(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)
A conference to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the death of Baruch Spinoza was opened here today in the presence of eminent scholars and thinkers from all European countries.
Dr. Jacob Klatzkin, of Berlin, editor-in-chief of the Encyclopaedie des Judentums, delivered an address in which he pointed out that although Spinoza had been ex-communicated by the Jews during his lifetime, the ban of ex-communication no longer had any force. “Today,” Dr. Klatzkin said, “we have Spinoza’s ‘Ethics’ and several of his other works translated into Hebrew, which is a sign that Spinoza is again received into the fold of Jewry.”
Professor Roth of Manchester delivered a speech on the significance of Spinoza for English philosophy and English literature.
Professor Gustave Cohen of the University of Paris delivered an address on the relation between Saint Evremont and Spinoza.
A memorial tablet has been placed in the New Church at The Hague where Spinoza was buried. Dr. J. H. Carp, President of the Societas Spinozana, delivered an exordium.
The French Minister de Marcilly put a wreath on the tomb. Professor Leon Brunsvick of the Institut de France paid homage to the famous philosopher.
Dr. J. A. H. Patyn, burgomaster of The Hague, presided at a memorial meeting held here to mark the anniversary. Queen Wilhelmina sent a representative to the meeting, and the Governments of Italy and Poland were represented.
The problem of religious education of the Jewish youth was considered at a meeting of Jewish leaders held at the Crescent Athletic Club on Wednesday.
The meeting was called by Louis Goldstein, Assistant District Attorney of Brooklyn. He has assumed the leadership in a movement to organize the Jews of Brooklyn to join in the work undertaken by the Jewish Education Association in New York City.
The speakers were Mr. Golding, Israel Unterberg. President of the Jewish Education Association; Bernard Semel, Honorary Secretary of the Jewish Education Association, and Jonah J. Goldstein, Chairman of the Manhattan Committee.
Among those present were Judge Grover M. Moscowitz, Jacob II. Cohen, Sidney Asch, Emil N. Zolla, Milton Hertz, Benjamin C. Ribman. Albert D. Schanzer and Samuel Rottenberg.
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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.
