The Views of Rabbi Moses Feinstein, Rabbi Abraham Joshua ...

Leaders, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish, ―in an attempt to rout religious
prejudice,‖ 26 assembled ―in hundreds of local communities‖ 27 to advocate and exemplify
―interreligious cooperation.‖ 28
The National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ)
was founded in 1927 and, ―through its Commission on Programs in Army Camps, Naval
and Air Bases,…attempted to stimulate mutual understanding.‖ 29
In promoting
―goodwill and the American way of tolerance,‖ 30 it organized ―roundtables and speaking
tours‖ 31
with Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish leaders while acquiring the aid of
Protestant, Catholic and Jewish chaplains in speaking to servicemen. In 1934,
Brotherhood Day, which was ―a focus for these efforts,‖ 32 was celebrated for the first
time. In 1947, Brotherhood Day was extended to Brotherhood Week.
Efforts to promote interreligious harmony were undertaken by ―the central
military command, eager to promote religious harmony in the ranks during wartime.‖ 33
Jewish chaplains participated along with their Protestant and Catholic counterparts in a
number of meetings, ―addressed servicemen,‖ 34
many of whom had never before
witnessed a rabbi speak, during basic training, as alluded to above, and officiated ―at
funerals for the unknown soldier.‖ 35
In 1943, in what ―created an enduring interfaith
legend,‖ 36 the four chaplains serving aboard the USS Dorchester, consisting of ―two
26 Sarna 266
27 Sarna 266
28 Sarna 267
29 Moore 38
30 Moore 38
31 Moore 38
32 Sarna 267
33 Sarna 267
34 Sarna 267
35 Sarna 267
36 Sarna 267
6