Cambodian Relief Campaign Begun by Sca in Syna Gogues Throughout U.S.

Declaring that “We dare not postpone even for one minute our role in helping to prevent Holocaust 11 which threatens to become a reality in Cambodia,” Rabbi Arthur Lelyveld, president of the Synagogue Council of America (SCA), announced that several thousand Conservative, Orthodox end Reform congregations throughout the nation have joined together in a Cambodian relief campaign.

Rabbi Bemard Mandelbaum, executive vice president and the new director of the SCA’s Institute for Jewish Policy Planning and Research, said more than $10,000 has been sent to the SCA in the last few days. The SCA is the national coordinating agency for the Conservative, Orthodox and Reform rabbinic and congregational organizations.

At the invitation of Father Theodore Hesburgh, president of Notre Dame University, Mandelbaum participated in two White House meetings with President Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter to rally American support for the Cambodian Relief Campaign. At the White House meetings Mandelbaum referred to the deep concern of Jews for the tragic events in Cambodia. “Having lived through the Holocaust, Jews especially want to help prevent the danger of Holocaust 11 in Cambodia,” he declared.

Mandelbaum said that “many in the Jewish community, as in America generally, want to do something to help, but they don’t know where to turn. The Synagogue Council of America is inviting all to participate in this vital cause.”

Heading the drive for the Synagogue Council of America is Stephen Cohen, chairman of the SCA’s Task Force on International Affairs. He has called on all members of the SCA plenum, as well as supporters of the SCA, to send their own contributions to the SCA and to urge others to contribute to Cambodian relief.