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Reform Jews Urged to Fight Religious Bias in Presidential Campaign

September 19, 1960
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The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, organization of 605 Reform temples with more than one million members, today urged its Social Action committees in local congregations to pursue “informal dialogues” with Protestants and Catholics in an effort to “restore a climate of fair play and objectivity” ill the Presidential campaign.

In a memorandum sent to Reform congregations throughout the United States, the UAHC urged synagogue groups to meet with local Christian leaders “to make it clear that Jewish religious representatives are as concerned about anti-Catholic bigotry as we would expect our Christian friends to be about anti-Semitic swastika-daubings or similar depredations directed against us.”

The memorandum sharply criticizes efforts to “establish a religious test for public office” and to judge men by their “religious labels.” Jews cannot sit back “in silent acquiescence” while religious bigotry is being stirred up and the democratic process is being degraded, the memorandum states.

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