Appeal of Conscience Foundation History

In 1965 Rabbi Arthur Schneier created an innovative idea to establish a vibrant international coalition of interfaith business, religious and foreign policy leaders to uphold the principle “live and let live” and address issues pertaining to human rights, religious freedom, and mutual understanding in former Communist countries. Within the year, he engaged the early leadership of those who had a passion for world peace, civil and human rights: Honorable Francis E. Dorn, member of the 83^rd United States Congress, Thurston Davis, SJ, Editor of America House; Dr. David H.C. Read, Minister of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church and Dr. Harold Bosley, Senior Minister of Christ Methodist Church.

Over the next half a century, the Foundation’s efforts expanded throughout the globe. Today in a world rampant with bias, hatred and division, the work of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation is more vital than ever as the leadership is bound by a shared destiny to heal our wounded world.

Discover these moments in ACF history.

1965

January 14, 1965

NY Times Article: Founding Appeal of Conscience Foundation

Founded by Rabbi Arthur Schneier in 1965, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation is an interfaith partnership of corporate and spiritual leaders from all faiths who come together to promote “peace, tolerance and ethnic conflict resolution.”

January 14, 1965

An Appeal of Conscience

January 17, 1965

Rabbi Arthur Schneier and Senator Robert Kennedy preside over demonstration on behalf of Soviet Jewry at Park East Synagogue – across street from Soviet Mission in New York City.

Bronze Plaque dedicated and affixed to facade facing the Soviet Mission reading: “Hear the Cry of the Opressed- the Jewish Community in the Soviet Union “. In attendance: Senator Robert Kennedy, Mayor Robert Wagner. Rabbi Arthur Schneier delivers speech asking for a “permanent National Committee of distinguished Americans of all..Read More

1966

January 1, 1966

1st ACF Interfaith Group to Leningrad and Moscow. Jewish community at Moscow Choral Synagogue

10,000 prayer books and religious calendars for the Jewish Community requested and paid for by ACF. Met with VP Herbert Humphrey on January 8, 1966. Rabbi Arthur Scheier addresses members of Jewish Community at Moscow Choral On September 21, 1966. First Secretary of the Embassy of the Union of Soviet..Read More

January 2, 1966

1st Appeal of Conscience delegation to Vatican and Pope Paul VI

March 1, 1966

Tribunal Public Hearing held at the Carnegie International Center in NY on Plight of Soviet Jews, condition of Jewish Cultural and religious life in Soviet Union

Panel presided by Civil Rights Leader Bayard Rustin, Dr. John C. Bennett , President, Union Theological Services; Rev. George P. Ford, Pastor Emeritus, Corpus Christi Church, Telford Taylor, Law Professor, Columbia University; Samuel Fishman, United Automobile Workers, Norman Thomas, Socialist leader. The panel functioned as an ad hoc committee of..Read More

December 1, 1966

32 Protests across America and 18 in other countries held for the “plight of Soviet Jewry”

Rabbi Arthur Scheier spoke at the protest in Milwaukee in addition to Senator Nelson and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. via phone. In his speech Rabbi Arthur Scheier highlighted the restrictions imposed on the Jewish Community. The Rabbinical Seminary in Moscow was closed, no land is set aside for Jewish..Read More

1967

December 9, 1967

Appeal of Conscience Delegation to Spain

“December 9-14, 1967” ACF interfaith delegation meets with officials in Spain regarding the challenges of non-Catholics in Spain. There are over 30,000 Protestants and 7500 Jews concerned with Article 17 which stipulated that non-Catholic religious groups submit a full list of their members by December 31, 1967. ACF challenged the..Read More

1969

February 1, 1969

ACF leaders appeal to religious communities of the world to join a campaign of “prayer and pressure” to halt further executions in Iraq

February 2, 1969

Meeting with Mr. Perter Makartsev, top official of Council of Religious Affairs of the Council of Ministers of the USSR – proposed plan to have Russian Rabbinical students trained for the rabbinate abroad.

After the formal training at the Budapest Rabbinical Seminary, all students chosen would have to return to the Soviet Union to overcome the dearth in Rabbinical Leadership. ACF to absorb the expenses of the training. ACF delegation included: Rabbi Arthur Scheier, Father Clement J. McNaspy, Associate Editor of Jesuit Weekly..Read More