More than 100 members of Zaad Rishon, an organization devoted to integrating the black Jews of the New York area into the mainstream of Jewish life, attended an all-day outing sponsored by the organization at the Hechalutz Farm here yesterday.
Several members of Zaad Rishon (“The First Step”) are second and third generation black Jews who have attended Hebrew day schools and institutions of higher education in the white Jewish community. Many of the younger children attend white Jewish religious schools. Also included among the membership are the spiritual leaders of more than 12 black Jewish congregations in the New York area.
The organization engages in a varied program of cultural and spiritual activities aimed at creating a deeper understanding between white and black Jews. In addition to bringing black Jews closer to world Jewish problems and Zionism, Zaad Rishon is active in civil rights as a bridge to better relations between the white and Negro citizens of the country through Jewish ethics and morals.
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