A drive against the operation of theaters and banquet halls as houses of worship for the Holy Days will be launched in Brooklyn by a committee representing established congregations in the Borough Park section.
The committee will be guided in its plan to rid the borough of “mushroom” synagogues under provisions of Chapter 445 of the Laws of 1934, which is section 925-B of the Penal law, recently enacted to have such unauthorized religious groups eliminated.
As a result of investigations carried on in the district during the Summer, Rabbi Moses Abels of Temple Emanuel, Forty – eighth street and Fifteenth avenue, said that members of his congregation had reported to him that the managements of theaters and halls, who find it a financial loss to keep open during the holidays, have rented their quarters for the purpose of holding religious services by Jewish religious leaders who were not authorized rabbis.
“This is a great evil,” Rabbi Abels said, “because these unscrupulous individuals open up these synagogues for religious services and use the funds obtained for their own purposes. The members of our congregation will strive to prevent the operation and spread of these groups.”
Louis Levy, president of the congregation of Temple Emanuel, who is a member of the committee, maintained that complaints had been received by himself and other members of the committee that dance halls, motion picture theaters and other assembly rooms had been obtained by persons who were “masquerading as clergymen.”
PREPARE TO INVESTIGATE
Following the adoption of a resolution by members of the committee, Mr. Levy said that the group was now prepared to investigate “these new corporations which are operating under fictitious names,” and bring the matter to the attention of the penal authorities under the legislation which was enacted about a week ago.
The resolution, adopted by the committee of ten, represents four congregations and several educational institutions. It follows:
“Resolved that our organizations pledge their wholehearted support, efforts and cooperation to the public authorities in the enforcement of the provisions of Chapter 445 of the Laws of 1934, which law purposes to eliminate and destroy the small, profit-seeking “mushroom” synagogues which have done so much in recent years to undermine the normal and healthy development of our Jewish religion, thought and learning as constitute a dire threat and sacrilege.”
Supporters of the petition are: Synagogue Sons of Judah, Temple Emanuel of Borough Park, Temple Beth-El of Borough Park, Congregation Shomrei Emunah, Hebrew Academy of Borough Park, Congregation Anshe Spard and the Hebrew Institute of Borough Park.
The following comprise the committee: J. S. Berger, Isidore Cohen, Julius Fisher, J. D. Herlands, Louis Levy, Joseph Libman, Benjamin Miller, M. A. Orlien, Harry Zahler and William Weintraub.
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.
