An effort on the part of the promoters of the Freiburg Passion Play to invade the public schools of Louisville was checked by Rabbi Solomon N. Bazell of Temple B’rith Sholom, this city. The performance is being given locally for a week beginning Saturday of last week, under the auspices of the Jefferson Post of the American Legion.
Miss Nash, advance agent of the promoters, had been granted permission by L. R. Gregory, Superintendent of Public Schools, to visit the schools throughout the city to distribute literature, and to ascertain definitely the number of tickets that could be sold to the school children for the special performances that would be given for them Tuesday and Thursday.
Mr. Gregory had sent a bulletin to the principals of the schools on January 29, soliciting their cooperation with Miss Nash.
Rabbi Bazell, together with Charles Strull, a lay leader, met with Mr. Gregory to lay before him the injustice that would be done to the Jewish children of the schools should the permission not be cancelled. In justice to Mr. Gregory, it must be said that the permission was granted without his realizing the resulting discontent or the objections that could be raised. When it was pointed out to him that the Public Schools should not serve as an avenue of approach to the promotion of a sectarian and sacred performance and that the Passion Play is more sectarian than artistic, Mr. Gregory at once communicated with Miss Nash as well as with the principals to cancel the permit granted the previous day.
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