Orthodox Jewry Urged to Reassert Itself at National Congregations Conference

A call to Orthodox Jewry in the United States to reassert the position of Orthodox Judaism and, with this end in view, to form a national federation of Orthodox synagogues which would be its spokesman and authoritative representative, was sounded by Gedaliah Bublick, editor of the “Jewish Daily News” and chairman of the congregations committee, in his keynote address delivered at the opening session of the national conference of Orthodox congregations at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City on Monday, May 2. Over 1,200 delegates, representing 443 Jewish communities in 37 states of the Union and 144 cities, were present, when the session was called to order. A message of welcome was read from Judge Otto A. Rosalsky, who issued the call to the conference.

Mr. Bublick, who was the chairman, reviewed the developments in American Jewish life in the past 30 years. Orthodox Jewry has emerged victorious in the United States notwithstanding the attacks it had to endure from two sides. The attacks, he stated, were directed both from the camp of the Reform movement and by the followers of the radical socialistic movement. These two parties in Jewish life must admit Orthodox Jewry has proven its strength. Orthodox Jews cannot under any circumstances concede that Orthodoxy represents a party in Judaism; it is Judaism proper, he stated. The speaker took exception to the opinion fostered in certain quarters that Orthodox Judaism is but “a foreign product in America.” He explained that the possibility of this contention is apparent. “The Torah was given to Israel not at the Rocky Mountain but at Mount Sinai,” he declared.

A detailed plan for the organization of the thousands of Orthodox Jewish congregations in the United States into a natonal federation which would introduce new vigor into the ranks of Orthodox Jewry and link it in an organized form with the reconstruction of Palestine, was outlined by Harris L. Selig, executive director of the Yeshivah College building fund, the organization which was principally responsible for the calling of the conference. Representatives of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis and of Orthodox congregations have joined in calling this conference, and are participating in its deliberations.