A city wide effort has been launched here to counteract the Christmas spirit permeating Jewish homes by emphasizing the spiritual and national significance of Chanukah and substituting Chanukah gifts for the present vogue in Jewish families to give Christmas gifts.
The Chanukah Festival begins on December 23rd. The movement was started by the Philadelphia Jewish World, and has received the endorsement of leading rabbis, educators and laymen in this and other cities. Through its news columns and through the medium of large display advertisements the Jewish World is calling attention to the danger lurking in the adoption by Jews of the practice of Christmas giving. Simultaneously the newspaper is stressing the message Chanukah has for the older generation and especially for the Jewish youth.
The Jewish World’s campaign is approved among others by Ben Rosen, Educational Director of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Philadelphia; Israel Unterberg, president of the Jewish Education Association of New York; Bernard Semel, honorary secretary of the Jewish Education Association of New York; Dr. Solomon Solis Cohen of Philadelphia, distinguished scientist; Dr. Julius H. Greenstein, secretary of the Associated Talmud Torahs and a leading educator.
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