Cohen Calls for New War on Jobs Bias

tions that the B’nai B’rith has for many years cooperated closely with the good will movement in America.”

SEES PROFESSIONS OVERCROWDED

Mr. Cohen spoke of the protective program of the B’nai B’rith within the United States, and of the necessity for adjusting Jewish youth in America to work other than the professions. He emphasized that distinguished leaders are directing attention to the fact that many of the professions are overcrowded by Jews.

“While these leaders say that discrimination against Jews in professional schools is unfair and un-American, nevertheless for the sake of their own future Jewish youths should seek other avenues than professions for their later life,” Mr. Cohen said. “This advice would be easier to follow if those who give it would direct attention to the callings which men follow for a livelihood in which discrimination against the Jew does not exist,” he added.

JOBS BIAS GROWING

Disclosing that discrimination against Jews in employment is growing serious in the United States, the president of the B’nai B’rith stated that “very many employment agencies refuse to take an application from a Jew or a Jewess because, as they say, if they are candid, accepting the application means a loss of time for both themselves and the applicant.”

“Similar discriminations exist in the engagement of teachers,” Mr. Cohen related. “Many schools will have none of them. The situation has become extremely grave and needs attention before it grows to insurmountable proportions,” he warned.

Mr. Cohen then discussed the split in Jewish leadership now existing in American Jewish life. He referred particularly to the differences existing between the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress.

SUGGESTS JOINT ACTION

“The American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress and the B’nai B’rith differ in methods of organization and otherwise,” he said. “It is idle to expect that either will yield its existence in favor of another, but it is possible for them through representation from their membership to constitute a jointure that shall speak and act for and in behalf of all American Jewry in matters of such general concern to the Jew as may interest all Jews, regardless of distinctions which ordinarily divide them.”

Mr. Cohen demanded that the Joint Council consisting of representatives of the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress and the B’nai B’rith be enlarged in its powers and in its jurisdiction.”

STAFF ENLARGED

Speaking of the “growth and spread of anti-Jewish propaganda,” Mr. Cohen reported that this has necessitated a very great enlargement of the staff and the activities of the Anti-Defamation League. “One cannot help expressing the wish that in this country of ours there was less need for an Anti-Defamation League,” he said, emphasizing however, that today the protective activity of the Anti-Defamation League is of very great importance.

Mr. Cohen urged the official recognition of the B’nai B’rith Women’s auxiliaries. “Liberal Judaism has placed the Jewish woman on a par with men, and quite nobly has she requitted her emancipation,” he stated.

Touching upon the philanthropic activities of the B’nai B’rith, Mr. Cohen recomended that the B’nai B’rith continue to support the Mayo Clinic in Rochester where thousands of Jewish patients come every year from all parts of the country and in every condition of illness and mental distress. He also reported that emergency relief was given by the B’nai B’rith to German refugees in Poland, to Jewish communities suffering intolerance in Mexico and in Salonica, Greece, and to Jewish families who suffered in 1933 from an earthquake in Southern California.

Mr. Cohen also reported that the B’nai B’rith has spent $250,000 in Mexico and an equal sum in caring for World War orphans since the last convention.