Eisenhower Lauds Contribution of U.S. Jews to Country’s Freedom

The contribution of the Jews of America to the task of building the American nation in freedom was emphasized by President Eisenhower in a message to the national planning conference of the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee which concluded its two-day session today at the Commodore Hotel here. The tercentenary celebration will start next year.

“You will be marking an anniversary of signal importance not only to American citizens of the Jewish faith but in truth to all Americans, Jews and Christians alike,” the President said. “The Jews of America, generation upon generation, have brought to the task of building this great Nation in freedom, a special gift. It is that deep and abiding faith of their fathers, that vital element of Judea-Christian civilization kept glowingly alive by Jews throughout the ages, from the time of the ancient prophets of Israel. Upon the moral truths of this whole ancient heritage, our Nation was founded and has ever lived.”

A budget of about $1,000,000 was approved by the conference to cover the cost of various projects in connection with the celebration. The conference elected Ralph E. Samuel as permanent chairman of the Tercentenary Committee. William Rosenwald as secretary and Henry L. Moses as treasurer. The following were elected co-chairman: Julian Freeman, of Indianapolis; Dr. Israel Goldstein, of New York; Irving Kane, of Shaker Heights, Ohio; Mrs. David M. Levy, of New York; Dr. David de Sola-Pool, of New York; Judge Simon H. Rifkind, of New York; Judge Samuel I. Rosenman, of New York, and Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, of Cleveland.

Dr. Selman A. Waksman, who received the Nobel Prize for his discovery of streptomycin, told the conference that the Jews, who are by nature individualists, and who, because of their background, tend to be idealistic, were in an excellent position to benefit from and to contribute to a land which was naturally democratic in spirit. “If the Bible teaches us anything, if the history of the Jewish people means anything definite, it is that Judaism, from the very beginning, was a protest against nature worship, against star cults, demon worship, animal worship, empire worship, worship of force,” he said. “It could thus not help but embrace the scientific concept.”

Dr. Waksman declared that one of the fundamental principles in science is to combat “hero worship,” a form of idolatry expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments. He continued: “With that type of background and that attitude, it is no wonder that many Jews in this country should devote themselves to science, to the search for truth, the search for facts that underlie the secrets of nature.” This, he said, is true particularly in this country, “which offers unlimited opportunities for research, as well as freedom to select ones career and to pursue one’s calling.”

Dr. Isidor I. Rabi, another American Jewish scientist who won the Nobel Prize, speaking of American Jewry’s part in developing the country, said: “It is our duty and our privilege now and in the future to participate fully and with all our hearts and minds in the life of our land, and to make our country better and more glorious. There is nothing in the culture or tradition of this country which is foreign or opposed to our own tradition, and when we are good Americans, we are also good Jews.”

The speakers also included Leon H. Kayserling, Dr. Israel Goldstein, Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, Judge Simon H. Rifkind, Dr. Oscar Handlin, of Harvard University, 1952 Pulitzer Prize winner for history; Herman Wouk, Pulitzer Prize winner for the best novel in 1952. “The Caine Mutiny.”