Jewish groups in the United States were urged today by Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee, to refrain from propagating their views on relationships to Israel, because of the harm they do to the position of the Jews in America.
He referred specifically to statements emanating from groups, which he said, represented only a small fraction of American Jews, whose extremist views regarding the relationships of American Jews to Israel have created a misunderstanding of the issues among Americans. “These views,” he said, “served only to give aid and comfort to anti-Semites.”
Speaking at an American Jewish Committee luncheon at Hotel Martinique, be expressed astonistment at the negative attitude of one extremist group towards Israel. “It any country in the same short space of time had given an open-armed welcome to 500,000 Jews as Israel did–even if that country was not one founded by Jews–it should command the warm support and heartfelt gratitude of every Jew,” he said.
Deriding any fears that there is a campaign waged to lure American Jews from this country, Judge Proskauer pointed out that the merest handful–less than 500 out of 5,000,000 American Jews–have emigrated to Israel since the establishment of the new state. “Pride among Jews in the achievements and valor of Israel is most natural,” he declared. “Israel’s success is one of the miracles of history. However, this pride must not be confused with the utter loyalty of American Jews for their country and the knowledge that the American Government speaks for American Jews just as the Israeli Government speaks only for Israelis.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
