In a sermon on Anti-Semitism on January 22, the Rev. David M. Gracie, St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church, called for stronger measures against Breakthrough, a local right-wing group, and its various disguises, better protection of community groups against their “disruption, harassment and embarrassment,” and “prosecution (of them) with at least as much zeal as was shown in the Hobart Street trespass case.”
Rev. Gracie described the “disgusting display of anti-Semitism at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral” by the group on Jan. 18. The occasion was an inter-faith service of twelve Woodward Avenue congregations, at which Rabbi Richard Hertz of Temple Beth-El was a speaker. The abuse and disruption were extreme, but the police made no arrests and did not even clear the main exit of the Cathedral; they did, however, provide Rabbi Hertz with an escort for safety.
The fascist street gangs in Germany in the ’30s were recalled, as well as the Klan, the Bund and the Black Legion here at home, especially as the disrupters charged that the Ecumenical service was “Communist-inspired.” In pleading for an end to anti-Semitism, Rev. Gracie paid tribute to “our Jewish elder brothers in Christianity” and praised Rabbi Hertz and the Temple’s services to the community.