Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval-Editor.]

The suggestion that American Jewry proceed to erect a great national synagogue at Washington has been commented on favorably by a number of papers.

The Baltimore “American” believes that since the other important religious bodies have expressed themselves in great churches or educational institutions in Washington, “the picture is incomplete without something that will typify Judaism, oldest of them all, and at the same time represent the spiritual aspirations of a group which, guarding its religious heritage and preserving a solidarity that is both amazing and inspiring is thoroughly American.”

The Chicago “Evening American” says:

“The appropriateness of Washington as the location for the world’s most famous synagogue should be manifest to the leaders of Judaism in America…. What more fitting than a national shrine of Jewry in Washington, where they may often gather the eminent men and women representative of that religion and representative of the broad-minded country in which we live and which we all love–on matter what our creed or belief?”

The New York “American” is convinced that the leaders of Judaism in this country will perceive at once ” the fitness of locating the would’s most famous synagogue in the capital of the nation which they love and in which they are prospering under general respect and tolerance.

“In that purpose they can count on the sympathetic approval of Americans of good will, irrespective of race or creed.”

MOVEMENT FOR SEPARATE JEWISH SCHOOLS IN ENGLAND

There is a distinct tendency in British Jewry toward the establishment of separate Jewish schools, writes the “Canadian Jewish Chronicle” (Feb. 19), referring especially to the series of lectures being delivered in England by Leon Simon who proposes “Jewish schools set up on the model of English elementary schools, where the Jewishness would permeate even the teaching of secular subjects. He would go so far as to urge that they ought to have Jewish schools in the various grades: elementary, secondary and public school, and finally, a Jewish University.

“The same idea.” the paper says has led to a more practical result in the issue of a public circular signed by a group of prominent Jews, including the Chief Rabbi, urging the erection of an elementary Jewish school in the North West District of London. The reasons set forth by them include a desire for a sympathetic Jewish environment; the absence of any difficulty with regard to attendance on Sabbath and Jewish Festivals; freedom from the vexatious anti-Jewish feeling which is in some places a cruel experience of Jewish children; and a desire to give instruction in Hebrew and in the Jewish religion.”

The Washington Heights district of the United Palestine Appeal announced the raising of $90,000 of its quota at a Hundred Dollar Dinner in the Hotel Astor, New York, last night. More than 300 attended. Morris Rotbenberg, chairman of the Palestine Fund, delivered the principal address.

Among the other speakers were Mrs. Richard Gottheil. Emanuel Hertz, Nahum Sokolow, Miss Henrietta Szold and Benjamin Winter.

Matty Silverman, who defeated John Coolidge in a boxing tournament at Amherst College. declined an offer of $5,000 for three bouts to be staged at the Pioneer Athletic Club in New York.