[Letter from Clarence L. Coleman Jr., July 31, 1956] Page: 3 of 4
This letter is part of the collection entitled: Harris and Eliza Kempner and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rosenberg Library.
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_I
STATET-NT GIVEN BY CLARENCE L. COLEIAT JR. TO NE T YOiK TI ES AND CHICAGO TRIBUNE
ON SUNDAY, JULY 22, 1956
I regret very much Rabbi Irving F. Reichert's resigation from the American
Council for Judaism, and the manner in which he has chosen to announce his
withdrawal. As an honorary national vice-president of the organization I
feel that an important step, such as he has taken, should have been discussed
with me and his colleagues in the Council, with whom he has worked for so many
years in maintaining a line of resistance to "Jewish" nationalism in the United
States.
Rabbi Reichert's unexpected communication reached me only Friday evening and
there has not been time to prepare a full reply either to him or for the press.
Although we shall miss the association of Rabbi Reichert, the Council will con-
tinue to conduct its educational program in the United States, through which it
seeks to advance the increasing social, political, economic and cultural integra-
tion of American Jews, insists that Judaism is a religion of universal values,
and not a nationality, and rejects the concept that the foreign state of Israel
is the national homeland of all Jews, and that American Jews, because of their
religious identification, have or should have any political obligations to or
responsibilities for the State of Israel.
This program, as Rabbi Reichert well knows, by no means ignores the natural,
legitimate interest of American Jews in the well-being and security of their
co-religionists in Israel or elsewhere. An important phase of the Council's
work is its Philanthropic Fund which seeks means of aiding Jews and non-Jews
in and out of Israel without subsidizing the pro paganda campaigns of "Jewish"
nationalism or political Zionism.
The following was given only to Chicago Tribune, but not used, --
I am unable to understand Rabbi Reichert's contention that the Council has
abandoned its concern or emphasis on the spiritual values of Judaism. He is
familiar with the successful program rhich the Council has developed in the
field of Jewish religious education.
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Coleman, Clarence L., Jr. [Letter from Clarence L. Coleman Jr., July 31, 1956], letter, July 31, 1956; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1490931/m1/3/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rosenberg Library.