Orthodox Rabbis Rap Columbia U. Jewish Student Advisor on Draft Stand

Presidents of two Orthodox rabbinical organizations denounced today a statement by a Reform rabbinical counselor of Jewish students at Columbia University urging draftees to refuse to serve in the armed forces and condoning “meaningful” pre-marital sex relations among college students.

The statement was made last week by Rabbi A. Bruce Goldman in a report to the University’s Jewish Advisory Board. Rabbi Goldman was sharply criticized by Rabbi Pesach Z. Levovitz, president of the Rabbinical Council of America, and Rabbi Bernard Berzon, president of the Rabbinic Alumni of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University.

Rabbi Levovitz deplored the new “liberal attitude” toward pre-marital relations, asserting that the institution of marriage was being “undermined” by such positions. He disclosed that he planned to submit to the June convention of his organization a series of proposals on the problem, including one for creation of pre-marital seminars to stress the spiritual and religious aspects of marriage and to require engaged Jewish couples to undertake a period of study on the Jewish religious approach to marriage before they become wed.

Rabbi Berzon said that “whatever difference of opinion there may be about the Vietnam war within the American Jewish community, as within the rest of the American community. Jewish law requires obedience to the law of the land and is opposed to defiance of duly constituted governmental authority such as advocated by Rabbi Goldman when he said Jewish young men should refuse to serve if called up.” He added that Rabbi Goldman’s approval of “meaningful” pre-marital relations was “clearly contrary to Jewish law and tradition and can only lead to the breakdown of the moral and psychological foundations of individual and family life.”