REPORT of ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE B'nai B'rith 1946.Pdf

LIBRARY his is an abbreviated report. It does not aim to describe in detail the manifold activities of the Anti- Defamation League of B'nai B'rith for the year 1946. These activities are quite fully set forth in the Annual Report submitted to the Executive Committee of B'nai B'rith. Herein, however, we aim merely to present some of the highlights of the activities which, passing in review before the delegates to this 18th Supreme Lodge Con- vention of the B'nai B'rith, will reveal for them a picture of the extent of League activities in the past and afford a glimpse of where it is now and where it is going. In the interim period between the last Supreme Lodge Session and today, we have submitted comprehensive accounts. These have been circulated to District Grand Lodges and District officials. The need to conserve time dissuades us from lengthy repetition of activities here- tofore recorded. For more specific information, however, concerning any particular departmental activity, the delegates are referred to these earlier reports. National Director * * ****** the resurgence of the KKK, the brazen demagoguery of the Columbians, the frustrating revela- tions that racial and religious quotas in colleges continued their mockery of intellectual freedom . big newspaper stories, these. They wove an opaque pattern of persistent anti-Semitism. Only an ostrich mind would presume that racial and religious prejudice suffered any death blows during 1946. The military defeat of Nazi Germany did not toll the knell of domestic fascism. An appraisal of organized anti-Semitism in 1946 indicated that a significant sec- tion of the American public continued to be infected with hatred for group minorities. The same noisy, pre- war claque of professional bigots were on hand, operat- ing through various anti-Semitic and otherwise un- American fronts. With 10,000,000 veterans to proselyte they were harder at work than ever. The hate movement was strengthened by an under- structure of more than 70 regular propaganda publications and supported by a large volume of miscellaneous leaflets, pamphlets and books—misleading and generally filled with scurrilous libels. The professional bigot relied, in large part, upon the printed word because of his opportunity to make use of special mailing privileges allowed to the general press by the United States Post Office Department. (Thus, the federal government finds itself in the curious position of partially underwriting, in effect, the cost of hate publications!) Throughout the year there were many instances of malicious vandalism perpetrated against minorities, and human dignity was stained with dishonor by an out- 3 break of lynchings in the South. There was sufficiently strong evidence to prove the tie-ups and systematic co- operation among the forces of bigotry working in con- cert to make the most of their obstructionist tactics. Yet, there is another side to the picture. It is im- portant to note that no nationwide organization or domi- nant personality appeared to command the discordant elements of native fascism. Heartening, also, was the fact that although more than 70 new anti-Semitic groups had been organized since V-J day, most of them were "letterhead" organizations with little following except that which they gathered from the lunatic fringe. Or- ganized anti-Semitism was still at a low ebb, generally viewed with disdain and considered to be unfashionable. More troubling, however, were the indications of a growth in subtle forms of anti-Semitism which mani- fested itself in prejudice and discrimination. Increased college enrollments tended to accentuate the problem of discrimination at colleges and universities. Tension areas rose where the housing problem in large cities up- set the established neighborhood patterns. Resorts and hotels sought new devices to conceal a growing policy of discrimination. In other instances, the pattern of ex- elusion appeared to have split over into civic, business and political circles, isolating the Jewish group from their community. It is not intended to embellish this review with statis- tical analyses to accentuate any conclusions about the year 1946. The very nature of ADL's program is not, in itself, designed to fit neatly into graphs and charts. Nor, for that matter, can it be minutely evaluated every 365 days. 4 Consider: During 1946 ADL sponsored 7,000 public addresses by outstanding lecturers; they were heard by roughly 1,000,000 persons. If these are numbers we can chart, they hardly tell the story. How many among the one million-audience were persuaded toward a more militant approach to social problems? Again, how many children who participated in interfaith activities re- dedicated their youthful minds toward lasting brother- hood? These are the facts that count! Regrettably, there is no yardstick to measure them. Except, perhaps, this: Those who labor in the field of human relations acquire through long experience a sen- sitized "feel" in these matters. Thus, we can say, if 1946 was a bad year that witnessed anti-Semitic and generally anti-democratic tensions, it was contrariwise, also a good year because there were indications that more and more alert Americans have begun to sense a danger—and they are doing something about it. Since 1913, when a brilliant Midwestern lawyer named Sigmund Livingston recognized the need for an organized defense against the tide of malicious anti- Jewish sentiment and zealously labored to found the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, it has been the League's principle to wield the positive weapon of edu- cation as the most progressive means of accomplishing its purpose. The long-range effectiveness of this policy cannot be determined in a week, a month or even a year. Only a retrospective study can reveal the strength and overall success of such a program. Today, in America, there are more efforts on a community level to improve human relations than ever before. Willing, volunteer workers have shed their an- tipathy and are aroused to the need for strengthening the 5 democratic fibres of the republic. This reawakening toward a greater appreciation of the American concept of democracy is a measure of the success of such efforts as ADL's. There are other aspects, too. The press, the radio and other media of mass communication are giving more and more attention to the problem. The pulpits of all faiths have become a sounding board for a better America. Progress is slow, often dishearteningly so, in a program designed to break down deep-rooted religious bar- riers, to counteract the purposeful, shrewdly-manipu- lated propaganda of hate-mongers and to promote a better understanding and harmony among all groups. But it is positive progress. * death of Sigmund Livingston, on June 13, 1946, marked the passing of a fine personality. His deep interest in the dignity of man and his devotion to B'nai B'rith and the League won for him the respect and admiration of all who knew him. As founder and first national chairman, he worked unceasingly to promote the policy and prestige of ADL. His loss is untimely and saddening; he has left us his high principles and his warm, human philosophy as an everlasting heritage. ADL is truly his monument. To commemorate his devoted service, the League has created the Sigmund Livingston Annual Memorial Fel- lowships. Annual grants of $2,000 each will be made to ten pre-doctoral or post-doctoral students planning future work in the field of interfaith and interracial understanding. The awards will be distributed through 6 five major American universities. At the time of this writing Harvard University, New York University and the University of Chicago were the first schools selected. Each will have two fellows. In December, 1946, Supreme Court Justice Meier Steinbrink of New York, then chairman of the Eastern Regional Board of Directors, was elected to the national chairmanship of ADL. ADL 1946 was a period of transition. The war's aftermath of rising racial and religious tensions, coupled with the continued use of anti-Semitism as a political device by ambitious "little Hitlers" in this country, magnified the need for a reorganization of the League's internal structure. This complex task—it ne- cessitated a complete overhauling of the organizational framework—was planned and concluded during the year. With its revised make-up, the League's multi-departmental activities now are coordinated to achieve a more cohesive working unity. From this solid footing, the League's projects can be systematically planned to reach the widest possible audience. Governed by its National Commission, and staffed by more than 250 specialists and clerical workers, ADL now operates through four major functional units, here described in brief. its title implies, the Administrative Division directs the internal activites, or "housekeeping" duties, 7 of the League. It is charged with the responsibility of resolving budgetary problems and maintaining a com- petent clerical and professional staff. It counsels with the National Commission, the Boards of Directors in New York and Chicago, and various regional and sub- committees in establishing ADL policy on major issues. The Division also directs a newly-activated Depart- ment of Institutional Public Relations which began operation in 1947. This department was established to handle public relations on a national scale in order that ADL as an institution of public service will be better known to the general public. .fight against bigotry poses a complex problem '״י** * The Legal and Fact-Finding Division is the League's instrument for examining and analyzing the develop- ment of that problem. Its functions are three-fold: it charts the pattern of organized and stimulated anti- Semitism and other un-American activity; it provides organizations, newspapers, magazines and other agencies with its findings; it is of service to public agencies investigating and prosecuting lawless acts against racial and religious minorities.

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