In withdrawing from the National Community Relations Advisory Council, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith reject "any cooperative process" and "repudiate the basic aims and objectives of NCRAC" in whose formulation they participated, Irving Kane, NCRAC chairman, declared today.
He asserted that by their resignation, "the two organizations have done a serious disservice to their constituencies and have deeply prejudiced the realization of the ideals for which both organizations have labored for many years." He said that many had hoped that "a sense of common accountability in a common cause would have brought about a decision on the part of the American Jewish Committee and the B’nai B’rith to remain in the NCRAC."
Mr. Kane announced that the NCRAC would continue its work despite the withdrawal of the two agencies. He said that "the NCRAC will continue to discharge the responsibility placed upon it by the Jewish communities of America. Its doors will always be open to those who wish to join in meeting this responsibility and who, in the discharge of their accountability to the whole Jewish community, are prepared to participate in the joint process of planning and coordination which is the NCRAC."
He voiced belief that time would persuade the two agencies that their decision "was detrimental to the very causes to which the organizations are dedicated" and said that if and when this happened. "I am sure the two agencies will be welcomed back into the family of organizations which, through the NCRAC, seeks to create an integrated and coordinated program of community relations to serve all the Jews of the United States."
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