Anti-poverty Consultant Tells Jews Not to Exaggerate Black Anti-semitism

A rabbi who is a consultant on anti-poverty programs called on American Jews yesterday to “come to their senses” and stop exaggerating the extent of black anti-Semitism. Rabbi Johathan Prinz addressed the biennial national convention of the American Jewish Congress’ Women’s division. He is the son of Dr. Joachim Prinz of Newark, N.J., former president of the AJ Congress.

He charged that hostility and prejudice spread in New York City after the teacher’s strike. He accused the Jewish-led, largely Jewish United Federation of Teachers of helping to “infect and even poison the atmosphere with exaggerated backlash” by duplicating and distributing thousands of copies of an anti-Semitic flyer put out by some black extremists. “Anti-Semitism must be condemned and fought wherever it appears,” Rabbi Prinz said. “But let us place it in its limited context and perspective.”

Another speaker, Rabbi Henry Siegman, executive vice president of the Synagogue Council of America said it was not true that black anti-Semitism was “just another variety of anti-white racism” but rather is “a racist disease that in the past brought deadly effects to the Jews.” He, Rabbi Prinz and Mrs. Charles Snitow, president of the AJ Congress’ Women’s Division, urged Jews not to abandon their traditional support of civil rights for Negroes.