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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
7
HAYM SALOMON
Revolutionary War hero, whose statue has been the center
of a nation wide dispute.
, r 5691, perhaps not of equal stat-
vith those aforementioned, but
heless men whose work in their
communities not only served
h prestige but were factors in
ig the Jewish community cement-
, offset these losses there has not
red on the horizon even one corn-
ting figure.
brief, 5691 has been a year of
pointment, of loss, of retrogres-
In the following paragraphs an
npt will be made to indicate how
circumstances affected the most
,rtant countries of the world.
The l nited States
■cording to the latest authoritative
vs there are approximately 4,225,-
Jews in the United States or more
a quarter of the 15,000,000 that
aid to inhabit the globe. But if the
mber of Jews is growing, there is no
ieation that the Jewish conscious-
•; is being proportionately strength-
(1. But perhaps the year 5691 does
offer the most auspicious back-
und for a judgment on the inner
Mvngth of the Jewish community. The
>n mic crisis has turned Jewish
houghts away from communal affairs.
The campaigns of the Joint Distribu-
n Committee, the American Palestine
Campaign and drives by similar nat-
nal organizations have been failures
ore or less. It is true that one of
these organizations has raised far more
an it had expected, but the general
' turn has been disappointing. Not only
the rate of building of congregations
nd centers declined enormously but nu-
•rous Jewish institutions throughout the
< untry are finding it difficult to meet the
mortgages. In many congregations, rabbis
tve been dispensed with particularly
niong the orthodox and conservative ele-
ents. Other rabbis have been confronted
"ith the demand to ac-
n‘pt a reduction in sal
ary. The result has been
b> cheapen Jewish com
munal life.
Religious Problems
Efforts at conciliation
h* tween orthodox, con-
ervative and reform
- ups have not proved
Ticularly successful.
the same time, how-
er, there has been a
wing realization with-
each of these units of
need for readjust-
nt. The orthodox and
*-* conservatives have
led for a liberalization
their creed. The re-
rm segment has voiced
lemand for a return to
] re traditional Jewish
•ues. During the past
ar reform rabbis have
•Jguished themselves
tneir championship of
•ucrete instances of so-
justice. The resolu-
ns adopted by the Cen-
Conference of Amer-
an Rabbis radiated
!a ge and conviction
furnished indisputa-
l ' , ‘ S1 ?ns that the Confer
ence had departed from the conventional
program it has sponsored for many years.
An illuminating contrast in the rabbinate
is provided by the stand taken by the
various sections of Jewry. The Assembly
of Orthodox Rabbis condemned birth con
trol. the Rabbinical Assembly postponed
consideration of the question for a year,
although a number of voices at the
annual convention vigorously opposed
the doctrine, while the reform rabbis
went on record as fully in favor.
The rabbinate did not gain any pres
tige as a result of the annual meeting
of the Assembly of Orthodox Rabbis,
which demonstrated how deep is the
cleavage between two groups of rabbis.
As one speaker said, “the rabbinate
has come to be looked upon as a
racket.” That this judgment is to a
large extent a phrase rather than a
genuine evaluation is proved by the
action taken by orthodox rabbis in Chi
cago during the past year. Confronted
with a situation in which racketeers
dominated the kosher poultry industry,
the rabbis took their courage in their
hands and fought the racket. They de
clared a ban on meat, laid down the
laws for shoctim and, with the back
ing of the population, won the struggle.
That the kosher meat trade had be
come the domain of the “racket” in
many of the larger cities was indicat
ed in New York City, where the Mayor
of New York appointed a committee
to investigate abuses and to recommend
remedies. But all Jews are not united
on the kosher question. In June, Gov
ernor James Rolph of California sign
ed a bill making it illegal to label meat
kosher unless it is and providing stiff
penalties for offenders. The reform ele
ment sharply criticized the effort to
put the Government behind the
Jewish ritual law, but the orthodox
were just as insistent on its passage.
Many observers shake their heads and
profess to see the gradual decline of Amer
ican Jewry. Their contention does not re
ceive much collaboration from the current
efforts to make Hebrew a part of the cur
riculum in the schools of the country. New
York and St. Louis have introduced the
subject into several high schools for ex
periment. Detroit also
went on record as favor
ing the innovation, but
the Jewish youth does not
seem particularly anxious
to join the classes. This
regeneration of interest
in Hebrew is also to be
noticed in the inclusions
of the subject into many
Sunday schools.
America Protector of
World Jewry
American Jewry likes
to see itself as the protec
tor and guardian of the
Jewries in other parts of
the world. It cannot be
said that its efforts have
been notably successful
during the past year. In
the main this is due to
the division of authority.
The American Jewish
Committee, the American
Jewish Congress, the
B’nai B’rith, the Federa
tion of Polish Jews, the
Federation of Rumanian
Jews, et. al., prefer to see
themselves as autonomous
bodies, even if their inter
group jealousies jeopard
ize the interests of world
Jewry. Titus Filipowicz,
HIGHLIGHTS IN THE NEWS OF THE YEAR
October 1—The anti-sheshita law of Bavaria, Germany goes into effect.
October 17—Italian cabinet passes Jewish communities ordinance enlarging Jew
ish community’s powers and giving them government status.
October 20—British Colonial Office issues explosive Passfield White Paper.
December 17—Boston celebrates 275th anniversary of founding of first Jewish
settlement in the United States.
December 27—Lord Melchett dies.
January 11—Nathan Straus dies.
January 22—Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs appointed by King George as Governor
General of Australia.
February 13—British Government issues conciliatory MacDonald letter to Dr.
Weizmann.
April 12—Poland abolishes the Czaristic restrictions against Jews.
April 21 Quebec Legislature adopts bill dissolving Montreal Jewish school Com
mission.
April 30—Jewish peddlers evicted from Mexico City market place.
May 22—Spanish Government issues decree proclaiming religious liberty and
dropping Catholicism as State religion.
May 29—Governor Wilbert M. Brucker signs Michigan compulsory alien registra
tion bill.
June 4—Mortimer Schiff dies.
j une g xh e Wailing Wall Commission of the League of Nations issues its report
giving moral right to worship at Wall.
June 19—Governor James Rolph signs California kosher bill.
June 23—Disorders at University of Vienna when High Court rules unconstitu
tional measure reflecting on Jewish students.
June 23 Anti-Semitic riots sweep Saloniki for first time in centuries.
June 23—Latvian Parliament abolishes numerus clausus for foreigners, after
efforts by Jews;
j une 30 Turbulent 17th World Zionist Congress opens in Basle, Switzerland.
j u ] y i3 Nahum Sokolow elected President of the World Zionist Organization.