came as a result of the building program undertaken by the Federation four years ago under the late Jules Mastbaum, and were intended to replace several Talmud Torahs operated by the Associated Talmud Torahs, one of the constituencies of the Federation.
These Talmud Torahs are conducted in Orthodox fashion. The board of the Associated Talmud Torahs is composed of men who are affiliated with the Orthodox or the Conservative wing in Jewish life. These make no secret of their opposition to Reform Judaism, especially insofar as it might affect the children in these schools. To permit a Reform Temple to hold Sunday morning services in one of their buildings, aside from the fact that the buildings are in use at that time, they feel would be a violation of the spirit in which these institutions were founded. Religious services are held in these buildings regularly on Saturdays and on holidays. These are conducted in Orthodox fashion.
The proponents of the movement take this stand: the buildings belong to the Federation; all elements in the Jewish community are represented in the Federation. The Federation, therefore, has no right to say no when a group, be it a Reform group, seeks permission to use one of the buildings for religious services.
The other day when the matter came up before a meeting of the Board of the Federation there was quite a heated discussion. More so than ever before, the Federation is not in position now to do anything that might tend to alienate any group within. The deficit under which it is laboring has placed plenty of new burdens upon the shoulders of the men steering that craft. Yet it must take a stand. The Reform group within the Federation wants an affirmative decision. The Associated Talmud Torah Board as well as others in the Federation Board, are not favorably disposed to the idea. As is customary in controversies of this kind, a committee was appointed by the president of the Federation to see if this matter cannot be brought to a head. Both sides are adequately represented on this committee. It is questionable, however, whether this committee will be able to get anywhere.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
