Jewish Education Not Charity, Dr. Lowenstein Tells Annual Rabbinical Assembly Parley

Jewish education is not charity and tuition fees should pay the budget of Jewish schools although the charity federations should support a central educational guidance bureau, Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director of the Federation for Support of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, declared in speaking in a symposium on “Community Federation and Jewish Religious Work” at the 13th annual Rabbinical Assembly convention which opened here yesterday. Dr. Lowenstein expressed disapproval of Rabbi M. A. Drob’s proposal for the organization of a federation for the support of Jewish religious organizations.

100 CONSERVATIVE RABBIS ATTEND

One hundred conservative rabbis from New York, New England, New Jersey, Chicago, Florida and other sections are in attendance. The convention was opened by Rabbi Israel Goldman. Rabbi Samuel Rosenblatt of Baltimore gave the opening prayer and greetings on behalf of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America were extended by Prof. Israel Davidson. Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the Seminary, sent a message urging the rabbis to use their influence on the Jewish Agency in favor of religious education in the schools of Palestine.

Satisfaction that the reform rabbis at their recent convention in Providence were approaching Jewish nationalism and Conservative Judaism was expressed by Rabbi Louis Finkelstein in his presidential address. He advocated greater cooperation between Jewish religious bodies and denied that there was an over supply of rabbis. Saying that spiritual leadership in the congregations was essential he pleaded for greater support for the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Rabbi Finkelstein advocated publication by the Rabbinical Assembly of a theological tract representing the conservative interpretation. The publication of scholarly works is also contemplated, he announced.

ROSEN URGES COMMUNITY ACTION

In the symposium on “Community Federation and Jewish Religious Work,” Ben Rosen, director of the United Talmud Torahs of Philadelphia, urged community action and responsibility but made allowances for the particularistic problems of congregational schools and individual agencies. Rabbi Simon Greenberg of Philadelphia felt that the community federation is primarily philanthropic and cannot control religious institutions or further religious activity owing to its policy of neutrality.

Rabbis Israel Goldstein, Samuel Cohen and Elias Margolies of New York, Louis Schweffel of Washington and Philip Laugh of Chelsea took part in the round table discussion on “How to Strengthen Conservatism.”