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New Year's Edition—THE JEWISH PRESS—Roih Haihonah 57I6—Friday, September rf, I955
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Vol. XXXIV—No. I
Human Rights-Where Do We By Dr. Nahum Qoldmann, President, World Jewish Congress (During the year 5715 just past, 94 international agencies, representing tens of m i l l i o n s of people throughout the earth, met at Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations, Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations te> consider ways of eliminating prejudice and discrimination. This unusual meeting had a deep significance for the Jewish people, a fact noted by Dr. Nahum Goldmaun, president of the World Jewish Congress who headed a large WJp delegation, in a major address to the conference. Portions of his address arc re-printed below not only because they contain specific proposals in tbe fight against bigotry, EDITOR'S NOTE.) One of, the main aims and values oi the United Nations when it was established, was to serve as a great instrument to give expression to the urges, the demands, the complaints, of discriminated groups, and 'to convince them that a serious effort would be made by the United Nations to improve their situation, to heai their complaints, and to satisfy their just demands, in an orderly constrnet've process. Unfulfilled This solemn obligation has not been fulfilled. After a decade oi' consistent and un-
Meaningful Steps In Civic Liberties By thll Baton Staff Counsel, fhe American Jewish Congress During tbe year 6715, the country witnessed a number of tentative ad' vances in' the field of political liberties which augur well for the future. During the <ame year, however, there re malned in the area of civil rights many problems — which demand continuing effort on the part of all Americans. In the following article, Mr. Baum reviews developments in the field during the past year, emphasizing those problems that will arise in 5716.—Editor's Note. The laws of physics and logic notwithstanding, it is clearly possible in tho field of civil rights to go backward and forward, up and down at precisely the same time. Justifiable satisfaction over events that bave been accomplished dnriug the year 5715 must bo tempered by equally justifiable apprehension over what they may portend. The imperative goal for Jewish organizations remains that of helping forgo clear community insight into the crucial need for full enjoyment of civil rights and assisting in framing a feasible plan for the early attainment of that goal. Our objective in the coming years must be to remedy the dual want of purpose and program thnt has been characteristic of too many of our public agencies. A caso in point is President Eisenhower's message to Congress on H a y 27 urging comprehensive revision of, tho Refugee Relief A c t of 1952. U n questionably, tho President's message represented an encouraging indication of growing sensitivity to demands for NHter administration of our immigration statutes. But public interest in immigration tends to be.spasmodic and oncven. And Presidential support of better immigration practices waxes and wanca accordingly. The broad public protest that followed in tho wake of the inexcusable and summary dismiss sal of former Commissioner Edward , Corsi brought nbout by the cooperative efforts of Soot>t WcLcod and Congressman Francis Walter was thus in some measure acknowledged and even turned to a d v a n t a g e But the President's message hardly constituted a reliable warrant of a fixed Administration determination to redesign the baaio features of our immigration policy. More importantly, at no time during' the year did tho President make any effort to redeem his 1952 election campaign pledges that tho McCarran-Walter Act would be radically and exhaustively revised and particularly that tho infamous National Origins Quota System would be expunged from our statu t e s Belated'attempts to salvage the remnants of our temporary immigration lawn are no longer able to meet our moi>t urgent requirements. Both tho President and tlio Congress must b e madn to realize that no meaningful or lasting solution to our immigration problem can be achieved until Congress brings its'-lf to deal directly and forthrightly with the National Origins Quota Rvslem .ind the numi roiis other inequities entrenched in the McCarran-Waltnr monstrosity. Brickcr Amendment On yet. another front, civil rights a i h a n c e s during tlie past year were heriouMy jeopardized by the attempts, more persistent than laudable, of Senator Brickcr and his cohorts to reintro:liice into the Congress for tho third >j n joint resolution proposing an niirildment to the Constitution, liinit•n;f the treaty-malting powers of the government, and curtailing the President's power in this came area. Whatever else may be said of Senator B a c k e r ' s repeated and diehard attempts to jam-his measure through the Senate, they have in any event removed "all doubt that his proposal is conceived out of a n unending animosity to tho
United Nations rather than out of any regard for tho protection of constitutional liberties. At the time it was first proposed, Senator Briclcer'a measure wa» able to attract support from many quarters in the Senate. But inereased understanding has brought with it increased aversion. It is widely reoognired that if enacted, tho Brick-
er Amendment would co_mpel this country to Htand aloof and alone, separate from the remainder of the world and • incapable of joining in cooperative ventures, no matter how salutory or desperately needed. Administration opposition counted heavily in preventing enactment of the Amendment last year. The danger remains, however, that in order to appease the Bricker faction and bargain for Senatorial support for other parts of its platform, the Administration will continue on a policy of withholding support for ratification of the genocide convention, and of sniping at the United Nations draft covenants on human rights. Segregation In the field of public school segragation, the one area in which genuinely significant advances h a v o been scored in the past few years, the decreo handed down on May 31 by the United States Supreme Court closes one historic phase and opens another. We had waited expectantly for the Court's decision hoping it would constitute a definitive and classic statement of the obligation of all public schools, no matter where situated or what their character, to extend without distinction or discrimination equal services to every child within their jurisdiction. However optimistically it is read, tho opinion in fact falls short of this objective. Although it cannot be regarded as in any sense a retreat from the Court's earlier insistence on the elimination of segregation, the decree allows willful evasion of its underlying purpose. Because the Court failed to specify any fixed date as a deadline for compliance with its decree by tho several states, and because it left open to tho vagaries of local judicial and administrative interpretation what shall constitute reasonable promptness in tho execution of its mandate, the Court has virtually ensured long and tedious litigation before segregation is eliminated. As a matter of law, there would apear to be no further basis for subterfuge or delay in eliminating all segregation. As a matter of practice and hard experience, it in likely that many of the Southern states will now be encouraged to be dilatory, reluctant and grudging, An instance of die-hard Southern mentality already is evident in, the threats .by the state of Georgia to discharge every public school teacher who maintains membership in t h e NAACP. It is increasingly clear that the constant spur and stimulus of a scries of lower court decisions will be required to avoid an infinitely protracted campaign of compliance that would have the same ultimate effect as a program of noncompliance. It is no longer legitimate to sanction; delay merely to work out feasiblo administrative schedules, Given sufficient will and a minimum of ingenuity, administrative- problems have a
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Services For High Holy Days
Next 100 Years »***•*A Prophecy By Barnett R. Brickner The Tercentenary celebration which has occupied the nttenioh cf the American Jewish community throughout the ' past year is now over. It is only natural that we sIiouU turn our thoughts to tho future and speculate on what lies ahead for thu Jewish community in the next, the fourth century. When we i>cws came to these shores in 1654, we promised Peter Stuyvesant that we would always take care of our own poor. We have not only kept that promise in the United States but all over the world. In fact, philanthropy has been our major concern, It has cost over thrco hundred million dollars a year to take care of the vai>t Jewish network of local, national, and overseas relief; to help with the establishment of the Jewish State of Israel; to defend ourselves against anti-Semitism; to cover our religious needs. In the last seven years this has mounted to over or.e billion dollars, exclusive of money which Jews have con-
President's Message Waihingfon [JTAI—Preiidenf Dwight D. Eiienhower extended, the following greetings to the Jowi of America, through the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, on the occasion of Rosh Hashonah: "On tho occasion of tho JowUh New Year, I extend greetings to, all Amoricans of tho Jewish faith. "I hope that your observance will renew in each of you a devotion to tho causo of peace and a determination to help advance^ the wslfaro of your follow men in accordance with tho ancient spiritual and moral teachings of your religion. To poople of overypersuasion these teachings aro a continuing guide in tho search for justice and good will among nations and a l e t t e r life for men, women, and children everywhere in tho world." Vice-Presidont Richard M. Nixon issued the following
groetings:
"It Is reassuring, In greeting you on the occasion of tho New year 5716, to know that there is a continuity of recorded time and civilization going back that far, with all it connotes for the human mind and hoart. It has taken strong porsorvance and strong religious faith to como this far along tho way. "May tho New Year reinforce in all our hearts the forvent hope for greater understanding, brotherhood and peaco throughout tho • ; •. . world."
tributcd to the general Coommunity Chests. It has been estimated that the average Jew gives about six times as much to charity-a.s the average non Jew. This generosity does not mean that Jews are richer than other people, but that tradition has conditioned them with a stronger sense of social responsibility and a keener emotional response to human needs. And certainly these needs have been worldshaking in the last two decades. Changing Needs Now that the needs of Jewish life are changing—philanthropy need not play so important a role. The reasons the many. First, immigration, the largest single factor in our philanthropic program, has virtually ceased. Jews now established here have become selfsupporting. Secondly, the government with its vast program of social security "from the ci-adle to the grave," is easing tho burden of private philanthropy, In the third place, Europe has become virtually judenrein; Hitler and the'war took care of that. There remains only Israel and the tragic plight of the eight hundred thonsand Jews in North Africa, many of whom will eventually be resettled in Israel. .Despite the present tensions, I believe the Arab world will come to appreciate that the Jews are peace-Ioving, not belligerent and that they arc in Israel to sta>, as guaranteed under the U.N. Charter; that they do not mean to'expand thcii present frontiers, nor will they permit their contraction; that they are a tremendous asset for democracy and euoi.umic improvement; 'that"Jews and' A.'HIJH are of thu Name rui'i\j that Israel does not wont to be mi island in mi Arab sea, but intergrated into the Near Bant; in other words, that Arabs und Jews need each other. This inoB^'Arab leaders know, but for reasons of "saving face" are not yet prepared to acknowledge. I"l timately, then, a viable, durable peace is inevitable. Israel, still an infant state, will need our nursing for many years to come. It is remarkable how much has already been accomplished with BO little. Nothing like it has even been achieved in history. I believe Israel is destined to grow into a community of two to three
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Beth El Rosh Hashonah Friday, Sept. 16 Evening Service 8:15 p, in. ' Saturday, Sept. 17 Morning Service 8 a.m. youth Service 11 a. m. Jlincha-Maariv 6 p. m. ' Sunday, Sept. 18 Morning Service 8 a. m. Youth Service .11 a. m. Mincha-Maai-iv C p. m.
Yom Kippur
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Sunday, Sept. 2 5 ; . Kol NWro
0" p. m. Monday, Sept. 26 Morning Service 8, a. m. Vizkor Service 10:30 a. m. Youth Service 1 p. m. Slincha-Neilah Seryicu 3:45 p. m.
Beth Israel and Beth Hamedroth Hagedol Rosh Hashonah Friday, Sept. 16 • Evening Service G p, m. Saturday, Sept, 17 Morning Service .7:30 a. m. Junior Congregation 10:30 a. m. Evening Service 6:15 p. m. Sunday, Sept. 18 Morning Service^ 7:80 a. m, Sermon 10:30 s. jn. Junior Congregation 10:30 a, m. Evening Service '.6:15 p. m.
Yom Kippur Sunday, Sept. 25 Kol Nidro Sermon
6s]5 p. m. 0:45 p. m.
Monday, Sept. 26' Morning Service 7:30 a. m. Sermon 10:30 a. m. Junior Congregation . . . . ; . 10:30 a m. Yiskor Services , ,11 a. mKc-i-lah 5:30 p. oi.
Temple Israel Rosh Hashonah
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Friday, Sept.'16 Eyi'iiing iSt'rvice
M p. in.
Saturday, Sept. 17 . Morning .Service JO a. m. Children's Scrvicu . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 a. in. Story Hour . \ .10-11 a. m.
Yom Kippur Sunday. Sept. 25 Evening Service . . 8 p. in, Monday, Sept, 26 Morning Service . ; . . . . . . . ,>..„. .10 u. ni. Children's Service .'.1:15 p. m.
remitting effort, of great hopes, but of bitter disappointments, no International Bill of Human Eig-hts has come into existence. There is not even a right or opportunity for discriminated groups or individuals to bring their complaints for hearing and examination before an authorized organ of the United Nations. None of the Great Powers shows any inclination, willingness or readiness to fulfil their pledged obligations "to take joint and separate actions to promote universal respect and observance of human rights and freedoms." Worse Today The situation is worse today, in niuny respects, than it was in tbe days of the League of Nations which did establish the right of petition. At the League of Nations there were notable coses in which the World Jewish Congress was concerned, w h e r e such petitions brought about important and positive results. Today, this is impossible. Where do we now stand? Wliat docs the situation demand? Tho experience of the Jewish people, perhaps the most grievously afflicted victim of racial and religious prejudice, leads us to the conviction thnt the battle against discrimination and prejudice cannot be won in the field of generalized propaganda alone or in an appeal only to'good sense and good will.
Action By Law "We believe that action to eradicate discrimination can be effective only in the field of the law, by legislative mens• ures on the international and national planes. To argue thot adoption by Inw 'of a new moral norm must await prior acceptance by virtually the whole population' of a country means its postponement indefinitely. Nothing edu- ' cates so much as law and its operation will create such acceptance. Accordingly, we propose: -(1} That we address- a solemn and earnest appeal to tho'Powers to revise •. their/ policy ou humain rights, within the United Nations. The time has como , tot a new approach;designed to create legally b'inding.instrdmentsi to promote respect for.hjiman rights and to secure their observance; (2) ThatJt.js indispensable that the right of recognized non-governmental bodies to make representations to the UN on policies and acts of discrimination and to ,securo public examination . of -such, grievances, should be establisbed iand accepted by the State Mein, bers of the UN; and (3) That we -urge Governments to adopt legislation prohibiting and penalizing discrimination in their countries. Such legislation would not only protect victims of discrimination and prejudice, but would create new stand• ards of behavior and exercise a power• ful educational influence in their elim. ination. ; Faith in Strength "We should not rely exclusively or ' primarily on an appeal to government*. We should1 not underestimate our own strength. Wo sit here representing many 'millions of people. Never in history -was public opinion, if properly guided and directed, as powerful as it is today. Governments will be the last to follow. Politicians rarely create new orders. What'they do is to crystallize, organize and legalize them. Speak As a Jew I speak here as a Jew representing ' a people whose history is perhaps the most drumntio and tragic expression of .racial and religious discrimination .and persecution, especially during the .Nazi period. ,We have lived for cei>turies, discriminated against and persecuted all over the world, as miml) minorities. We havt survived becaimo' we never gayu up hope or refused to yield to brute' strength and goveni.ment'al power.;.We continued to proteW and to proclaim our rights to equality and freedom. 'fliis history of our people gives UM the moral right to tell you that more .important even than pressures ou gov.cruinents, more potent than . critiuiNiu ', of tlieir shortsigiited and opportunistic policies,.^ ,fajth in our own strength, in .the determination to fight for our just , rights,, andJi'i,the deep conviction thnt we, the people, will finally win the day. Without this hope, the future would be lucre than grim and an explosion worso than the- Second World War would be -Inevitable and would finally . destroy.civilization. With this hope nml real determination to'^o on fighting, there, iti a change- and it is our only chance— to ..reduce the terrible tension , of our period and to band over to u , new generation a better world.
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