Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

World Conclave of Jewish Thinkers Proposed to “exchange Ideas” on Judaism

December 9, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

ORGANIZATION OF A WORLD CONCLAVE OF LEADERS OF JEWISH THOUGHT “FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANCE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TRADITION” WAS URGED TONIGHT AT A DINNER MEETING BY DR. LOUIS FINKELSTEIN. PROVOST OF THE JEWISH THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, WHO SAID THE PROPOSAL REPRESENTED THE VIEWS OF THE FACULTY DIRECTORS AND ALUMNI OF THE SEMINARY.

DR. FINKELSTEIN SUGGESTED THAT A CONFERENCE OF SCHOLARS, WRITERS, RABBIS, EDUCATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS BE FORMED IN THIS COUNTRY “TO SUBSTITUTE STUDY AND DELIBERATION FOR PASSION AND PARTISAN EMOTION” AND THAT A WORLD CONCLAVE BE THEN ORGANIZED ON A SIMILAR BASIS. HE ALSO URGED ORGANIZATION OF LAY GROUPS TO MEET AND OFFER CRITICISM OF ORGANIZED JEWISH LIFE, AND SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE ON THE PART OF INDIVIDUALS TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF JUDAISM AS A TRADITION.

HE RECALLED THE CONFERENCE ON JEWISH AFFAIRS AND INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL AND POST-BIBLICAL LITERATURE LAST YEAR, DECLARING. “WE INTEND TO REPEAT BOTH THE CONFERENCE AND THE INSTITUTE THIS YEAR AND, INDEED, WE HOPE TO MAKE THEM PERMANENT INSTITUTIONS.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement