Orthodox Rabbinate of United States at Special Conference Issues Appeal to Support Yeshiva College a

The Orthodox Rabbinate in the United States acted as a body to rally to the support of the Yeshiva College, the institution for higher Jewish learning for the training of Orthodox Rabbis and teachers, which is now prosecuting a $250,000 Emergency campaign to relieve its financial stringency.

A fervent call, declaring the maintenance of the Yeshiva College in a dignified manner as the sacred duty resting upon every member of the Jewish community was issued by the conference which was in session all day Wednesday at the Yeshiva College.

More than 200 rabbis of Greater New York and vicinity, including representatives from the rabbinical organizations, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of United States and Canada, Degel Ha’Rabbonim, and Knesseth Ha’Rabbonim were present. Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, Honorary President of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, presided.

The conference was so greatly impressed with the financial difficulties facing the Yeshiva College, that it acted in unison and resolved to adopt a number of emergency measures to relieve the situation and to safeguard the future of the institution for higher Jewish learning.

By the decree of the Rabbinical conference, the month from January 15th to February 15th was declared to be a Yeshiva Emergency month. Every rabbi was urged to devote at least one Sabbath of the month to making an appeal in the synagogue for contributions towards the Emergency Fund. A nationwide tour of the Yeshiva alumni and of other prominent rabbis was determined upon. The alumni and the other members of the rabbinical organizations will be formed into groups which will visit the leading communities throughout the United States in the interests of the Emergency Campaign.

An appeal was also issued to the presidents of all Orthodox Congregations in Greater New York to participate in a special conference of presidents called by the Yeshiva College for Sunday, January 26th.

The key note sounded in the addresses was the statement that if the Yeshiva College be permitted to remain in its present state of financial stringency leading to the danger of its closure, it would greatly affect the future of Orthodox Judaism as the Yeshiva College is recognized as the leading Orthodox institution for higher Jewish learning. The appeal which emanated from the conference was directed to the rank and file of Orthodox Jewry, the striking statement having been made by Mr. Selig, Executive Director of the Yeshiva, that the sum of nearly $3,000,000 raised several years ago for the erection of the Yeshiva College buildings at 186th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, was provided by only a small group of New Yorkers. The maintenance of the institution is a duty resting upon the entire Jewish community, it was held.