The American Jewish Congress issued a statement replying to the charges of Young Israel. Taking issue especially with the charge that the AJC “has turned into a Civil Liberties Union, ” the statement says:
“We regret the decision of Young Israel to terminate their affiliation with the American Jewish Congress, especially since the reason given for their action misrepresents the character of the Congress. It is not true, as they say, that Congress is merely a ‘civil liberties’ organization.
“The concern of Congress with problems of civil rights and separation of church and state stems from its deep commitment to the defense of the rights of the Jewish community and the vital interests of Jews in the preservation of religious liberty. While Young Israel may differ with Congress on a question such as Federal aid to parochial schools, it cannot properly claim that its view must prevail over the democratically arrived at decision of the governing council of the Congress in which Young Israel as well as all other affiliated organizations have been fully represented.”
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