Convention of American Jewish Congress Discusses Equality for Jews in Europe

The problems involved in restoration of Jewish rights in liberated European countries and in rehabilitation of European Jewish cultural and religious life were discussed today by the American Jewish Congress on the third day of its national convention.

Dr. Arieh Tartakewer, chairman of the Relief and Rehabilitation Committee of the World Jewish Congress, pointed out that “the Jews of Europe, in every community where they exist, even in drastically limited numbers, have shown tremendous initiative in reorganizing the life of their people. They need our help in so organizing themselves politically that they can achieve equality of status in economic, social, civic and religious affairs.”

The traditional concept of American as a “melting pot” of all peoples was challenged by Dr. Chaim Greenberg, editor of the Jewish Frontier. “The concept of the melting pot,” he declared, “implies that all groups in America must abandon the rich heritage they possess in the language and customs of their fathers.” Summarizing the conclusions of a panel discussion held in the afternoon, Dr. Greenberg added: “On the contrary, the true understanding of our democracy must lead to the encouragement of all groups to foster the art of their people. Together, all of us can contribute to the cultural pluralism that is American.”

The use of law as a weapon against discrimination was recommended by panel speakers in the fields of housing and education. It was agreed that the century-old laws prohibiting discrimination in public places must be extended to include housing, not only public housing, but private as well. The American Jewish Congress, according to Will Maslow, director of the Commission on Law and Social Action of the American Jewish Congress, intends to intervene in all cases in which the legality or constitutionality of housing contracts that contain discriminatory clauses are brought before the courts.

Traditional methods combatting racial prejudice by intensive campaigns to spread good will or to preach tolerance came under attack in a panel devoted to an evaluation of critiques of fighting intolerance. Dr. Gene Weltfish, Professor of Anthropology at Columbia University and co-author of “Races of Mankind,” declared that most of the methods being used today to overcome intercultural conflicts not only misfire because of their ineffectiveness but are in many respects “dangerous,” because they permit people to go on doing what they want to do, while hiding behind fine phrases.

U.S. MILITARY CHARGED WITH LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR DISPLACED JEWS

Captain Joseph Shubow, U.S. Army Chaplain, who recently arrived in this country with the first boat-load of post-war immigrants, criticized the junior officers of the American Army and representatives of the American Military Government for their lack of understanding and sympathy with liberated Jews and displaced persons, while praising the efforts of American generals, whose generous policy, he stated, was sabotaged on the lower levels. Rabbi Robert 8. Marous, former Ninth Air Force Chaplain, now head of the Department of World Jewish Affairs of the Congress, confirmed Chaplain Shubow’s criticism and denounced in addition what he called the incompetence of UNRRA personnel.

That the problems for the remaining Jews in Europe, far from diminishing, have multiplied since the end of the war was the consensus of a panel on the problems of European Jews, chaired by Dr. Samuel Margeshes. “It is ironical, ” declared Dr. Jacob Robinson, director of the Institute of Jewish Affairs of the American and World Jewish Congress, “that the Jewish people in Europe today have more problems than when they were under Nazi domination.”