The significance of the Sabbath in the faith and life of the Jewish people was stressed at a mass meeting held Sunday evening in the former Prussian House of Lords under the auspices of the Berlin Committee which seeks to organize a Sabbath observance world federation. A wide-flung plan, including legislative and economic measures, to aid Orthodox Jews in all countries who are anxious to observe the Sabbath as prescribed, but find it difficult because of the prevailing commercial and industrial conditions, was presented in a series of addresses delivered.
Advocacy of the five-day week was one of the features of the plan. The establishment of credit banks and similar organizations with aid which is expected to come from American Jews was planned. Prof. Weinberg of the Berlin Seminary presided. Addresses were delivered by Rabbi Ezra Munk, Rabbi Gutschaechter of Warsaw, Rabbi Thal of Amsterdam, Emil Hirsch, German industrialist and Mr. Rachmilewicz of Kovno. Messages of concurrence were read from Rabbi A. J. Kook, Rabbi Chaim Sonnenfeld of Jerusalem, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky of Vilna, Dr. J. H. Hertz, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire, from the Chassidic Rabbis of Gora Kalwarija, Czortkow and the Lubawitscher Rebbe. Messages were also read from rabbinical bodies in Switzerland, Lithuania, Vienna and Prague. After the meeting, the former Prussian House of Lords presented a unique picture when the participants scattered into the various corners to recite the evening prayer, Maariv.
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