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Recommendations of President Approved by Central Conference

July 3, 1928
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(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A revival of religion and Judaism in particular was urged by Rabbi Ephraim Frisch of San Antonio, Texas, in his conference sermon before the Central Conference of American Rabbis meeting here at the Hotel Shoreland.

“We are constantly subjected to questioning on all sides as to whether Judaism is still indispensable to the world or whether it may not retire from the scene of action without being seriously missed. Because of the acute conditions of unrest and change, these questionings are leveled at all religions.

“We assert that religion in the form Judaism has interpreted it, is more imperatively needed by mankind now than ever before. The old conditions to which it ministered are still to be grappled with, while new have arisen in our complex modern life, which it alone is qualified to master,” the Rabbi stated.

A report on the President’s message was submitted to the Conference by a committee appointed to consider it.

The committee approved the suggestion of the President for endorsement of the work of the Portugese Marranos Committee. The incoming Executive Board is to determine the amount of next year’s contribution. The Executive Board was instructed to provide opportunity for a representative of the Synagogue Council to present its findings on missionary activities before the Conference.

“Inasmuch as the development in the physical sciences as pointed out by the President seems to confirm the Jewish attitude that science and religion do not conflict,” the report stated, “we recommend that the Executive Board provide on next year’s program, if possible, a paper or symposium on the spiritual implications of the latest thought in the physical sciences.”

The committee approved the recommendation of the President that the Conference emphasize the importance of the Commission on Social Justice by continuing to provide it with facilities for carrying on its work. The Committee was directed to devote its attention particularly ‘to such phenomena in the life of the laboring masses as expressive of a struggle for a betterment of their material and spiritual conditions, and especially in those circles in which Jewish men and women predominate. Furthermore, we recommend to the Social Justice Commission that it consider earnestly the ways and means by which we may bring home to our congregants who are employees, the basic relation between the practical application of our Social Service Program and the principles of Judaism.

“We recommend that the function of the Committee of Arbitration be extended to include all questions of professional efforts.

“We recommend that the Committee on Arbitration be charged with the task of studying again the code of ethics adopted by the C. C. A. R. in 1926 and that it bring in a report on the basis of which we may ask for the appointment of a joint commission with the U. A. H. C. to deal with this problem.

“The Central Conference of American Rabbis rejoices at the splendid development of the recent efforts to settle Jews on the land, and we heartily concur in the President’s recommendation of the work and plans of the Agro-Joint and also commend the progress of the Jewish Agency.”

A protest was dispatched by the Rabbis to the Soviet Government concerning the suppression of the Hebrew language, the changing of synagogues into clubs and the imprisonment of Zionists in Russia.

A resolution was adopted by the Conference expressing appreciation to Aaron Sapiro “for the great service he has rendered to world Jewry in the past year in being largely responsible for the collapse of the anti-Semitic propaganda of the ‘Dearborn Independent,’ and that the Conference regrets that the American Jewish Committee in its annual report dealing with the debacle of the ‘Dearborn Independent’ ignored completely the words of Aaron Sapiro.”

Aaron Naumburg fur manufacturer of New York City died at Montecatini, Italy, word received by his family here stated. He was 69 years old.

Mr. Naumburg was President of the Jones & Naumburg Corporation, and President of the Hatters’ Fur Cutters’ Association.

Recently Mr. Naumburg donated a solarium to Montefiore Hospital. Pittsburgh, Pa. in memory of his father, Rabbi Louis Naumburg, who was rabbi of the first synagogue established in Pittsburgh.

Mr. Naumburg was one of the founders of the Charity Chest of the Fur Industry. A few years ago he established a perpetual Scholarship at the College of the City of New York, for sending young man abroad to study.

During the War he was Chairman of the War Industry Board and Liberty Loan Committees in his industry.

For services to Belgium in improving labor conditions, Mr. Naumburg received the decoration of Chevalier of the Crown.

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