Permanent Louis Marshall Scholarship at Hebrew Union College Established by Auxiliary of Temple Eman

The work of the women’s auxiliary of Temple Emanu-El in New York was, as in previous years, of outstanding character, a report released by the headquarters of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in New York, states.

Mrs. Jacob Wertheim, the president of the auxiliary, announced, at the closing meeting for the synagogue year, that among other accomplishments of the auxiliary was the creation in perpetuity of “The Louis Marshall Scholarship” at the Hebrew Union College.

For the first time in its history, Mrs. Wertheim reported, the Congregation of Temple Emanu-El had a congregational luncheon for the purpose of creating a closer relationship between the members. This affair, sponsored and managed by the auxiliary, was so successful that it is likely to become an annual function.

Mrs. Nathan Krass, chairman of the auxiliary’s committee on Temple activities, reported a long series of functions which were addressed by Frau Ollendorf, Dr. Nathan Krass, Dr. John Finley, Prof. Erskine and Wilson Follet among others. Mrs. Belle Sessler, reporting for the Temple service and propaganda committee, described as a success the plan of having members of the Auxiliary act as hostesses at Temple services to welcome strangers. “They have in this way done much to correct mistaken ideas concerning Jewish customs and worship,” Mrs. Sessler says in her report, “and have helped to create better understanding between Jew and Christian. A reception to the graduates of the Hebrew Union College School for teachers was one of the successful functions.

The Committee is actively engaged in raising a fund of $10,000 to supplement an endowment made years ago of the Gustav Gottheil lectureship in Semitics at Columbia University, the original endowment being entirely inadequate for the present needs.

At the other end of the country, the Sisterhood of Temple B’nai B’rith of Los Angeles, led by Mrs. Florine Hortense Wolfstein, is looking forward to the completion of a new synagogue. During the past year it carried out seven splendid afternoon meetings, and one evening meeting in conjunction with the men. “An effort has always been made to retain the Jewish note at every meeting,” she says.

The Sisterhood of Temple Emanu-El, Denver, succeded during the past year, according to the report of its president, Mrs. William S. Friedman, in increasing its membership to 420. One of the best pieces of work it does, says Mrs. Friedman in her report, is to pay the salaries of the religious school teachers, the organist and the librarian. At its closing meeting, the Sisterhood presented the Temple with an additional check for $1500.

A fund of $5,000. to enable it each year to send a worthy pupil through college is being raised by the Park Avenue Temple Sisterhood of Bridgeport, Conn., according to the report of the president, Mrs. Maximilian Stein. During the past year it contributed to the Dormitory Fund of the Hebrew Union College, paid the salaries of the Sabbath School Tachers, and bought new Torah covers.

President Bertha L. Bauer, of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth Israel, Bridgeport, Conn., who is also a member of the executive committee of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, reports a membership of 241.

Five hundred Chanukah cards were sold by the Temple Sisterhood of Jacksonville, Fla., according to the report of Mrs. Theresa H. Wachstel, president, and its Hebrew Union College Scholarship fund increased. Sewing for various philanthropies, local, national and international occupies many of its members, who during the past year produced 700 articles and garments.

Visits to small, adjacent communities, whose Jewish population is not sufficent for the organization of local Sistersoods, and inviting the women to join with them, was an important feature of the work of the Sisterhood of B’nai Israel, Albany, Ga. according to the report of the president. Mrs. L. S. Plonsky. In time, it is expected, this will result in the men of these small communities joining the Albany Temple.

Contributions to the Hebrew Union College Dormitory fund, to the I. M. Wise Fund and raising a fund for a new organ, in addition to relief of needy Jewish families and gifts to shell-shocked soldiers in the local hospital, occupied the attention of the Hebrew Ladies Society of Athens, Ga., according to the report of the presidnt, Mrs. Simon Michael. In addition it paid the salaries of the Sabbath school teachers and gave prizes to the pupils.

The Emil G. Hirsch Educational Fund and the Emil G. Hirsch Reference Library Fund, to keep alive the memory of the great Rabbi and orator who for so many years was the spiritual leader of Chicago’s Temple Sinai, are two features of the work which Temple Sinai Sisterhood was engaged in during the past year, according to the report of the president, Mrs. Moss Purvin. The first fund is to enable children to attend Sinai Center who cannot pay the regular fee. The latter is to provide books on Jewish subjects for the use of the upper eight Sunday School classes and for the teaching staff.

Four distinguished Rabbis, Silver, Goldman and Brickner of Cleveland and Feuerlicht, of Indianapolis, addressed student meetings during the year under the auspices of the Sisterhood, at the instance of Rabbi Mann. A complete scholarship at the Hebrew Union College, costing $500, was provided by the Sisterhood through the efforts of Mrs. Louis L. Mann, chairman of the Scholarship Committee. This was in addition to a donation of $100 to a Hebrew Union College Scholarship by the State Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. Sale of Uniongrams increased 50% through the efforts of Mrs. Mortimer Stein. Sinai Sisterhood actively participated in the meetings of the State Federation, in order to stimulate the religious efforts of the women of the smaller communities.

Mrs. Purvin points out that the dues of Temple Sinai Sisterhood are smaller than in most of the larger Sisterhoods, but due to the activity of the membership committee it has been able to finance all of its work, including the religious school functions, young folks’ dances, pay large annual dues to the national and state organization, to the Conference of Jewish Women’s organizations and make contributions to several civic, patriotic and philanthropic movements. A school of citizenship, to study pending legislation and the obligations of public office was fangurated, which issues non-partisan statements regarding local issues. The committee to cooperate with the Emil G. Hirsch Junfor High School, a city institution named in memory of Dr. Hirsch, raised a considerable sum of money for pictures to be hung in the building. Mrs. Frederick L. Mandel donated a fine painting of Dr. Hirsch.