The position of the Jewish community on race relations will be read in synagogues throughout the United States, it was announced here today by Rabbi Julius Mark, president of the Synagogue Council of America, which comprises the rabbinical and congregational organizations of the three branches of American religious Jewry–Orthodox, Conservative and Reform.
The constituent members of the Synagogue Council have designated Saturday, June 1, as the day on which the statement would be read in the synagogues. The statement emphasizes that “the ethical preachments of the prophets of Israel are universal and applicable to every human being regardless of race, religion or creed.” It stresses that “racism has no place in Jewish belief or practice.”
In making the statement, Dr. Mark said: “It is our fervent hope that religious leaders of all races will affirm and support those efforts now being made within our country to eliminate racial and religious bigotry, as well as condemn those individuals and groups who seek to perpetuate these evils.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.