Executive Board of Union of American Hebrew Congregations Deliberates on Measures for Advancement of

Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Consideraof a budget approximating $600,000 for the advancement of Judaism in America, plans for the erection of a new Library Building of the Hebrew Union College to house its valuable Jewish collections of manuscripts, books and art objects, the adoption of a program for its thirtieth Biennial Convention which will be held in Cleveland next January, participation in an International Conference of Liberal Jewish Congregations to be held in London next July, and a report of the progress of the $5,000,000 Hebrew Union College Endowment Fund were among the questions considered at the Executive Board meeting of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations which met here at the Hotel Sinton. Members of the Board from various cities of the country were present and steps were taken towards the acceptance of many of the proposals presented at the meeting. Mr. Ludwig Vogelstein, of New York, chairman of the Executive Board, presided at the sessions.

BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR

Mr. Julius W. Freiberg, of the Committee on Budget, announced that $599,350 would be required for religious activities of the Union and its affiliated bodies for the next year. Of this sum. $315,320 would be needed for the work of the Hebrew Union College which the Union maintains. The Department of Synagogue and School Extension, another branch of the Union, will require $131,231. The budgets of the other departments include $82,778 for the work of the Executive Board, $17,214 for the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, $141,311 for the National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods, $34,120 for the New York Committee for School Extension which maintains seven religious schools in New York City. The budget for 1926-1927. Mr. Freiberg pointed out, represents an increase of approximately $65,000 over the budget of 1925-1926. Action on the Budget was referred to the Board of Finance, of which David A. Brown is chairman.

In his report Mr. Vogelstein pointed out the need for a revitalization of Judaism, the strengthening of the synagogue, and the training of religious leaders as the vital needs of American Jewry.

Mr. Vogelstein reviewed the activities of the Union during the past year and announced as one of the important accomplishments the organization of a Synagogue Council of America composed of Jewish National Religious Organizations representing the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform wings of Judaism.

“No one can foretell the ultimate effect of this getting together of religious parties which at one time were quite hostile and which even now regard each other with something of suspicion,” Mr. Vogelstein declared. “After all, we, as liberal Jews can well afford to join hands with our more conservative brethren with whom we hold the common aim of preserving Judaism and the common duty of combatting the foes of indifferentism and irreligion-and the common hope of reclaiming the Jewish youth through education.”

Mr. Vogelstein spoke of the Conference of Jewish Social Workers just concluded in Cleveland where he was impressed by the change of sentiment towards Jewish education expressed by social workers.

“I was impressed by the decided change of sentiment towards Jewish education expressed by social workers and particularly those entrusted with child care work. The concensus of opinion seemed to be that religious education is as important an ingredient of general education as any of the other disciplines which we consider essential for the mental development of the child and for its preparedness to meet life’s problems. This is a great step forward when we consider that many federations of Jewish Charities and many of the contributors to these federations have heretofore balked at the idea of including religious education among our social and philanthropic duties,” he declared.

PROBLEM OF PERPETUATING JUDAISM

“Moreover it was pointed out that the solution of the problem of Jewish religious education, (i. e., the question how 500,000 children out of 700,000 who are getting any kind of religious education are to be educated) cannot be achieved without active aid of the parents. Therefore organizations like ours have principally the duty to educate the public and bring home to them the urgency and importance of the cause but cannot undertake to finance all the schools which may be needed.

“May we ask ourselves whether our ideal and aim to ‘perpetuate Judaism’ would not be expressed in the most efficient way by concentrating our energies and efforts on the education of Jewish children? Is it too much to hope that Judaism in America can be saved and will be perpetuated by schools of learning just as in times gone by after every of the many migrations of our ancestors our precious heritage was saved by the teachers of our religion? If the Jews returning form Babylon, the Jews after destruction of the Temple by Titus, the Jews after the Expulsion from Spain could uphold the torch of our religion under most distressing and difficult conditions, shall we fail in our efforts when surrounding circumstances are most favorable, when our lives and liberties are protected by the most enlightened constitution and government under which Jews ever lived?” Mr. Vogelstein declared.

A tribute to the late Oscar S. Straus was paid by Mr. Vogelstein.