Convention of Reform Rabbis Asks Israel for Equality for All Religious Groups

Acting on the suggestion of its outgoing president, Dr. Abraham J. Feldman, the 60th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis today sent a message to the Israeli Government expressing the hope that “when in the new state the relationship between church and state will have been definitely established, the relationship will be one of full liberty and equality for all shades of religious opinion.”

The message was sent following a discussion during which statements were made that the Liberal rabbis do not enjoy in Israel the same rights as the Orthodox Rabbinate. Dr. Solomon B. Freehof, of Pittsburgh, pointed out that the present status of relationship between church and state in Israel is not a product of the Jewish state, but is still a remnant of the system introduced by the British during the years when they were the mandatory power in Palestine.

The convention today adopted a resolution calling for the “setting up of a central placement bureau by the Conference in cooperation with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the lay organization of Reform Judaism/and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform rabbinical seminary, under a” professional director.” The resolution urges that “all pulpit negotiations, whether initiated by rabbis or congregations, must be channelled through this bureau.” Before the establishment of the placement bureau, the plan must be approved by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

PRESSING FINANCIAL NEEDS OF HEBREW UNION COLLEGE OUTLINED AT CONVENTION

The pressing financial needs of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion were made known today to the 300 alumni of the two institutions attending the 60th anniversary convention of the Central Conference of American Babble. Dr. Nelson Glueck, president of H.U.C.-J.I.R., speaking at a meeting of the two alumni societies, said that support of the seminary, which has largely depleted the Julius Rosen-{SPAN}###-Adolph S. Ochs endowment fund raised some 20 years ago, “is basic to the develop-sent of a healthy American Reform Judaism.”{/SPAN}Dr. Glueck reported on the great success of the Hebrew Union College’s newly-Instituted program of Christian fellowships, under which young Christian ministers are given graduate fellowships to study at the H.U.C. “These young Christian ministers,” Dr. Glueck said, “are among our best and most devoted students. All of them will eventually return to their own Christian theological seminaries to teach.

DR. HERTZ REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN REFORM JEWISH EDUCATION

A report on the progress made by Reform Jewish education was delivered today at the convention of the Conference by Dr. Richard C. Hertz of Chicago, on the basis of a survey made by him of the 351 Reform Jewish religious schools in the United States. Two hundred schools replied to his questionnaire of forty questions.

Rabbi David Philipson, of Cincinnati, the dean of the American Reforem Rabbinate, collapsed here yesterday at the convention. He was removed to a Boston hospital where he was considered still not out of danger this morning. Dr. Philipson is 87 years old and is the oldest living graduate of Hebrew Union College.