Rabbinical Conference Asks Congress for Stricter Laws on Bombings

The Rabbinical Council of America, an Orthodox body, today called upon the United States Congress to adopt legislation which would make it a Federal crime to bomb centers of worship, schools and other places of assembly anywhere in the United States.

The action was taken in a resolution adopted at the closing session of the midwinter conference of the association of Orthodox rabbis. The resolution asked that the legislation empower President Eisenhower to utilize the services of the FBI in carrying out prosecution of such bombings.

In another resolution, the 500 delegates urged Congress to adopt legislation banning use of the mails for propagation of racial and religious hate literature. The delegates also called on the United States to include Israel within the framework of the NATO organization.

The conference called on the Federal and State civil service bureaus to abolish giving of competitive examinations on the Jewish Sabbath. In another resolution, the delegates urged the states to enact fair Sabbath laws to relieve the hardships imposed on Sabbath-observing Jewish merchants.

The delegates asked the members of the Jewish communities in the United States to intensify and double their support of such Israel fund-raising undertakings as the United Jewish Appeal and Bonds for Israel, in the light of the increased immigration to Israel from East European countries.

Last night the conference adopted a resolution asking the Soviet Government to permit Jews to emigrate from the Soviet Union “to lands of their choice.” At the same time the resolution said that “in the face of recent Soviet denials that it has any intention of permitting such immigration, we strongly urge the Soviet Government to grant a greater measure of religious freedom with the right to religious education as well as worship for all ethnic group.”