American Jewish youth were criticized today for being lax in their pursuit of knowledge of Israel’s history, development and current affairs. The charge was leveled by delegates attending the 15th annual convention of B’nai B’rith Young Adults, a constituent division of the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization.
A resolution adopted by the convention said that such lack of interest was a holdover from the old concept of dual loyalty. The resolution, rejecting this concept, declared: “We reaffirm our basic belief that our political allegiance is to the country of which we are citizens. But in so doing, we do not diminish our firm conviction that American Jewish youth should feel a deep spiritual and cultural bond with Israel.”
The delegates declared that the most effective means for stimulating these bonds was through organization membership. They cited leadership taken by their own organization in encouraging an exchange of views with Israeli youth through pen-pal clubs and the annual summer institute sponsored by the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization which takes a group of American and Canadian members for a seven-week work and study visit to Israel. A group of 40 BBYO members is currently in Israel on such a visit.
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