Jewish Communal Life in St. Louis Runs Smoothly

(By Our St. Louis Correspondent)

There appears to be no rift in the lute of Jewish communal life on doctrinary and political matters. To be sure the institutions are ever wary to have their income and expense items balance. Organizations like the B’nai B’rith, Council of Jewish Women, Miriam Society, the Jewish lodges and others are functioning satisfactorily.

A national leader recently spoke to St. Louis Jewry in this way: St. Louis is being closely watched by all other large cities to see the results of its Federation amalgamation. It was a pleasure to look over your Boards of Directors and see every group, Conservative, Orthodox and Reform, all met to discuss the various questions that come before them with candor and with understanding, not dividing into different camps, but considering every institution as their own. Greater strides can be made that will benefit the great masses of Jews when all this difference of beliefs is laid aside. Greater social work and social service can be made in every community when planned as St. Louis does for the best interest of the greatest number.

HIGH PER CAPITA FOR FEDERATION

Ferdinand S. Bach, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation, reports that collections since the first of the year have been very satisfactory–in fact ahead of the 1927 schedule.

In connection with a request for information as to why St. Louis’ per capita contribution to the Jewish Federation seems to be higher than in many other cities, it was stated that the reason for this is the fact that people in St. Louis are a friendly folk. They know one another; they have grown up together, attended the same schools and colleges; their social paths cross–hence it is easier to secure contributions from them than where such conditions did not exist.

Within recent weeks talk of mergers among the four Reform congregations in the city have lessened. At one time it was thought that the four congregations would be united to form two, but seemingly unsurmountable obstacles have intervened. The congregations and their subsidiary organizations are proceeding as usual.

The Zionist groups are bestirring themselves for the 1928 campaign. Committees have been organized. As a preliminary movement Mrs. Archi-bald Silverman of Providence, R. I., addressed the workers of the campaign. Dr. Chaim Weizmann is expected here in March.

Construction on the Nurses’ Home of the Jewish Hospital, funds for which were given by Sydney M. Shoenberg and Mrs. Moses Shoenberg, is expected to begin shortly. The new Jewish Hospital continues to receive the plaudits of all who visit it. terming it a model of a modern hospital.

The Y. M. H. A. Y. W. H. A., inreceipt of $100,000 from Mark C. Steinberg recently, will put a building program into effect this year. At the Y. M. H. A. Y. W. H. A. a successful year was concluded with an attendance of 360,000 in all departments and with over 4,000 members.

The Jewish Orphan Home intends to begin its building program in the near future. The original bids came in too high and revised figures are being sought.