Washington’s Jewish community and its major synagogues and organizations are preparing to provide accommodations and various services for thousands of Jewish students who are expected to converge on the capital during the Vietnam war mass protests Nov. 13-15.
A Jewish Student Assistance Center has been established with the cooperation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, B’nai B’rith Hillel Foundation and other organizations and campus groups.
Jay David, a student at Georgetown University, who is spokesman for the Center, stressed that it would provide facilities but would not be directly identified with the war moratorium and mobilization committees. He said all of the students would be participating as individuals or adherents of various groups and philosophies.
Office space for the center has been provided by the Religious Action Center of the UAHC. Residents have been asked to accept visiting peace demonstrators in their homes. Reform temples will provide dormitory facilities. Hillel houses are preparing to furnish peace marchers with kosher food. Under consideration is provision of volunteer doctors nurses and medical students to man first aid centers for the visiting students. The Hillel Foundations at Georgetown, American and George Washington Universities and the University of Maryland are working in conjunction with the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, the UAHC and Jews for Urban Justice, a civil rights group.
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