Reform Congregations Urged at Convention to Extend Their Activities

American and Canadian Jews were told here tonight that while they must do their utmost to aid and safeguard the State of Israel, their roots are deepest on the American continent where they must resolve to bring Judaism to “its fullest and fairest” flowering.

This note was sounded by Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, in a “State of Our Union” message that opened the 44th biennial general assembly of this oldest of America’s Jewish religious bodies. Addressing more than 3, 000 delegates assembled from all parts of the United States and Canada, Rabbi Eisendrath stated that Israel’s people are to be saluted and helped “for their heroic defense of freedom and right.”

He stressed at the same time that American and Canadian Jews owe it to themselves to assure the vigorous building and strengthening of Judaism on this continent. He put before the assembly of delegates representing 540 U.S. and Canadian Reform congregations a five-point program to assure the continued growth of American Reform Judaism which is now in its 84th year and is under the tutelage of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

Dr. Eisendrath, in presenting his five-point program, asked the extension of the reform movement into lower income and labor areas; a special religious missionary campaign to bring isolated Jewish communities within the fold of reform Judaism; creation by the 540 congregations of social action committees to help defend had preserve individual and group freedoms, additional youth camps to spread the inculcation of Jewish religious principles; and finally, more institutes for the training of religious school teachers. In addition to this program, Dr. Eisendrath gave vigorous endorsement to the efforts to end racial discrimination but lashed out at those who favor it in words and fail to put it in action.