(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Interesting facts about racial and national groups in this country are presented by the Commission on Race Relations of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America in its call for the observance of February 14 as Race Relations Sunday.
Race Relations Sunday, which will be observed for the fourth time this year, has been broadened in its scope by the churches to include not only the problems of the white and black races but also those of the Chinese, Japanese and Mexicans in this country, and good-will between Jews and Christians.
Dealing with relations of Jews and Christians, the call says: “There are in America about three and a half million Jews, or 25 per cent of the Jews of the world. About two-fifths of this number live in New York City.
“Judaism is having its first great opportunity in many centuries to develop as a free religion of a free people. It is an unusual opportunity to develop a fraternal relationship and a profitable cooperation with this great group who may well prove to be in this emancipation a new wellspring of American spiritual vigor.
“The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America has established a committee officially charged with the nurturing of fraternity between Jew and Christian. The Conference of American Rabbis has done the same.
“Just as persecution of the people of Jesus by the followers of Jesus has been one of the most unnatural human relations in history, today this organized aspiration towards a new fraternity is one of the most dramatic of religious adventures Mankind needs light and the Jew is a great torch bearer. Einstein and Steinmetz, Bergson, Disraeli- so the list has run.
“How can we forget that Israel became the womb out of which were born the two greatest religions of the world? If we listen to the prophetic voices of modern Israel we shall hear them calling us to justice, to the love of mercy and to the practice of walking humbly with God.”
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