Agudath Israel Congress Decides Not to Join Jewish Agency As Long As It Includes Cultural Work in It

The Orthodox Jewish masses in Eastern and Central Europe insofar as they are represented by the Agudath Israel will not join the extended Jewish Agency for Palestine as long as this body will include in its program cultural and educational work in Palestine. A decision to this effect was reaffirmed by the Agudath Israel World Congress in session here at its meeting Sunday afternoon, when the matter came up. The delegates, while standing, accepted with applause the report submitted by Jacob Rosenheim of Frankfort, one of the leaders of the Agudath Israel, containing the opinion of the Rabbinical Council, the supreme body of the organization, declaring that the Agudath Israel will not join in the extended Jewish Agency because the Agency includes in its work cultural and educational activities to which the Orthodox leaders cannot agree and which they cannot support in accordance with their religious convictions.

The resolution further declared that hitherto the Jewish Agency has taken no steps to secure the cooperation of the Agudath Israel. In view, however, of the shattering events in Palestine, the Agudath Israel Congress appeals for the last time to “our brethren of the Jewish Agency” to take into consideration the conscientious objections of the Orthodox Jewish masses and by limiting the jurisdiction of the Jewish Agency to economic and political questions, without extending support to cultural activities, enable Agudah members to participate in the economic and political tasks of the Agency. The Agudath Israel would be ready to join the Jewish Agency if it should be transformed into a neutral body on religious questions with guarantees that the religious laws will be respected. As long as this has not occurred and the Agudath Israel is outside of the Jewish Agency,the Agency cannot be regarded as representing in Palestine the Orthodox Jewish masses. At the same time the Agudath Israel considers it as a sacred religious duty to appeal to its membership to pursue and continue with devotion the work for the upbuilding of Palestine in accordance with the Commandment of Yishub Eretz Israel.

Dr. Pinchas Kohn, president of the Organization, sharply criticized the Zionists and the present form of the extended Jewish Agency, which, he said, represents “a Torah-less people and a Torah-less country.” In a similar vein were the addresses of Rabbi Sankiewicz, who stated he spoke in the name of twenty-three Palestine rabbis, and of other rabbis, delegates from various countries, who arraigned the “Apikorsim” (unbelieving) Zionists and non-Zionists.

Although this resolution was passed with what seemed to be unanimity, there were many delegates who continued to urge another approach to the question. In particular, Rabbi Neustadt appealed against “politics” in relation to Palestine and cooperation with the Agency. He was interrupted by other delegates who stated that the speaker is perhaps no Zionist, but he is also not an Agudist.

During the discussion on Palestine, Rabbis Horowitz and Blau of Jerusalem reported on the situation in Palestine. They described the Arab atrocities and read messages concerning the situation there, emphasizing that the Jewish population, without regard to group, defended Jewish honor. They laid emphasis on the need for increasing the work of the Agudah in Palestine just because it is probable that the organization will not participate in the Jewish Agency. The delegates Ehrmann, Wrescher and Hollaender also demanded an increase of Palestine work and urged the creation of an Agudah bank in Palestine.

The Congress also concerned itself with the question of the Agunoth, the Rabbinical Council submitting a resolution expressing its readiness to institute research into the religious law to solve the question of those women whose husbands have disappeared and who cannot remarry without a divorce or concrete evidence of the husband’s death. Monday afternoon the Congress discussed organization and finance questions. The sessions are expected to be concluded Tuesday night following a discussion on the Schechita and on the question of Smichah, ordination of rabbis.

The Vienna police increased the number of guards in the Jewish quarter of Vienna where many of the delegates are stopping. During the last few nights the delegates coming home were annoyed by Hakenkreuzler.

Two night ago a group of Hakenkreuzler attacked a group of Agudah delegates, following which the police arranged for a stronger guard at the Agudah Congress. The president of the Lodz Kehillah. Minzberg, who is attending the Congress, intervened with the Polish embassy in Vienna.