Sociologist Says ‘christian Silence’ Has Encouraged Negro Anti-semitism

A Jewish sociologist claims that “silence and indifference by important segments of the white Christian community” has encouraged anti-Semitic outbursts by Negro extremists. Dr. Jerry Hochbaum, assistant professor of sociology at Yeshiva University; delivered his charge in remarks at the midyear alumni conference of Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.

Dr. Hochbaum, a consultant to the National Community Relations Advisory Council, maintained that the Jewish community must mobilize the support of the white Christian community to ease Jewish-Negro tensions. But he said that work among the Negro community was most important. “The Negro community has greater potential control over its own members than the Jewish community, although it has not yet fully exercised these controls,” he said. “Working with responsible leaders will strengthen our links with the Negro community and not allow black militants to occupy center stage or upstage the moderate leaders of the black community.” Prof. Hochbaum thought that Negro anti-Semitism has not yet developed a firm ideological base. He warned, however, that such a base was beginning to emerge in the form of “the third world, black militant, pro-Arab, anti-Zionist form of anti-Semitism which characterizes the New Left.”