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Records of the American Council for Judaism

 Collection
Identifier: I-344

Scope and Content Note

This collection is comprised of correspondence, invitations, programs, fliers, pamphlets, reports, memorandum, membership applications and a directory of publications. The documents in this collection describe resolutions and reports concerning organizational issues, reports concerning reaction to ACJ from other organizations and general promotional materials. Of special interest to researchers will be the correspondence that addresses the 1963 60 Minutes television program "A Tyranny of Minorities." Another topic discussed in the correspondence is David Ben Gurion's visit to Boston in 1967 on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal. Included in the collection are the following publications: Brief (1958), The Council News (1949-1957), Education In Judaism (1967), Information Bulletin (1943-1967), Issues (1966-1991), News (1947-1967), and Blueprint (I & II).

Dates

  • Creation: undated, 1943-1991

Creator

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.

Use Restrictions

No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.

For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org

Historical Note

The American Council for Judaism was founded in 1943 by Americans of Jewish faith who believed that Judaism was a religion and not a nationality. The founding of the ACJ partly resulted from the refusal of the American Jewish Committee to clearly oppose Zionism in the 1940s. Many of the council's early leaders came from an upper class German Jewish socioeconomic group that also formed the basis of the American Jewish Committee's leadership. ACJ's philosophy supports the integration of Jews into the civic culture of America unhampered by the segregationism of Zionism. The ACJ's ideology reflects the universalistic platform of nineteenth-century Reform Judaism, coupled with a concern over the issue of dual loyalty.

Extent

1.25 Linear Feet (2 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection is comprised of correspondence, invitations, programs, fliers, pamphlets, reports, memorandum, membership applications and a directory of publications. The documents in this collection describe resolutions and reports concerning organizational issues, reports concerning reaction to ACJ from other organizations and general promotional materials. Of special interest to researchers will be the correspondence that addresses the 1963 60 Minutes television program "A Tyranny of Minorities." Another topic discussed in the correspondence is David Ben Gurion's visit to Boston in 1967 on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal. Included in the collection are the following publications: Brief (1958), The Council News (1949-1957), Education In Judaism (1967), Information Bulletin (1943-1967), Issues (1966-1991), News (1947-1967), and Blueprint (I & II).

Arrangement

The collection is organized into a single series.

Acquisition Note

Unknown.

Note

Old call#: MS-NAT.A2

Title
Guide to the Records of the American Council for Judaism, undated, 1943-1991 *I-344
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Marvin Rusinek
Date
© 2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • April 2021: RJohnstone: post-ASpace migration cleanup.

Repository Details

Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository

Contact:
15 West 16th Street
New York NY 10011 United States