The means by which American Jewry can present a balanced picture of the mounting Middle East crisis and offer informed views to Government officials, the public media and the public at large was spelled out in a memorandum distributed yesterday to all lay and rabbinic leaders of American Reform Judaism. The document was sent out by I. Cyrus Gordon, of Rockville Center, L.I., chairman of the commission on social action of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
He said, in an accompanying letter, “While American Jews are not obligated to explain or defend Israeli actions, non-Jews may be turning to the American Jewish community for their view of what happened. We therefore urge our lay and rabbinic constituents to take advantage of their warm relationships with local churchmen and church members to enter into serious conversation about the present situation.”
Mr. Gordon noted, “One can detect not only increasing criticism of Israel’s action at Beirut (the Dec. 28 airport attack) but also a renewed general sympathy for the Arab cause.”He observed, “ultimately U.S. foreign policy is dependent on public opinion…hence, it is of great importance for rabbis and lay leaders to state the facts at every opportunity, to follow carefully and to respond where necessary to editorials, letters to editors, and to radio and television commentaries; to communicate with President Nixon and the Secretary of State William P. Rogers; to maintain close contacts with religious and civic leaders and to educate your own congregants.”
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