‘Single Voice’ for American Jewry Discussed at Rabbinical Assembly

There is an "acute" need in America at present for a national organization of the American Jewish community, and the American rabbinate is "uniquely qualified to create and guide such a representative body," Dr. Israel Goldstein, told the 60th annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly, at Grossinger’s Hotel today. The Assembly is the representative body of the Conservative rabbinate in this country. More than 500 rabbis from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico are attending the convention.

American Jewry, said Rabbi Goldstein, needs "a single voice, to speak on behalf of the American Jewish community to the non-Jewish community and to Israel. Despite past failures to achieve this end, it is imperative to make another attempt at this time. The American rabbinate is in a special position to set this process in motion, and it is in duty bound to enter upon this important task." He emphasized that "the rabbis are the least involved in the rivalry between the four leading ‘defense’ bodies, and are not involved in differences between Zionists and non-Zionists."

"Standing above the contest," Dr. Goldstein continued, "the rabbis through their congregations, already speak for the largest single constituency in American Jewish life. Moreover, there is a certain special quality or moral authority inherent in religious leadership. Finally, the rabbis have regular and recurrent access to large numbers of Jews, and are in a good position to generate public opinion."

"In envisioning the agenda of a central, representative Jewish body in the United States," Rabbi Goldstein stressed, "the moral and material support of Israel would certainly be one of the major items. Thus, it could absorb what is now the province of the Presidents’ Conference. With every passing year, the mobilizing of material support for Israel in gifts, loans and investments becomes not easier but more difficult."

Rabbi Wolfe Kalman, executive vice-president of the Rabbinical Assembly, called upon the rabbis "to join our dedicated Negro colleagues" in the forefront of the struggle for equal opportunities.