Between the Lines

If you’ve got something to sell, an excellent way of selling it is through the columns of the Jewish Daily Bulletin. Call AShland 4-3093 for rates.

Many Jews in America will agree and many will disagree with the points of view expressed on the current economic problems in America at the convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis which is now being held in Chicago. All will admit, however, that the Conference’s attitude towards the experiments now being made in American economic life by the Roosevelt administration is of great interest.

The difficulties which the Roosevelt administration face lie in the fact that it has to fight on two fronts. It must fight both capitalism and radicalism. In this respect the task of the Roosevelt administration is much more complicated than the task of a Fascist government which fights Communism only, or the task of a Communist government which fights capitalism only.

Having organized capital against it, no less than it has Communism, the Roosevelt administration depends largely upon the support of those who do not side with either of these two camps and who see the faults of both extremes.

FIRM ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

It is from this point of view that the recommendations on social justice made at the Central Conference of American Rabbis will be viewed with great interest by all those who are far from extreme radicalism but who nevertheless see the injustices inflicted by organized capital in America. Legislation on child labor, limitation of working hours, regulation of wages, social security—all these requests voiced at the convention in Chicago are only in accordance with the basic principles of justice as advocated by Jewish religion.

It was advocated at the convention that the basic enterprises in the United States be socialized, and that the national income in America be redistributed in a way that would spell justice for the average American citizen. These views may be considered by many as radical, but they actually recommend a system which has long been practiced in many European countries.

HESITANT ON WAR

The attitude taken by the conference on war, suggesting that a national referendum be taken in America before a declaration of war can become effective, will be considered by many as naive. A nation either enters or does not enter into a war. Once the United States reaches a point where such a referendum becomes necessary, it will mean that the United States does wish to participate in a war—and no referendum will prevent it.

The resolution expressing itself outright against war, which was recommended to the Conference by its committee on international peace, received ninety votes, while thirty-two voted against it, and thirty-one voted for it with reservations. This shows that although the majority of delegates is against war, there is no uniformity of opinion on this question in the ranks of American Reform rabbis, despite the fact that it has been discussed during the year from many pulpits of all denominations.

If you’ve got something to sell, an excellent way of selling it is through the columns of the Jewish Daily Bulletin. Call AShland 4-3093 for rates.