“The work of the Men’s Clubs is to arouse our man-power to summon them to gather around the banner of positive creative Judaism, of Judaism that is neither stagnant nor self-effacing, but that ferments with life, and hope and joy,” said Rabbi Samuel Fredman of Philadelphia, addressing the final session of the convention of the United Synagogue yesterday, which opened Sunday at the Commodore. Rabbi Fredman spoke on the origin and effect of Men’s Clubs on synagogal life in America.
The convention, which devoted the main part of its last meeting to discussion of the future activities and past results of the Federation of Men’s Clubs which was organized a year ago, also passed resolutions endorsing the Allied Jewish Campaign; expressing inflexible commitance to support of the Balfour Declaration; emphasizing the importance of the Hebrew language and recommending support of “Hadoar” the Hebrew paper; recommending appointment of a committee to meet with committees of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary and devise means of cooperating; and felicitating Prof. Samuel Davidson on his 60th birthday.
LEVY REELECTED
Nathan Levy was reelected president of the United Synagogue. The Federation of Men’s Clubs reelected their president, Edward I. Weinrib; vice-presidents, Dr. Jesse Bienenfeld, Abraham J. Gellinoff, and treasurer, Louis Soll. Theodore Charnis was elected secretary.
Speaking on the work of the Men’s Clubs, Mr. Weinrib, who presided over the session, told of the formation of a Speakers’ and Artists’ Bureau under the direction of A. J. Gellinoff. He stated that 18 clubs had already become affiliated with the Federation.
Resolutions dealing with the extension of the club-work, its inner activities and its possible cooperation with the synagogue, were adopted, as was also resolution declaring the Federation “unalterably opposed” to any calendar change that would make for a variable Sabbath.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Other speakers at the final session included : Rabbi Charles Hoffman, Rabbi Elias Solomon and Louis Moss. Mrs. Samuel Spiegel was relected president of the Women’s League of the United Synagogue, and Mrs. Charles I. Hoffman again appointed honorary president. Vice-presidents include : Mrs. Cyrus Adler, Mrs. Benjamin Davis, Mrs. Morris Lurie, Mrs. J. Bienenfeld, Mrs. J. Herzog, Mrs. Sol Rosenbloom, Miss Sarah Kussy and Mrs. Alexander Marx Mrs. David Kass was elected recording secretary and Mrs. Louis Gottschall, treasurer. Both sessions concluded at noon. with a luncheon by the Women’s League, New York City branch, given to the League’s out-of-town members.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
The budget and report of the finance committee occupied the attention of the United Synagogue convention for the greater part of the afternoon session Monday. The $150,000 budget submitted by the committee after extended debate was reduced to $75,000, and a plan of three types of membership adopted to raise the amount necessary for the coming year.
Education and schools were also considered, and two resolutions introduced by Rabbi Henry H. Rubin, of Brooklyn, dealing with Jewish children in public schools, were unanimously adopted. The first puts the organization on record as opposing Friday evening and Saturday sessions in public tax-supported educational institutions, and the second declares opposition to having examinations given in public schools on Jewish holydays and Sabbaths.
CONVENTION DINNER
Monday evening, the men’s and women’s organizations held a joint convention dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Commodore, with Dr. Cyrus Adler presiding. The speakers included Rabbi Max D. Klein, of Philadelphia; Dr. Israel Levinthal, Brooklyn; Dr. Jacob Kohn, New York : Dr. Elias Margolis, Mt. Vernon; Mrs. Samuel Spiegel, president of the Women’s League, and Ludwig Vogelstein, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
In felicitating the United Synagogue, Mr. Vogelstein, in behalf of his organization declared : “We have no quarrel with each other. Cooperation between the two organizations will appear in time, and differences disappear.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
