Criticism against Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, was voiced here today by the Synagogue Council of America–representative body of Orthodox, Conservative and Reform rabbinical and congregational organizations–for his remarks at the opening session of the Zionist Actions Committee in Jerusalem last night on the trend in the American Jewish community “to base the whole of Jewish life solely on the synagogue.”
“Although it is obvious,” Dr. Goldmann told the Actions Committee, “that the synagogue has always played a central role in Jewish life and must continue to do so, and nobody will deny the great beneficial influence which the growing number of synagogues, congregations and community centers have on American Jewish life, yet, to try to organize the Jewish people exclusively on the synagogue, is a distortion of the character of the Jewish people which was never only a religion or a church but which has many other elements.”
“American Jewry,” Dr. Goldmann continued, “must not try to become a purely religious denomination among other religious groups in America, but must maintain the consciousness of being part of the Jewish people all over the world in its unique character, which is much more than a purely religious one and is becoming more and more tied up morally, emotionally and spiritually with Israel, based on the acceptance of the central position of Israel in Jewish life of today and tomorrow.”
Dr. Julius Mark, president of the Synagogue Council of America, in a statement issued here today, took issue with Dr. Goldmann and called his remarks “a snide attack upon the synagogue.” Declaring that “despite his unquestioned talents, Dr. Goldmann exhibited abysmal ignorance of American Jewish life,” the Synagogue Council president said: “Whether Dr. Goldmann likes it or not, the synagogue has been and is the hallmark of the Jew in America and throughout the Western world.”
“American Jews,” Dr. Mark declared, “are naturally interested in and proud of the achievements of Israel. They have given generous financial support as well as their business know-how and acumen to this plucky little republic, the only bastion of democracy in the Middle East. On the other hand, they recognize that the Jew has survived for nearly two thousand years, when there was no Israel, because of his loyalty to his faith.”
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.
