United Synagogue and Affiliated Groups Today Open Conventions and Table-talks

The twenty-first annual convention of the United Synagogue of America, the sixteenth annual convention of the Women’s League of the United Synagogue of America, and the fifth annual convention of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs of the United Synagogue will open at the Hotel Pennsylvania today to consider a variety of problems affecting synagogue life and general human welfare and to take stock of the progress of conservative Judaism during the past year. More than 750 delegates representing synagogues, sisterhoods and men’s clubs, will attend the sessions, which close on Tuesday. Tomorrow night the annual banquet of the United Synagogue and its affiliated organizations will be held at the Community Center of Congregation B’nai Jeshurun, 270 West 89th Street. More than 1,000 are expected to attend.

Sunday afternoon’s session, which will be a joint convention of all three organizations, will be devoted principally to a symposium on social justice. The title of the symposium will be “What Is Judaism’s Answer to Present Day Problems?” The speakers will be Dr. Solomon Lowenstein, executive director of the Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, who will discuss “The Synagogue and Social Justice”; Rabbi Samuel Fredman, of Philadelphia, who will outline the position of the United Synagogue Committee on Social Justice.

JUDGE REIT OPENS CONVENTION

The convention will be opened this morning by Judge Hyman J. Reit, chairman of the Convention Committee. Following Judge Reit’s address, greetings will be tendered by representatives of affiliated and cooperating organizations. These include the Rabbinical Assembly of America, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the Young People’s League of the United Synagogue, and the Women’s League of the United Synagogue.

The sixteenth annual convention of the Women’s League will be formally opened this evening by Mrs. Samuel Spiegel, New York City, president of the organization. The principal speaker at this evening’s session will be Dr. Siegfried Wachsmann, Medical Director of the Sydenham Hospital, New York City, who will discuss “Is There a Jewish Psychology?”

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EDUCATION

Tomorrow morning’s sessions will see all three organizations in convention. The delegates of the United Synagogue of America will participate in round-table conferences and committee meetings; the fifth annual convention of the National Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs opens with a message by Edward C. Weinrib, of Mt. Vernon, president. The afternoon will be given over to a report of men’s club activities and addresses on social justice.

Tomorrow’s sessions of the Women’s League will be devoted to National Committee reports. These include membership, cultural, speakers, publications, radio, cooperation with other organizations, religious observance, peace, ways and means and a report on the “Outlook,” official publication of the Women’s League. The convention will also listen to representatives of national women’s organizations. Among those scheduled to speak are Mrs. Maurice L. Goldman, of the National Council of Jewish Women, Mrs. Albert J. May of the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, Mrs. Joseph M. Asher, of the Women’s Branch of the Union of Orthodox Congregations, Mrs. Emanuel Halpern of Hadassah, and Mrs. Rebekah Kohut of the World Organization of Jewish Women.

ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS

The afternoon’s session of the Women’s League will be transferred to the B’nai Jeshurun Community Center, 270 West 89th Street. The session will be devoted to roundtable discussions on the following subjects: “What are you doing in your Community to emphasize the Sabbath and Festivals?” participated in by Mrs. Leon S. Lang, of Newark, and Mrs. A. Kaplan of Pittsburgh; “How are you participating in the social welfare of your community?”, participated in by Mrs. K. H. Stein, Fayettville, N. C., and Mrs. George Levy, of Washington, D. C.; “What are you doing for the Jewish college student in your town?”, participated in by Mrs. A. H. Freedman, Highland Park, N. J., and Mrs. Simon Greenberg, Philadelphia: “What are you doing for Peace propaganda in your city?”, participated in by Mrs. A. J. Bromberg, New York, and Mrs. Israel Shapiro, Baltimore.

The sessions of the United Synagogue of America and the Women’s League Tuesday will be devoted to the findings of the round-table conferences, reports of committees, nominations and elections.