A four-day national conference of the American Council for Judaism will open here tomorrow at Hotel Shoreham “to discuss problems and issues concerned with stressing the universal concepts of Judaism in opposition to the increasing emphasis upon ‘Jewish’ nationalism.”
In a statement issued here today on the eve of the opening of the conference, the Council emphasized that it rejects the notion that Judaism is in any sense a nationality, or that Jews constitute a “race,” a “nation sprat” or a “culture.” “The only homeland of Americans of Jewish faith,” the statement said, “is the United States of America. The Council therefore favors the social, economic, political and cultural integration into American institutions of all Americans of Jewish faith.”
President Truman, in a message to the conference made public today, said: “The high purposes and principles of the American Council for Judaism are in fullest consonance with the historic traditions of our American democracy. The Council has set a worthy example to all Americans who believe in the brotherhood of man. As a group, having a common faith and a common purpose, you are making a valuable contribution to the rich and wholesome variety of American life. And you are demonstrating that Americans, of whatever religious belief or national origin, can go their separate ways in religious association and fellowship, at the same time sharing common civic rights and obligations for the mutual enrichment of our people.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
