Pointing out that the greatest source of strength of America arises from the fact that its many and varied groups of people of different races, cultures and creeds are continuously fusing their social and cultural heritage, Henry Monsky, president of the B’nai B’rith, declared tonight that he was confident that the American people would reject the philosophy of racial superiority spread by groups seeking to create disunity in this country.
Addressing a dinner in his honor at the Hotel Commodore, which climaxed the observance of Brotherhood Week, Mr. Monsky said, “I have too much faith in the soundness of the heart of America, too much respect for the deep-rooted concept of equality, liberty and justice which is part and parcel of the whole pattern of the American way to have any anxiety that the American people can be deceived, duped, misled or misguided by any such false philosophies, and functions of this character, symbolizing the mutual respect and friendly collaboration among representatives of all faiths, give assurances against any such developments in America.”
“It is appropriate,” Mr. Monsky declared, “that this program should be presented by B’nai B’rith which for more than a century has been consecrated to a program of good will and valiant service to the nation and to the Jewish community. This program is symbolic of the spirit of America. Catholic, Protestant and Jew meet to express their mutual resolve that the basic principles of our democracy should be preserved and perpetuated.”
Other speakers at the dinner, which was arranged by the Netropolitan Council of B’nai B’rith in behalf of the Joint Defense Appeal of the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, included Father Flanagan, founder of Bays Town, who scored racial and religious prejudice as a danger to the American way life, and Captain M.M. Witherspoon, Chief of Chaplains of the Third Naval District, who paid tribute to the war activities of B’nai B’rith.
At the conclusion of the dinner, which was attended by 1,400 persons, the Joint Defense Appeal announced that it hopes to raise $4,000,000 in 1945 to support the educational programs of the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation league.
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.
