600 Delegates Attend Opening Session of Agudas Israel Convention

Over 600 delegates present at the opening session of the third annual convention of the Agudas Israel of America, which is being attended by many prominent orthodox leaders and Rabbis of America and Europe, joined in a prayer for America and for a return of religious freedom and democracy throughout the world, at B’rith Sholom Hall, today.

Rabbi Eliezer Silver of Cincinnati, national president of the Agudas Israel, presided and lead a special prayer asking God’s blessings upon President Roosevelt and the American people.

The inaugural session was opened by Rabbi Simon Schwab of Baltimore, the convention chairman. He read greetings to the delegates from the White House, Governor Herbert H. Lehman of New York, Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio, Senator James H. Head of New York and from Jewish leaders in London, Jerusalem and other lands.

Stephen Early speaking for President Roosevelt declared: “This convention is being held at a time of grave crisis in world affairs and the President hopes its deliberations will promote the highest interests of true democracy and the American way of life.”

Rabbi Jacob Rosenheim, president of the World Agudas Israel who recently arrived here from London on a special mission, delivered the main address. He dealt mainly with political problems of Palestine, and supported a united Jewish front on the basis of a free understanding with the Arabs.

During the afternoon a special session devoted to the problem of the transfer of European academies of Jewish learning to countries in the western hemisphere and Palestine was held. The convention will continue until Monday noon.