United action by Jewish youth organizations in meeting problems of Jewry was urged at a conference at the Hotel Astor yesterday of more than 100 young people, representing such organizations in the metropolitan area. The conference, arranged by the youth division of the American Jewish Congress, was the first of its kind held here.
In an address to the delegates Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, president of the Congress, urged youth to take the leadership in Jewish affairs and deplored the fact that the “veterans” are at the helm to too great an extent. He declared that the Jewish youth “ought to serve as a mobile unit of the Congress army.”
Previously, at a luncheon, Rabbi William F. Rosenblum had urged “progressive and aggressive action” by Jewish youth in combating the enemies of Jewry.
CITES DANGEROUS SYMPTOM
In an opening oddress in the morning, Louis Sturz, chairman of the youth division’s advisory council, warned that Jewish youth is confronted by “the problem of the right to live and work.” He asserted that the fate of Jewry in America rests upon the will of youth to survive. He pointed out that a dangerous symptom in the United States is the fact that preaching anti-Semitism is no longer shameful.
After the general session, the delegates were divided into six seminars on anti-Semitism, student affairs, economic discrimination, the 1936 Olympics, good-will between Jew and non-Jew, and communal relief.
At the anti-Semitism seminar, sentiment was voiced that anti-Semitism is not a peculiar problem but a specific manifestation of the conflict between an isolated minority and the majority.
It was declared at the discussion of the 1936 Olympics that there is no reason to hope that Jews will receive equal treatment in the Berlin athletic games and that a boycott should be pressed against the Olympics.
Among other speakers were Dr. Joshua L. Goldberg, secretary of the Congress, and Maurice R. Whitebook. Emanuel Sonnenreich presided at the luncheon.
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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.
