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Shortage of Rabbis Considered Serious Problem for U.S. Jewry

February 14, 1955
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The shortage of rabbis in the United States is “the greatest problem facing American Jewry” it was declared here today at the mid-winter conference of the national planning committee of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. The conference was attended by 110 leaders of Jewish communities from all parts of the U. S. and Canada.

Reporting that the more than 5,000,000 Jews in this country are served by no more than 2,000 rabbis of all groups, Daniel G. Ross, of New York, chairman of the planning committee, said: “This number compares sadly with the 9,000 serving about 5,000,000 Presbyterians, the 22,000 ministers serving some 8,000,000 Methodists, and the approximately 30,000 priests serving some 30,000,000 Roman Catholics.

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