The biennial convention of the United Synagogue of America today adopted a number of resolutions dealing with the American and Israeli scene. The five-day parley of the 1, 200 delegates representing Conservative Jewry in the United States and Canada closes tomorrow.
One of the resolutions called on political parties and candidates in the 1960 elections to refrain from, and to declare themselves publicly as opposed to, all appeals to racial, religious or ethnic prejudice in campaigns for election and other contests for voter support.
Another resolution urged the relaxation of United States immigration laws. It called on the Congress to enact amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to eliminate “the discriminatory national origins quota system” and substitute “an equitable non-discriminatory formula for the admission of immigrants into the United States.”
The delegates also adopted a resolution expressing “dismay and concern” over the continued “condonation” by the U. S. Government of the imposition by Arab states of discriminatory measures against American citizens who are Jews. The resolution called on the Government to “safeguard the integrity of United States citizenship by publicly reasserting its rejection of discrimination against American citizens because of race or religion; by ending the screening of qualified American citizens for government service abroad on racial or religious grounds, by specifying in all treaties that American citizens shall not be denied the right of employment and trade or any other rights because of their religion or race.”
The convention also expressed “great concern” over the fact that the Arab boycott continues against commercial enterprises throughout the world which do business with Israel. The resolution charged the U.S. Government with “maintaining an attitude of unconcern about the boycott” which affects also Americans who are Jews.
The resolution added that by displaying such an attitude, the U.S. Government “is remiss in its responsibilities for the protection of all United States citizens whatever their religion, in full enjoyment of the rights and privileges of American citizens.” The resolution asked the U. S. Government to decline to enter into treaties or agreements which permit racial or religious discrimination against American citizens. It also appealed to all American business and commercial firms to resist the Arab boycott by every legal means.
Another resolution condemned Arab anti-Jewish propaganda in the United States disseminated by the Arab Information Center with the aid of Arab consular and embassy officials, especially in the American college campuses. The resolution urged the U. S. Government “to take such action as may be necessary to assure against activities by Arab officials in contravention of their legitimate diplomatic functions.”
USE OF ATOMIC WEAPONS RENOUNCED BY UNITED SYNAGOGUE CONVENTION
The Convention called upon the United States and other atomic powers to “continue indefinitely the present halt in nuclear testing,” to renounce the use of atomic weapons and to dismantle “all weapons of mass destruction.” Dr. Louis Finkelstein, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, addressing tonight’s session, called for an end to “group calumnies” in the United States.
Dr. Miriam Freund, president of Hadassah, who attended the convention as a delegate from her synagogue in New York City, said during the debate in the plenary on relations to World Zionism; “Judaism is the all-embracing philosophy of life. However, Judaism for me includes Zionism and thus I would hope that the United Synagogue and the World Council of Synagogues would affiliate with the World Zionist Organization in order to strengthen Judaism as well as Zionism.
“However,” Dr. Freund continued, “there are many unresolved questions, therefore I would advocate that the convention be seized with the problem and that special committees be set up to study all the ramifications and that the end result would be a positive one, namely, of affiliation.”
Bernath L. Jacobs of Philadelphia was reelected president. Arthur Bruckman of New York was elected secretary and Herman Greenberg was elected treasurer.
The Solomon Schechter Award for social action was presented at the Convention to Temple Emanuel of Staten Island, N. Y., for its participation in the rehabilitation of more than 350 juvenile delinquents through a combined program of work placement and religious counseling. The presentation was made to Rabbi Benjamin B. Wykansky, spiritual leader of the congregation.
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.
