Retribution Is Not Enough

Published by three rabbinical students at the Jewish Theological Seminary in the journal The Reconstructionist, “Retribution Is Not Enough” rejected the policies of American Jewish leaders that had been formulated in response to the mass destruction of European Jewry. By late 1942, reports of the “Final Solution” had been confirmed by the U.S. government. While Jewish leaders focused on supporting the Allied war effort and promised postwar justice, the rabbinical students argued that this response was inadequate, calling instead for immediate rescue operations. The month before publishing their article, the students had organized a conference that brought together participants from eleven Jewish and Christian seminaries to address the crisis. They then persuaded the Synagogue Council of America, an organization that bridged the different Jewish denominations, to lead a nationwide campaign to raise awareness during the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot.