The spirit of American freedom “is stimulating a new growth rather than a decline” in Jewish life in the United States, Philip M. Klutznick, president of the B’nai B’rith, declared here last night. Jews in American are “enjoying the freest environment for the longest period of time known to a Jewish community,” Mr. Klutznick added.
He spoke at the opening session of the five-day triennial convention of the 113-year-old organization, the oldest of its kind in the United States. More than 1,000 delegates were present, including observers from the B’nai B’rith organization in Israel, Europe and Latin America. B’nai B’rith has 400,000 members in 1,750 chapters in this country and Canada, in addition to branches in 30 other countries.
Mr. Klutznick predicted the expansion of Jewish communities throughout the non Communist world “both numerically and as spiritual and cultural movements.” He decried “excessive nostalgia” among some Jewish leaders who, he said, are attempting “to superimpose on Jewish life in America some of the methods, ideas, programs and customs of the Jewish communities of yesterday.”
The world president of B’nai B’rith scored the “penitence by propaganda” of Soviet rulers. The new Soviet rulers, he declared, “are trumpeting some truths about the persecution of Jews behind Iron Curtain, but seek absolution by casting the blame for it on Stalin,” He said he would “accept the premise that the new Soviet regime is truly opposed to anti-Semitism the same day that I recognized the existence of conditions which would make possible a B’nai B’rith movement in Moscow or Kishinev free to pursue its purpose as are the Jews of B’nai B’rith in such places as Rome and Dublin.”
The B’nai B’rith leader asserted that United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarsk jold’s mission to the Middle East “very likely averted a shooting war” at this point, but questioned the long term value of the cease-fire agreements. He called for the U.S. to supply Israel with defensive arms and to bolster the chances of peace by restoring a military power balance.
Maurice Bisgyer, national secretary of the organization, reported last night that the B’nai B’rith had spent $15,000,000 in the last three years on its educational, communal and philanthropic activities. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles is scheduled to be the guest speaker at a convention dinner Tuesday night.
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.
