The two-day conference of the sixty reform rabbis who, as a minority within the Central Conference of American Rabbis, are opposed to political Zionism, concluded here last night determined to strengthen the traditional interpretation of Reform Judaism.
The rabbis went on record endorsing the economic and cultural development of Palestine, but affirmed the primacy of religion as the basis of Jewish life. Basing their stand on the historic interpretation of Reform Judaism, they condemned the secularistic tendencies in American life. One of the central points in their discussion was the problem of what practical steps might be taken to enlist the interest of Jewish laymen in revitalizing the Reform movement.
Asserting its loyalty to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the gathering unanimously agreed to prepare a statement on the subjects discussed at the sessions. This statement, which will also include the attitude of the rabbis to the Zionist movement, will be submitted to “like-minded rabbis” who were unable to attend the conference.
A paper on “Post-War Problems of the Jew” was presented to the conference by Rabbi Jonah B. Wise of New York. The conference declared its unswerving faith in the democratic way of life “as contained in the American Bill of Rights and now proclaimed to all men by the Atlantic Charter.”
Among the projects discussed at the conference was the publication of a periodical. A committee consisting of Rabbis Samuel Goldenson, Louis Wolsey, Elmer Berger, Morris Lazaron, William Rosenau and William Fineshriber was appointed to implement the program of the group.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
