B’nai B’rith asked President Eisenhower tonight to urge the USSR at the Geneva conference to allow Jews to emigrate to Israel or any other land where they can practice their religion freely. The appeal was issued by Philip M. Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith, before 1,000 delegates at the closing session of the B’nai B’rith District Six convention at the Hotel Sherman.
“America looks with hope and confidence to your participation in the conference at the summit in Geneva.” Mr. Klutznick said in his appeal. “Doubtless, there are great problems that will crowd the agenda. We would not seek to overburden these deliberations. However, you have long been aware of the plight of the Jewish people and others who profess religious faith and reside in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and satellite countries where destruction of religion is an avowed governmental aim and policy. We believe that many Jews in these countries would emigrate to Israel and elsewhere if they were permitted to do so.
“We of the B’nai B’rith reiterate our appeal of last November that you use your good offices to urge the USSR and its satellites to permit such people as may wish to emigrate to any land where they can practice their religion to be at liberty to achieve this end. We are profoundly conscious of your own deep-seated religious convictions. We have no doubt of your sympathy for those who would seek to follow your own example. Consequently we are emboldened to urge that this matter be included among the many that will be the object of your considerations.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
