J.D.B. News Letter

The resolution adopted by the Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith on the subject of the Jewish Agency is undoubtedly a move towards peace, Rabbi Dr. Leo Baeck, President of the Federation of German Rabbis and a leading member of the Central Union, and also of the Federation of Liberal Jews in Germany, stated to the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here. The Union recognizes that there are differences among its members on the Palestine question, he said, some being in favor of the Palestine upbuilding and others being against it. The Union denies neither the one nor the other a place within the organization. In other words, it leaves it open to every member to act as he feels right on the Palestine question. A large number of the Liberal Jews of Germany will also base their actions on this resolution.

The resolution adopted by the Board of the Central Union shows a surprising progress of the Palestine idea, Kurt Blumenfeld, the President of the German Zionist Federation, stated to the correspondent. Although the proposal for the official representation of the Central Union in the Jewish Agency has been rejected by 48 votes against 35, he says, the resolution, in the light of the official interpretation attached to it and also of general opinion, means that it is left entirely to the individual members of the Central Union and of the Board to decide their attitude towards the Jewish Agency. There is no likelihood therefore, he points out, of the Central Union preventing its members in the future from taking an active part in the Palestine work. It is also very interesting, he says, to consider the composition of the minority, which voted in favor of participation, among them such leaders of the Central Union as its President, Dr. Brodnitz, its Director, Dr. Holleander, and its Syndikus, Dr. Alfred Wiener, as well as the representatives of the Youth Organization of the Central Union.

The Central Union, Mr. Blumenfeld adds, received as little invitation to participate in the Jewish Agency as any other organization. What is desired is not the adhesion of organizations, but of all German Jews who take their stand on the basis of the agreement concluded between the Zionist Organization and the Marshall group. There is no doubt that a number of prominent members of the Central Union who have hitherto avoided a decision on the subject are now prepared to join the initiatory committee for the extension of the Jewish Agency. The members of the Praesidium are, of course, prevented by the resolution from themselves participating in accordance with their views, and we re-

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gret therefore that Messrs. Brodnitz and Hollaender and Wiener cannot be invited to join the Committee. Nevertheless, the numbers of German Jews who are in favor of the realization of the Balfour Declaration have been considerable extended. In the past, there was in the Central Union only a small group which, in spite of all party decisions, stood courageously for Palestine. The figures in the present voting show what growth we may hope for in the extension of the Jewish Agency in Germany.

As for the negative attitude adopted by the Federation of Liberal Jews, Dr. Blumenfeld said, in view of the decision of the Central Union, it is really irrelevant. Many Liberal Jews, including leaders of world eminence, do not regard themselves as represented by the Federation. Its decision has no significance, especially in view of the resolution of the Central Union, which is a much more important body so far as that section of German Jewry standing outside the Zionist Organization is concerned.

Pledges aggregating $40,000 toward the sum of $100,000 for a new edifice to be constructed by the congregation of Temple Israel were made at a meeting in Hollywood, Cal., of the board of directors and members, with Chairman L. E. Chadwick presiding. A building site has been purchased and building operations will begin in April.

Several Jewish charitable institutions were beneficiaries under the will of Molly Segel, pioneer resident of Chicago, who died about a year ago, at the age of 82 years.

Mrs. Segel was for many years a familiar figure in charitable work, being particularly interested in the Marks Nathan Jewish Orphan Home, of which she was a director.

The residue of the estate was left to five trustees for distribution to Jewish charitable institutions. The amount distributed by the trustees in memory of Molly Segel and her late husband, Meyer Segel, represents a substantial portion of the estate.

The first volume of a Cantorial Anthology, edited and arranged by Cantor Gerson Ephros, will be published shortly by the Bloch Publishing Company, it was announced. The anthology will contain modern synagogue music arranged for the Conservative synagogue. The New Year’s service is given in the first volume which numbers 140 pages. Subsequent volumes will contain the Day of Atonement service, the Festivals, the Sabbath service and melodies for festive occasions. Among the musicians represented in the anthology are Baer, Bachman, Binder, Grauman, Goldstein, Gerowitch, Kramer, Low, Lewandowski, Mambach, Naunbourg, Rabinowitz, Sulzer, Schorr, Weintraus, Zilberts and Weiss.