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Israeli Chief Rabbi Reports on His Impressions of American Jewry; Lauds Truman

July 15, 1949
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Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Israel declared today at a press conference, upon his return from visits to the U.S., England and France, that he favored the formation in Jerusalem of a rabbinical committee to aid the Chief Rabbinate in “the adjustment and unification of Jewish religious life and customs throughout the world.”

Dr. Herzog lauded the devotion of the American Jewish community to Israel, but insisted that the “Jewish spirit must be strengthened in American Jewry.” He said that while in the United States he discussed “at length” and in a friendly atmosphere the question of the future of Jerusalem with Cardinal Spellman. He declined, however, to reveal the contents of this discussion.

Rabbi Herzog was highly laudatory of President Truman, stating that Truman is a “wonderful, straightforward man who not only appreciates the Jewish vision of moral principles, but knows the Bible as well and respects the Jewish written laws.” The Israeli Chief Rabbi said he endeavored, while in the U.S., to further the idea of both the Old and New sections of Jerusalem remaining in Jewish hands, with “interreligious supervision for the Christian and Moslem Holy Places.”

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