New by-laws for Jewish religious communities in Rumania were adopted here today at a conference of more than 100 rabbis and representatives of Sephardic and Ashkenazic groups from all parts of the country. The by-laws, which, for the first time in 80 years, provide for the unification of all Jewish religious groups into one central body, are based on the new law regarding religious communities promulgated last July by the Rumanian Government.
Under the new arrangement the Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities will no longer function as separate groups but will merge into a single community although observing their specific traditions as hitherto. Regional unions of Jewish communities will be abolished and each community will become directly affiliated with the Federation of Jewish Communities. The supreme religious authority will be an 11-member Rabbinical Council headed by the Chief Rabbi of the country.
Since the reorganized Rumanian state schools will no longer offer Hebrew instruction, the problem of religious education is given particular attention in the statute. Accordingly, communities throughout Rumania will be authorized to establish religious schools–including Cheder’s, Talmud Torah’s and Yeshivos–while the training of religious ministers will be organized by the government, in accordance with existing laws concerning religion.
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