Vital Role of U.S. Jewry in Crisis Stressed As Rabbinical Assembly Parley Opens

On the keynote of American Jewry being “the sole surviving remnant of Jewish life in the diaspora,” the 40th annual convention of the Rabbinical Assembly of America, body of Conservative rabbis, opened this morning at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue with 100 rabbis and a number of guests attending.

In his presidential address, Dr. Max Arzt, of the Jewish Theological Seminary, asserted that “our deliberations will have the sole aim of exploring and defining our increased responsibilities in the face of the present world crisis.”

“By virtue of our knowledge and training, our consecration to the service of our people and our faith, we are best equipped to guide our people through these perilous times,” Dr. Arzt said. “We must make them keenly aware of the new role which American Jewry must play as the sole surviving remnant of Jewish life in the diaspora.”

He asserted that “organized religion, instead of thundering forth in the name of God and strict justice, surrenders to the jingoistic elements that destroyed the hope of the world.” He said Americans must recall with “uneasy conscience” the shelving of the Wagner-Rogers refugee children’s bill because of the action of “super patriots.”

“Even now,” Dr. Arzt declared, “these very elements are utilizing the hysterical fear of the fifth column to hound innocent aliens and to close the doors of America against the victims of Hitler and his hordes. There are those who propose a program of repression and persecution which will affect the innocent even as it will overlook the guilty, who are by no means limited to the strangers within our gates.”

Dr. Arzt, criticizing isolationists, proposed mobilization of all our resources for strengthening the democratic system and erecting a powerful defense against “the bloodthirsty brutalitarians.” He proposed not only a military conscription and training program, but also immediate economic rehabilitation of the 12,000,000 unemployed to save their morale.

Urging increased generosity in maintenance of an overseas relief program, Dr. Arzt proposed that American religious forces champion legislation for immediate admission of European children for the duration of the war.

Dr. Arzt paid tribute to the late Dr. Cyrus Adler and congratulated Prof. Louis Finkelstein on his election as president of the Seminary to succeed Dr. Adler. At an evening public meeting, Dr. Finkelstein also eulogized Dr. Adler.

Increased participation by rabbis in Jewish communal life and national organizations was urged in papers prepared for a symposium on “The Rabbi and the American Community.” Speakers included Rabbi Morris Adler, Detroit, and Rabbi Armond E. Cohen, Cleveland.