NCRAC Plenum Action Called 'Tragic Roger W. Straits Named General
Defeat' for All Jewry by Klutznik
Chairman of Brotherhood Week

.

The decisions reached by the
last Plenary Session of the
NCRAC were "a tragic, unneces-
sary defeat for the whole Jewish
community" according to Philip
M. Klutznik, a member of the
executive committee of the
executive committee of the Su-
preme Lodge of Bnai Brith and
vice-chairman of the Anti-
Defamation League, who spoke
at the second of the Jewish
Community Council forum ses-
sions at Bel Aire, Oct. 17.
Klutznik urged that parties to
the present controversy address
themselves to it "in the proper
spirit" without maligning the
motives or questioning the good
faith of each other. He asserted
his own willingness to respect
contrary points of view.
All American Jews interested
in this problem, Klutznik de-
clared, undoubtedly share a
common view of the kind of goal
that ought to be reached. How-
ever, public thinking on this
problem must accord with the
present development of the Jew-
iSh community. In the light of
this, Klutznik stated, what hap-
pened at Atlantic City "was
thoroughly • reflective of the
American Jewish community as
it exists today" and perhaps in
contradistinction to what the
American Jewish community of
the future may be. He pointed
out that in this controversy
there is no such thing as "a
monopoly on integrity" for the
parties on either side of the is-
sue, and he acknowledged that
proponents of both points of
view are honestly motivated.
The NCRAC, he stated, was
not created for the purpose of

erecting a substitute for the
American Jewish Assembly.

While he expressed hope that
some day such an instrument
.might be created, it was not

the purpose of the NCRAC,
and speeches and editorials
which now seem to take that
approach to the NCRAC are
"an insult to the character of
American Jewish life." He
lauded any attempts to elim-
inate waste and duplication in
the field of community rela-
tions, but stated that discus-
sions about these problems
while they might be the
/ "jumping off place" for debate
on whether to create another
American Jewish Assembly,
should not seek to create that

of the NCRAC.
The Plenary session, Klutznik
stated, was called solely for the
puropse of considering the pro-
posals of the Evaluative Studies
Committee. On that subject and
on that subject alone it was in
its proper place.
He attacked the "fostered" no-
tion that the JDA agencies at
Atlantic City refused to discuss
or to consider the so-called Barr
Compromise Proposal. In actu-
ality, he stated, there was no
more than 30 to 35 minutes of
face-to-face discussion between
eommunity leaders and JDA
agency leaders. Finding in the
Barr Proposal no basis for dis-
cussion or compromise, the lead-
ers of JDA agencies asked that
discussions be started on the
basis of the Evaluative Studies
Committee report or on the basis
of the compromise proposal of
the JDA agencies. This offer was
rejected by the communities,
and with virtually no at-
tempt at negotiation, the
issue came to the floor of the
Plenum where the Barr Proposal
was adopted. It is not true,
Klutznik stated, that the JDA
agencies refused further negotia-
tions with the communities. It
was not true also, he declared,
that American Jewish Commit-
tee and the ADL used "threats."
On the contrary, he stated, they
announced that their withdraw-
al would be "with regret."
The Barr Proposals, Klutznik
*id, would have created a man-
datory compulsion which could
not be accepted by the JDA
agencies. He said that in the
ease of Bnai Brith, they com-
pletely overlooked the "volun-
teer and lay character" of the
organization. The process of co-
ordination under the NCRAC
'was starting, he said, but the

THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 24, 1952

—

5

•Drapes
•Lampshades
•Bedspreads

compulsion which would result
Roger W. Straus, chairman of the Anniversary Committee are
from the Barr Proposal intro-
the board of the American the other NCCJ national co-
duced "a discordant element."
Smelting and Refining Co., has chairmen — Benson Ford, vice-
Klutznik emphasized that
president, Ford" Motor Co., chair-
the waste and duplication
man of the national special gifts
which the MacIver study orig-
committee; and Thomas E. Bra-
inally set out to correct were
BEAUTIFULLY
niff, president, Braniff Interna-
more historic than realistic
DRY
CLEANED
tional Airways, chairman of the
factors. Since 1946 when JDA
extension
committee.
AND
agencies operated on a budget
In accepting the two posts,
of $2,400,000 each there has
HAND
FINISHED
Mr. Straus hailed the progress
been a cut to $1,800,000 or ap-
made
during
the
past
25
years
proximately 25%. This has
in promoting. better intergroup
been accomplished in the face
Free
10%
relations.
of increasing costs and actual-
Mr.
Straus
recalled
that
the
Pickup
Off
ly represents a greater saving
National Conference was found-
than is apparent from the
E
and
Cash
ed in 1928 by former Chief Jus-
actual dollar amounts.
tice Charles Evans Hughes, for-
Delivery Carry
Klutznik stated that the
mer Secretary of War Newton
American Jewish community
D. Baker, and S. Parkes Cad-
was "on its way to a solution
man, past president of the Fed-
of its problem." Now, he added,
eral Council of the Churches of
the "future is not clear" but in
Christ in America.
Cleaners & Dyers
view of developments, the
ROGER W. STRAUS
"NCRAC could not be the for- been named general chairman Hate the evil, and love the
12813
LINWOOD TO. 7-9660
um if we were gentlemen of of Brotherhood Week, to be
good, and establish judgment m
n
honor." In separating themselves tionally observed F e b. 15-22,
a.- the gate.—Amos 5:15.
from the NCRAC, the JDA agen- under
the
sponsorship
of
the
cies may find some better an-
Conference of Chris-
swers to a still unresolved prob- National
tians and Jews, it was an-
FOR INFORMATION... on the FINEST
lem, but in actuality, Klutznik nounced
by Dr. Everett R. Clin-
averred, the agencies did not ehy, NCCJ
president.
NON-CANCELLABLE and INCONTESTABLE
leave the NCRAC, "the NCRAC
Mr. Straus, who is the Jewish
left us."
national co-chairman of the Na-
Disability Income Protection .
The meeting was opened by tional Conference, also will serve
Sidney M. Shevitz, Council presi- as general chairman of the 25th
dent. Rabbi Morris Adler, vice- anniversary committee set up to
'CALL
president of the Council, pre- plan the celebration during 1953
sided. Announcement was made of "twenty-five years of achieve-
of the forthcoming appearance ment for the National Confer-
Massachusetts Indemnity Insurance Co.
at a similar event of Dr. Israel ence of Christians and Jews,"
Goldstein, president of the Dr. Clinchy announced.
817 PENOBSCOT BLDG.
WO. 1-9791
American Jewish Congress.
Serving with Mr. Straus on

4

AMBASSADOR

HOWARD STERN

Every Jewish Organization in Detroit

is urged to send three representatives to a

Special Conference

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1952 ... 8:30 P M.

JWV Memorial Home

TO URGE AN ALL KOSHER KITCHEN IN SINAI HOSPITAL

The time is short. We must make our voice heard that an institution representing the entire

Jewish

Community honor Jewish traditions and practices. Jewish dignity and loyalty require that a Jewish

hospital be completely `and not partially Kosher.

All congregations, landsmanshaften and other Jewish groups and organizations are invited

o send representatives. Sinai Hospital has also been invited to be represented.

REMEMBER THE CAUSE, THE PLACE, THE DATE!

THE CONFERENCE WILL TAKE PLACE MONDAY, OCT. 27-8:30 P.M.

AT THE

JEWISH WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL HOME

DAVISON NEAR DEXTER

Rabbi Morris Adler

Rabbi Leizer Levin

Rabbi David S. Bakst

Rabbi Moses Lehrman

Rabbi Jacob Chinitz

Rabbi Leopold Neuhaus

Rabbi Moses Fischer

Rabbi Samuel H. Prero

Rabbi Benjamin Gorrelick

Rabbi Joseph Rabinowitz

Rabbi Yecheskal Grubner

Rabbi Jacob Segal

Rabbi Solomon H. Gruskin
Rabbi Israel Halpern

Rabbi Joshua S. Sperka
Rabbi Isaac Stollman
Rabbi Joseph Thumim
Rabbi Max J. Wohlgelernter

Rabbi Max Kapustin

