U.A.H.C. Convention Opens $1,875,000 Drive; Approves Central Placement Plan for Rabbis

Following a sharp debate, delegates attending the 11st biennial assembly of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations voted last-night for the establishment of a voluntary rabbinical placement plan. Under the plan all requests for rabbis will be channelled through a placement bureau to be set up by the Joint Placement Commission, composed of an equal number of lay and rabbinic representatives. The voluntary plan was adopted as a substitute measure in place of one binding all congregations and rabbis to arrange pulpit appointments only through the placement bureau.

Addressing the 2,000 representatives of 425 Reform congregations at a banquet last night, Abba Eban, Israel Ambassador to the United States, termed the creation of Israel the “chief expression of the collective genius of the Jewish people in its modern history.” He told the assembly that Israel has achieved a fully coherent pattern of democracy; that the democratic institutions of Israel are flourishing in a region where democracy does not generally prevail; and finally, instead of imitating existing social forms, “Israel is building its own individual society, unique in its capacity to harmonize individual and collective efforts and to give support of the state to both.”

Ambassador Eban continued: “The support which Israel has given to the defense of world peace and conciliation by the United Nations is in full conformity both with the spirit of modern Israel and with the heritage of Israel of old, from whose writings the concept of universal brotherhood was derived.”

The nation-wide campaign for $1,875,000 in behalf of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion was formally opened at a luncheon-session. Dr. Samuel S. Shollender of Chicago, general chairman of the drive, announced that $300,000 had been raised toward the goal.