The practice of Jewish-sponsored hospitals of publicly stressing their non-sectarian character and acceptance of patients regardless of race and creed while, at the same time failing to draw public attention to the fact that they are under Jewish auspices, has come in for criticism here.
The issue was raised editorially by the B’nai B’rith Messenger which criticized sponsors of the new Mt. Sinai Hospital for allegedly attempting to “hide their Jewish face in public” at the hospital’s dedication. The editorial received considerable comment.
Julius Bisno, executive secretary of the Los Angeles Jewish Community Council, in a letter to the paper, noted that “these very important health institutions would do much to advance their own cause and certainly make a contribution to the strengthening of the public relations of the Jewish community if they would make known on all occasions that these fine institutions are ‘under Jewish auspices.'”
The communal official expressed belief that this would not “detract one whit from the support they are getting from the general public and it would certainly serve to underline the contribution that Jewish leadership is making to the general welfare of the community.” He added that “we can be very proud of the significant contribution that Jewish social agencies have made.”
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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.
