American Jews should be more involved as Jews in public policy issues, and they should do it by maintaining their traditional roots in liberalism, a top official of the American Jewish Committee urged here.
“In the face of a strong rightward tide of American public opinion and governmental policies, American Jews should defy the undertow and stay rooted to the liberalism which will help ensure American pluralism and social fairness, good for us and for all Americans,” said Ira Silverman, the group’s executive vice president.
Silverman spoke last Wednesday night at a Capitol Hill reception opening AJCommittee’s 83rd annual meeting, which ended Sunday. The organization presented its first Congressional Leadership Awards to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Rep. Dante Fascell (D-Fla.), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Silverman said Jews must continue to advocate a broad political and social program that starts with “securing of the needs of our people.”
He said Jews must not allow themselves to “be bullied or cowed” by non-Jews who urge them not to be too aggressive in pursuing their aims. “We have a right to be heard,” he said.
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