American Jewish Historical Society Discusses Wide Range of Subjects

Date published on Jewish intermarriage in Washington were questioned at the 63rd annual meeting of the American Jewish Historical Society, which concluded its three-day sessions here today, following presentations on a wide range of Jewish historical and current events. Dr. Leon J. Obermayer, of Philadelphia, was re-elected president of the society.

Taking issue with the published figures on intermarriage in Washington was Dr. Dorothy Steinberg, of Washington, one of the principal speakers at the gathering attended by 400 guests and members of the society. She pointed out that the data in a recently published survey, which attracted nationwide attention, were based on figures obtained in 1956 and had changed since that year. The three national elections which have taken place since that survey, she said, has altered the situation in Washington.

In her critique, Dr. Steinberg also said that one of the studies, dealing with racial and ethnic prejudices in Chicago, had misinterpreted the attitude of Jews who had allegedly shown “a greater level of prejudice toward others” than Gentiles showed toward Jews. Pointing out that “prejudice” was not adequately or uniformly defined, she declared that those Jews who showed prejudice referred chiefly to “bias” against intermarriage, rather than to an attitude against non-Jews as such.

Professor Oscar Janowsky, of the City College of New York, principal speaker at the annual dinner of the society, said that American Jews should join other forces in behalf of equality for 11 Americans, but should not permit Jewish institutions to become nonsectarian. “The issue,” he said, must be faced squarely, and the issue in Jewish communal institutions is “non-discrimination, not no sectarianism.”

“All Americans should be welcome in Jewish institutions but the character and justification for Jewish agencies must be their Jewish programming and orientation.” he stressed. “I believe that Jews, like other liberal Americans, have the responsibility of cooperating in the effort to combat poverty and discrimination. As individuals, they should and do join with non-Jewish Americans in promoting the cause of freedom and equality for all, regardless of race, color or creed.”