Optimism as to the five-day movement progress in America was expressed by M. Gruenbaum, president of the Shomrei Shabbos, world movement for the preservation of the Jewish Sabbath as a holy day, in his address before the world congress of the organization which opened here today. Mr. Gruenbaum, however, stated that in Europe progress had been somewhat halted.
Two hundred delegates are attending the congress which is being held at the Sing Akadamie. Prominent members of Jewish communities from all parts of the world as well as rabbis and representatives of the embassies of France, Italy and other countries are present.
AIMS OF ORGANIZATION OUTLINED
The ethical aims of the organization were outlined by M. Gruenbaum who appealed to the governments of the world to follow the example of England, France, and Holland in abolishing the compulsory Sunday rest.
Professor Zobernheim, in behalf of the Federal Government and the government of Prussia, welcomed the religious leaders and declared that the Sabbath is an ideal day of rest for the world. He stated that the governments he represented sympathized with the ideals represented in the Shomrei Shabbos organization and has generously stretched its regulations in order to enable Jewish students to observe their Sabbath.
German Jewish communities sent greetings to the organization and in behalf of the Mizrachi, orthodox Zionist Organization, M. Rosenheim spoke. Pinchas Cohn delivered an address in behalf of the Agudath Israel.
CHIEF RABBI OF IRELAND SPEAKS
Chief Rabbi Hertzog of Ireland delivered a message to the congress in which he stressed the importance of observing the Sabbath. M. Sulzberger outlined the relation of observing the Sabbath to the improvement of the economic situation, while Rabbi Bernard M. Drachman of New York declared that American Jewry was often wrongfully accused of disloyalty to the traditional Sabbath. This, he declared, was unjustified because American Jewry is much alive to the spiritual need of the Sabbath and “calls to all the Jewish cultural elements to adopt a unified religious culture.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.