One congregation in Brooklyn was expelled from membership in the United Synagogue of America this weekend for refusing to drop the practice of playing bingo for fund-raising purposes, according to an announcement by George Maislen, president of the United Synagogue. Immediately after the announcement, a second congregation, in suburban Queens, voted to discontinue bingo. A third congregation on warning against bingo is still considering the issue.
The United Synagogue, which represents 764 Conservative congregations in the United States and Canada, had voted a resolution at its convention in 1961, forbidding the use of “any form of fund-raising not in keeping with the spirit of Judaism. ” The measure was aimed primarily at forbidding bingo.
Last week, according to Mr. Maislen, the United Synagogue put three congregations on final notice against continuing bingo games. The Jewish Center of Kings Highway, in Brooklyn, refused to heed the order, and was therefore expelled from membership. A general meeting of the congregation of the Rosedale Jewish Center, in Long Island, voted last night, by a ballot of 123-2, to discontinue bingo immediately. The third congregation warned, also in Long Island, is expected to make a final decision on the matter this week.
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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.
