The role of World Jewry in helping the emerging new African states was discussed here today at the-28th annual meeting of the Conference on Jewish Social Studies. Dr. Eliahu Elath, co-chairman of the Afro-Asian Institute for Labor Studies in Tel Aviv, and Israel’s former Ambassador to the United States and to the United Kingdom, was the principal speaker. More than 200 social scientists, communal workers and educators attended the meeting.
Speaking of Israel’s role with regard to the new African states, Dr. Elath said: “I consider the cooperation established within the last few years between Israel and some of the newly created States in Africa and Asia as among the greatest achievements in the short history of the State of Israel, and as giving expression to one of the basic tenets of the Jewish concept of universal brotherhood and peace.” He emphasized that the aid of the more developed countries to the new African States should be offered in a sentiment of equality and solidarity and not as charity.
African-Jewish relationships were traced historically and anthropologically by Dr. Joseph H. Greenberg, professor of anthropology, Columbia University; Dr. Raphael Patai, director of research, Theodor Herzl Institute; and Dr. Hugh H. Smythe, assistant professor of sociology-anthropology, Brooklyn College. Presiding at the meeting was Dr. Salo W. Baron, professor of Jewish history, Columbia University, who recently appeared as a witness at the Adolf Eichmann trial.
Dr. Israel S. Wechsler, internationally known neurologist and Jewish communal leader was elected president of the Conference on Jewish Social Studies. Dr. Wechsler, consulting neurologist at Mt. Sinai Hospital of New York, is a member of the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Israel, and a past president of the American Friends of the Hebrew University. The Conference on Jewish Social Studies seeks to promote, by means of scientific study and research, a better understanding of the position of the Jews in the modern world.
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