Jewish Groups Scored for Scare Propaganda on Anti-semitism in U.S.

Jewish organizations which seek to frighten American Jewry with a “revival of organized anti-Semitism” in this country following the recent bombing of synagogues in a number of cities were strongly criticized here last night by Abraham A. Redelheim, newly elected president of the Zionist Organization of America.

Mr. Redelheim spoke at a $100-a-plate dinner of the ZOA at the Hotel Waldorf Astoria at which $100,000 was raised for the American Zionist Fund, the financial arm of the ZOA, to finance the projects of the organization in the United States and Israel. Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, presided at the affair.

Discussing the recent synagogue bombings in the South, Mr. Redelheim said that the reaction of the American people “reflected full awareness of the true nature of these incidents.” He stressed “that this is an American problem and not a Jewish problem as such,” terming the reaction of the Jewish community as “altogether sound and a correct appraisal of the bombings as lunatic acts which do not reflect the attitude of the American people as a whole.”

At the same time, however, Mr. Redelheim deplored that “in recent days the old ‘defensive’ approaches manifested itself in certain Jewish quarters with talk about the revival of organized anti-Semitism in this country and with implications that American Jewish attitudes should be attuned to such a prospect.” He termed such statements “a great disservice to the Jewish community and, moreover, they do not reflect the facts.”

“The attitude of the American people to the bombing incidents does not reflect any upsurge of anti-Semitism in our country, “he declared. “On the contrary, it is clearly labelled anti-Semitic violence for what it is–hooliganism and hoodlumism.” The Zionist leader stressed his belief that “the American Jewish community will not be pressured into a defensive frame of mind.”

“Speaking for the Zionist Organization of America, I can promise that our reply will take the form of an intensification of Jewish consciousness, especially among our young men and women, so that they will be spiritually and morally strengthened against any manifestations of hostility, and live their lives proudly with a profound understanding of their Jewish spiritual heritage,” Mr. Redelheim emphasized.

The dinner was also addressed by U. S. Senator-elect Harrison A. Williams, Jr., of New Jersey, and Dr. Emanuel Neumann, former ZOA president and member of the Jewish Agency executive. Dr. Neumann paid warm tribute to Mr Redelheim, and called for full support and cooperation in carrying out the heavy tasks he has assumed as newly elected ZOA president.