Adler Warns Against Loss from Judaism of 250,000 Jews Scattered in U.S. Minus Organization

The danger of a loss to Judaism in America of 250,000 Jews now scattered in various parts of the country without organization and without any Jewish contact whatsoever, was stressed by Dr. Cyrus Adler, president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, and Dropsie College in Philadelphia, at the first regional conference held under the auspices of the United Synagogue of America, National Committee of One Thousand. The conference was held at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel, and was attended by representatives of sixteen communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. Upwards of two hundred men and women attended the sessions and pledged themselves to obtain three thousand members for the United Synagogue of America in this part of the country.

There are more Jewish communities in Pennsylvania, Dr. Adler declared, than there are in any state of the Union. These communities, he said, should be provided with Jewish religious contact. This is one of the ways in which the United Synagogue of America can serve the best interest of traditional Judaism, Dr. Adler declared, pleading for the elimination of geographical differences among Jews. “Originally,” he declared, “all of us came from Palestine. We are all animated by the same religious inspiration. The bible is our heritage and the fine ethical teachings of Judaism are our common property.”

The morning session was presided over by Rabbi Simon Greenberg, President of the Philadelphia branch of the United Synagogue of America. Nathan Levy, New York, national president of the United Synagogue of America, brought greetings from the national organization, The rest of the session was given over to a consideration of the various problems confronting the Jews in the smaller communities.

A. B. Cohen, national chairman of the Committee of One Thousand welcomed the delegates and stressed the importance of strengthening the United Synagogue of America by increasing its membership, so that it might be in position to carry out the program to which it is dedicated. Mr. Cohen also reported on the efforts now being made by him and his committee to form regional conferences throughout the country.

A feature of the afternoon session was the formation of what is to be known as Region No. 1 of the United Synagogue of America. This region will include all the Jewish communities in Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware. Rabbi Simon Greenberg of Philadelphia was elected President of the region with Joseph H. Levinson of Harrisburg, H. R. Halperin of Scranton and Benjamin Natal of Camden as Vice-Presidents. Hermann Rosenberger of Philadelphia, was made Regional Treasurer, with Rabbi Maxwell W. Farber, Pottstown, Secretary.