American Council for Judaism

American Council for Judaism
Name	American Council for Judaism
Founded	1942
Founders	Elmer Berger, Lessing J. Rosenwald
Type	Nonprofit organization
Focus	Classical Reform Judaism, Anti-Zionism
Headquarters	New York City
Key people	Clarence Coleman, Alfred M. Lilienthal

American Council for Judaism. The American Council for Judaism is an American Jewish organization established in 1942, dedicated to the principles of Classical Reform Judaism and a universalistic interpretation of the Jewish identity. It was founded as an explicit alternative to the growing Zionist movement in the United States, advocating for a Judaism defined by religious faith rather than Jewish nationalism or allegiance to a Jewish state. The organization's stance placed it in direct opposition to mainstream groups like the American Jewish Committee and the Zionist Organization of America, leading to significant controversy within the American Jewish community.

History and founding

The organization was formally established in 1942 by a group of prominent Reform rabbis and lay leaders, most notably Lessing J. Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, and Rabbi Elmer Berger, who became its executive director. Its formation was a direct response to the 1942 Biltmore Conference, where major American Zionist organizations adopted a program calling for a Jewish commonwealth in Palestine. Key early supporters included Louis Wolsey and Morris Lazaron, who were concerned that Zionism threatened the American Jewish identity and the separation of church and state. The founding occurred during the tumultuous period of World War II and the unfolding Holocaust, a context that deeply shaped the debates over Jewish survival and nationhood.

Core principles and ideology

The council's ideology is rooted in the tenets of Classical Reform Judaism, as articulated in the 1885 Pittsburgh Platform. It asserts that Judaism is strictly a religious community, not a national or ethnic one, and that Jews constitute a faith group analogous to Presbyterianism or Methodism. A central principle is the concept of the Diaspora as a valid, permanent, and positive condition for Jewish life, rejecting the Zionist idea of galut (exile). The council emphasizes universal prophetic Judaism and social justice over particularist nationalism, advocating for integration and full civic equality in countries like the United States. It strongly supports the separation of church and state as defined in the United States Constitution.

Activities and advocacy

Throughout its history, the organization engaged in extensive public education, publishing pamphlets, newsletters like The Council News, and books such as Berger's The Jewish Dilemma. It lobbied the U.S. State Department, Congress, and the United Nations against American support for Zionist political objectives, particularly prior to the 1947 United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine. In later decades, it criticized Israeli government policies, especially concerning the occupation of territories after the Six-Day War. The council also provided a platform for speakers like Alfred M. Lilienthal and supported legal challenges it viewed as conflating religious and national identity.

Relationship with Zionism and Israel

The council maintained a consistently anti-Zionist position, arguing that political Zionism was incompatible with liberal democracy and American civic life. It opposed the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, viewing it as a tragic mistake that would foster dual loyalty accusations. Following Israel's establishment, the council shifted to advocating for its transformation into a secular, binational state rather than a specifically Jewish state, and later for a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 borders. This stance led to its isolation from major organizations like the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which formally embraced Zionism.

Leadership and organizational structure

For decades, the organization's public face and intellectual leader was Rabbi Elmer Berger, who served as its full-time executive director from 1943 to 1968. Its lay leadership was drawn from affluent, assimilated members of the American Jewish community, with Lessing J. Rosenwald serving as its first president. Later presidents included Clarence Coleman. The council operated with a small professional staff and a national membership, though its numbers remained modest compared to groups like the AIPAC. Its headquarters were historically located in New York City, with activity concentrated among a dedicated core of supporters in various urban centers.

Criticism and legacy

The council faced intense criticism from the vast majority of the American Jewish community, especially after the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel. It was frequently accused of extremism, Jewish self-hatred, and providing fodder for anti-Zionist and antisemitic groups. Major Jewish figures, from Abba Hillel Silver to Stephen S. Wise, denounced it. Its influence and membership dwindled dramatically after the Six-Day War, which galvanized American Jewish support for Israel. Today, it is often cited as a historical footnote, though its ideological descendants can be seen in small contemporary groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and certain segments of the Neturei Karta, which also reject Zionist nationalism.

Category:Jewish American organizations Category:Anti-Zionist organizations Category:Reform Judaism Category:Organizations established in 1942