Eighty delegates representing sis major national Jewish organizations and 24 Jewish community councils in all parts of the country, comprising the National Community Relations Advisory Council, meeting in plenary session here this week, adopted resolutions urging legislation to admit a minimum of #00,000 displaced persons to the U.S. on a non-discriminatory basis and calling upon Congress to act at once on fair employment legislation.
Other resolutions adopted call upon other states to follow the example of New York in enacting effective laws against racial and religious quotas in college admissions and advocate elimination of discrimination in the appointment of faculty members. Abhorrence was also expressed at "the evils of all totalitarianism, whether fascist or communist." The conference re-asserted the rights of free speech, publication and assembly for all groups, "however obnoxious the views represented."
Jewish communities were urged in one resolution to consult with the Joint Advisory Committee of the Synagogue Council and the N.C.R.A.C. regarding action on released time practices in local communities, in view of the recent Supreme ?ourt decision in the MoCollum released time case.
The session also considered the best ways of coordinating the policies and programs of Jewish community relations agencies for the realization of common aims. In their reports, chairman Henry Epstein and executive director Isaiah Minkoff reviewed progress along those lines to date and considered further methods of Joint activity.
Among other subjects given special attention were: sectarian practices in the public schools; best ways of contributing to effective implementation of the report of the President’s Committee on Civil Rights; activities of member agencies, in cooperation with labor, youth, business, and veterans groups, to improve human relations; and the impact on American Jewish life of recent developments in Palestine.
The following were elected officers of the Council for the coming year: Henry Epstein, chairman; Irving Kane, Bernard H. Trager, vice-chairmen; Lester A. Jaffe, secretary; and Dr. Beryl Manischewitz, treasurer.
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