Between the Lines

Jewish leaders in forty States in America will have the opportunity to hear a very interesting report on the various activities of the American Jewish Committee, when the annual meeting of the committee opens in New York on January 6.

A good deal of important work has been done by the American Jewish Committee during the past year. Much of it had to do with the protection of Jewish rights in foreign countries. A large proportion of it was in connection with combatting anti-Jewish tendencies in America.

The American Jewish Committee is not in the habit of giving publicity to its activities. It has often been criticized for this policy. However, those who are more or less acquainted with the work which the American Jewish Committee has done during the year just passed will agree that the tradition of the committee not to indulge in publicity is quite justifiable.

WHY PUBLICITY IS AVOIDED

It is, in a way, regrettable that the session of the American Jewish Committee will not be open to the public. This secrecy is deemed necessary because of the facts which may be revealed there. Interesting as these facts might be to all the Jews in America, Jewish interests might be adversely affected if the details were disclosed to an audience of unknown composition.

Never before was the American Jewish Committee so justified in its policy of secrecy as this year, when war is being waged against the Jews on many fronts. The important work which the committee does to avert the dangers of this war would no doubt be more complicated if the public were told how this work is done. However, the more serious the activities of the committee are, the less they can be commented upon openly.

FINE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The American Jewish Committee has this year accomplished in its silent way more than others have tried to accomplish in a noisy way. The annual gathering of the American Jewish Committee, where part of its achievements will be reported, promises therefore to be one of the most historical meetings of American Jewry.

The presence of Sir Osmond D’Avigdor Goldsmid and of Neville Laski at this session will make it even more interesting and important. This is the first time that leading representatives of British Jewry are participating in the annual meetings of the American Jewish Committee. Sir Osmond is the former president and Neville Laski is the present president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, with whom the American Jewish Committee has always worked in close cooperation.

One of the main features of this year’s meeting will be a discussion of the World Jewish Congress in Dr. Adler’s annual report. As far as can be foreseen, this meeting will approve the committee’s stand against a World Jewish Congress.