The 69th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, representative body of the Reform rabbinate, concluded here today with a resolution condemning the recent rash of synagogue bombings in the South and urging the FBI to take a hand in apprehending those responsible and in preventing further attacks.
Another resolution called upon the Conservative wing of American Judaism to enter upon a joint effort to stimulate the development of non-Orthodox worship in the State of Israel. “An urgent need exists in the State of Israel for the development of progressive forms of Judaism,” said the resolution. “We recognize that such forms will be responsive to the needs and desires of the people of Israel. We urge the initiation of discussions between appropriate representatives of Reform and Conservative Judaism for the purpose of stimulating and encouraging the development of Progressive Judaism in Israel. “
The convention also resolved to urge the exploration of the establishment of a national program of study retreats and Torah sessions for members. The delegates recommended that consideration he given to the advisability of a formal presentation of a code of practice or ritual guide for Reform Judaism at a CCAR convention in the near future. They commended the Synagogue Council of America for notable accomplishments and reaffirmed CCAR support.
A plan of religious instruction to offset the threat imposed by an over concentration on scientific studies was launched at the closing session today by the Commission on Jewish Education. In announcing the program Dr. Emanuel Gamoran, director of the Commission stated: “The threat of the nuclear age is forcing civilization to raise a population of scientists, mathematicians and technicians. Unless this knowledge is over-girded by a moral and spiritual sensitivity that is aware of the lofty humane purposes of the democratic civilization in which we live, we are in danger of rearing a generation of robots. “
Dr. Solomon B. Freehof of Pittsburgh, chairman of the Commission, pointed out that “the top priority facing the Reform movement is the education of the parents. Today the adults are our central problem in religious education where 20 years ago, the child was our major concern. Unless our parents begin to catch up with our children, the forward momentum of our movement will be stalled. Education of children means nothing unless the parents have a profound Jewish education.”
JEWISH IDENTIFICATION IN U.S. IS BECOMING STRONGER, EBAN FINDS
Last night, Abba Eban, Israel’s Ambassador to Washington and its chief delegate to the United Nations, told a convention symposium on Israel’s tenth anniversary that two alternatives face the Middle East: sovereignty among nations or Nasser hegemony over a protectorate. “Throughout the Middle East and Africa, free nations are awakening to the danger which Nasserism brings to their independence and integrity,” the Ambassador said. “The question is whether they will find means of concerting their action to meet the common danger.”
In a comment on the American Jewish community scene and its relation to Israel, Mr. Eban said the community is “growing ever more secure and established as an organic part of its democracy, ” but at the same time its Jewish identification is becoming stronger “The resolve of American Jews to remain attached to Jewish destiny is far more manifest and widespread than it was a decade ago,” he declared. “This fact finds expression in the great increase of religious cultural and educational institutions in which American Jews seek to live within the experience of our common heritage. It is also reflected, of course, in the active responsibility which your community assumes for Israel’s consolidation–a sublime and massive responsibility the like of which the history of nations has never seen.”
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver hailed as Israel’s most significant 10-year achievements, the ingathering of 1,000,000 refugees, organization of Israel’s army, its remarkable industrial and agricultural development, scientific and cultural progress. In addition, he said, Israel achieved for world Jewry restoration of a “lost pride and confidence which the cruel centuries had almost succeeded in destroying.”
Examining the many problems facing Israel as it enters its second decade, Dr. Silver warned that unless Israel moves away from “party tribalism” resulting from “a multiplicity of political parties and their Intransigeant partisanship,” the Jewish State “may one day find itself in a political crisis similar to that through which France is passing today.”
The delegates last night contributed $35,000 for the graduate school in archaeology which Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is constructing at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. This action was taken at the annual banquet of the Alumni Association of the College-Institute at which Dr. Nelson Glueck, HUC-JIR president, was honor-on the 35th anniversary of his ordination.
Rabbi Jacob P. Rudin of New York was re-elected president of the CCAR, Rabbi Bernard J. Bamberger, also of New York, was elected vice president.
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