Condition of World Jewry Depressing, Lefkowitz Tells Central Rabbis’ Conference

The condition of Jewry in various parts of the world today is a depressing one, declared Rabbi David Lefkowitz of Dallas, Texas, in his presidential message to the 44th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis meeting here. Dr. Lefkowitz, commenting on the fact that the Conference was meeting in a New England city for the first time, recalled the hospitality of Rhode Island to the Jews in the days of Roger Williams.

After reviewing the formation of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, the Arab riots and the death of Louis Marshall, Dr. Lefkowitz paid an impressive tribute to the late leader of American Jewry. In his address, Dr. Lefkowitz also mentioned the persecution of religion in Russia and noted the general economic breakdown of the Jews in Eastern Europe.

Referring to the condition of American Jewish life, he said: “The synagogue is feeling the tremors that are shaking the very foundations of the churches. Supernaturalism in philosophy and in religion is again the center of attack. This time the synagogue is in greater danger than from any other onslaught, because the weapon of attack is so appealing to the Jewish outlook.”

Earlier in the day, Dr. Lefkowitz gave a picture of the liberal contacts of the Conference throughout the world. Rabbi Edward Calisch stressed the importance of a network of state representatives to keep church and state separate. He pointed to the fact that the cities need intelligent religious instruction for the young. The executive board of the Conference today cabled to Jerusalem that it was participating in the presentation of the Jewish case to the Wailing Wall Commission.

The executive board also authorized the reprinting of the Union Prayer Book. From this action it is seen that the convention’s executives feel that the complete revision of the Prayer Book begun at the Detroit convention last year will require from five to ten years to complete.