Between the Lines

The convocation of a World Jewish Congress in 1935—a matter which for the last four years and up till now has been the cause of the deepest conflict between the leading Jewish organizations in America—has now practically been postponed.

The American Jewish Congress has indicated its willingness to forego its determination to summon the World Jewish Congress in 1935 if the opposing Jewish bodies in America would agree to the creation of a united council in which all groups and parties should participate.

The plan proposed by the American Jewish Congress may not be accepted by the opposing groups exactly in the form suggested. It will however serve as a good basis for the conciliation of the groups in American Jewry which have been divergent since the summoning of the first American Jewish Congress, seventeen years ago.

UNITY IS POSSIBLE

That unity in American Jewry is possible has been demonstrated in one form or another within the past few years. The Joint Consultative Council is one example of possible unification. The United Jewish Appeal conducted by the Joint Distribution Committee and the American Palestine Campaign is another example of unity in American Jewish life.

But while these efforts for unity have been of temporary nature only, the plan suggested by the American Jewish Congress may result—after some modification — in permanent unity. It may bring unity not only in the ranks of American Jewry, but also in the ranks of World Jewry.

Never before has the need for a united Jewry been so great as now, when the solution of Jewish problems throughout the world must receive the most serious attention. What world Jewry needs today is a permanent organization planning long-range action and prepared for emergency situation such as the one in Germany, such as the one now cropping up in Austria, such as the one in Poland.

FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN LINE

It must be recognized that just as the American nation has withdrawn from its isolationist policy in practice, if not technically, the Jews of America, in the light of the peculiar anti-Jewish conditions now existing in many parts of Europe, must also take a more active interest in the fate of European Jewry.

American Jewry is today the most dominant factor in the solution of Jewish problems, because of its favored position as the largest, freest, richest Jewish community in the world. Unity in American Jewry would lead to unity in world Jewry and to a better protection of Jewish rights.

Any plan which would make such unity possible is therefore to be welcomed. The further developments of the offer made by the American Jewish Congress will therefore be watched with great interest.