Jewish Congress Discusses American Jewish Communal Problems

Problems concerning American Jewish life and the status of Jews in various parts of the world were discussed at a two-day session of the administrative committee of the American Jewish Congress which concluded here today. More than 250 AJC leaders from all parts of the country participated.

Dr. Horace M. Kallen, noted philosopher, and national vice-president of the AJC, urged American Jewry to “bring a greater measure of order and cooperation into the planning of its communal affairs.” Warning that the total claims and demands of various communal organizations far exceeds the capacity and resources of the Jewish community, Prof. Kallen said: “Unless, through cooperative planning, there is a more intelligent relationship of means to ends, there is grave danger that we may undermine the creative institutions and causes American Jewry has built and developed.”

Dr. Israel Goldstein, AJC president, called upon the American Government to “reappraise its recent reappraisal of its former Middle East policy.” He said that the “sc-called Arab peace offensive” launched by eight Arab diplomats in London this week-end was “merely camouflage” for a rearmament drive with which to threaten the existence and security of Israel. “If the Arab states really want peace,” he declared, “let them not issue propaganda statements in London or Washington, but agree to sit down at a peace table with Israel, and lift the illegal Suez Canal blockade imposed by Egypt against Israel.”

Shad Polier, chairman of the AJC executive committee, deplored the refusal of the American Government to participate in the current UN conference on the Status of Stateless Persons. “Such non-participation on our part only provides damaging propaganda material for those who would like to persuade people throughout the world that our government has serious misgivings about the role of the United Nations as an instrument for international cooperation in the vital area of human rights,” he said.

Dr. David Petegorsky, AJC national executive director, called upon leaders and candidates of both the Democratic and Republican parties to “de-partisanize” the issue of civil rights by pledging themselves to support and enact a broad human rights program in the next session of Congress. Dr. Maurice Perlzweig, director of the World Jewish Congress International Affairs Department, reported that Moslem leaders in Tunisia, led by Prime Minister Ben Ammar, have shown “the utmost friendliness to the Jewish community.” As an indication of this attitude, he cited the announcement by the Bey of Tunis that the Day of Atonement will once again become a legal holiday, a privilege which was withdrawn by the Vichy Government.