News Brief

Phi Sigma Sigma, national Jewish fraternity, will hold its annual convention in Pttsburgh this year, December 24th, 25th and 26th. Convention headquarters will be established at the William Penn Hotel, where the Pittsburgh chapter, headed by Miss Helen Lelkowitz and assisted by Miss Margaret Segal, president of the Pittsburgh group, will act as host to visiting delegates.

The Pittsburgh chapter was recently named as being the leader in scholastic attainment from among a list of eighteen non-Jewish as well as Jewish fraternities on the University of Pittsburgh campus.

Aiming towards a union in their work at a conference recently held by the rabbis and presidents of Pittsburgh’s three Conservative congregations, the Tree of Life, B’nai Israel, and Beth Shalom, it was decided to call together the various groups in these congregations several times during the season for the purpose of presenting common problems. Taking part in the conference were Rabbi Herman Hailperin. Tree of Life. Rabbi B. A. Lichter. B’nai Israel, and Rabbi Goodman A. Rose. Beth Shalom, as well as Emanuel Dym, Saul Schein, and M. L. Avner, presidents, respectively of the three congregations.

Among the combined activities planned are a get-together for the junior societies of the three congregations, a combined Union Thanksgiving Service. November 28th, a meeting of the three Men’s Clubs with Professor Mordecai M. Kaplan, of New York, the speaker, a meeting of the three sisterhoods, and a dinner on June 10th in the Schenley Hotel.

The thirty-seventh anniversary of Founders’ Day was celbrated at the J. M. Gusky Hebrew Orphanage and Home. A. L. Solomon, president of the orphanage, presided. Dr. Samuel H. Goldenson, of the Rodef Shalom Temple, Judge Josiah Cohen. of the Allegheny Country Court of Appeals, first president of the home and now president emeritus. Arnold Deutelbaum, superintendent, and Dr. L. B. Bernstein, executive director of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh were the speakers. The annual presentation of scholarships was made by Louis Caplan, secretary of the home.

Practically all the leading members of the Jewish community of Montreal attended the dedication and formal opening of the Montreal Hebrew Old People’s and Sheltering Home Sunday afternoon. The Hon. Athanase David. Provincial Secretary, formally declared the Home open and was presented with a souvenir key from H. M. Levinoc, the president of the Home. Alderman Fortin represented Mayor Houde of Montreal and congratulated the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies for the fine work they are doing in looking after the Jewish needy in Montreal. Michael Hirsch honorary president of the Federation acted as chairman, Solomon Levinson, well-known communal worker, laid the final stone marking the completion of the building.

The building which cost approximately $150,000 was made possible first through the generous grant of $50,000 from the Provincial Government. A grant of $25,000 from Elijah and Isaac Silverstone, and their sisters the Misses Annie and Flora Silverstone, was also announced.

Among the speakers were Peter Bercovitch K.C. M.L.A. who also stressed the need of a Jewish hospital in Montreal and predicted that it would not be long before those present would be gathered together to celebrate the opening of such a hospital.

The Jewish school question in Montreal was touched upon by Lyon Cohen. who stated that Montreal Jews were now contemplating erecting a system of schools in the city of Montreal and hoped that the taxes on the proposed Jewish schools would be remined as they are now on the Prorestant and Catholic schools.