Center of Gravity in Jewish Life Shifting to America, Jewish Publication Society Hears

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Simon Miller was elected President of the Jewish Publication Society at the thirty-eighth annual meeting which took place in the presence of two hundred men and women prominent in Jewish literary and cultural circles in this city. Other officers elected included Mr. Adolph S. Ochs, of New York, first Vice-President; Judge Horace Stern, of Philadelphia, Second Vice-President.

The Honorary Vice-Presidents elected were: Isaac W. Bernheim, of Louisville; Abram I. Elkus of New York; Louis K. Gutman of Baltimore; Murray Seasongood of Cincinnati; M. G. Sloss, or San Francisco; and Rabbi Joseph Stolz of Chicago. Trustees elected were: Dr. Cyrus Adler, Lionel Friedmann, Howard S. Levy. Judge Wm. M. Lewis, Louis I. Levinthal, Jacob Rubel, Lessing Rosenwald, Julius S. Weyl, Marcus Aaron of Pittsburgh; Carl Laemmle, Senator Nathan Straus, Jr., of New York.

The Treasurer of the Society is Mr. Henry Fernberger, the Secretary is I. George Dobsevage and the Editor, Prof. Isaac Husik, all of Philadelphia.

In his annual report Mr. Miller pointed to the fact that in the thirty-eight years of its existence the Society has published over 125 titles and distributed two million copies of its publications. Mr. Miller deplored the ignorance which still prevailed in many quarters with reference to the Jewish people and pointed out that the best way to counteract this ignorance is by publishing more books, disseminating knowledge about the Jewish people, their religion, their history and their traditions.

The principal address of the evening was delivered by Dr. Jonah B. Wise, of New York.

“The center of gravity of Jewish life is shifting toward America,” Dr. Wise declared. “While no one part of Israel will claim a preponderance of influence it must be admitted that the Jewish future is tremendously involved in the fortunes of the American wing. A generation of heavy immigration has added in numbers sufficient to make the Jewry of the United States equal in size, if not larger, than that of any one political unit. Sharing in the cultural and economic advantages of America, we find ourselves anxious and willing to help our distressed brethren in other lands and are faced also with the necessity for shaping our own affairs so as to do justice to our own problems.”

After a general discussion it was decided to appoint a national committee to increase the membership and to raise a substantial sum to enable the society to expand its work.

The South Brooklyn, Park Slope and Bay Ridge Districts of the United Palestine Appeal held a dinner at the Hotel Astor Sunday evening at which, following an appeal by Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Rabbi Nathan Melikovsky of Palestine, the $25,000 quota allotted to these sections of the Greater City was filled through contributions and pledges. Harry G. Anderson presided. Louis J. Moss, chairman of the South Brooklyn section.

Guests of honor at the dinner were Rabbi Abraham Dubin of Congregation B’nai Israel, Rabbi Israel Goldfarb of Beth Israel Anshe Emes, Rabbi B. Leon Hurwitz of Shieras Israel, Rabbi Isidore Aaron of the State Street Temple and Dr. Marcus Friedlander of B’nai Sholum, all Brooklyn congregations. The invocation was given by Dr. Friedlander.

The building fund of the Beth Abraham Home for Incurables at No. 612 Arlington Avenue. Bronx Park East, New York, was helped through funds raised at a dinner in the grand ballroom of the Hotel Astor Sunday night.

David M. Bressler presided. The speakers were Judge Otto A. Rosalsky. George Jessel and Mrs, A. L. Aperstein, who formed the organization which founded the home, and others. Cantor Josef Rosenblatt sang.

Many persons prominent in charitable work were among the 600 guests.