The American Jewish Congress today made public a communication sent to the Polish Embassy in Washington calling upon the Polish Government to act to prevent the passage of the bill now before the Polish Parliament prohibiting shechita, the Jewish ritual method of slaughtering animals for food. The bill on Thursday was rushed through a Sejm commission hearing.
The communication points out that the passage of such a measure, in addition to being inherently unjust, is in contravention of the minorities rights clauses of the Peace Treaties. The Polish Government is reminded that the American Government helped to reconstitute Poland on the understanding that full religious and civil rights would be guaranteed the Jews. The passage of such legislation would have the effect of impugning the honor and good faith of the Polish nation.
The communication points out further that the passage of the bill, following upon the heels of the violence against the Jews, will create the impression that despite its public condemnation of the excesses, the Polish Government is in fact, sanctioning anti-Semitism.
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