The American Scene

American Jewry embarked on a new search for the bluebird of Jewish unity last week when the American Jewish Congress beat a retreat from its previous position with regard to the projected World Jewish Congress and called on other national Jewish organizations to join with it in creation of a world-wide council to speak for the Jews of the world in the international forum.

In adopting a report and resolutions virtually abandoning the movement for immediate convocation of the world congress, the American Jewish Congress acted to eliminate the chief point of difference between the organizations and to make further concerted action possible.

MAKES UNITY POSSIBLE

The proposal for a world Jewish council, in which the American Jewish Committee, the B’nai B’rith and other American organizations would be represented, as well as the American Jewish Congress, and the agreement to leave to this body further decisions concerning the World Jewish Congress make possible discussion between the American-Jewish national bodies on means of cooperation and creation of the long prayed-for, hoped – for but never – realized unity in Jewish ranks.

With regard to the other points involved in the reports—unfortunately, the vagueness of the language employed in the document prevents any positive interpretation. Neither concrete proposals nor definite intent can be deduced from the resolutions and portions of the report dealing with the national elections called for April and the character of the congress for which the elections are to be held.

Described as “Stratagem”

The report has been described as a stratagem on the part of the American Jewish Congress to prove to the long-suffering Jewish masses that the Congress is willing to make sacrifices to the cause of unity, and also an unselfish move on the part of the Congress placing the general welfare before its own ambitions and desires.

Unfortunately, the text of the document leaves it open to any interpretation. Both these descriptions of it were voiced at the meeting of the administrative committee which adopted the report. The latter view, however, was strongly predominant.

The value of the whole proposal will depend on the sincerity of the negotiators and their ability to override the legalistic hedging of the report. Surely, the time is ripe for any move to establish concert of action and unity among the Jews and the American Jewish Congress has now furnished a basis for action leading to this goal.

ALONG THE NAZI FRONT

The Deutsche Zeitung, which for the past year has regaled its readers with anti-Semitic material, last week editorially advised its readers that it had been mistaken all along, that the Jews were a fine people and that, hereafter, the Deutsche Zeitung would carry no more attacks on the race. The reasons —a suspended sentence of one year in prison imposed on William L. McLaughlin, managing editor of the paper, for criminal libel. The sentence was suspended at the request of attorneys for the plaintiff, former Magistrate Joseph Goldstein and Samuel Untermyer.

Simultaneously with the appearance of the repentant Zeitung, a part of the Zeitung’s personnel reported on its staff, the Beobachter, which is designated the official organ of the Friends of New Germany, promised to carry on the campaign of “truth” concerning the Jews.

The Nazis and anti-Nazis engaged in a fracas at Ebling’s Casino in the Bronx when uniformed Nazi storm troopers and members of a benevolent association which had held its meeting at the casino, met as the two assemblies broke up and fought in the building and in the streets. Several arrests were made, but all except one of those arrested were released in Magistrate’s court.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

The sorry Kashruth situation in New York City failed to show any improvement. Dissident rabbis sanctioned disobedience of the “issur” proclaimed by the Kashruth Association. The Knesses Israel pronounced the “issur” invalid and sanctioned its violation. The majority of butchers and poultry dealers failed to come to terms.

Samuel Untermyer headed a delegation representing American boycott groups which sailed for London to take part in the non-sectarian conference to meet there.