The American people must be constantly vigilant to preserve the religious tolerance in search of which their forefathers came to these shores, President Harry S. Truman said today in his first address to a joint session of Congress.
“Our forefathers came to our rugged shores in search of religious tolerance, political freedom and economic opportunity,” the President said. “For these fundamental rights they risked their lives. We well know today that such rights can be preserved only by constant vigilance, the eternal price of liberty.”
President Truman announced the determination of his administration to punish war criminals “even though we must pursue them to the ends of the earth.”
Concluding his address, Mr. Truman said: “As I assume my heavy duties, I humbly pray to Almighty God, in the words of Solomon: Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this, Thy so great people?” I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.”
Rabbi Rorbert S. Goldstein, president of the Synagogue Council of America, the representative body of all Jewish religious organizations throughout the country, today sent the following message to President Trumana.
“Allow me to convey to you a message of the confidence of the millions constituting the American synagogue and our fervent prayer that the Lord God strengthen and sustain you in the great trust placed in your hands that you may lead our nation and our world to victory and to enduring peace.”
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.
