Agudat Israel World Organization Disassociates Itself from Conference

The Agudat Israel World Organization disassociated itself today from the world conference on Soviet Jewry being held here, although representatives of the Orthodox group are attending the conference as observers. Their position was stated in a communication received today by Claude Kelman, chairman of the conference secretariat. The Agudat Israel said it was acting on the advice of its rabbinical authorities, A number of delegates, mainly from religious groups, today questioned the whole purpose of the conference and some expressed the view that it could do more harm than good for Soviet Jews. A conference spokesman said the position announced by the World Agudat Israel was not new because the group never participated in the conference at any stage although it advised the conference that it was sending observers. A spokesman for the Board of Deputies of British Jews noted that Agudat Israel observers were still attending the conference sessions.