Rju, Temple Emanu-ei Reach ‘understanding’; Temple Asks Charges Be Dropped

The Radical Jewish Union of Columbia University reported today it had reached an “understanding” with officials of Temple Emanu-EI and that it had therefore cancelled any further Friday visits to the synagogue, including one set for last Friday, in efforts to present anti-war arguments to the congregation. Rabbi A. Bruce Goldman, rabbinical advisor to the RJU, and two members were arrested on charges of disrupting services during two of three RJU visits to Friday vesper services. Rabbi Goldman, who led each RJU group for the three consecutive Friday appearances which began May 15, was arrested twice. Victor Levin, a graduate student, and Anne Rosen, a graduating senior at Barnard College were the two arrested RJU members. At a hearing for the three defendants Friday in Criminal Court, trial on these charges was set for Sept. 18 despite efforts by Temple Emanu-EI officials to persuade the District Attorney’s office to drop the charges. District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz insisted that the case go to trial because “this is not a private matter.” He noted that police had been called to the temple and there had been two violations of law forbidding disruption of religious services. The RJU had said that if the charges were not dropped, it would continue the weekly visits to the synagogue.

Rabbi Goldman said the “understanding” had been embodied in a “mutual statement” which said: “Representatives of the Radical Jewish Union and Temple Emanu-EI are now agreed that further constructive conversations will take place between the two groups on matters of mutual concern, focusing on the Jewish response to pressing social and political issues of our time, such as war, poverty, racism and political repression.” He added that the agreement provided for access by RJU members to the synagogue board of trustees and lay and rabbinic leaders through synagogue bulletins and publications, and possibly by addresses to Temple groups. Rabbi Goldman said the RJU would seek to start discussions with lay and rabbinic leaders of the synagogue this week. He reported that the request that the charges be dropped had been made to Mr. Gribetz by Henry Freuhauf, the synagogue’s executive vice-president. Rabbi Goldman said that Mr. Gribetz indicated he would agree to a reduction of the charges to a lesser complaint of disorderly conduct if the three defendants would agree to plead guilty. RJU defendants refused this. He added the RJU decided to halt its weekly visits, despite failure to have the charges dropped, because of a feeling that Temple Emanu-EI officials had been “honorable and sincere” in efforts to have the charges cancelled.

Rabbi Goldman spoke Friday afternoon from the pulpit of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, another major Reform synagogue in Manhattan. He was introduced by the synagogue’s rabbi. Edward Klein, who announced he had invited Rabbi Goldman and the 20 RJU members who joined the regular congregation for the early Sabbath services. Referring to the arrests at Temple Emanu-EI, Rabbi Goldman told the congregation he had never believed he would see in the United States “brothers and sisters being dragged from a synagogue.” He called on his listeners and the organizations and members of the adult Jewish community to open their “hearts and minds” to the young people who, he said, had become so frustrated at the lack of response to their please that they could well move from “demonstration to demolition.” In submitted the RJU request for help in raising a $100,000 defense fund for Black Panther leaders Rabbi Goldman said that not only Black Panthers but many of the blacks had become “increasingly anti-Jewish.” He said this was a “danger” but that it would not be resolved by Jews turning their backs on the blacks.