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 indicate approval.–Editor.]

The statement made by James N. Rosenberg, Vice-President of the J. D. C., upon his return the other day from Russia where he inspected the Jewish settlements, that the Orthodox Jews in Russia are evincing a desire to settle on the land, is commented on by the “Jewish Morning Journal” of June 30. Says the paper:

“When the middle class, or the former middle class, follows a certain direction, it is natural that the Orthodox element should go the same way. As stated in yesterday’s report, Judaism is not altogether barred from the existing Jewish colonies, where a religious life is developing, although the conditions are not favorable. And other Orthodox Jews, even Rabbis, manifest an interest in plans for establishing Orthodox Jewish colonies. The fact that the government grants land and other forms of assistance cannot but have its effect, although the obstacles, of which the greatest is the shortage of money, cannot be disregarded. The sum total of the whole thing is that good work is being done insofar as is possible under the circumstances but not on a large enough scale to cause uneasiness to the opponents or to satisfy the enthusiastic supporters of the plan.”

APPROVES OPEN SUNDAY AT SESQUI

The decision of the Board of Directors of the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition to open the exposition on Sundays, which has provoked a religious controversy in Philadelphia, is lauded by the New York “World.”

Referring to the material considerations in the case. the paper says that even waving this aside-

“the locking of the gates on Sunday would exclude many thousands of persons whose allowance of leisure will not permit them to visit the Sesqui on working days. The Metropolitan Art Museum and other museums are open on Sunday for that very purpose. It is difficult at this day to understand the feeling that regards the educational use of the Sabbath as a profanation, and would therefore curtail the use of a national patriotic exposition.”

ON THE PROPOSED JEWISH CENTER IN JERUSALEM

The plan for the erection by the American Jews of a Center in Jerusalem, is commented on by the Orlando (Fla.) “Star,” which observes:

“Assurances have been received that Jews of all types of faith will use it, and such divisions of Judaism as obtain in America will not be duplicated in the Holy Land. A most commanding site is under consideration. To make the edifice large enough some old buildings are to be demolished, another form in which western ideas and methods enter the East.

“The largest synagogue at present barely seats four hundred, and is named The Churba. It is not well located, and contains no modern equipment. More than two hundred Jewish places of worship stand in or quite near Jerusalem, but by far the largest number of them are in cellars.”