A heavy turnout of voters was indicated here today as residents of this normally quiet township flocked to the polls in a school board election that aroused nationwide interest because of charges of anti-Semitism against the board’s vice-president. At the same time, police were investigating telephone calls threatening violence to a number of Jewish families.
The charges of anti-Semitism had been made against Newton Miller, vice-president of the School Board, who last week called for the defeat of two Jewish candidates — Jack Mandell, an incumbent, and Robert Kraus –because, Mr. Miller said, “most Jewish people are liberals, especially when it comes to spending for education. “
Five of the threatening telephone calls were received by the Mandell family, and police escorted three of the Mandell children home from school yesterday and today because of the threats. Other threatening telephone calls were received by Rabbi Shai Shacknai, spiritual leader of Temple Beth Tikvah, and Mrs. Alvin Lubin, wife of a former president of the synagogue.
Following his statement last week, Mr. Miller was censured by the school board and asked to resign, but he refused to do so and declined to retract his anti-Jewish statement.
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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.
