper, of the Universal Christian Council, said he predicts the situation of the oppressed Jews in Germany will have a more serious effect than the Germans themselves realize.
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and Rabbi Baruch Braunstein, adviser to Jewish students at Columbia University, echoed the belief that Hitlerism will vent its anger upon the Christian when the Jew has been “sufficiently excoriated.” Dr. Wise said that the Nazi government represents “a neopagan insurrection against a vulnerable Israel.”
Rabbi Braunstein said: “It is Berlin which is our most powerful enemy today. Do not be deceived by the anti-Semitic movement. There are anti-Semites in America who glory in the Jews’ misfortune in Germany. But their glee will turn to ashes and dust in their mouths when Nazidom turns its blasts upon Christianity. Remember that Nazidom is now revolting not only against Judaism and Communism but against civilization.”
Other speakers freely admitted the possibility that Hitlerized Germany may eventually aim its barrage against non-Jews, including Christians of all denominations. But from the second day of the conference emerged several possible anti-dotes against the menace of Hitlerism.
TRAINING OF CHILDREN
Mrs. Harrison D. Elliott, {SPAN}t#under{/SPAN} of the National Board of the Y.M. C.A., who presided at a round table attended by women, declared that by teaching and training children they can be influenced in the proper direction.
Rev. Edward J. Walsh, vice-president of St. John’s College, said that cooperation among religious societies at institutions of higher learning must be fostered. Dr. Paul M. Limbert, of New College, Columbia, and Mrs. Grace Sloan Overton, of the Greater New York Federation of Churches, advanced the suggestion that young peoples’ groups in churches and synagogues should be encouraged to work together.
Other speakers who attended the conference included T. Lawrason Riggs, chaplain at Yale University; Rabbi Louis I. Newman, of Temple Rodef Sholem; Rabbi David de Sola Pool, of Shearith Israel Synagogue; Michael Williams, editor of The Commonweal, and Stanley High, of the Congregational Church in Stamford.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
