An appeal to American Jews to promote unity and harmony “so essential in these times of crisis was voiced here today by Jacob Blaustein, president of the American Jewish Committee, addressing about 400 local members of the A.J.C. here.
“We American Jews can contribute actively and constructively to promoting that unity and harmony which is so essential today only by a thorough understanding of our special responsibilities as American citizens and as Jews,” he stated. ” We must remember that hostility and disunity do not grow out of differences but out of the way men regard differences. And it may grow from the way Jews regard these differences. Thus, it is essential that Jews understand clearly the meaning of their Jewishness. Upon this understanding depends their attitude, among other things, toward their fellow Americans, toward Israel, toward their co-religionists everywhere.
“We must be deeply concerned with promoting a way of life that is wholly America-oriented and at the same time involves an enriched and flourishing Judaism. Mr. Blaustein continued, ” This does not mean that we must adopt a cultural or religious isolationism, or be forgetful of the universal character of Judaism. It means only that American Jews will spontaneously and naturally think of their situation as an American situation and of their future and the future of their children as an American future. It is right and fitting that this should be so.” he emphasized.
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