To meet the new leisure created as a result of the NRA, the National Recovery Assembly convened by the United Synagogue Sunday decided to establish a central bureau which will seek the cooperation of institutions of higher learning. Formal study courses in the field of Bible, history and current events will be organized, seminars dealing with communal and individual problems will be held and courses conducted for leaders and aspirants to leadership of the synagogue and its affiliated institutions. In this way it is hoped that the problem of the new leisure will be met in every community. Credits for these courses will be given and certificates will be issued by the United Synagogue of America.
The assembly adopted a budget of $50,000, submitted by Israel Silberman, treasurer of the United Synagogue. A campaign among the synagogues to raise this sum will begin at once.
Louis J. Moss, president of the United Synagogue, declared that the NRA is the dawn of a new era for countless thousands, not only economically but spiritually as well. “It represents the fulfillment of one of the chief aims of the socially minded,” Mr. Moss said. “And it is the answer to the fervent prayers of religion. What was sought to be accomplished on broad and humanitarian grounds with but very little success has been brought about as an economic measure by governmental decree.
“All distinctions based on social and financial cleavage must be abolished in the synagogue. We must give greater recognition to those who serve and less to those who give,” declared Mr. Moss.
A message of congratulation was received from General Hugh S. Johnson, administrator of the NRA, who declared that “the spiritual values incident to and part of such a program cannot be overlooked; and though primarily an economic rehabilitation, its social betterment aspect also is of moment and significance. So the purpose of your assembly to formulate plans for utilizing the greater leisure hours which are accruing to our people through the maximum hours schedule, which have been brought about by the NRA is very much in keeping with the general program.”
Greetings were delivered to the assembly by Rabbi Elias Margolis, president of the Rabbinical Assembly of America. “Unless we sense the seriousness of the present situation and suit action to words, Judaism in America will face a great danger,” said Rabbi Margolis.
Reports of the various sub-committees into which the assembly was divided were delivered by Dr. Elias Solomon, Harry H. Goebel, Dr. I. David Cohen, and Dr. Israel Goldfarb.
Other speakers were Dr. Samuel Schulman, Rabbi Ira Eisenstein, Rabbi Ario S. Hyams, Rabbi B. Leon Hurwitz, Judge Hyman J. Reit and Rabbi Benjamin Plotnick.
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