Central Conference of American Rabbis Votes to Retain Neutrality on Zionism

The Central Conference of American Rabbis, at its annual convention today, voted to retain its position of neutrality with regard to Zionism. The session ratified the report of its committee on the president’s message, reading:

“With reference to the American Jewish Conference’s resolution on Palestine, we beg to state that the CCAR delegates went to the conference uninstructed and were free to vote in accordance with their individual convictions. They therefore did not commit the Central Conference of American Rabbis to their point of view, and the CCAR’s position on neutrality adopted in 1935 remains unimpaired. The committee on the President’s message concurs in the action of the CCAR executive board in ratifying the other resolutions of the American Jewish Conference for which our delegates voted.”

The convention re-elected Solomon B. Freehof, President; Abba Hillel Silver, vice-President; Harry S. Margolis, Preasurer; Sidney L. Regner, Financial Secretary; and Isaac E. Marouson, Administrative Secretary. Elected to the executive board until 1946 were Stanley R. Brav, Vicksburg; Abraham Feinstein, Chattanooga; Alan S. Green, Troy, N. Y.; Jacob Marcus, Cincinnati; Louis Witt, Dayton; and Major Aryeh Levy, Washington. Rabbi Barnett Brickner of Cleveland was elected to the board for a four-year term. C. George Fox of Chicago and Samuel S. Mayerberg of Kansas City were named members of the Board of Governors for the next four years.

ASK REPRESENTATION ON NATIONAL COMMUNITY RELATIONS ADVISORY COUNCIL

The convention passed a resolution stating that “although the newly created National Community Relations Advisory Council does not achieve that unity of forces of Jewish defense which the Conference has long hoped and labored for, the CCAR looks upon it as a step in the direction of complete unity and, desiring to cooperate in attaining that end, respectfully asks for inclusion on the Council of representatives of the three main religious movements in America.”

The convention also adopted the following recommendations of its Justice and Peace Commission: “That the Central Conference of American Rabbis express regret over banning by USO and War Department of the pamphlet ‘Races of Mankind;’ that the American Red Cross be appealed to end segregation of blood of Negro donors; that appeal be made for justice to Japanese-Americans; that the Conference deplore strikes which have occurred in many sections of the country but, at the same time, caution the American public not to condemn all labor for the acts of a few; that the Conference laud the great record of American industrial management, ‘unparallel in the history of the world;’ that the Fair Employment Practice Committee be made a permanent function of the Government; that the Conference urge President Roosevelt to recognize the French Previsional Government of General de Gaulle; that the American Red Cross be praised for its contribution toward civilian relief; that Secretary Hull be commended for moving to obtain appointment of a Senatorial Advisory Committee to consult with him on foreign policy and thus remove from the arena of partisan polities questions of international policy.”

As a means of helping to combat racial hatred and religious intolerance in America, Dr. Freehof urged that the Commission on Jewish Education be instructed to consider and undertake the task of publishing a number of books of general appeal for children of public school and high school age on the place and contribution of Israel in world civilization and in American history.