Differences on Joint Action on Israel Develop at U.A.H.C. Convention

An attempt to prevent the president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, or any other officers, from participating with representatives of other Jewish organizations in joint deliberations or actions on questions concerning Israel was made here today at the 44th General Assembly of the UAHC, the representative body of Reform Judaism in the United States and Canada.

Delegates from Norfolk, Va., presented a resolution to the Assembly–which is attended by several thousand active members of Reform Jewry from all parts of the U.S. and Canada–stipulating that the Union of American Hebrew Congregations "must avoid helping to create the public impression that all Jews are of one mind on any military, political, economic or diplomatic issue. "The resolution demanded that any previous decisions of the central body of Reform Jewry authorizing such participation and actions on the part of the president of the organization or other leaders of the UAHC be rescinded.

The resolution met with strong opposition from many delegates and was immediately balanced by a recommendation presented to the General Assembly by the resolutions committee of the Assembly. The resolutions committee recommended that the "Norfolk Resolution" be disapproved. The text of the recommendation of the resolutions committee reads;

"The resolutions committee recommends that the resolution (proposed by delegates from Norfolk, Va.) be disapproved on the ground that it is contrary to the historic and fundamental principles of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and of Reform Judaism which openly concern themselves with matters of social justice and universal brotherhood, necessarily requiring the expression of moral judgments on controversial matters of political and economic import.

"One of the first actions of the Union was to sponsor a board of delegates on civil rights which was concerned principally in the diplomatic field, Our competence to speak on questions of social justice, and to declare our attitude toward Palestine, now Israel, has long been settled by unanimous action of previous councils of the Union. We see no reason to open this question, "the recommendation of the resolutions committee concludes.

TEXT OF THE "NORFOLK RESOLUTION" OPPOSING JOINT ACTION

The "Norfolk Resolution," which provoked a heated debate at today’s session of the Assembly, was especially opposed from the floor by Mortimer May, of Nashville, Tenn., former president of the Zionist Organization of America and member of the UAHC executive board, and by Judge Joseph J. Shapiro of Bridgeport, Conn. The "Norfolk Resolution" reads:

"Be it noted that the participation of the president of the Union, with the heads of other organizations, for the purpose of issuing public statements and taking action on military, political, economic and diplomatic matters goes beyond the clear objectives of the Union "as set forth in its constitution. Judaism sets down the broad principles of social justice and social service.

"The Union’s mission is to instill in each congregant’s heart and mind an understanding of those principles and a firm commitment to advance them in daily action. Its constituents" members, through proper secular channels, may translate these principles into constructive action. The Union itself must avoid helping to create the public impression that all Jews are of one mind on any military, political, economic or diplomatic issue.

"Be it therefore resolved that any resolutions of the General Assemblies authorizing such participation and actions on the part of the president of the Union, or of any other officers or agents thereof be and hereby are rescinded."