Announcement that Nathan Levy will succeed S. Herbert Golden as president of the United Synagogue of America and that more than $175,000 has been raised toward the $500,000 set as the sum needed by the organization to carry out its expansion program for the next three years was made yesterday at the seventeenth annual convention of the organization now in session at the Astor Hotel.
At the banquet which marked the end of the first day’s session Sunday night, more than $25,000 was subscribed to the campaign following addresses by Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman, Rabbi Elias Margolis of Mt. Vernon, Michael Stavitsky of Newark and Professor Israel Davidson of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Lewis Goldberg of Boston, president of the New England branch, presided at the dinner.
Among the largest individual contributions announced were those of $3,000 by Lieutenant Governor Lehman, J. M. Hirshorn, Joseph Durst and Nathan Levy and $2,500 by Felix M. Warburg and Louis Marshall. Organizations and groups contributing more than $1,000 were Emanuel Synagogue, Hartford, $7,500; Indianapolis Community, $3,000; Humboldt Boulevard Congregation, Chicago, $3,000; Utica Community, $2,000 and Temple Beth-El, Harrisburg, $1,500.
The third session yesterday morning was devoted to a discussion of the part played in Jewish communal life by the Men’s Club of the United Synagogue. Edward C. Weinrib, president of the Men’s Club of Emanuel Synagogue of Mount Vernon, and provisional chairman of the Men’s Clubs of the United Synagogue, declared for the expansion of Men’s Club activities to the end that the void between the synagogue and the youth be bridged.
“We hear so much of a ‘Back to the Synagogue’ movement,” said Mr. Weinrib. “While I look with favor on a ‘Back to the Synagogue’ movement, I am strong, however, for a movement to keep our young men and women from getting out.
“Whatever be the aims and purposes of Men’s Club, affiliated with the synagogue, the hope that they will serve to keep our men and women in close contact with the religious life and culture of the synagogue is ample justification for their existence, and therefore deserves the unstinted support of us all.”
The convention opened Sunday morning with 800 delegates present representing 450 of the 700 congregations affiliated with the United Synagogue of America. S. Herbert Golden, president of the organization for the past two years, presided at the meeting which was begun with a prayer by Rabbi Jeremiah Berman.
REVIEWS WORK OF THE YEAR
Mr. Golden’s report, which contained his decision to withdraw as president of the organization, recommended a united Jewish educational program on the part of the varoius religious groups in the community.
“There are at the present time a number of educational groups, some working through the Conservative element, others through the Orthodox and still others through the Reform movement,” Mr. Golden stated. “Taking them all combined they have thus far been able to reach only a small percentage of the Jewish children of this great city. What are the others doing? This great percentage of Jewish boys and girls are receiving no education-because each group is working independently, without a united Jewish educational program.”
Mr. Golden reviewed the work of the organization, declaring that “Our organization has been helpful in innumerable ways to synagogue and communities by supplying rabbis, teachers, speakers and cantors, text books and curricula. By its Placement Committee, Teachers’ Registry and Cantors’ Registry, it has brought together Rabbis and Congregations, teachers and schools, cantors and synagogues. Through its prayer books it has gone far to standardize and improve the synagogue service. Its curricula and text books have been of tremendous help to teachers and pupils.
“The Friday night stories of the Women’s Leagues have brought into many a Jewish home a refreshing breath of Jewish sentiment, while the ‘Three Pillars’ of the latter organization have proven a boon to the women who have found in it an excellent guide on the path of Jewish duty.
“Equally useful have been our Bible Classes and lecture bureaus, our manuals of various kinds, our organ, ‘The United Synagogue Recorder,’ our Festival Celebrations and Holiday Calendars, our Conventions and Regional Conferences, our Young People’s Services, our radio programs. All these enterprises and others have served to disseminate a knowledge of and respect for Judaism, Sabbath observance, religious education and synagogue attendance.”
Other speakers at the opening session were Hyman J. Reit, president of the New York branch; Mrs. Eva Levy, president of the New York Branch of the Women’s League; Professor Alexander Marx of the Jewish Thelogical Seminary; Mrs. Samuel Spiegel, president of the Young Women’s League, and Henry Landau, president of the Young People’s League.
Mr. Reit urged upon the convention the adoption of resolutions recommending the education departments of the various city and state governments to include Hebrew as an elective subject in all free public and high schools.
“Hebrew is a living language,” said Mr. Reit. “It is classical and real. Why, then, should it not be incumbent upon the authorities of this great democratic nation to place this language on a par with Latin, Greek and other tongues in all our free public and high schools? Such action would have a tremendous effect upon the community at large. It will create a better understanding between Jew and Gentile. It will weld a closer bond between school and synagogue, and will bring the children to the parents and the parents to the children.”
Official action on Mr. Reit’s proposal is to be taken today when the Committee on Resolutions submits its report.
In his annual report. Rabbi Samuel M. Cohen, Executive Director, urged that the United Synagogue in its future activities address itself largely to the tasks of strengthening the educational activities of its congregations and educating its congregations to the ways in which they can best function to radiate Jewish life and strength.
The Sunday afternoon session was devoted mainly to a symposium on the position of the synagogue in modern Jewish life. Papers were read by Rabbi Morris Silverman, Rabbi Herman Hailpern, Mrs. Israel Davidson and Rabbi Adolph Coblenz. Other speakers were Hon. Sol. Bloom and Rabbi I. H. Levinthal.
“It has been found that the synagogue is taking on the functions of the community. Hebrew school,” said Rabbi Cohen, “and of the institutions established originally for young people. The club is becoming a part of synagogue life. The American Jewish people are beginning to realize the importance of integrating their social, educational, and religious activities. They are developing a central institution from which there can come the inspiration and the strength for Jewish living.
“The synagogue of today differs radically from the old type ghetto. The ghetto endeavored to preserve Judaism and the Jewish people by separating them, at least physically, from the world in which they lived. The United Synagogue congregation helps to preserve our faith by giving our people the moral strength and spiritual vigor that enables them to maintain their Judaism in the heart of the world. Nay, more, it enables them to derive from the world and from the world’s progress elements that enrich our own spiritual life. The United Synagogue utilizes modern discoveries in the fields of psychology, pedagogy, and physical sciences to strengthen and refine our own educational methods and programs.”
ACTING GOV. LEHMAN DEPLORES LACK OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Declaring that religion is losing its hold upon the younger generation. Lieutenant-Governor Lehman in his address at the Sunday night dinner urged the United Synagogue on to renewed efforts to win young men and women back to the synagogue.
“While we are thankful for our material prosperity, there is no use denying that we have lost our hold on (Continued on Page 8)
“First, it must give them a knowledge of the history and philosophy of Judaism; second, it must give the children a feeling of pride in that history and the service of Judaism to civilization; third, it must convince the young people that one is a better American by being a good Jew.”
Lieutenant-Governor Lehman congratulated the United Synagogue on what has already been accomplished by the organization. He said that the primary obligations of parents to their children are to provide them with proper recreational facilities and supervision and a thorough religious education.
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