The Board of Deputies of British Jews overwhelmingly approved a recommendation to affiliate with the World Jewish Congress under terms that guarantee the board its autonomy and freedom of action. The recommendation was approved yesterday at the final meeting of the present board and was addressed to the new Board of Deputies which is to be elected during May and June. Barring a major upset, the new board is expected to accept the recommendation.
Arguing forcefully for affiliation were Michael Fidler, president of the board, and Victor Mishcon, vice-president. Fidler noted that the board has already accepted membership in other international Jewish bodies such as the Committee of Jewish Organizations (COJO) and the Consultative Board of Jewish Organizations. He observed that while these were consultative bodies, the WJC was the only international Jewish organization with functional activities.
Mishcon said that at a time when national sovereignties were being surrendered for the sake of international cooperation, British Jews could not possibly hold on to dated positions. Other arguments for affiliation were expressed by representatives of the Sephardic community and the Association of Jewish Youth.
Board members noted that the time had come for continuous international cooperation between Jewish bodies instead of haphazard ad hoc consultations. One member, Dr. S.J. Roth, said the issue should be approached from the viewpoint of what is best for the entire Jewish people.
A group of dissenters, including Solomon Teff, a former president of the board, opposed the recommendation on grounds that the board would lose its effectiveness vis-a-vis the British government if it became part of a world Jewish organization. Another dissenter thought the safeguards were inadequate to protect the board’s “time-hallowed position.”
Fidler pointed out that the board’s continued freedom of action was spelled out in a letter to him from Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the WJC. The letter gave the board the right to differ with the WJC on any issue in which it did not agree with WJC decisions or policy.
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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.
