American Jewish Committee Sees Judaism Strong in the United States

“Contrary to prophecies that integration of Jews into American life would eventually lead to the disappearance of Judaism, both Judaism and Jewish organizational life have flourished in the United States, Herbert B. Ehrmann, president of the American Jewish Committee, declared here today at the closing session of the three-day meeting of the executive board of the organization.

Emphasizing that Jews in this country “have made many and rich contributions to the evolving culture of America,” Mr. Ehrmann said: “There has also been an amazing development of Jewish movements and institutions, a creative activity for which it would be hard to find a parallel. Jews have advanced revolutionary concepts in philanthropy. They have created cultural and educational institutions reflecting the divergent backgrounds of their founders. Throughout the United States one finds Jewish centers, Jewish sponsored hospitals of the highest standing, a Jewish and Anglo-Jewish press, Jewish publications and historical societies, new techniques in community relations and scores of organizations devoted to specialized interests at home, in Israel and throughout the world.”

Turning to the relationship of American Jews to Israel, Mr. Ehrmann said that the American Jewish Committee had supported the establishment of the State as a haven for Jews who need or want to emigrate there. He said that the AJC had continued to support it for two main reasons: within the framework of American foreign policy which supports any viable democracy in any part of the world; and because of “a common history and heritage and religion American Jews feel strong bonds of friendship and sympathy with the Jews of Israel.”

Dr. John Slawson, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee, told the meeting that outbursts of bigotry in this country are usually “sporadic and short-lived.” However, he emphasized that they nevertheless require “prudent special attention” to contain them.

Dr. Slawson stressed the need of long-range social science research for “immunizing Americans against the infectious spread of bigotry and group hostility.” He reported that the American Jewish Committee is acting to reduce the receptivity to all kinds of demagoguery in the United States.

“Sixteen years ago,” he cited as an example, “the Committee initiated research on the nature of prejudice which ultimately led to the publication of the now classic, five volume “Studies in Prejudice.” A part from revealing the nature of bigotry and establishing some of the dynamics of prejudice, it opened new vistas of research in the entire field. Concretely some 300 additional studies in universities throughout the country have grown out of this one research project. Good research can produce chain reaction effects.”

Dr. Slawson underscored as most significant that long range research “while giving us the tools and insights to deal with sporadic emergency situations and incidents, furnishes us with approaches for developing attitudes that are congenial to productive, democratic society.”

PROTESTS MOROCCAN ‘CAMPAIGN OF BRUTALITY’ AGAINST JEWS

The meeting heard a report on the “campaign of brutality” against Jews in Morocco conducted by the police of Casablanca and other Moroccan cities. Frederick F. Greenman, chairman of the AJC executive board, told the parley that the brutalities against Moroccan Jews range from wholesale arrests to torture. These acts, he reported, were originally incited by Egyptian propagandists during Nasser’s recent visit to Casablanca for the “African Summit Conference” and have continued to be present.

The American Jewish Committee called on the Moroccan Government to end this “flagrant violation of basic human rights” directed against “one group of Moroccan citizens.” The AJC leaders recalled that since its establishment as an independent state, Morocco has “defended the rights of all its citizens” despite “provocative agitation by anti-Semitic Arab propagandists.”

The executive board expressed “shock” that these incidents had taken place “almost simultaneously with the convening of a UN body which is investigating worldwide anti-Semitism and other forms of prejudice.” If these acts continue “the United Nations should launch an immediate investigation of the situation,” the AJC leaders urged.

Ralph Friedman, chairman of the AJC Foreign Affairs Committee, reported that the United Arab Republic and the Arab League are intensifying their policy of anti-Jewish propaganda on an international scale “in a campaign unmatched since Nazi times.”