New regulations for the withdrawal and distribution of wine for sacramental purposes were issued by Major Chester P. Mills, prohibition administrator for the New York district. The regulations read:
“The following instructions apply to the use of wine for sacramental purposes by a church or congregation having a nonhierarchal form of organization.
“A religious body desiring that the Rabbi, Priest, Minister or an officer of that congregation procure wines for distribution of its members for sacramental purposes shall pass a resolution to that effect at a regular meeting of such organization. This resolution shall also state where the wine is to be stored pending distribution.
“The resolution will then be certified to by the President and Secretary of the organization and their signatures on such certificate witnessed by a Notary Public.
“The person designated in such resolution shall file the original copy of same with the Prohibition Administrator.
“He will also file a list of the names and addresses of members of the congregation. The list will be in alphabetical order and in the English language. The Secretary and Treasurer of the organization will certify the list as to its accuracy and such certificate will be witnessed by a Notary Public. Treasury Department Form 1525 will also be filled out and submitted with the other papers.
“When the aforementioned papers have been filed with the Prohibition Administrator, the person designated by the church or congregation to procure wine for distribution for sacramental purposes shall submit application Form 1412 in five copies for withdrawal of a specific amount of wine. This form will be accompanied by individual letters from members of the congregation indicating their desire to be allowed a certain amount of wine. Form letter for individual members to fill out will be furnished by the Prohibition Office.
“After all papers have been approved and wine is delivered for distribution, the person distributing the wine shall keep a record showing the distribution and disposition of all wine authorized to be used. Such record shall be kept in the English language and all wine must be accounted for before an additional allowance is authorized.
“All necessary forms will be furnished the distributor upon application to the office of the New York Prohibition Office, 1 Park Avenue.”
An indictment charging misuse of the handling of sacramental wine was handed up to Federal Judge Meekins by the United States grand jury against twenty-two persons, including three described as rabbis. The indictment resulted from evidence presented by U. S. Grant, Assistant United States Attorney, who is attached to the prohibition division.
The three defendants, described as rabbis, are Max Brooks, 1246 Twenty-sixth Street, Brooklyn, Sam Yachnes, 336 East Fourth Street, New York, and Barnard Portnoy, 638 Hinsdale Street, Brooklyn.
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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.
