Differences as to religious observance between Reform and Orthodox Jews seemed to be completely obliterated at the Jewish Theological Seminary dinner at the Astor Hotel last night when prominent Reform Jews vied with the conservative and Orthodox in liberal giving for the million dollar endowment fund of the Seminary.
The object of the dinner was to begin the New York campaign for half of the million dollar quota. Following Louis Marshall’s stirring appeal more than $314,000 was announced as raised before the exercises were over.
Sol M. Stroock who announced a contribution of $15,000 on behalf of his family and himself, presided. The address of the evening was delivered by Louis Marshall, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Seminary. He decried “adjective Jewry” and said that although he belonged to a Reform Congregation he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Seminary but would extend the same help to the Hebrew Union College or the Yeshivoth if they were in need.
After describing the present time as serious in the history of Judaism, Mr. Marshall declared he was more concerned over those who were indifferent to their faith than with the “narrowminded bigots and fanatics who are opposed to one of a different faith.”
Mr. Marshall in part said: “The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, in common with the Hebrew Union College at Cincinnati and the ‘Yeshivohs’, dedicated to our religion, to our tradition, to our literature, to our ethics, are the lighthouses by which we can guide ourselves and they are isles of safety to which we can resort in all the attacks our enemies direct at us. Upon the perpetuation of our religion and our faith depend the continuance of the Jewish people and their influence upon the world.”
More than 800 persons attended the dinner.
Contributions to the fund from Jews of New York, announced last night, include: $25,000 each from Mortimer L. Schiff, Felix M. Warburg, Louis Marshall; $15,000 each from Bertram Stroock, Louis I. Stroock, Sylvan I. Stroock; $10,000 each from Mr. and Mrs. M. Lurie, and Henry A. Dix; $5,000 each from Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff, Moses Ottinger, Adolph Lewisohn, Samuel Untermyer, Adolph S. Ochs, Herbert Lehman, Irving Lehman, Jacob Sperber, R. Sadowsky. Besides the individual donations, there were a number of large collective contributions from synagogues and their affiliated societies, including Temple Emanu-El. Anschei Chesed, Bnai Jeshurun and Petach Tikvah. Rabbi Max Drob, Chairman of the drive, announced that other States had contributed as follows: New England, $25,00; New York (exclusive of New York City) $25,000; Michigan, $10,000; Chio, $15,000; pennsylvania, $75,000; Maryland $15,000; New Jersey $30,000; Illinois $25,000; and Missouri $5,000.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
