Duties of U.S. Jewry Outlined at Convention of American Jewish Congress

The existence of a “completely new, unparalleled situation in Jewish history” was emphasized here tonight by Dr. Joachim Prinz, president of the American Jewish Congress, in his keynote address at the opening session of the five-day national biennial convention of the AJCongress. More than 600 delegates from all parts of the country are attending the gathering.

“Never before,” said Dr. Prinz, “have Jews lived under as much freedom as we have in America. This precious possession of freedom has given us a unique opportunity; we choose to be Jews. No dictator, no anti-Jewish laws, not even surface anti-Semitism force us to accept our Jewish identity.

“But in choosing to be Jews, “he continued, “we must reject the idea of isolation, self-containment and ghettoization. Rather, we must translate the heritage of our people into the reality of our own day. We must, for example, join the struggle for equality which our Negro fellow-citizens are waging. Just as we must deepen our relationship with our fellow-Jews in Israel and around the world through a knowledge of the Jewish past and an understanding of the Jewish present.”

The AJCongress leader emphasized that “only by rooting ourselves deeply in our Jewish heritage will we be able to make a universal contribution to our country and to all mankind. “He added: “Healthy and creative living and adjustment in this country and throughout the free world can only be achieved through a flowering of self-respect, self-acceptance and self-knowledge. For a Jew, this means a positive affirmation of his Jewish identification and a knowledge of the meaning and content of his Jewlahness.”

Dr. Prinz listed three conditions which he said must be met if there is to be “meaningful Jewish life” in the United States:

1. Strengthening Jewish education and self-knowledge–“the most urgent concern of American Jewry”–so that Jewish values and ideals may be handed down to succeeding generations.

2. Commitment to the concept of “Jewish peoplehood,” stressing the “common history and common destiny of all Jews as the basis for a positive relationship between the Anerican Jewish community and Jews in Israel and around the world.”

3. Viogrous support of the struggle for full equality in a free society for all Americans, “activities which are motivated by the most profound commitment to Jewish ethical values and American principles of liberty and justice.”