Intermarriage Among Jews on the Pacific Coast Increasing

The impressions of an Orthodox Jewish leader of American Jewish life on the Pacific Coast were described by Gedaliah Bublick, Jewish writer and president of the Mizrachi, Orthodox Zionist Organization, who returned this week from a tour in the far west in behalf of the organization.

To a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the president of the Mizrachi stated that what he had observed in the far west convinced him of the necessity for vigorous measures to keep Jewish life intact in that region of the country. Intermarriage of Jews and Christians is on the increase in the western centers. The number of Jews who join the ranks of the Christian Science church is great. The older generation of religous Jews has a difficult struggle against the assimilationist tendencies which are growing among the youth, he stated.

The Orthodox element in the west is not numerically strong, but it is conducting an energetic struggle for existence. The leaders know that it is a question of “to be or not to be” and efforts are being made to safeguard the growing generation by the inculcation of a Jewish religious training through the Talmud Torahs and public lectures on Jewish topics. The majority of the Jews in the west, Orthodox or not, thirst for a Jewish word. They flock to lectures on Jewish topics, even on Orthodoxy. Their hospitality is hearty, he stated.

Speaking of economic conditions, Mr. Bublick stated that though average business conditions are not bad, of late a large number of middle-class Jews are suffering greatly from the competition of the chain stores which drive the small trader out of the market.