Central Jewish Organization for All of Germany Wanted at Frankfurt Conference

Zonal borders in Germany must not be permitted to act as barriers keeping apart the Jewish communities of the four zones, it was emphasized by speakers at the first conference of Jewish communities and regional federations of communities which opened here today. The parley was called to form a central organization of Jewish communities throughout the country.

The delegates elected a central committee and then began consideration of a number of pressing problems facing the Jews of Germany. The central committee includes br. Philip Auerbach, Bavarian Gommissioner for Persecutees; Dr. R.E. Fabian and Julius Reyer of the Berlin Jewish community; M. Rosenberger, representing the French zone; and Norbert Wollheim, chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the British zone. An advisory council was also elected, but only representatives of the British and American zones were named and seats were left vacant for delegates from the French and Soviet areas.

The conference accepted five parts of a seven-point memorandum from rabbinical authorities on the proper procedure for readmitting persons who left the Jewish community. It accepted the following suggestions:

That Jews who left the community, but did not renounce Judaism, may be readmitted by a rabbi; that the Jews who renounced Judaism, but did not accept another religion may be accepted by a rabbi who has obtained an authorization for the purpose from a rabbinical court, or by the court itself; that converts to another religion may be accepted only by a special rabbinical court called for the purpose; and that persons who never have been Jewish may be permitted to enter the community by decision of a rabbinical council.

The delegates also accepted a suggestion that children born of Jewish mothers who have not renounced their religion shall be considered Jews. Referred back to a rabbinical committee representing all zones and to the various communities for further discussion were two proposals which would bar from office in the community Jews with non-Jewish wives and children.

The conference also discussed the problems of reparations and rehabilitation as well as collaboration with the Jewish community of Palestine. Representatives of various voluntary Jewish relief groups, including the Joint Distribution Committee, are attending the parley.