Central Conference of American Rabbis Concludes Sessions

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

A resolution endorsing the protest contained in the message of the President, Rabbi Louis Wolsey, against the efforts of missionary societies to convert Jews recent Budapest Conference was adopted by the Central Conference of American Rabbis at the closing session of its thirty-eighth annualconvention here Rabbi Abram Simon of Washington, D. C., Chairman of the President’s Report Committee. presented the resolution.

The convention also adopted a resolution urging the state legislatures to pass laws requiring a certificate of health from a reputable physician before a marriage may be consummated; another resolution endorsing the activity of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America and a resolution commending Governor Fuller of Massachusetts for his inquiry and his desire to pursue an investigation to the end that the innocence or guilt of Sacco and Vanzetti be more clearly and fully established.

The convention also approved the plan of the Synagogue Council of America for a more general adoption of the five day working week as giving promise of facilitating the observance of the Sabbath by all religious denorninations in America.

The officers elected to the Central Conference of American Rabbis are: Dr. H. G. Enelow, New York, N. Y., president; Dr. David Lefkowitz. Dallas, Tex., vice-president; Dr. Morris Newfield, Birmingham, Ala., treasurer; Dr. Isaac E. Marcuson, Macon, Ga., recording secretary; Joseph L. Fink, Buffalo, N.Y., corresponding secretary.

To the Executive Board for a two year term were elected: Dr. Louis Wolsey, Philadelphia, Pa.; Dr. Abram Simon, Washington; Dr. Louis Witt, St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. Emil Leipziger, New Orleans, La.; Dr. Edward L. Israel, Baltimore, Md., and Dr. Henry M. Fisher, Atlantic City, N. J.

The Commission on Religious Education, elected for three years, includes Dr. H. G. Enelow, Dr. Max Heller and Dr. Samuel Koch.

The Board of Managers, Synagogue and School Extension, for three years, is composed of Dr. Henry Berkowitz, Kansas City, Mo., and Dr. Jacob Tarshish, Columbus, Ohio.

The Tract Commission, named for three years, Dr. Morris M. Feuerlight. Indianapolis, Ind.

Rabbi H. G. Enelow, of Temple Emanu-El, New York City, called on his fellow members of the Central Conference of American Rabbis to develop a new religious education among the adults of their congregations, “Your tendency has been to think of religious education almost wholly in terms of the child,” he said. “Even the child can not be expected to go very far in his religious development without the help and encouragement of the adults who surround him. We may make all possible plans and projects for the religious training of our children; yet it is certain that we shall work in vain if the impact of the adult life is inimical to religious intelligence and fervor.

“As reform rabbis, I think there are special reasons why we should try to develop a new religious education among the adults first for the sake of Reform Judaism. It is not fair to allow Reform Judaism to drift more and more away from the educational ideal of Judaism. The more zealously we uphold the educational ideal of our adherents and try to stimulate and serve it, the more we ourselves shall have to keep up the process of education and that, as we know, has always formed one of the chief rules and rewards of the Rabbinic occupation.” Dr. Enelow declared.

The resolution expressing gratification at the growing number of Christian organizations and representative men engaged in promoting good will between Christians and Jews and expressing eagerness to participate in such commendable effort, but vigorously protesting against the efforts of a missionary society to convert Jews to Christianity, was unanimously adopted.