Deputy Isaac Gruenbaum, who in the course of a speech on the new Government educational bill delivered in the Seym about a week ago, made slighting references to the Polish Rabbis, suggesting that they were the tools of the Government, was vigorously reprimanded in the Seym to-day by Deputy Rabbi Levin, one of the leaders of the Agudath Israel, who sits on the Government benches. Rabbi Levin described how the Polish Rabbis work for the welfare of the masses of the Polish Jews, singling out the Gerer Rebbe as one of the greatest and noblest figures in contemporary Jewish life.
The Government, Deputy Gruenbaum said in the speech with which Rabbi Levin dealt, is not concerned with the Jewish religion; but is only concerned to support the Rabbis, who are driving their flocks to vote for the Government. That is why, he alleged, the Government has given their present powers to the obscurantist Rabbis, whose influence had been dying out. The Rabbis, he cried, are now your colleagues.
The Vice-President of the Seym, M. Palakevicz, interrupted Deputy Gruenbaum, suggesting: Perhaps you will speak with a little more restraint of people who cannot defend themselves here.
This is the first time, Deputy Gruenbaum retorted to this, that the Rabbis are taken under the protection of the Seym Presidium.
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