Dr. Louis Finkelstein Says He Has No Criticism of President Nixon’s White House Service

Dr. Louis Finkelstein today said he had no criticism of the singing of a Doxology during a White House non-denominational service in which he participated on Sunday at the request of President Richard M. Nixon. The service, at which he spoke, was attended by a number of other rabbis and Jewish community members from the Washington area, he said, adding that “I did not hear a word of adverse criticism from anybody.”

Dr. Finkelstein, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (Conservative) here, said there was “a little hyper-sensitivity” in public reaction about the Christian element of the service which he did not think was warranted. The whole service, he said, “was done with great dignity.” Moreover, he added, there was nothing incorrect from the Jewish point of view about speaking at such a service.

A Lutheran choir sang the Doxology entitled “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” as Dr. Finkelstein stood silently listening, as did other Jews present. The hymn contains the words “Praise Father, Son And Holy Ghost,” naming the divine conception of the trinity which has no place in Judaism.

Dr. Finkelstein said it was entirely correct to take part in the service when requested to do so by the President. “When a President asks someone to do something which is not against his principles, he should do it,” he said. The chancellor noted that be complied with the late President John F. Kennedy’s request to attend the coronation of Pope Paul VI.

Dr. Finkelstein said that he had known in advance that the Doxology had been a component of the President’s private White House service, the seventh sponsored by Mr. Nixon since he became President. Other parts of the service were Jewish and non-denominational. Dr. Finkelstein ended it with the song “Adon Olam.” As for the Doxology, he said firmly, “my presence did not of course indicate in any way acquiescence in the idea.”