Uojca Leader Warns New Form of Anti-semitism Danger to World Jewry

A warning was issued here last night by the newly-elected president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (UOJCA) that Jews generally were underestimating the dangers of a new form of anti-Semitism. Harold M. Jacobs of Lawrence, N.Y., in his acceptance address said this new form stemmed from ongoing revolutionary changes in many parts of the world and that it had generally replaced “classic anti-Semitism” which had been “primarily supported by reactionary, nationalistic forces,”

Speaking at the banquet session of the 74th anniversary biennial convention of the UOJCA, Jacobs told the 2000 delegates and guests that this new wave of anti-Semitism, in a different garb, was now a major problem for the world Jewish community. He declared that leaders of organized Jewish life must find ways to work out an effective approach to deal with what is “obviously a world conspiracy against Jews.”

He noted that the classic anti-Semite “refuses to be identified as an anti-Semite and declares fervently he has no prejudice against Jews. Instead he has now become an anti-Zionist, placing himself in the camp of those who consistently denounce ‘Israeli imperialism’ as some sort of nefarious world conspiracy from which he is seeking to save peace-loving world humanity.”

He said it was the Soviet Communists who had invented “this new formula,” adding that among the aptest pupils have been the Arabs who imported, along with Soviet arms, ” the new Russian propaganda method. One has but to listen to debate in the United Nations, notably in meetings of the Sixth Committee on the problem of terrorism — in which the Arabs are so deeply implicated — to hear these scurrilous attacks again and again.”

AID FOR RELIGIOUS JEWS IN ISRAEL

Delegates attending an informal panel session yesterday heard a proposal from an American Orthodox rabbinical leader for a program to apply the organizational skills of American Orthodox rabbis and Orthodox college students to the goal of increasing religious commitment among Israel’s Jews. Rabbi Noah Chodos of New York, a member of the presidium of Poale Agudath Israel, the Orthodox workers organization, said that while Israel had many religious-educational institutions “the great majority” of Israel’s Jews do not receive” any religious education or indoctrination.” which “aggravated” Israel’s growing social tensions.

Rabbi Chodos proposed that American traditional Jews undertake a program to help build community centers in Israel; that American Orthodox rabbis visit Israel to stay in a maximum number of settlements for several months at a time, to act as “spiritual community leaders with the American know-how and experience” to become a part of the life of the community in Israel “to indoctrinate religious understanding”; and that Orthodox students on American college campuses spend time at Israeli universities for the same approach to non-observant Israeli students.