Plan National Tribute to Weizmann and Marshall

To honor Louis Marshall and Dr. Chaim Weizmann for their services in bringing about the accord on the Jewish Agency, a dinner is being arranged by representative leaders throughout the country, both Zionist and non-Zionist, to be held in New York City March 22.

Judge Irving Lehman, Associate Justice of the New York Court of Appeals, heads the committee, which will carry out the tribute.

N.Y. RABBI PRAISED FOR REFUSING TO OFFICIATE AT FUNERAL WITH BISHOP

An interesting incident of the action by an unnamed New York rabbi of a well-known New York congregation is disclosed by “The American Israelite” in its issue of last Friday. The rabbi refused to officiate at the funeral services of a member of his congregation, held at the late member’s home, because an Episcopalian bishop had been asked to conduct the services. “The American Israelite” states:

“In New York City a short time ago a prominent Jewish millionaire, a member of a famous and nationally known Jewish family, passed away. The funeral was conducted in his beautiful home and attended by a socially and religiously prominent crowd. The funeral service at the house was conducted entirely by an Episcopalian bishop. The deceased was a prominent member of a Jewish congregation whose Senior Rabbi was asked to officiate at the grave and as the deceased was a member of his congregation, as well as a personal friend, he felt it his duty to comply with the request. However, he refused to go to the house, or go to the cemetery with the funeral cortege, but he went there alone and returned alone.

“A few days after the funeral the family sent the rabbi a check for five hundred dollars, which he promptly returned with a letter saying he had been insulted and humiliated and the whole Rabbinate with him and through him. He added that the request was an insult to Judaism and he attended the funeral only because it was a duty to a member of his congregation, and that he believed that had the deceased during his lifetime had an inkling of what would be done when he passed away, he would not have permitted the unseemly proceedings. Further, that had it not been that the dead man had been a member of his congregation, as were all of his relatives, as well as because of the old ties of friendship, which they understood, he would not have officiated, but that his self-respect and respect for the high office which he filled would not for a moment allow him to be tempted to accept a payment, however large might be the sum offered.

“The Bishop, by the way, needless to say, did not function at the grave. Neither the rabbi nor the congregation would consent to that.

“These are the cold facts of the case. They speak for themselves. No comment is necessary. The rabbi did what there is every reason to believe every self-respecting rabbi, however limited his income might be, would have done and the salary of this New York rabbi is a very moderate one.”