The National Community Relations Advisory Council–coordinating body of all Jewish organizations engaged in combatting anti-Semitism in this country–today released a resolution adopted last Sunday by its Special Committee on Evaluative Studies containing specific recommendations for the “logical and practical division of labor” among the major Jewish groups active in the field of community relations.
The resolution reaffirms the decision of the plenary session of the National Community Relations Advisory Council last November that there should be a continuing process of joint planning of program for the entire community relations field, through the N.C.R.A.C. Division of labor, the resolution asserts, is necessary to make this joint program planning effective. Some activities, such as social action or litigation, would require participation by all agencies, the resolution emphasizes.
The resolution will be reported to the N.C.R.A.C. executive committee, which meets May 26th, and if unanimity is not obtained there, it will be referred to the plenum, which meets June 28th. It recommends the following:
1. The American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith should, for the time being, take over the joint responsibility for work connected with investigation of demagogues; conduct of surveys designed to maintain a continuing check on the extent, nature, and seriousness of current manifestation of anti-Semitism and of the trends; counter-action of anti-Semitism and subversive organization and publications; outbreaks of defamation, etc.
The two organizations are also to conduct a positive program of intergroup relations, including the study of influences fostering or disturbing good intergroup relations, and of methods of maintaining good relationships among all groups. They are also to maintain and conduct the contacts necessary for promotion of better human relations, including relations with educational institutions. All this with the understanding that, consistent with the recommended approach to “logical and practical division of labor,” they will present before a date to be fixed by their plenum their recommendations for division between themselves of these various activities for joint consideration and approval by the N.C.R.A.C.
2. The American Jewish Congress is to carry responsibility for legal and legislative services to eliminate discrimination, including legal research and memoranda of law, reporting of significant legislation and decisions, and legal drafting. Also for the preparation of drafts of briefs, bills, and statements for legislative bodies.
3. Maintenance of contacts and continuing relationships with labor, veterans, and religious groups, respectively, to be the responsibility, in that order, of the Jewish Labor Committee, the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S., and of an instrumentality involving the various Jewish religious bodies, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform.
The resolution was adopted 7-2, the American Jewish Committee and the A.D.L. opposing, and the Jewish Labor Committee abstaining. The Jewish Labor Committee, however, had voted for all sections of the resolution except for those which dealt with specific assignments of work or responsibilities in any fields other than those of labor, veterans, and interfaith activities.
Incorporated in the resolution is a directive to the N.C.R.A.C. officers that consultations be continued among the agencies in an effort to explore all avenues that may lead to unanimity. The Evaluative Studies Committee is to be convened for reexamination of the resolution adopted whenever unanimity appears to be attainable on some alternative basis.
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