Reform Rabbis Reaffirm Need for Social Action; Elect Minda As President

America’s Reform rabbinate has re-committed itself to a principle holding that it is “both the right and the obligation” of organized Reform Judaism to speak up “on the issues of our times.” Against the opposition of what a spokesman for the Central Conference of American Rabbis described as “a small but influential group of Reform congregations,” the CCAR this weekend adopted a resolution approving the establishment of a Religious Action Center in Washington, D. C.

The step was taken at the concluding session of the CCAR’s 72nd annual convention, which met here for five days. The rabbis also voted a resolution commending the efforts of Freedom Riders to effect desegregation in public facilities in the South, and called upon the Department of Justice “to translate into action the ideals upheld by the Riders.” Finally, the CCAR elected the Rev. Dr. Albert G. Minda, of Minneapolis, as its next president. He will serve two years, succeeding Rabbi Bernard J. Bamberger, of New York.

The plan for establishment of the Religious Action Center in Washington, similar to centers operating in the Capital for a number of years under Catholic and Protestant auspices, had previously been given overwhelming support by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The plan envisaged the operation of the Center by the CCAR, the UAHC and the latter’s affiliated Reform organizations. Mr. and Mrs. Kivie Kaplan, of Boston, had announced a $100,000 gift for the purchase of a building to house the Center which would be an outgrowth of the work of the social action program already being conducted under the joint auspices of the CCAR and UAHC.

CENTER SEEN AS ‘LEGITIMATE’ EXPRESSION OF IDEALS AND PROGRAM

A number of lay leaders of Reform Judaism, however, have objected to the social action program on the grounds that it violates “the right of each individual Reform congregant to think and act for himself on social questions.” The objectors opposed the planned Center’s serving “as the voice of Reform Judaism on political issues.” After protracted debate, however, the Reform rabbis unanimously adopted a resolution stating:

“We reaffirm our long tradition of passionate concern for social justice and world peace, and we re-assert both the right and the obligation of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations through their Joint Commission on Social Action to express by democratic means the convictions of our faith on the issues of our times. We, therefore, heartily approve the establishment of the Religious Action Center in Washington. While there can be no objection to continue the reviewing of procedures and safeguards to make sure that the Joint Commission will operate within the well-defined and democratically authorized areas, we endorse the Center as both a legitimate and commendable expression of our ideals and program.”

In addition to electing Rabbi Minda as president, the CCAR chose Rabbi Leon I. Feuer, of Toledo, as vice-president; Rabbi Maurice J. Bloom, of The Bronx, treasurer; Rabbi Henry E. Kagan, of Mt. Vernon, N. Y., recording secretary; and Rabbi David L. Zielonka, of Tampa, financial secretary. Rabbi Sidney L. Regner, of New York, was re-elected executive vice-president.

At a separate meeting, the Alumni Association of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion elected Rabbi Norman N. Goldberg, of Augusta, Ga., as its president.