American Jewish Committee Optimistic on Future of Judaism in U.S.

"In spite of the prophets of doom and the various prophesies of doom that have come out of Israel and elsewhere, Judaism in America will survive and flourish, " Dr.John Slawson, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, declared in his address today at the opening session of the 54th annual meeting of the organization.

The four-day meeting of the American Jewish Committee, which is taking place in the Roosevelt Hotel here, will be addressed by Secretary of Labor Arthur J.Goldberg and other prominent personalities, Herbert B.Ehrmann, president of the AJC, announced that the conference will consider intergroup issues in American life, the impact of the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem, job discrimination in American industries, federal aid to sectarian colleges, religious observances in public schools, and Arab nationalism and security of Jews.

Dr. Slawson, in his address, said that there are"pitfalls and dangers" with regard to the future of Judaism in this country."But, " he stressed, "barring the success of totalitarian groups either of the right or of the left, such as the John Birch Society, on the one hand, and Communist groups on the other, there is a future in the United States for American Jewry to develop an indigenously American Judaism.

DR. SLAWSON URGES PREVENTION OF CENTRALIZATION IN COMMUNITY LIFE

The American Jewish Committee leader urged the prevention of the formation of centralism in Jewish community life, whether it be international, national or local. "I would also urge, " he said, "that we keep Jewish communal life voluntary as the general American life is voluntary, with its richness, variety and flourishing progress; that we should consider differences among Jews as well as similarities and permit Jews to select those organizations that express their American Jewish interests and that represent their particular points of view and serve as channels to do things the way each group would like to have them done; that we not stultify by superimposing over-all umbrellas; that collaboration take place on a voluntary basis of independent autonomous entities; that we do not create out of Jews in America a separate enclave ‘one voice,’ ‘one spokesman.’"

Simultaneously Dr. Slawson urged "to encourage inter-action and full participation of Jews in all facets of the life of America with the retention of our religious or religio-cultural identity. He also suggested the promotion of "surefootedness" among the American Jews" by giving them an understanding in depth of what America actually is and, of equal importance, what Judaism actually is especially in its ethical and moral aspects–self-knowledge and self-understanding for the young and old."

Pointing out that America is often being spoken of as a tri-faith country, Slawson said "As a Jewish group we put forth our claim for recognition and acceptance as one of the three great religions in America. We have assumed all of the accouterments of a religious group in American society. Yet often we are uncomfortable in this attire. Is that not because we know there is another dimension to Jewishness beside religion? There are Jews who are not religious but who consider themselves Jews and who are identified as Jews. Are they less-so because they are not religious? Jews nearly always find themselves on the side of secularists and humanists in the dialogue or debate with the religionists."

ANALYZES IMPACT OF RISA OF UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES ON ISRAEL

The American Jewish Committee leader analyzed the situation of the Jews in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia and pointed out that the rise of the underdeveloped countries in the world is being accompanied by a "very fervent" anti-colonial spirit. "In connection with this, " he said, "we find that an anti-Israel sentiment has been incorporated into the total syndrome of anti-colonialism. Israel is looked upon as a Western imperialistic product.

"It seems likely that Christian groups; eager for the friendship of African and Asian people, will accept these sentiments and act accordingly, " he continued. "And, I should add that the statements and actions that have come out of Israel since it has been created, especially in recent years, in no way help the situation a bit. As a matter of fact, they-invest with a certain amount of credibility in the minds of even friendly American Christians, the irrational attitudes manifested and actions taken by the Arab countries to ward Israel."

Dr. Slawson emphasized that the election of President Kennedy "marked America’s entry into a post-Protestant era, distinguished by industrial urbanism and by religious, racial and ethnic pluralism. " He said that with respect to the new Administration, two things must be kept in mind the emergence of reactionary groups as a protest to a liberal administration, such as the John Birch Society, and that pluralism calls for an increase in intergroup contacts"and may therefore result in intergroup conflicts due to differences in perceptions and values."