U.A.H.C. 40th Convention Gears Recommendations on Social Action, Communal Affairs

A recommendation that the headquarters of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations be moved from Cincinnati to New York–a proposal which is a subject of controversy within the organization–was made here today by Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath, president of the U.A.H.C., in his presidential message to the 40th biennial council of the organization. The parley, which is also celebrating the U. “A.H.C.’s 75th anniversary, heard Dr. Eisendrath suggest the organization of a successor to the American Jewish Conference.

He also proposed utilization of the motion pictures for education in religious schools and adult education programs, creation of a national radio program to speak for Liberal Judaism in America, adoption of a code of ethics and a program of pulpit placement acceptable to both the U.A.H.C. and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and ratification of a plan for a joint commission of the two rabbinical bodies in the field of social action.

An almost twenty percent increase in the number of congregations and a forty percent increase in the number of members during the past five years in the ranks of Reform Judaism was also reported by Dr. Eisendrath. A report by Dr. Samuel S. Hollender, chairman of the combined campaign of the U.A.H.C. and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, reported that the goal of the 1948-49 fund drive is $1,829,000.

At the 75th anniversary banquet tonight the principal address was delivered by Dr. James G. Heller, rabbi of the Isaac M. Wise Temple of Cincinnati. Dr. Haller’s topic was “Evaluation and Program of Liberal Judaism in America.” The other principal address was delivered by Rabbi Jonah B. Wise of the Central Synagogue of New York.