national conference of christians and jews
Very low (Proper noun, historical reference)Formal, historical, academic/journalistic
Definition
Meaning
A specific historical interfaith organization in the United States, founded to promote understanding and cooperation between Christians and Jews.
Refers specifically to the organization that operated from 1927 to 2005 (later renamed the National Conference for Community and Justice). It was a prominent civil rights and human relations group addressing interfaith dialogue, prejudice, and social justice.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Always capitalized as a proper noun. Functions as a singular collective noun (e.g., 'The Conference was founded...'). Refers exclusively to the American organization. Not a generic term for any interfaith meeting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This is primarily an American historical reference. In British contexts, the term would likely be recognized only by specialists in American history or interfaith studies.
Connotations
In US context: historical civil rights, interfaith dialogue, mid-20th century social activism. In UK context: likely unknown or seen as a specific US institution.
Frequency
Extremely rare in modern British English; low in American English, primarily found in historical texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] National Conference of Christians and Jews + past tense verb (was founded, advocated, organized)[Organization/Person] + was involved with + the National Conference of Christians and JewsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or American studies contexts to refer to the specific organization.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
May appear in specialized literature on interfaith relations or US civil rights history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The NCCJ principles guided their approach.
- He had a National Conference of Christians and Jews pamphlet.
American English
- They followed an NCCJ-style dialogue model.
- It was a National Conference of Christians and Jews initiative.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a name of an old group in America.
- The National Conference of Christians and Jews was an important organization.
- Founded in 1927, the National Conference of Christians and Jews worked to reduce religious prejudice.
- Many early interfaith dialogues in the United States were facilitated by the National Conference of Christians and Jews, which later rebranded as the NCCJ.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the three C's: **C**hristians, **C**onference, and **J**ews. It's a National group bringing the first and last C's together.
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ORGANIZATION IS A BRIDGE (between faith communities).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating it as a generic 'национальная конференция'. It is a proper name: 'Национальная конференция христиан и иудеев'.
- Do not confuse with a one-time event; it was a permanent organization.
Common Mistakes
- Using lower case ('national conference of...').
- Using it as a plural noun ('The National Conference... are...').
- Assuming it refers to a current, active organization.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'National Conference of Christians and Jews' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the original organization ceased to exist under that name. It was renamed the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) in the 1990s.
No, it is a proper noun referring to a specific organization. For a generic meeting, use terms like 'interfaith conference' or 'dialogue.'
Because it is the official name of an organization, just like 'United Nations' or 'Red Cross'.
No, it is an American historical reference and would be unfamiliar to most British English speakers outside academic circles.