Orthodox Rabbis Pledge Support to Mizrachi Congress Delegates

The annual convention of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, in session here, was thrown into disorder Tuesday evening when it took up for consideration a proposal that it throw the weight of its influence in favor of the Mizrachi ticket in the forthcoming election of American delegates to the World-Zionist Congress.

The proposal was made by Gedaliah Bublick, president of the Mizrachi, following the close of a speech in which he charged that the Mizrachi school system in Palestine was being undermined by non-religious and antireligious forces” and that “he had it on good authority that the question will come up for final disposition at the Congress.” He appealed to the rabbis to vote for, and urge their congregations and orthodox Jewry in general, to vote for the Mizrachi ticket in the elections on June 19.

The general consensus of opinion seemingly favored Mr. Bublick’s proposal but pandemonium broke loose immediately after Rabbi Pieffer, of New York, arose and said that he favored the idea of insuring continuance of Mizrachi schools, but was opposed to outright endorsement of it by the convention, hinting that since one who is not an enrolled Zionist will have to buy a “shekel” in order to vote. Mizrachi indirectly was encouraging aid for the Zionist Organization. A number of rabbis charged that Rabbi Pieffer’s sympathy for or affiliation with, the utta-Orthodox Agudath Israel Party, which is opposing the Zionist Organization, was getting the better of his judgment. For nearly ten minutes a general state of disorder prevailed charges and counter-charges being hurled about.

It was upon the pleas of Rabbi ### Epstein of Brooklyn, and Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, the president of the Union that the rabbis should support all movements which are designed to strengthen orthodoxy no matter which party sponsors them that they adopted Mr. Bublick’s proposal by rising vote. Rabbi proposal asking to be recorded in the negative. Rabbi M. S. Margolies and Wolf Gold also made pleas for the acceptance of the proposal.

Mr. Bablick charged that “nine months ago. Miss Hentietta Srold and Mr. Bergsem went to Berlin to more the Action of the World Zionist Organization in order to have the economy of the Mirrachi schools taken away from us: this despite the fact that in July 1921. in London, a written agreement was made with the World Zionist Organization that the Mirrachi has full economy were its school system Since than time the Mirachi schools here ### in number from form to (Continued on Page 4)

Aside from the controversy, yesterday’s session was devoted largely to hearing greetings from foreign representatives and appeals for aid for Yeshivas in eastern and central Europe. Rabbi Shkop. Rabbi Hurwitz of the Praesidium of the Agudath Harabonim of Lithuania and Rabbi Lifshitz of a similar body in Poland, were among those who spoke. Rabbi Lifshitz also gave a report of the steps being taken to assist the several thousand “agunas.” women who were deserted by their husbands, in his country.

Rabbi Mushkin, of Chicago, representing a body of 56 orthodox rabbis in that city, gave a report of their activities. He stated that fully $60,000 was raised in his city during the past year for Yeshivahs abroad. He also stated that through the cooperation of manufacturers, a more extensive system of Kashruth supervision is being introduced.

Theodore Glass, secretary of the Hebrew Typographical Union, requested the rabbis to recognize the union label and give public endorsement and patronage to the Jewish trade shops which have introduced a five-day week (not necessarily for Sabbath observance, but for trade interests.)