Union Plans New Tracts on Judaism

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

–Proposed publication of two tracts in Yiddish for distribution among Eastern European Jews was approved at a meeting of the Tract Commission of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, at the Hotel Stinton, Cincinnati, Ohio. “What is Reform Judaism?” and “The History of Reform Judiasm” will be the subjects of the tracts and they are to be prepared by European Jews.

The Commission also endorsed a proposal to issue a tract on “Judaism and Mental Healing.”

A series to be called “Notable Sermons” and consisting of outstanding addresses by rabbis influential in the progress of Reform Judaism will be issued under the supervision of Rabbi Israel Bettan, Professor of Homilecties and Midrash, Hebrew Union College.

Those attending the Tract Commission’s meeting included the chairman, Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, of Detroit, Mich.: Rabbi B. Freehof, Chicago, Ill.; Rabbi Samuel Hirshberg, Milwaukee, Wis.; and Rabbi George Zepin. Cincinnati.

Since December, the Commission has distributed the tract, “Judaism’s Influence in the Founding of the Republic,” by Rabbi Morris M. Feuerlicht, of Indianapolis; “Philanthropy in Rabbinical Literature,” by Prof. Abraham Cronbach, Hebrew Union College and “The Jewish Prayerbook,” by Rabbi Freehof.

Rabbi Cronbach’s “Jewish Philanthropic Institutions in the Middle Ages’ and Prof. Bettan’s “Post-Biblican Judaism–Its Spiritual Note” have been accepted for publication. The following tracts have been promised to the Commission in the early future.

“Judaism and Ethical Culture.” by Rabbi Harry W. Ettelson, of Membhis. Tenn.; “Judaism and Unitarianism,” by Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman, Hartford, Conn.; “Judaism and Fundamentalism.” by Prof. Samuel S. Cohon. Hebrew Union College; “Judaism and World Peace.” by Rabbi Joseph S. Kornfeld, Toledo, Ohio; “Judaism and Socialism,” by Rabbi Jacob Tarshish, Columbus. Ohio; “Judaism and Science.” by Rabbi Louis A. Mishkind, Wilmington, Del.; “Immortality,” by Rabbi Israel Mattuck, London, England: “What is the Talmud?” by Rabbi A. B. Rhine, Hot Springs, Arkansas; and “Facts About the Jewish Holy Days.” by William Rosenau, of Baltimore, Md.