The Arizona post., 1958-10-03
Virginia Jews On Spot
By MILTON FRIEDMAN

WASHINGTON-Eventsa are moving inexorably
to put Virgina's Jews on the spot in that states
massive resistance to school integraton.
Jewish Virginians have been made increasingly
conscious of their minority status Pressures came
mainly from the powerful segragationist drive for
conformity In the face of such massive resistance
a number of Virginia rabbis have spoken out for
compassion for the Negro.
The closing of schools in defiance of the US.
Supreme Court has affected the life of Virginia
Jewry. Some Norfolk families have sent children to
live with relatives in the North to attend school
there. A general fear has emerged that Jewish
group stand for integration might cause synagogue
bombings and other reprisals.
Jews in Virginia see themselves trapped in a
multiple WISE They are caught in the struggle be-
tween white and Negro pressures, and between
tona and local Jewish organizatona tactical views.
question has been raised whether local Jewish
support might damage the Negro position. An in
creasing racial isolation is noticed. Human rights
cooperation in Norfolk is dissolvng under heavy
pressure Negroes report their lines of communica-
ton shrinking.
Against this background Jewish businessmen
have been asked to sign both pro-Negro and anti
Negro petitions. This brings them problem of
whether to risk loss of Negro or white customers
A Richmond daily newspaper editorial predicted
Defamation League ceases its support of Negro
rights in Virginia The newspaper expressed anger
over ADJ aid to Negroes in the school controversy
Segregationst extremists, the so-called de
Tenders, have resorted to anti-Semtism. rabidly
segregationist periodical, the Virginia, is pub
lished in Newport News and distributed throughout
the state It features anti-Semitic propaganda of
the Gerald L. K Smith variety
Norfolk Rabbi Malcolm Stern has spanked eff
forts to keep the schools open. He urged public
discussion The rabbi was led to making his pro-
posals by the response of his audience when he
preached a guest sermon at Norfolk Methodist
Church. He stated lit is time to rise above partisan
views of segregation versus integration to prevent
disntegration in schools, and in our homes.
The Heading Norfolk daily newspaper commented
that there should be wide community agreement"
with this view Of the rabbi.s
Another rabbi in the Norfolk urged his
congregation on Rosh Hashanah to re-examine atti-
tudes on segregation and be proud" to support
ntegration He said bomb attacks on synagogues
were not directly linked to local Jewish stands Such
bombngs would come from fanatica elements Whe-
ther or not Jews spoke their conscience he said He
denounced segregation as immoral and interpreted
Judaism as requiring action for social justice
Some Jewish individuals thought integration
premature. Others thought it inevitable. A ma
iority thought it only fair and Immediately indicated
in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling. But
apprehension existed lest this view be voiced by Jews
in the general community. The mems club of Vir-
gnia synagogue voted to bar discussion of integra
ton as "too controversial.
number of Jews said 1--WE should conform to
the local pattern" and "leave the rest to the gov
ernment" Their rabbis answered that through such
"abdication and default of moral responsibility" Jews
were retreating into second-cass citizenship.