Jewish religious and lay leaders from 13 countries, attending a European Study Conference here under the auspices of the Conservative movement, organized by the World Council of Synagogues, were urged at the conclusion of the two-day session today to concentrate on the problem of Judaism and Jewish life on this continent, with special reference to the role of the Jewish youth.
Two of the principal speakers pointed to the problems of Jewish youth in Europe. They were Professor Andre Meher, of Strasbourg University, and Professor Ernst Simon, of Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
Professor Meher told the conference “it was wrong to believe that Jewish problems are isolated from world problems. ” He declared he has found through seminars he has conducted for young Jewish intellectuals in his areas, that it is possible to retrieve the Jewish youth “whose sense of values was shattered by the devastating war, and whose sense is toward isolation. ” He pleaded for bringing “the lost children” back to Judaism and Jewish values.
Professor Simon reported on an experiment at Zurich, Switzerland, where, he said, it was found practical to conduct guidance clinics for young Jewish couples facing parent hood. The clinics, he said, were run “for persons who wish to educate their children as Jews, but don’t know how to do so.” He proposed that such guidance clinics for young parents be established in other European countries.
Other speakers at the session tonight were Georges Wormers, president of Consistoire Israelite of France; Chief Rabbi Elio Toaff, of Italy; Dr. Mika Weiss, chief rabbi of Finland; and Rabbi I. K. Cosgrove, of Glasgow, Scotland.
Charles Rosengarten, president of the World Council of Synagogues, offered the conference the all-out aid of the United Synagogue of America, the organization of Conservative Jewry which has 721 congregational affiliates serving 1,250,000 Jewish people. Mr. Rosen-garten announced that the World Council, which maintains headquarters now in New York, will move its global headquarters to Jerusalem.
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