The Jews of Bucharest, although strongly divided along political lines, will act in unison to defend the autonomy of their community life against the attempts of the government to gain control of the Kehillah.
This sentiment was expressed by Deputy Theodor Fischer in his address in parliament concerning the recent attempts of the government authorities to place the Bucharest Kehillah under the control of a government commission.
The Ministry of the Interior covered its desire to place the Kehillah under political government influence with the pretext that there is a necessity for controlling the affairs of the Kehillah, to which the Jewish population will never agree. Both the Club of Jewish Deputies and the Union of Roumanian Jews, political adversaries, will defend the autonomy of the Kehillah, “just as the Catholics and the Protesants would never tolerate a condition in which their institutions are placed under the (Continued on Page 2)
Equally sharp was the protest made by Dr. William Filderman to Prime Minister Maniu. According to a report Dr. Filderman told the Prime Minister that although bayonets might drive out the Kehillah board, over the bodies of hundreds of Jews, the Jewish population will continue its fight against the control of its religious affairs by non-Jewish commissions.
The representations of the Jewish leaders seem to have had an effect and the action of the Ministry of the Interior was temporarily suspended, but the final disposition of the matter is still uncertain.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
