‘massive Jewish Presence’ is Expected for Washington Demonstrations

A “massive Jewish presence” is expected for the Nov. 15 peace march, organizers said here today. The major action reported here was the action of the organized Jewish community, especially Hillel Foundations, in providing housing and other needs for marchers. Rabbi Oscar Groner, assistant national director of Hillel Foundations, is helping with arrangements for housing, kosher food and other assistance.

The newly-formed National Jewish Organizing Project (NJOP), a radical group, has indicated that Abbie Hoffman, a Jew who is one of the “Chicago 8” on trial in Chicago for allegedly inciting riots during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, will speak at a Friday Jewish worship service which its has set up. Mr. Hoffman is leader of the so-called “Yippie” movement.

An NJOP press release listed a number of prominent Jews as active on its behalf, including Rabbi Brickner and Albert Vorspan of the (Reform.) Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Rabbi George Sobleman of Wesleyan University, said to be coordinating participation of Orthodox rabbis; and Burton Weiss of the Jewish Peace Fellowship.

Both Rabbi Brickner and Mr. Vorspan declared, in statements in New York to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, that they dissociated themselves from the NJOP invitation to “Yippie” leader Hoffman. Rabbi Brickner said it was true that he had been active in support of the NJOP, but he stressed that he was not asked about the presence of Mr. Hoffman for the Friday evening “sermon” planned by NJOP. He added that “I do not support the NJOP’s sponsorship” of that sermon, “neither do I support any anti-Israel stance that may emanate from workshops or meetings of the radical Jewish youth this weekend in Washington.”

Rabbi Brickner added that he would not be present at the service at which Mr. Hoffman was scheduled to speak but that he would participate in an inter-religious service at the Washington Cathedral on Friday evening. That service is being sponsored by the Clergy and Laymen Concerned About the War in Vietnam. Rabbi Brickner is a member of that organization’s steering committee. Mr. Vorspan said he had sent a telegram to Michael Tabor, spokesman for Jews for Urban Justice, in which he said he was “deeply disturbed” over press statements “using my name in apparent support of activities I neither knew or nor approve of, and association with persons such as Abbie Hoffman, whose views I condemn.” He also said in the telegram that he had agreed to participate in a discussion, during the NJOP workshops, on the Jewish community and the war and Vietnam, but that in view of “all circumstances,” he preferred to take part in a meeting on the role of the synagogue and the Jewish community planned at the Washington Hebrew Congregation. He said he was withdrawing from his agreement to take part in the NJOP-sponsored workshop.

ACCOMMODATIONS ARE ALSO BEING PROVIDED FOR MANY NON-JEWS

Since non-Jews in some instances want to come to Washington with close Jewish friends, the synagogues

Supporting the students’ assistance center is the Jewish “establishment,” ranging from the Sim Shalom, the community peace effort, across the spectrum of the community. The Washington Board of Rabbis has been giving strong support to the moratorium weekend with many special services on Friday and Saturday at many synagogues. The professional staff of the Hillel office, Jewish Community Council professionals and staffs of such agencies as the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress and the UAHC are cooperating with the Jewish students. Other delegations planning to participate in the anti-war activities reportedly include the Social Action Committee of the UAHC, members of the Conservative and Orthodox rabbinate and NJOP constituent groups from Chicago, Madison (Wis.), Seattle and San Francisco.

The NJOP, calling for a national mobilization of Jewish radicals, has apparently chosen to divorce itself from the Jewish communal involvement in the peace demonstrations. The NJOP will function separately at a church rented to accommodate protesters seeking a distinct identity as Jewish radicals. The NJOP plans a Jewish demonstration against President Richard M. Nixon’s policies, in addition to participating in the New Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam’s protest activities. On Sunday noon, a Hebrew service, with peace readings from Jewish scripture will take place in connection with a ceremonial march around the White House during which shofars will be sounded.