Spiritual and lay leaders of Judaism from 13 European countries, as well as observers from Israel, the United States and Argentina, gathered here at UNESCO House today for a two-day conference devoted to the problems of Judaism and Jewish life in Europe, with special reference to the synagogue and youth’s role in contemporary Jewish life.
The European Study Conference is being held under the auspices of the World Council of Synagogues, which was organized four years ago for the purpose of offering assistance toward the revitalization of Jewish life throughout the world.
Among the speakers at the opening session today were Professor Abraham J. Heschel, of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America; Prof. Ernst Simon, of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem; and Prof. Andre Mehr, of the University of Strasbourg.
Among the World Council affiliated represented here are the United Synagogue of America, the Congregation Israelite of Argentina and the United Synagogue of India. The Argentine affiliate is the oldest congregation in Latin America, and is celebrating its hundredth anniversary this year. The group from India is the youngest organized group represented, and numbers 18 Bene Israel congregations serving 20,000 worshipers.
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