A “Warren-type” national commission to investigate racial and religious prejudice in the United States was advocated here today by Jacob T. Zukerman, president of the Workmen’s Circle. He issued that call in addressing the concluding session of the organization’s national executive committee.
Stating that “racial and religious prejudice is still prevalent in industry, education and housing, ” Mr. Zukerman told the meeting that, “what is needed is a full and frank discussion and thorough investigation by the Federal Government such as the Warren Commission performed. There is evidence of racial and religious discrimination in so many avenues of American life, that the sooner it is brought into the open and discussed candidly, the healthier the economic and political climate of America will be.”
Benjamin A. Gebiner, national executive secretary, told the meeting that there has been an upsurge of Jewish education in the United States. He stated that his organization, which has 100 Yiddish language schools throughout the United States and Canada, has placed a priority on increasing the number “in view of what has proven to be an unprecedented upsurge by parents to send their children to schools in which Jewish heritage is taught. “
“At a time when, ” he said, “Jewish religious bodies have launched a massive drive to build new synagogues and community centers, we have found a great expression by young American-Jewish parents who want their children to learn Yiddish, and to become inculcated with Jewish heritage.
“Instead of becoming a dead Eastern European language, our studies reveal that there is a genuine Yiddish-language revival not only in the large urban centers but in the suburbs. We intend to meet this new and welcome challenge, ” he said.
Backing up Mr. Zukerman’s statement about anti-Semitism, Mr. Gebiner called not only for greater American concern with that issue, but also for more vigorous United Nations involvement. He urged forthright action an anti-Semitism at the next session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
