Fresh expressions of Jewish support for the Negro battle for voting rights, much of it geared to the historic Freedom March now underway in Alabama, was recorded today from many communities.
A delegation of Massachusetts rabbis, led by Rabbi H. Bruce Ehrmann, flew to Alabama today to join the march. Before leaving, they attended a training workshop in nonviolent resistance held at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference headquarters in Roxbury.
Orin Lehman, secretary of the American Jewish Committee, headed a delegation of the agency’s members and staff flying Thursday to Montgomery. They will meet members of the organization from other parts of the United States and take part in the final leg of the march to Montgomery, the state capital. Mr. Lenman is a nephew of the late New York Governor and Senator Herbert Lehman, whose family originally settled in Montgomery before coming to New York.
Nearly 100 officers and members of the American Jewish Congress from all sections of the country have responded to a call from Dr. Martin Luther King, to join the Freedom March as it approaches Montgomery Thursday. The participants are flying from various sections to Montgomery to join in the march.
ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONS SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO ALABAMA
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America announced creation of a special committee on human rights with the immediate aim of aiding Negroes in all parts of the country in their struggle for civil rights. In announcing the special committee, president Moses Feuerstein said three members had been designated to go to Alabama tomorrow to join in the Freedom March.
A large number of members of the Rabbinical Assembly of Greater Miami joined a throng of 2, 500 Negroes and whites who marched in downtown Miami to protest the attack by police on marchers in Selma last week. About one-third of the marchers were white. Rabbi Herbert Baumgard, president of the Rabbinical Association, led the rabbinical participants. Rabbi Baumgard and Rabbi Leon Kronish took part in leading the services at the Greater Methel AME church where the march ended.
Rabbi Earl S. Jordan of Cleveland was one of 500 persons from that city who joined in the protest march on the White House in Washington and disclosed that as the bus caravan headed for home on Friday night, the Cleveland rabbis joined for kiddush services on Bus Number 5. The rabbis also said kaddish for Rev. Reeb.
The national director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, who tock part in the civil rights march in Alabama, today announced that the League will “expand and strengthen” its southern operation by establishing an area headquarters, opening a new office and enlarging its southern staff. In making the announcement, Benjamin R. Epstein also declared that five ADL officials will go to Alabama tomorrow to join the Selma rights marchers as they approach Montgomery.
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