Cincinnati College to Be Separated from Union of American Hebrew Congregations

A proposal to separate the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati as a distinct legal entity, operating under its own charter, rather than as a subsidiary of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, will engage the attention of the twenty-ninth Council of the Union when it convenes in St. Louis on January 18th. Fifteeen hundred delegates are expected.

This proposal will come up as part of the report of the Committee of Twenty-Six which was appointed at the special Council in Chicago last April, with David A. Brown as chairman.

Withdrawal of the Union’s support from the Hebrew Union College is not contemplated by the Committee of Twenty-Six whose report includes a proposal that a majority of the Board of Governors of the College shall be elected by the Union. The committee believes that setting up the College as a separate legal entity will tend to attract additional funds for the institution, as it will make it possible for donors to give money directly to it instead of to the Union of American Hebrew Congregation.

Abolition of the Board of Delegates on Civil Rights is another proposal of the Committee. Tins body was organized by the Union at a time when there was no other Jewish organization in this country to defend Jewish rights and interests. The Committee is now of the opinion that the work of the Board of Delegates can be adequately performed by other agencies.

Another proposal by the Committee is a system of salaried regional Rabbis to expand and supervise the work of Synagogue and School Extension. The country is to be divided into six or seven districts with a “circuit riding” Rabbi in each to minister to the spiritual needs of Jews re##ding in sparsely settled sections remote from cities. He will be expected to preach sermons at stated intervals in different sections of his district, organize congregations and religious schools, religious activities in colleges and institutions.