Proposes B’nai B’rith Supervision of Three Factions in Judaism to Eliminate Existing Prejudices

A proposal that the B’nai B’rith take up the supervision of the three factions of Judaism in America, Reform, Orthodox and Conservative, with a view in mind of breaking down the prejudices that exist between them, aroused considerable discussion at the second day’s session of the 67th Annual Convention of District Number 4, B’nai B’rith, which was held here this week. The proposal was made by Harry L. Cohen of Long Beach, who said:

“The reason for the hatred existing between these factions, especially in the smaller communities of the country is purely an economic one. Each of the congregations is striving for mastery in utter opposition to and contemptuous of the others.

“American Jewry is now the fountainhead of Judaism throughout the world. We can no longer look to Russia and Poland for the advancement of Judaism. We must do this within our own ranks, and in order to accomplish this we must cease our fighting amongst ourselves. I propose a commission be inaugurated by the Order which would study this matter, so that there could be established three distinct congregational and national bodies which would supervise each one of the factions of Judaism.”

Mr. Cohen’s proposal was submitted for further study and recommendation by a committee of five, which would confer with the other B’nai B’rith districts in the country, to devise some practical method which may be adopted by the Constitutional Grand Lodge of the Order.

Stating that within the past ten years there has been a growing economic boycott against Jews seeking employment in large banking and commercial houses of the country, Judge I. M. Golden of San Francisco, chairman of District Number 4, B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League, made his annual report to the convention. Judge Golden thought that the new Anti-Defamation Commission of the B’nai B’rith would have to conduct a scientific investigation into all the phases of this matter, and called upon other Jewish bodies to cooperate with the B’nai B’rith in this investigation.

The convention of the Women’s Auxiliary Grand Lodge of District Number 4, which was held here simultaneously with the men’s convention, elected the following officers:

Mrs. Pearl Rubinstein, Portland, Ore., president; Mrs. Esther Gordon, San Francisco, first vice-president; Mrs. Rose Bertram, Santa Monica, second vice-president; Miss Celia Lesman, Portland, Ore., secretary; Miss Goldye Speyer, San Francisco, treasurer; Miss Esther Salomon, San Francisco, assistant secretary; and Miss Irma Wahrhaftig, Sacramento, historian.