Dean, 9 Students and Faculty Members of Reconstructionist College Back Anti-draft Move

Nine students at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College here have voiced their support for a fellow student who turned in his draft card to his local draft board and disavowed his divinity student exemption, it was reported by the Jewish Exponent, local weekly newspaper. Dr. William Chomsky, a faculty member, and Rabbi Arthur Gilbert, dean of the college, have signed the statement in support of Daniel Siegel which reads, “We believe that his action is entirely consonant with the Jewish tradition which regards each human life as equal in value to all of creation.” His willingness to risk severe legal consequences for his act is in keeping with the Jewish teaching that an individual must be willing to die himself rather than commit murder, even at the command of his government. We recognize that Daniel Siegel’s action is representative of the action of thousands of Jewish young men, who in conscientious opposition to an immoral draft, have refused to cooperate any longer with the Selective Service System. For many of these men, as for Daniel, the Jewish reverence for life and moral concern lies at the root of their position of conscience.

“We support Daniel Siegel and all those who have chosen to resist than to submit to a system which demands that they abdicate their inalienable rights of conscience. We believe that the Jewish community must stand behind its young men who exercise the traditional Jewish right to refuse to participate in an immoral war, even when the U.S. Government refuses to recognize that right. In the choice between immoral obedience or moral disobedience of the laws of any State, we must give our allegiance to the higher law of moral conduct in the interests of human life and peace.”