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Jewish Education Association Combats Xmas Propaganda

December 17, 1929
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A call to principals of Talmud Torahs and other Jewish schools to take appropriate energetic measures to counteract Christmas propaganda directed at Jewish children has been sent out over the signature of Israel S. Chipkin, educational director of the Jewish Education Association. The call urges principals to enlighten their pupils as well as the pupils’ parents on the undermining influence of this propaganda, and for that purpose to arrange special meetings of pupils and parents, as well as to communicate with the parents by letter. Communications of this sort have already been sent out by A. P. Schoolman, principal of the Talmud Torah of the Central Jewish Institute and other principals.

Mr. Chipkin points out that many Jewish parents labor under the mistaken notion that Christmas is an American national holiday of the same character as Thanksgiving Day or the Fourth of July. They are unaware that Christmas is primarily a Christian religious festival, and therefore permit their children to participate in Christmas celebrations in the public schools which they attend. At these celebrations the Jewish children are at times made to sing Christian hymns and witness dramatic performances of a Christian religious character.

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