Concern over Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion’s “continuing attacks on the Zionist movement” was expressed at a press conference here today by Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, who just returned from Israel where he attended the recent meeting of the Zionist Actions Committee.
“In asking Zionists to fore sake the hallowed term and to ‘be Jews, ‘ Mr. Ben-Gurion seems to have suddenly discovered Judaism, ” Rabbi Miller declared. “Surely he, more than many others, is aware how deeply rooted Zionism is in the religion, history and literature of Judaism. “
Referring to Mr. Ben-Gurion’s recent joint declaration with Jacob Blaustein, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee, Rabbi Miller said: “The Prime Minister rendered great harm to the vast majority of American Jews who believe that American Israel relationships can best be fostered by a representative American-Jewish body, such as the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.”
Asserting that Mr. Ben-Gurion “has already made an unparalleled niche for himself in Jewish history, ” Rabbi Miller expressed regret that the Premier had made no constructive contribution to the fostering of sound and fruitful Israel-Diaspora relationships. He stressed that in his recent attacks on the Zionist movement, the Premier did not speak for the Israel Government or people.
Rabbi Miller hailed the recent decision by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, to settle in Israel and assume leadership of the new Liberal party. He said Dr. Goldmann might succeed where Premier Ben-Gurion had failed.
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