Dr. Joseph J.Schwartz, vice president of the Israel Bond Organization, today took issue with the American Council for Judaism whose president, Clarence L. Coleman Jr., yesterday declared that the efforts to sell Israel bonds in synagogues during the forthcoming High Holy Days are “a desecration of Judaism’s most solemn and spiritual days. “
“The participation of synagogues in the Israel bond campaign is not a new program. ” Dr. Schwartz said. “It has been an integral part of our activities at this time of the year, ever since the first Israel bond issue was floated in this country in May 1951. These activities have had the approval of leading American rabbis as well as rabbinical bodies, and religious sanctions have also been given by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
“It has been a traditional practice among synagogues of every branch of Judaism in the United States to link the High Holy Days with specific endeavors for Israel and for other Jewish causes. Mr. Coleman is entitled to express his opinions, but he is in no way authorized or equipped to speak for religious Jewry. We are confident that the action of the American Council for Judaism will not diminish or interfere with this important project on behalf of Israel.”
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.
