Alert Issued on Missionary Materials

The Task Force on Missionary Activity of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) has issued an alert to Jewish educational institutions, camps, synagogues and Jewish organizations to be alert to massive influx of missionary materials aimed at proselytization within the Jewish community. The JCRC reported that it has received reports from every borough in the metropolitan area indicating that Hebrew-Christian groups were engaging in a citywide campaign to convert Jews, according to Dr. Seymour Lachman, chairman of the Task Force.

“Last year we witnessed the first such massive influx of personnel and materials. Clearly, during the past few weeks, the number of people in the streets is even greater than ever, with an all-out saturation campaign underway,” Lachman said. “We must not dismiss the distribution of leaflets and material as unimportant. At the very least it is a means of establishing contact. Many of these publications are very clever and humorous drawing the attention especially of young people.”

He reported that it has already been estimated that several hundred thousand brochures have already been distributed in New York, and that these efforts are likely to continue through the summer until Labor Day. Lachman urged people to report to the JCRC the location of Hebrew-Christian and other missionary groups, and all such activities directed at the Jewish community. He also encouraged parents and teachers who know of young people who may have been involved in these activities to contact the JCRC. The address is: Task Force on Missionary Activity, Jewish Community Relations Council, III West 40th Street, New York City.