Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-28
Conference Of RabbiS.
Russian Government Has Issued Cali for Gather
ing of Jewish Church Leaders to Consider
Hebrew Matters in Cars Dominion.

NEW YORK. June 27.-The Jews in this
received here concerning the converting
OF the rabbinical convention which is to
meet in St. Petersburg and which has
been called together by the government
for the purpose Of considering certain
questions affecting the Jews in Russia.
The minister of the interior has issued a
circular to the governors Of the different
provinces directing that preparations be
made for the election OF candidates for
this commission, designating the number
of candidates for each government and
defining the character Of the lay repre-
sentatives that are to be members OF the
commission. Commissions OF rabbis are
not new in Russia. On previous occasions
prominent rabbis have been called to-
gether to deliberate and to enlighten the
government upon certain religious ques-
tons that were of concern both to the
Jews and to the government. The first
commission Of rabbis assembled in st. Pc
tersburg in 1852 and others met In 1857.
1851 and 1879. The last met In 1893. Since
then the plan Of bringing together the
representatives Of Judaism In this man.
ner seems to have been abandoned until
now, when there Is desire to revive the
old project. The commission will be made
up Of sixtyseven members. one OF whom
dates for the commission will be chosen
by the rabbis Of the pale OF settlement.
each province sending from two to three
candidates. These candidates will con-
erward choose the members OF the COM
mission. The right Of choosing the cleo
tors is given to rabbis, prominent mer-
chants and well-to-do householders.
While the deliberations OF the former
commissions Of rabbis were chiefly de-
ligious matters. the scope Of the present
body will be broader and will include
several general matters that constitute
some of the difficulties between the Jew
matter OF the "box-tax." or "korobka."
which is now chiefly a tax on kosher
meat, will be one Of the questions to be
taken up. There is no thought OF re-
moving this tax. The question will be
as to how to dispose the surplus of the
funds that are collected through this tax.
which is primarily intended to supply the
communal needs and to meet the demands
for revenue made by the government upon
the Jewish communities. Great sums OF
parts Of the country and the Jewish COM
munities have long been making demands
for the disposition Of these funds In the
interest Of the Jewish people. Through
this commission the Jewish communities
will present figures concerning these funds
to show how large amounts have been
squandered on useless objects and have
even been diverted to purposes which
have no connection with Jewish interests
The commission will present a statement
proposing a plan for the distribution of
the funds. A plan will also be drawn up
concerning the organisation Of the Jewish
communities. the rights they should have
and the duties that should be imposed
upon them.
The commission will be in session for
from two to three months. Suggestions
are made in certain quarters that the
body will be made a permanent institu-