Hadassah Calls Jdl Actions ‘irresponsible’ and ‘harmful’ to Soviet Jewish Cause

Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, repudiated today the Jewish Defense League in a resolution adopted at the closing session of the Hadassah mid-winter conference here. The 500 delegates called JDL activities “irresponsible” and harmful to the cause of Soviet Jewry because they diverted public attention, confused public opinion and embarrassed the United States Government. The resolution charged that such JDL activities “play directly into the hands of the Soviet Government which exploits the outrageous acts of a small number of Jews by suggesting that harassing individuals and vandalizing property are the tactics employed by organized Zionism and Jewish groups.” (See earlier Hadassah story on page 4).

The resolution dedicated Hadassah “to persevere in efforts to create a climate of national and international opinion that will influence” Soviet authorities to allow Russian Jews “to live as Jews at home or emigrate and live as Jews in Israel.” The resolution urged the Soviet Government to allow Jews who wish to leave for Israel to do so, to grant to its Jewish nationals “the right to teach, practice, preserve and perpetuate their religion and culture,” and “to halt the vicious anti-Jewish, anti-Zionist campaign being waged in the Soviet press, on TV and radio.” A statement on the Middle East expressed appreciation to President Nixon for his stand that the United States would not permit Israel “to be in a position where its neighbors can overwhelm it with superior manpower or forces from the Soviet Union,” and added that the policy of the President and the Congress of maintenance of the power balance and assuring Israel’s security “will advance the cause of peace.”