Jewish Organizations Pledge Unqualified Support to Roosevelt in War Against Japan

Unqualified Jewish support to President Roosevelt in the war with Japan was pledged today by the Jewish War Veterans, the American Jewish Congress and by numerous Jewish bodies all over the country.

Every American Jew and especially the ex-servicemen were asked to immediately embark on some activity demanded by the present national emergency, in a call issued by Benjamin Kaufman, National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans.

Dr. Stephen S. Wise, President of the American Jewish Congress, in behalf of that organization sent a message to President Roosevelt saying: “The American Jewish Congress, including a number of nationwide Jewish organizations, that is hundreds of thousands of American Jews, desires you to know that its membership and leadership alike are eager to give fullest support in every sense to our government and to you, its leader.”

The 32nd annual convention of the Middle-Atlantic section of the Jewish Welfare Board adopted a resolution in Baltimore last night reading: “Having learned of the unprovoked attacks upon the United States by Japan, the convention pledges its whole-hearted and unqualified support to the President of the United States and the Governmental departments thereby, in any manner in which the organization or its members may be called upon to render service in this emergency.”

A prayer for the safety of the American people in the present state of war with Japan was offered last night by Rabbi Joseph Konovitz, honorary president of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada. The prayer was recited in Baltimore at the eighth annual banquet of the Ner Israel Yeshivah attended by leaders of Baltimore and Washington Jewry. The 600 guests at the banquet rose at attention when Rabbi Konovitz offered an additional prayer for President Roosevelt “that he guide the nation through safely in the fearful days bound to come.”