Rabbis Ponder Plight of Girl—to Wed or Uphold Nazi Boycott

Providing a dowry for a poor bride, or the boycott on German made goods—which is the more important?

The question is now before the Warsaw rabbinate because Golde Soloveitchik has no dowry. But Golde has an uncle in Leipzig who says that while he cannot send her any money, he is willing to send her a shipment of goods which she could easily sell, and keep the money thus realized for her dowry.

Golde has therefore appealed to the rabbinate to tell her that she may sell the German goods. Many rabbis say that such permission would set a precedent which would be detrimental to the boycott. Others feel, however, that helping a girl marry, especially when she has the bridegroom, as is the case with Golde, is a deed worthy of an exceptional permission.