Pressures on School Prayers Amendment Are Receding Goldmann Praises Poles' 'Efforts to Aid Jewish Life' WASHINGTON (JTA) — The possibility that Congress might be stampeded into approving the pro- posed Becker constitutional amend- ment, which would void the Su- preme Court .ban on prayers in public schools, is diminishing, in- formed sources on Capitol Hill said. Rep. Emanuel Celler, New York Democrat who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee which is hearing testimony on the issue, expressed the belief that the tide had turned in the debate. He said "sober judgement is beginning to make itself felt." In addition, a number of Congressmen who ini- tially supported and testified in favor of the amendment sponsored by Rep. Frank Becker, New York Republican, have changed their minds. In continuing testimony, a num- ber of Jewish spokesmen expressed opposition to all proposals to void the Supreme Court ruling. They included Rabbi Edward E. Klein of New York, testifying for the Central Conference of American Rabbis; and Dr: Joachim Prinz, president of the American Jewish Congress. Congressmen reported a no- ticeable change in the tone of their mail on the prayer issue. When the hearings began five weeks ago, mail was heavily in favor of such proposed amend- ments. Foes of the amendment contended that an organized, well - financed pro - amendment mail campaign was underway. But the testimony of the major- ity of witnesses for religious organizations—Jewish and Chris- tian—as well as of legal experts has been strongly anti-amend- ment. Dr. Prinz, now a rabbi in Newark, who had served as a rabbi in Berlin prior to World War told the committee that religious instruction in German schools had failed to prevent the rise of Hitler and the excesses of Nazism. He dis- puted the position that public school prayer recitation and Bible- reading encouraged national or NEW YORK — The government of Poland was praised Wednesday by Dr. Nahum Goldmann for its "efforts in helping the small Jew- ish communities in Poland to main- tain Jewish life" as compared with the suppression of Jewish religi- ous and cultural life in the Soviet Union. Speaking at a press con- ference. Dr. Goldmann said: "At an invitation of the Polish governmental committee in charge or erecting monuments in the Nazi annihilation camps in Poland, I at- tended the dedication of a memor- ial to the martyred Jews who died at Treblinka. (Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News) personal morality, a position he termed "false both in theory and practice." Rabbi Klein stated: "The pro- posed amendment would not make children or their schools more re- ligious or moral. Religion must be both taught and caught by precept and example in the home, in the synagogues and churches. Religion and the home must not look to the school to do their work. Prayer needs an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence. To make it a class- room exercise is to demean prayer and render it meaningless." Prof. Willard Heckel, dean of "It is, of cotirse, tragic to ob- the law school of Rutgers Univer- serve the small Jewish commun- sity, told the committee that the proposed amendments "should be ity of some 30,000 souls in Po- resisted by all who are concerned land, the survivors of the more about the preservation of freedom than 31/2 million Jews who lived in Poland before the advent of and individual rights." He warned World War II and the Nazi that human freedom "will not last long if unpopular decisions of the holocaust. I was most impressed Supreme Court can be overruled by the efforts that the Polish government is making in help- by constitutional amendments." ing the small Jewish communi- Theodor Carcich, president of ties in Poland to maintain Jew- the North American division of the ish life. Seventh Day Adventists, warned that the proposed amendments `This policy of the Polish govern- "would tend to magnify religious ment is more extraordinary and differences" and carried the threat highly significant when compared of religious strife. with the situation in Russia where not only no help is given to such Warns Zionists to Devote Jewish cultural activities, but no Attention to Survival facilities are even offered in Russia PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Dr. Ezra to the Jews to maintain Jewish Spicehandler, professor at Hebrew life by their own efforts. Union College-Jewish Institute of "I have also recently been in Religion in Cincinnati, warned the Germany, during which time I con- Zionist movement that it must now ferred with top German govern- devote equal attention to the cul- tural survival of the American ment officials on the matter of two supplementary laws on restitution Jewish community as it does to and indemnification which are now the support of Israel. before parliament. These negotia- Speaking on the now currently tion's are proceeding slowly and discussed problem of the "vanish- with great difficulties. This new ing American Jew" and the threat of assimilation, he told more than policy of austerity, pursued by the German government, is an obstacle 300 delegates attending the 60th in obtaining a satisfactory mini- anniversary convention of the mum for those groups of victims Labor Zionist Organization of of Nazi persecution who are either America-Poale Zion that "Ameri- not covered by the actual legisla- can Jewry is moving into a new tion enacted in the past, or to age which could best be described whom payments have to be in- as neo-assimilationist." THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Want ads get quick results! Friday, May 29, 1964 9 creased. Dr. Goldmann expects to be in "I am still hopeful that satis- Germany in June to confer with factory agreements between the Chancellor Erhard and other Ger- Conference of Jewish Material man government officials. Claims Against Germany and the G e r in a n government will be Want ads get quick results! reached. 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Reservations Now Accepted for Fall Term Write Daniel Trotzky, director EARL ORR'S HODGES DODGE, INC. Is Pleased to Announce The Appointment of IRV KATZ As Sales Manager 23000 WOODWARD AVE., FERNDALE 2 Blks. No. LI 1-3032 of 9 Mile A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT A TRIBUTE TO SENATOR PATRICK V. McNAMARA Sponsored by the American Trade Union Council for Histadrut will take place SATURDAY, June 6, 6:30p .m. Fountain Ballroom, Masonic Temple * • * • * * Distinguished Participants: The. Hon. G. Mennen Williams—Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs The Hon. Philip A. Hart— U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan The Hon. Jerome P. Cavanagh Mayor of the City of Detroit Yaacov Morris— Special Representative of the State of Israel to the United States Emil Maley- Secretary-Treasurer, UAW Morris Lieberman—National Vice-Chairman of Histadrut Al Barbour George Ames Chairman Edw. C. Levy Bernard J. Youngblood Co-Chairman Co-Chairman Co-Chairman FOR RESERVATIONS C LL UN 4-70'6