A leader of the ultra-Orthodox Agudah Israel World Organization asserted here today that while Israel had gone far toward achieving economic and military independence, it was “devoid of spiritual content.”
The charge was made by Rabbi Y. M. Levin, chairman of the organization’s world executive, at the opening session of the organization’s World Congress. More than 400 delegates and 2,000 guests from 15 countries attended the session.
Rabbi Levin said that “irreligious circles” in Israel were giving support to “Reform Judaism missionaries and apostates” and asserted that the Israel Supreme Court had “a negative attitude to our holy Torah.”
The delegates heard a message of greeting from Premier Levi Eshkol expressing the hope that the deliberations would be held “in a spirit of Jewish love, fraternity and peace and comradeship.” A large audience filled the Jerusalem Convention Hall. Among those present were the President’s aide, Police Minister Behor Shitreet, Social Welfare Minister Josef Burg, Chief Rabbi Isser Unterman, Chief Chaplain Shlomo Goren, and others.
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.
