Only 10 Percent of Juvenile Delinquents in N.Y. Are Jewish, Women’s Parley Hears

Justice Justine Wise Polier, addressing a forum organized by national Jewish women’s organizations here last night, asserted that only ten percent of the juvenile delinquents in New York City are Jewish. Mrs. Polier, daughter of the late Dr, Stephen S. Wise, is Justice of the Domestic Relations Court in this city.

Dr. Abram L. Sacher, president of Brandeis University, told the meeting that American Jews adopted a “humble, fear-and-trembling attitude every time a Jew was accused of being a Communist or criminal.” He deplored the “apologetic attitude” of American Jews and pleaded for a “more affirmative attitude” now that Israel was established. “We Jews are entitled to our share of criminals,” he added.

“The greatest change in Jewish life in this past year has been psychological,” Dr. Sachar said. “The stereotype of pity and casualty has been transformed into courage and self-reliance. This change has been effected by the extraordinary events in Israel when a little group of derelicts took a Star of David from their sleeve, cut of its context of degradation, and put it on a flag to lead them to a new in-dependent life.”

A resolution declaring that it was American Jewry’s obligation to “assume a share” in the cost of absorbing immigrants into Israel by “supporting the overall fund-raising agency of the United Jewish Appeal,” was adopted unanimously by the gathering. The groups represented at the parley also resolved to “continue their respective tasks directed towards strengthening the institutions of democracy at home, assisting the new state of Israel to stabilize its economy and supplying the means whereby Israel may fulfill its historic task of welcoming every Jew who needs or wants to make his home there.”