The failure of Jewish leaders to realize their obligations to the Jewish children of the country in regard to religious education was scored last night by Justice Otto A. Rosalsky of the Court of General Sessions.
Although scheduled to deliver the speech in person at a meeting in Brooklyn of 100 workers representing fifteen Jewish education organizations, Judge Rosalsky was unable to appear. His prepared address, however, was read by Municipal Court Justice Nathan Sweedler.
The importance of Jewish education, Justice Rosalsky’s speech emphasized, had been obscured lately “by the pressure of a number of emergency problems that have been forced upon us.”
“The crying needs of the moment,” he continued, “have prevented us from hearing the call of eternity. But it is a mark of true statesmanship not to be deflected from our leading purpose by the necessities of the moment. Let us remember that it is our historic duty to continue as the people of God, and unless we induct our children into a knowledge and understanding of the great mission we forfeit our future.
CALLS FOR VISION
“Jewish leadership, I regret to say, is failing us in an appreciation of this problem,” in Justice Rosalsky’s opinion. “Jewish leadership seems able to react only to the need of the moment. We need vision as well as commiseration. Let the Jews of humble station show our leaders the way.”
The meeting, which was addressed also by Municipal Court Justice Nathan Sweedler, chairman of the Brooklyn Division of the Jewish Education Association, and Bernard Semel, honorary secretary of the association, was held at Rothman’s Inn, 285 Kingston avenue, Brooklyn.
“The number of Jewish children who are not receiving a Jewish education is appalling,” said Mr. Semel. “In Brooklyn alone there are some 80,000 of them. Can you visualize an army of 80,000 children. What would you say if we took those children and transported them to a place where they were deprived of the blessings and opportunities of this great and glorious land where they were born? Are we not depriving them just as tragically when we remove them from the great and glorious heritage of their people?
NOTES SUCCESS
“The Jewish Education Association has for thirteen years labored to check this tide of Jewish illiteracy. We have in a large measure succeeded. We have been instrumental in bringing many more thousands of Jewish children into the Talmud Torahs. We have succeeded, with the enthusiastic cooperation of the principals, teachers and lay workers, in improving the physical and pedagogic standards of these schools. But it is obvious that a great deal more needs to be done and that the help of the intelligent and public-spirited Jews of the community is indispensable if we are to be successful.”
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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.
