Leading Jewish Bodies Support New Committee Against Nazi Persecution of Jews

The American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Conference today made public statements addressed to Supreme Court Justice Frank Murphy expressing appreciation for the formation under his chairmanship of the “National Committee Against Nazi Persecution and Extermination of the Jews.”

Signed by Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Henry Monsky and Dr. Israel Goldstein, the message of the American Jewish Conference reads: “In behalf of the American Jewish Conference, we welcome with deep appreciation the formation of the National Committee against Nazi Persecution and Extermination of the Jews, which constitutes a significant contribution to the fight for Democracy. Millions of our people have fallen to the Nazi terror, and Hitler has vowed extermination of those who are still alive. Their rescue is one of the tasks in Democracy’s war for civilization. Your enlistment in this fight and the organization of your Committee will be hailed by every American consecrated to victory. We shall deem it a privilege to render every possible assistance to your Committee.”

The message of the American Jewish Committee, signed by its president Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, declares: “The formation under your chairmanship of the National Committee Against Nazi Persecution and Extermination of the Jews will be commended by right thinking men of all faiths and groups. The immediate rescue of as many Jews in Europe is humanly possible, and the eradication of group discord in this country are both causes close to the heart of all believers in the tenets of Democracy.

“For 37 years the American Jewish Committee has worked for the alleviation of the plight of persecuted and down-trodden Jews throughout the world, and has devoted its energies to combatting bigotry wherever it rears its ugly head. We have always felt that the problem of anti-Semitism is not solely a Jewish concern, but a concern of the people of all religions and groups. Only recently I proposed a Americanism pledge, later endorsed by Archbishop Spellman of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York and Bishop Tucker, president of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America. By subscribing to it every American would pledge himself to act towards his neighbor in a spirit of friendship and brotherhood, and to free himself from prejudices against any religious group. It is in this spirit that we commend you and your associates in your significant undertaking.”