Page Eighteen
THE JEWISH NEWS
Frkitty, Sephratier 15, f944
To Bury or To Resurrect
The Needs and the Errors of the American Jewish Conference
(The subjoined views by Rabbi Maurice N.
Eisendrath, national director of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, were pen-
ned before the Interim Committee voted to
postpone the second session of the American
Jewish Conference, which was to have been
held in Chicago during the Labor Day week-
end.—THE EDITOR.)
I AM IN FAVOR
of an American Jewish Conference,
Assembly, Congress, or whatever des-
ignation such a unification of our Jew-
ish forces in America might be given.
Jewish unity, by whatever name it is
called, would smell as sweet to my
nostrils. A large part of the first year
at my new post as director of the
Union of American Hebrew Congrega-
tions has been devoted to keeping the
Union within the American Jewish
Conference.
I am in -favor of AN American Jew-
ish Conference. As for THE American
Jewish Conference ; a realistic apprai-
sal of the American Jewish scene com-
pels the conviction that the American
Jewish Conference thus far has not
succeeded in fulfilling its high expec-
tations. A powerful attempt will be
made at the proposed second session to
revive the hope in the hearts of Amer-
ican Jewry. But the paramount ques-
tion that confronts the Conference is
whether it will have the courage to
examine the obvious errors of its ways,
to reappraise its real purpose, and to
chart a new and sounder course.
Conference Forgets Purpose
It is my purpose to examine the
American Jewish Conference with
these questions in mind.
1. The Conference first went astray
because amid the mass emotionalism of
the first session it forgot its prime and
only purpose, which was to "formulate
a program of COMMON action with
regard to Palestine," and not proclaim
a policy or program with regard to
Palestine. •
The Conference was not convened to
rescue Jews in competition with other
agencies. The American Jewish Con-
ference was convened to "formulate a
program of COMMON action with re-
gard to the rescue of Jews."
The Conference was not called to-
gether to plan for postwar Jewish re-
construction. Several other outstand-
ing Jewish organizations • are doing
that. The Conference was called to-
gether to "formulate a program of
COMMON action with regard to post-
war Jewish reconstruction."
Demonstrates Jewish Unity
In an article which we published in
the Congress Weekly some weeks prior
to the last session of the Conference, I
drew upon my experience in Canada
to -demonstrate Jewish unity for the
possible benefit of U. S. Jewry. There
I stated that Canadian Jewry has
"learned to take rather for granted the
gains derived from dwelling. together
in concord. The Jews of the U. S.
might do well to note what one of the
tiniest minorities in world Jewry has
been able to accomplish, by under-
standing the deeper meaning of de-
mocracy, which inheres in the respect
for the other persons' viewpoint, by
sympathetic appreciation of the rights
of the minority, and by a scrupulous
searching out of the highest conceiv-
able synthesis of opposing policies and
platforms.
"Minorities might have been cast
aside by invoking the shibboleth of '
majority rule. Instead, greater wisdom
and a profounder insight into the . . .
value of democracy prevailed . .. Al-
ready, there is grave reason to clOubt
that similar wisdom will prevail here
. . • There are those among the major-
ity who demand that no inconsequen-
tial fraction shall_ chart the course."
Principal Cause Cited
I quote this to underscore the prin-
cipal cause of the Conference's failure
to achieve its purpose. The majority
felt its strength and exploited it to the -
full, with the result that minorities
have either felt it necessary to with-
draw or, as is the case with the Union
of American Hebrew Congregations,
have remained loyally a part of the
Conference even though they have felt
themselves powerlss to effect its
course.
Will the Conference have the cour-
age to face its failure in this funda-
mental departure from its original
--
By RABBI MAURICE N. EISENDRATH
tioned, predicated on the 1 943 elec-
tions, when the burning issue was the
question of a declaration on Palestine.
This declaration has already been
made, and it is futile and deleterious
to the proper functioning of the Con-
ference ito continue to apportion com-
mittee representation upon the basis
of this artificial division between Zion-
ist and anti- or non-Zionist.
Discard Present Key
Either the present key should be
altogether discarded, or, at all events,
every effort should be made by the
leaders of the Conference itself to en-
courage and to accomplish the re-
alignment of the respective groups
within the Conference. Certainly if
the Conference eschews the suggestion
just made, it ought_ to return to the
of parity, under which it was
organized and . in accordance with
which its Executive Committee oper-
ated successfully during the many
months prior to the first session of the
Conference.
The minimum change that the Con-
ference must adopt would be to have
on its committees and board represen-
tatives of the 325 community delegates
to be selected geographically, and rep-
resentatives of its 125 organizational
delegates appointed on a basis of abso-
lute parity, with the understanding
that as long as the practice of repre-
sentation by national organizations is
retained, due publicity shall invariably
be given to such dissenting views and
votes as may arise.
3. The Conference must determine
just what it really is. Is the Confer-
ence a day-by-day functional organiza-
tion or is it, as many presume it to be,
the tribune or voice of a united Ameri-
can Jewry? It is because it has fore-
sworn the latter objective and - has
sought to follow the former course
that it has collided and quarreled with
almost every existent organization.
Renounce Aspirations
The Conference should equivocally
renounce any aspiration to take over
the daily functional activity of satis-
factory existent organizations and re-
turn to its original purpose: to be the
clearing-house and mouthpiece of a
united American Jewry. The logic of
this position has been belatedly
grasped by the Conference with ref-
erence to the Palestine Resolution, and
why not in other areas? Its mandate
provided merely that it should "con-
sider and recommend action."
4. The Conference should seek to
utilize the existing coordinating ma-
chinery in the communities throughout
the U. S. rather than to set up its own
local organizations. For years our vari-
ous Jewish communities have been
gradually moving toward a unification
of their forces, in the form of com-
munity councils ; federations of welfare
funds, etc. The Conference has com-
mitted an egregious error in failing to
work through these agencies.
5. The Conference must reappraise
its present leadership. It cannot be de-
nied that a considerable portion of the
personnel -constituting the present
leadership of the Conference has mere-
ly changed the scene of its operation.
Consequently, too, many among the
rank and file of American Jewry con-
cludes that the Conference itself is
rapidly becoming little other than a
_"front" organization to serve the -pur-
poses of the professional Jewish
politician.
purpose? Several courses are open to
the Conference.
It might still not be too late to re-
turn tp its original purpose—to formu-
late a program of common action—
even with regard to Palestine. By the
adoption of this maximalist position in
relation to Palestine, much has been
lost. Although the Conference still
purports to speak in their name, or-
ganization after organization have, by
and large, found themselves unable
positively to confirm the Palestine
Resolution of the Conference. Even
more serious has been the attention
focused on the deep rift in American
Jewish opinion relating to Palestine.
Little has been gained, and much re-
linquished.
Irreconcilable Differences
The Conference ought to admit
New Leadership Asked
frankly that there are irreconcilable
-
--
The
American
Jewish community is
differences in American Jewish life,
clamoring for new faces and new lead-
but that it seeks nonetheless to work
with all groups, in such areas where
ership; for leaders who are non-parti-
common action can be achieved. This
san and who have no axes to grind.
candid admission of differences, with
The
second session of the Conference
regard to which, incidentally, there is
must discover this new leadership or
sharp divergence of opinion today
even in Zionist circles themselves—
the Conference may degenerate into
might do much to heal the present
merely another second-rate organiza-
breach in American Jewry.
tion.
It seems to me that a formula which
American Jewry wants "an Ameri-
a goodly number of the constituents of
can Jewish Conference." It is not at
the Conference have adopted as their
only alternative to inner disruption
all certain that "the American Jewish
ought to commend itself to the Con-
Conference" is the institution it de-
-ference, or the present chaos will de-
sires, unless the Conference determines
mand a new deal, a new co-ordinating
to return to its sole justification for ex-
agency which will really bring unity,
istence: the unification of American
which actually will formulate a pro-
Jewry.
gram of common action, rather than
Failing this, the time has come for
permit the perpetuation of pressure
others to attempt to fill this one great
politics on governmental agencies, and
void in the household of American
press, now so common.
Israel. The second session will sound
Little (if any) attempt has . been
the death-knell of the Conference un-
made to• defer to minority opinion
less it reappraises its entire policy,
within the Conference. This has to
program and personnel. The Jewish
do with the deeper implications of de-
masses will welcome such self-scrutiny.
mocracy. • Besides, since when have
Most of the organizations adhering
Jews, the eternal minority, the right to
—many of them half-heartedl3r—to the
be so disdainful of their own minori-
Conference will regard such a re-ex-
ties? As long as the Conference con-
amination of the Conference- as the
tinues to be composed of organizations,
sine qua non of their continued mem-
rather than exclusively of individuals,
bership.
it must take due cognizance of the mi-
Will the American Jewish Confer-
nority viewpoint, it must formulate a
ence have the courage requisite for
program of common action or those or-
this great task? Will the Conference
ganizations with mixed constituencies
fulfill its glOrious promise? American
will be so compromised that ultimately
Jewry awaits the reply anxiously and
they may be forced to withdraw.
impatiently, the reply that will spell
Composed of Communities
the burial or the resurrection of the
The Conference at its second session
American Jewish Conference.
should decide that
it will no longer
be composed of
representatives of
various national
organizations; b u t
By DAVID MORDECAI
rather of the vari-
Short
A Rosh
ous co mm unities
throughout the
"Molly, I want you to look at
Gordon. It was time for the eve- when we get home tonight."
United States.
this ad in the Jewish paper."
ning service on the first day of
A congregational guffaw greet-
Then the majority
Morris Gordon handed his wife Rosh Hashanah. The congrega-
ed this remark. But Morris Gor-
rule can be in-
the paper and waited for her
tion was shifting uncomfortably, 'don did not waver. He continued
voked without
reaction.
waiting for the cantor.
on his way to the platform, as-
compromising o r -
Molly Gordon, despite the fact
Some men, too hungry to wait
cended quickly and even before
ganizations that, by
that she was married to an un-
much longer, were leaving,-.will-
the laughter had died down had
virtue of their di-
derweight, short-of-stature timid ing to miss the Maariv service if
lifted his voice in the first words
v e r s e constituen-
teacher of elementary grades,
it meant a long wait. The stoutish
of the opening prayer.
cies, cannot possi-
was a woman with a mind of
president of the synagogue com-
An immediate hush followed.
bly concur in some
her own. In fact, her husband
mittee, Mr. Miller, called out
There was a general nudging
of the Conference's
often complained in his bolder
when the exodus was beginning
around as men and women ex-
findings.
moments that she even tried to
to assume mass proportions,
claimed to • their neighbors that
control his mind.
"Please, ladies and gentlemen,
Gordon was singing beautifully.
Such an "escape"
"So, what if they want a cantor
please be patient, the cantor will
He knew how to twist the words
from representa-
in RusstOwn? What's it got to do
be here any moment. He has
of the machzor -in such a fashion
tion by organiza-
with you?" She looked at her
been delayed for a short while.
that even the most petrified Jew-
tions will relieve
husband, who had meanwhile
Please keep your seats."
ish heart would be moved. He
some of the present
risen
from
his
seat.
understood what he sang and
From one end of the congrega-
Conference leader-
"But, dear, you know I have
with his singing he gave under-
tion someone called, "Mr. Miller,
ship from its stulti-
been taking singing lessons with
Mr. Miller, I'll take the cantor's
standing to all the, congregants.
f y i n g "dual-alle-
Prof. Mantaroni, and I know all
place."
All were agreed when he re-
giance" which has
the tunes for the cantor's part.
Morris Gordon could hardly moved his tallis at the end of the
made them wary of
Besides, it's a patriotic duty.
believe that he had spoken so
service that his singing had been
permitting the
After all, so many cantors have
par excellence.
boldly. But a sudden urge had
Conference- to
gone off to war, somebody has
1AThile he was still mopping his
seized him and he had risen to
eclip.;e their re-
to take care of the home front."
his feet. "We cannot wait any brow the committee approached
spective organiza-
Molly laughted. "You, Morris
him and asked him whether he
longer, Mr. Miller, and if you
tions, which ac-
Caruso Gordon, better get back
don't object I'll - take the Omud
would continue as chazan for the
counts for much of
to marking the brats' test-papers.
now."
rest of the High Holy Days. Gor-
t h e Conference's
Ha, a cantor!"
don, without a moment's hesita-
There was a general consensus
inactivity in t h e
tion, said he would be delighted.
Morris sank back into the worn
of approval and a slight murmur
past year.
And when he walked out of the
club chair he had inhabited for
of excitement as Morris Gordon
2. T h e Confer-
synagogue, holding his wife's
the past ten years of his evening
made his way to the cantor's
ence should aban-
arm firmly and even a bit .
life. He cast a dejected look at
position on the bimah. But before
don the present
severely, he heard her say, "But,
the paper. Someday, I'll show
he had walked very far a high-
"key" by which
Morrie, darling, after all—who
that woman, who is master. I'll
pitched, nervous voice rang out
representation o n
told you not to go away to Russ-
show her, all right.
from the women's gallery: "Mor-
town?"
its Interim Corn-
The heat in the crowded syna-
ris Gordon, take your seat or
(Copyright, 1944, Jewish Telegraphic.
in it t e e is appor-
gogue was oppressiye to Morris you won't have what to it on
Agency, Inca
Canticum Canticornin
Hashanah
Story