View Reform Judaism Dominant in Next Generation of American Jewry

Board of American Hebrew Congregations Meets in Detroit; Regrouping of Jewish Community Elements Imminent; Vogelstein, Brown, Cohen, Rabbis Philipson and Zepin Submit Reports Showing Growth (Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The view-point of the American Jew of the future will be a Judaism which “accepts the new truth of scientific discovery, and modifies its viewpoint accordingly,” was the prediction made by Ludwig Vegelstein, of New York, chairman of the Executive Board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, at its annual meeting held at Temple Beth-El here on Sunday. The visitors were guests at Sunday morning services at the Temple, and were entertained by the Detroit Jewish Community at a ?heon which preceded the business sessions of Sunday afternoon.

In his report Mr. Vogelstein reviewed the progress made by Reform Judaism in this country since it was founded here fifty-five years ago by the late Isaac M. Wise, and stated that it is because of the adoption of these moded ideas by the Reform wing of Judaism that the liberal congregations of America are increasing in membership and number. The next generation of Jews, he declared, “will witness a regrouping of Jewish elements, and that synagogue which is willing to adapt itself to modern ideas and liberal outlook will gain many recruits from the ranks of the other two religious parties–Orthodox and Conservative.”

Emphasis was laid by Mr. Vogestein on the need of adequate financial support for the work of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The budgetary demands of this organization, now exceed a half million dollars. During the past year the organization had to work on a large deficit. Mr. Vogel-stein pointed out that the annual budget in 1908 was $51,000; in 1927, it was $##. The Union now has 282 congregations, against a membership of 23 congregations when it was first organized.

Teaching on the question of the Judaism of the future, Mr. Vogelstein said:

“When Isaac M. Wise organized the Union there were not over 250,000 Jews in this country. The large majority of these favored a liberal interpretation of Judaism. In fact, a number be ## to the so-called free thinkers of certain schools of philosophy of Germany. These afterwards formed a ## for the Ethical Culture movement. With the arrival of our Polish, Russian, Roumanian and other East European brethren, the small nucleus of Orthodox Jews expanded into a powerful group overwhelming in numbers and constantly growing in importance and influence. I think we are justified in estimating that out of the three and a half million Jews in this country nearly three millions are of recent Orthodox antecedents, and of present Conservative leanings. This truth is not altered by the fact that a very large number of them have emancipated themselves from Orthodox ritualistic observances. There are leaders of the Conservative group who are advising their own party to adopt more modern views or face the danger of sacrificing the future of their movement. An Orthodox rabbi of standing and learning bewailed the fact that in fifty years from now there would be none able to study the Talmud in the Hebrew.

“Certain leaders of Conservative Judaism claim to see in the readjustment of party lines a movement in the direction of Conservatism. Even a casual glance at the religious development of the last one hundred and fifty years in all denominations of Western Europe and America shows clearly that the future belongs to the party which frankly accepts the new truths of scientific discovery, and modifies its viewpoint accordingly, which puts a new interpretation on Shulchan Aruch separatism in the new light of modern democratic thought, and which takes cognizance of the great upheavals in the social order of our day. We are not interested in converts to Judaism, but the adoption of these ideas by our Reform Congregations accounts for the presence in our pews of many thoughtful persons, both Jewish and non-Jewish. The vision of Isaiah and Amos encompassed a religion not fettered by ancient dogmas nor inviolable, sacredotal rites but a united humanity striving merely to do justice and love mercy and walk humbly with God.

“The membership of our Reform Synagogues is constantly being increased by accessions from the Conservative group. One does not need to be an astute prophet to foresee that the next generation is going to witness a regrouping of Jewish elements and that the Synagogue which is willing to adapt itself to modern ideas and liberal outlook will gain many recruits from the ranks of the two other parties.”

David A. Brown, chairman of the Board of Finance of the Union, told of the work of the Finance Board, stating that Reform Jewry throughout the country was being organized in a way that would bring adequate funds to the Union. The country was divided into eleven zones, each under the supervision of a Zone Chairman, who had cooperating with them thirty-nine State Chairmen, covering the States where the Union has member congregations. Reporting the results of the tour of the flying squadron of 164 Rabbis and laymen he stated that 279 mass meetings were held and considerable interest was aroused in behalf of the Union among Reform Congregations throughout the country.

Rabbi George Zep?n, executive secretary of the Union, reported that the Union has grown to 282 congregations with an individual membership of 59,961. The total amount expended for all activities of the Union during 1927 was $506,501, as compared with $504,048 spent the year previous. The amount expended during 1927 was in excess of $74,416 over the amount of money received.

Alfred M. Cohen, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew Union College, presented a report on the progress made by that institution during the past year. The college now has a student body of 117, the largest enrollment in the history of the institution. Mr. Cohen told of the efforts made by Adolph S. Ochs of New York, in endeavoring to secure a $5,000,000 Endowment Fund for the college, and announced that over a million and a half has been raised toward this endowment. The budget is now $281,408, as compared with $69,000 which was used in 1918.

A report on the work of the Department of Synagogue and School Extension was submitted by Julius W. Freiberg, chairman. He announced that 142 cities were visited during the past year where religious work was undertaken.

Henry M. Toch, chairman of the New York Executive Committee of the Union, presented the annual report of the work of the New York Committee for School Extension, which maintains seven religious schools with a total enrollment of 1,200 children. The schools are located in the various boroughs of Greater New York, and Jewish educational work is carried on.

Rabbi David Philipson, chairman of the Commission on Jewish Education, reported on the progress made by his department, through which textbooks, curricula, and other plans are developed to aid in giving Jewish and religious instruction to children throughout the country. Seven new publications were issued during the past year, and five manuscripts have been accepted for publication during the coming year. Rabbi Philipson then told of the work undertaken by his Commission in urging the establishment of Jewish Normal Schools throughout the country for the training of religious school teachers. There are at present, he stated, 36 such normal schools, 25 of which reported a total registration of 881 students. The normal schools are using a new syllabus on Educational Psychology, prepared by Dr. Julius L. Mailer. Fellow at Teachers College. Columbia University, which supplements the syllabus on Classroom Organization and Management prepared last year by Rabbi Jacob B. Pollak.

Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, reporting for the Tract Commission, announced that several series of religious tracts are now in preparation. The subjects to be discussed are theology, Jewish literature, Post-Biblical Judaism, the Jewish Prayer-Book, Judaism and other Modern Religions, Judaism and Modern Thought, and the Social Ideal in Judaism.

The National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods reported that 116 individual Brotherhoods, with a total membership of nearly 19.000 now make up the Federation, representing an accession of 18 Brotherhoods during the year.