Has the synagogue outlived its usefulness? This question is being asked by the Jewish Layman, Temple Brotherhood monthly published in Cincinnati. Professor Samuel S. Cohen gives the following answer:
The question grows out of a confused conception of the place which the synagogue holds in Jewish life. Hence it assumes that because there are Jewish clubs, settlements, and charitable institutions, the synagogue has lost its usefulness. The fact is that while some of the activities, ably cared for by these agencies, formed part of the social program of the synagogue, its primary tasks are of a different nature and are cared for by no other institution.
The synagogue is dedicated to the religious ideals of the Jewish people and ministers to their religious needs. For#us, no less than for our forefathers, the synagogue represents the most potent instrumentality for the advancement of Judaism in the life of the individual and of the community.
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