Expansion, removal and merger of Utica synagogues holds the center of attention at present. Beth-El Congregation has already disposed of its former synagogue and owns a spacious tract in the heart of the residential district, whereon it plans shortly to break ground for a temple, center and school.
Two downtown synaglogues, largest and oldest in the city, are considering removal to the South Utica section, at the same time maintaining the present buildings as branches. Removal of the Jewish population from the Second Ward to the southern part of the city necessitated these changes.
Definite steps are being taken toward the merger of the House of Israel and Shaarei Tefillah Synagogue, to the end that financing of an uptown structure and conduct of a school may be simplified. Dr. Jacob L. Savett is chairman of a committee in charge of financing such a project, assisted by Isaac Dean, president of the synagogue, largest in the city.
The Federation of Jewish Charities, which is a beneficiary of the Utica Community Chest, Inc., has changed its name to the Federation of Jewish Social Service. Mrs. Myron S. Liberman is president.
Establishment of a Jewish library by Temple Beth-El makes available the second public collection of books of this nature the other being at the Utica Pubic Libarary.
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.