Leader of Rabbis’ Central Conference Scores Missionary Propaganda

A protest against the decision of the International Missionary Council to increase conversion propaganda among the Jewish population in Europe, taken at the Budapest and Warsaw missionary congresses held under the chairmanship of Dr. John R. Mott, general secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association in New York, was expressed by Dr. Abram Simon of Washington. former president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. In a communication to the Jewish Daily Bulletin, Rabbi Simon writes:

“The article under the caption ‘40,000 Hungarian Jews embraced Christianity since the war’ arouses deep interest and concern. I am not in a position to correct the accuracy of round numbers. In respect to the whole matter, however, permit me to indicate the following interesting items:

“First: As a sample of the accuracy of the information given out at that famous Budapest conference let me quote the following from the Press-Chief of the conference. ‘Our aims are to realize peaceful relations between Jews and Christians and to convert Jews to Christianity. Nothing is more characteristic for our method that many of our members are of the Jewish religion and that many of the most eminent figures amongst our leaders are Chief Rabbis of high standing. Wherever our organization went, peace between Jews and Christians was brought about. Dr. Klausner, professor of Jerusalen University, will lecture on the life of Christ, and the Chief Rabbi of New York, Nathan Wise, will take part in the discussion.”

“Second: For another side light permit me to quote a letter of April 7th from a minister in Budapest. ‘It is not popular teaching anymore to convert Jews in Anti-Semitic Bada pest, and I learned from many sources that a number of Baptised Jews are seeking re-admission to Judaism. A young Scottish pastor has started a similar mission in Cluz (Kolozvar) Transylvanian Roumania, but with little success. Would that time were ripe for liberal Judaism to be taught and preached in these countries to save many from a forlorn position.”

“Third: We must remember that because of the duress and the agony following the close of the war many Jews found it expedient to accept formally the Christian religion. Since the war and since conditions an growing more stable a new phenomenon of 20th century Marranoism has made its appearance. We must recall that the Jewish papers have to publish the list of converts because, under the Hungarian law, the people are taxed according to their denominational label, and that they have to have some label or other.

“Fourth: In view of the leadership on the part of Dr. John R. Mott of the International Missionary movement, I wonder with what intellectual and moral consistency the Jewish people can continue the financial support of the Young Men’s Christian Association of which Dr. Mott is general secretary.

“Fifth: This whole movement sounds a warning to us Jewish people to be on our guard lest good will be used as a screen to hide the mask of conversion. At the same time it should arouse the Jewish people all over the world to help their brethren remain true to their ancestral faith.” Dr Simon concludes.