J. D. B. News Letter

formance by members of the “Bezalel” society. A special performance was given for children in the Central Theatre. Here the play “Princess Sabbath”, by G. G. Kleerekoper, director of the Talmud Torah school was performed. About a thousand young people took part in a public demonstration specially arranged for the youth. Chief Rabbi Onderwijzer, More L. T. Seeligmann and De Bruin, Director of the Boys’ Orphanage, gave addresses. The proceedings were graced by songs as well as by an allegorical representation of the Jewish feast-days, ranged round the Sabbath.

The climax in the chain of events was the assembly in the grand hall of the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange, attended by about 1,500 people. Mr. E. Asscher, who, as president of the “Vereeniging Sjemiras Sjabbos in Nederland”, conducted the assembly, gave in his introductory cognizance, amid expressions of general regret, of the fact that the President of the World Sabbath Observance League, Dr. S. Grunberg, Berlin, who had intended coming to Amsterdam on the occasion of the Sabbath-Week, had been forced to cancel his participation owing to a sudden attack of influenza. Then Chief Rabbi Onderwijzer, Dr. B. Israel Ricardo, Rabbi of the sephardic congregation, as well as Rabbi L. H. Sarlouis, spoke, all of whom elucidated the Sabbath idea from all points of view in enthusiastic words. Dr. Maroko, chief precentor, and the Amsterdam Jewish choir gave an effective setting to the event by singing impressive Sabbath songs. The memorable evening left behind a great impression on the Amsterdam congregation.

In connection with the Sabbath-Week, a window-dressing competition for shops closed on the Sabbath took place. This competition met with great approval from the business world and provided excellent propaganda for firms closing on the Sabbath. Crowds of people looked at the window-displays, which in many cases indicated exceptional good taste.

The close of the Sabbath-Week took the form of an official celebration in the rooms of “Bejs Isroel”, at which representatives of all organizations taking part in forming the Sabbath-Week, as well as a considerable number of leading personages were present, and at the head of whom was Chief Rabbi Onderwijzer, who had worked with all his might for the success of the Sabbath-Week. Votes of thanks were given to the meritorious president of the Dutch Shomre Shabbos, Mr. E. Asscher, who may well be satisfied with the success of his considerable work in the service of Shmiras Shabbos as well as to the secretary of the central presidency, Mr. M. Schorlesheim and Messrs. N. Keizer and T. Jacobson from the presidency of the Amsterdam section of the Netherland Union, who have proved especially deserving in their efforts of spreading and carrying out the Sabbath-Week. Four members of the window-dressing competition, whose displays had been accorded especial praise, were on this occasion awarded prizes.