A growing trend among Jews and other religious and racial groups in the United States to segregate themselves was reported today to the biennial convention of the National Council of Jewish Women.
Mrs. Joseph Willen, second vice-president, told the 800 delegates of the trend to develop “homogeneous communities which are, in essence, self-segregated, and which do not cross lines either in schools or in other community facilities. ” She said this pattern not only isolated American Jews but was “inherently dangerous to the democratic fabric since Americans are not learning to get along with people of other creeds and colors.”
The speaker also told the convention that while the Jewish community is in the forefront in its programs for care of the aged, it is still far from recognizing many of the urgent needs of older people. She reported, too, that studies revealed that needs for Jewish education were not being adequately met.
Mrs. Moise S: Cahn, of New Orleans, opened the convention Sunday with an appeal for support of the United Jewish Appeal. She pointed out that “a quarter of a million Jews are about to leave the homes they have known all their lives to emigrate to Israel.” She warned that when they step across the border “they will be impoverished.” A telegram from Israel Foreign Minister Golda Meir appealing for support was read to the convention.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
