;1 NCRAC Agaiintst ‘Shared Time' Proposal
!. for Religious Studies in Public Schools;
Differs with JWV on Free Speech Approach
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News)
Kennedy had used his execu- from their provisions those per - to whom Israel is the only in campaigns urging vigorous
sons whose religious convic - alternative to privation, in- enforcement of "valid legisla-
CINCINNATI, 0. — Jewish important areas to combat
tions compel them to observe
tion penalizing hardcore por-
community and religious lead - racial discrimination and segre- a day other than Sunday as a dignity, and slavery."
The Jewish community nography."
ers overwhelmingly rejected th e gation and that the law en- religious day of rest"; opposed
should
carry
out
the
moral
and
plan of "shared - time" w h i c h forcement activities of the federal aid to public elementary
In a message to the plenary
offer public school facili - Department of JuStice had been and secondary schools under ethical precepts of its religious session, President Kennedy told
z would
heritage
and
exert
its
efforts
ties to pupils of pa r o c h i a 1 , "particularly vigorous," the religious control on the ground
the delegates that "your success
towards greater concentration
schools.
Jewish leaders nevertheless felt it would tend "to undermine on the imperative social issues in coordinating the efforts of
national Jewish organizations is
This position was taken on that the President had "failed religious freedom and the confronting the community
lo- of vital civic importance to your
the final day of a four-day to issue the executive order separation of church and state cally and nationally.
ti
session of the 19th Plenary barring discrimination in fed- by compelling support for an-
communities and to the nation."
Rabbi Eisendrath concluded,
Session of the National Commu- erally assisted housing that he other's religion or religious
Dr. Norman Drachler, as-
"Survival is not enough either
O
nity
Relations
Advisory
Council
expressly
promised
during the institutions."
sistant superintendent of
aC
for America or Jewry. Not good
at the Terrace Hilton Hotel.
1960 presidential campaign."
schools in Detroit, said that
Two participating Jewish
will at any cost, but God's
The Jewish leaders charged leaders disputed recent asser-
The motion to reject "shared-
Jewish community agencies
will at any price must be the
time" followed after hours of President Kennedy with using tions by Israel leaders that determining and decisive aim
must align themselves with
thorough discussion on the sub- his executive powers in a the American Jewish com- of both." --
responsible groups in the
E-. ject. At the opening session on "piece-meal approach" and ac-
community including the
munity
was
imperiled
by
the
The
session
approved
a
June 21, Dr. David G. Salten, cused the 87th Congress of threat of assimilation.
Negro, in seeking improve-
suggested
set
of
guide
lines
Superintendent of Schools, New "complete inaction" in the
ment of civil rights and
Addressing
an
afternoon
for
action
by
Jewish
com-
Rochelle, N.Y.. urged the Jew- adoption of any civil rights
liberties. Ile expressed con-
munities in dealing with prob-
ish leaders to carefully consider legislation. Both Republican symposium on "Jewish Life in
cern that the activities of
the
Free
Plural
Society—
lems
relating
to
censorship.
and study the proposal on the and Democratic legislators were Achieving a Balance Between
Jewish agencies in behalf of
James
Lipsig,
consultant
to
grodnds that "any plan which charged with disregarding the Integration and Distinctive
Jewish rights "have not suf-
minimizes the tendency toward 1960 civil rights p l a t f or m Separateness," Rabbi Maurice the Jewish Labor Committee, a ficiently involved the Negro
member NCRAC agency, and
social stratification and prom- pledges.
community."
ises some reduction in inter- i The resolution charged that N. Eisendrath, president of the draftsman of the proposed state-
Dr. Dan W. Dodson, director
religious conflict deserves pains- ' "many other areas subject to Union of American Hebrew ment on censorship, cited as of the Center for Human Rela-
taking consideration by religious: executive action, benefits Congregations, stated that recent examples confronting tions and Community Studies
American Jewish life has never the community efforts by
and educational leaders."
created by federal funds and been
more visible, more viable George Lincoln Rockwell and at New York University, urged
programs,
are
still
being
denied
"Shared-time" is a proposal
and more vibrant than it is other racists to hold public the Jewish community, "which
for the voluntary sharing of to American citizens because today."
meetings, or constant pressures is not too far removed from the
school time of children between of discriminatory practices," It
He said "this is our best to participate in "clean litera- same problem," to serve as a
the public school and the paro- called upon President Kennedy
ture" campaigns to suppress mediator and prevent hostility
chial school. Youngsters would to issue an executive order answer to those prophets of alleged obscenity.
between the Negro and the
be able to learn such subjects establishing a Federal Civil doom, such as the Prime Minis-
white community in the strug-
"The security of the Jewish gle of the former for integra-
as industrial arts, mathematics, I Rights Code which would for- ter of Israel, who negate the
science, and languages in a ' bid discrimination and segre- American Jewish future . . . Community in America rests in tion.
public school. In addition to gation in federally assisted While the people of the State large measure upon the main-
The NCRAC went on record,
religion, such subjects as Eng- housing, and "in all other fa- of Israel and American Jewry tenance of our free society in- in a strongly-worded resolution,
are
indissolubly
linked
as
an
cluding
freedom
of
speech
and
lish and social studies could cilities and services maintained,
condemning discrimination of
he taught in the religiously cen- operated or directed by the historic people, recent highly- press," Lipsig said.
Jews in the Soviet Union.
publicized
misunderstandings
Legislation intended to pro-
tered schools.
Federal Government and in all
The Soviet resolution ex-
demonstrate that we have a
NCRAC Chairman Lewis H. federal grants and loan pro- long way to go in building the tect groups such as a racial pressed "deep concern and an-
grams."
ethnic or religious groups guish upon the plight of our
Weinstein of Boston sum-
of reciprocal. cultural, against libel is opposed in the
Congress was called upon to kind
marized the viewpoints of
fellow Jews within the Soviet
religious and spiritual bridge NCRAC statement.
most delegates in comment- • enact legislation which would which is essential to our mutual
Union" and condemned "the
That
portion
of
the
state-
ing on the negative vote. eliminate literacy tests and poll survival.
discriminatory repressive treat-
ment
was
adopted
over
the
"While shared time may not taxes, establish a federal fair Rabbi Eisendrath shared the
ment accorded by the Soviet Gov-
violate the constitutional
employment practices commis- speaking podium with Irving opposition of one of the ernment to its Jewish citizens."
NCRAC's
member
national
or-
The resolution described the
division between church and ■ sion, assist school districts corn- Kane, president of the Council
ganizations, the Jewish War methods of discrimination em-
plying with the
state, it would impair and,
Supreme Court of Jewish Federations and Wel- Veterans.
school
desegregation decision,
in the end, vitiate our Ameri-
ployed against Soviet Jews and
The War Veterans feel that
give power to the Attorney fare Funds, the coordinating
can public school system."
body of Jewish Welfare a constitutional group libel law charged that they were being
General
to
initiate
court
actions
"There is no reason to expect
agencies in the United States can be drafted and should be singled out for prosecution for
"economic crimes." Death pen-
that those who have been de- to prevent violation of con- and Canada, and Dr. Horace M.
manding inclusion of parochial stitutional guarantees of equal- Kallen, research professor in supported by community agen- alties for these crimes, it
cies as a matter of policy. They charged, were being imposed on
schools in a federal aidpro- t ly, and permanently establish social philosophy, New School are
currently pressing for such Jews "in a greater ration than
gram would withdraw their he Civil Rights Commission. for Social Research, New York.
Federal
and State laws.
upon others charged with sim-
In a resolution on the Mid-
demands just because a few
Although not mentioning
Regarding obscene literature ilar offenses,"
communities adopt the new
dle East, the United States Prime Minister Ben-Gurion b
3'
Another resolution expressed
plan." he added.
government was urged to be name in his address, Kane the statement suggests that
It is likel
the "vanguard of world opin- stated "I do not share the de- Jewish groups may properly opposition to Federal aid to re-
that the demands would con
join
with
other
civic
groups
ligiously controlled schools.
ion in pressing for an Arab- featist view, the negative ap-
tinuc and the net result would
Israel peace."
he an increased financial bur-
praisal of some observers . . .
den on the public school system
In a statement on immigra- Israel, to be sure, can and will
17.7
rather than an amelioration
f tion, the body gave support deepen the content of our lives,
its critical needs."
to legislation before Congress I our communal purpose, but
rrirtiv7 rrT-rp rn -rrpr.in
Weinstein charged t ha t in the form of a bill introduced American Jewry cannot live
"shared-time" in practice would by Senator Philip A. Hart of culturally and spiritually as a
lead to greater divisiveness. He Michigan, which would remove parasite on a body 6,000 miles
i
t7 r1fF7
said the new , the racist quota systems in our away."
plan would be government's immigration laws.
Answering the charges as
itnnz7
inzni
.- ipp - 'n; 2,000' 17 rrlrep
a "tragic be-
Other resolutions adopted
to whether or not Judaism
trayal of our called on the United States gov-
.nix -j r zLi
r3 ,-prr: Tiopprz
can survive in a free demo-
.nirip 37-4 ti ,5-pri7
public schools. ernment to oppose discrimina- cratic society, Kane said
These are the Lions by Arab states against
"Jews want to remain as
r1"1?4T 71 V-1
'Om z7 c1tP74 riTtP?;71
71 1'P z?
institutions on American Jews and urged Con- Jews. Indeed, considering
38,000'"7 LVW?1:9
which we gress to require presidential
that we are now overwhelm-
Erlin
have relied re ports on progress toward
ingly a native-born Jewish
77-1-Tiv
for genera-.e1 imination of such discrimina-
ntp 77? trlin nizip
community, I doubt that we
tions for the ti on by countries receiving
have ever witnessed so great
aTiriez
preparation of i U nited States aid; denounced
a degree of Jewish conscious-
our young,th e radical right, and noted
ness, or a greater readiness
1131
'7tg
ryIkt
people
for th at "their methods are firmly
to support every worthwhile
citizenship. 're je•ted by an overwhelming
rio?p 70 - 7; rei 7S??; z?
Jewish endeavor here in the
rm?'?iv
71
-11711
a -p1'
for effective m ajority of the American peo-
United States and Canada, to
participation pl e"; demanded "at the very
.tv7p*4?
say nothing of our readiness
.,Tar 1S7
in our society. le ast, where Sunday closing
to save lives and feed the
.trkmr3
1V:'
600
717n7.
;:l
This is an la ws exist, they should exempt
'TM
*wan
nu/lir:14
rpriri
hungry and to resettle those
Weinstein
obligation of
ti'
n
48
riVt.
n
83,000
our democracy. We cannot aban
don it to a variety of religiou s
fL
,
,
IP7
(1)
rup. 4
.r-itsz? — rnp tr- ps?
nnin
;
bodies. with a variety of value
systems, unless we are prepared
to abandon our convictions
about the values that, as Ameri
cans, we hold in common."
Weinstein was elected by
the Plenary Session to a third
term as chairman. Other offi-
cers were also elected by the
body. Louis Rosenzweig of
Detroit was elected a member
of the executive committee.
A resolution on civil rights
stated that although President
Partially Blind Student Is Class
Prexy, Phi Beta Kappa at Columbia
nio'ivan
rvi,4*
(ri,ptrir rp-mt ro-! ntp
ytini)
Hebrew Corner
NEW YORK, (JTA) — San- Fellowship.
ford J. Greenberg of Buffalo
A typical story of Jewish devo-
was graduated with honors from tion to scholarship? Not quite.
In the Diaspora
In Israel
Columbia University with an Sanford was stricken with glau-
Associated with 2,000 Jewish
all-A record in his senior year. coma in 1961 and his vision was
Brought
into
the country over a
in 37 countries.
'
million Jews from a hundred coun-
The 21-year-old student also was only partly restored by surgery. schools
Trained thousands of Hebrew tea- tries.
chers
from
abroad
in
Israel.
elected class president and to His reading is limited to large-
Taught the Hebrew language in
Sent hundreds of teachers from special courses to 38,000 immigrants.
Phi Beta Kappa.
sized letters on white paper so
to the Diaspora.
Induced investments of 40 million
i He is going to enter the Har- much of his classroom notes and Israel
Organized a World Assembly of dollars.
! yard Graduate school of Political text material was tape-recorded Jewish Teachers and a World Con- Stored in the Central Zionist
of Jewish Youth. Archives over 70 million documents
Science in September as winner for him by fellow-students and gress
Supports pioneer youth movements and photographs.
having 83,000 members.
of a Woodrow Wilson National ,faculty members.
Set up 600 agricultural settlement*.
THE WORLD ZIONIST ORGANIZATION
Planted 48 million trees.