Understanding Between Major Jewish Groups is Advocated by World Jewish Congress Leader

Emphasizing that “many organizations have changed their views under the impact of the creation of the Jewish state,” Dr. I. Schwarzbart, head of the organization department of the World Jewish Congress, today expressed the hope that “the time may be drawing near for a fruitful understanding between other Jewish organizations and the World Jewish Congress.”

Dr. Schwarzbart made this observation in a 46-page report on the activities of his department for the last 12 months among Jewish communities in all parts of the world. “In the high temperature of our joy, tensions may melt and disappear, misunderstandings may vanish because life itself has brought divergent efforts to a common goal,” he said. “The realization of these prospects depends on whether we will look upon the stream of events from a lofty historic viewpoint as a people with thousands of years of history behind it should do.”

The report deals with the work of the Jewish Congress and its affiliated groups on the American continent, in Europe, North Africa, South and Central Africa, Asia and Australia. It brings to light the tension which has developed between the executive of the World Jewish Congress and six Jewish communities in countries behind the Iron Curtain and points out that the W.J.C. is “most anxious” to find a permanent working understanding with these communities “on a democratic basis.”