Jewish religious and secular leaders, organizations and individuals across the nation were planning to sponsor and participate in Vietnam Moratorium activities tomorrow.
A typical statement of Moratorium supporters was issued by Dr. Bernard Mandelbaum, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (Conservative). Indicating that he was speaking as a private citizen and not in his professional capacity. Dr. Mandelbaum said “it is clear that in any nation the response of the people to its Government must be listened to.
“Today, when our young people have shown such wisdom, intelligence and desire to be constructive, it is incumbent upon all of us to attend to them. I sincerely hope that this demonstration will motivate our leaders to speed our disengagement in Vietnam where the war is unfair to the Vietnamese and to the Americans.”
Students of the Seminary, Yeshiva University (Orthodox) and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Reform) planned to participate in a joint prayer service in the morning at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the United Nations. In addition, special services with sermons on the war were planned in synagogues everywhere.
A number of Jewish agencies indicated that they would hold their own programs and let their employes leave work early in order to participate in local or community-wide programs where they live. Rabbis in various cities joined to sign petitions opposing the war.
A typical anti-war position was announced by the executive committee of the National Association of Jewish Center Workers which, in voting support for the Moratorium, noted that it had been on record for three years as calling on Presidents to stop the bombing in Vietnam, “sit down with the National Liberation Front and move quickly toward a negotiated peace.”
One of the New York events planned is a noon worship service at the House of Living Judaism on Fifth Ave. sponsored by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Reform).
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