A protest against the teaching of Christian doctrine in Italian public elementary schools was voiced today by the first congress of teachers in Italian Jewish schools which convened here teaching of “outspoken confessionalism,” a resolution adopted by the congress declared, “endangers the principle of freedom of conscience among religious minority groups” in this country.
Another resolution called for intensification of Hebrew teaching in smaller communities in Italy “to counteract the dangers of assimilation.” The Congress also appealed to the government in favor of early parliamentary discussion of a proposed law which would provide compensation to teachers “who suffered the application of Fascist racial laws.”
Among leaders who participated in the Congress were Prof Elio Toaff, chief rabbi of Rome; Dr. Giorgio Zevi, president of the Union of Italian, Jewish Communities, and Dr. Charles Viterbo, president of the Italian Zionist Federation.
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